Spanish Schools in Costa Rica

The closeness to the capital city of San José makes the quiet location Coronado especially attractive for studying. The rural community is approximately 30 min. away from San José in a public bus and is located on the hillside of the central valley. The climate is kindly moderate, you are wearing long trousers and loafers and in general the people pay a lot of attention to clothing.

The people of the inland are outgoing, friendly and are very helpful even if your Spanish skills are little. But the inhabitants of Costa Ricas cities are always a bit reserved, in contradiction to the people living in the coastal areas. This distance is caused by the more traditional way of life. The family is very significant and the grandparents often are the patriarchs of the extended family. In the evenings frequently all members of the family are coming together for a small talk. Cousins are often the most important friends and normally live very close.

The houses in the greater San José area often seem to be like fortresses and little inviting. From the inside normally they are furnished with love, you can find lots of old furniture and objects, and sometimes it feels like being in a museum.

The capital is a very busy town, just like any European metropolis, Coronado in contrast to this is quiet, cozy and safe. It is an idyllic suburb, which is also offering all conveniences. The typical activities of San Jose`s people and surrounding areas are absolutely comparable with the ones of Europeans: they meet for coffee, go to the cinema or to the gym, visit museums or galleries, go shopping in big malls or enjoy a soccer match, visit one of the various parks or go on trips to closer rural surroundings on their weekends.

But also anybody who is looking for sun and beaches won’t be disappointed; the position of San José and Coronado in the very center of the country offers the unique possibility to reach various beaches at the Caribbean and Pacific coast within the short time of just 3 to 4 hours.

Beach, sun and ocean. The coasts of Costa Rica are inviting to long, lonely beach walks, fishing, swimming, surfing or to visit any of the various national parks. But especially Jacó is offering something more, for this reason it is the Costa Rican's favorite spot for swimming and beach life. Jacó is well known to be the party beach for all Central America. Many good restaurants, bars and casinos are inviting to spend your nights.

Just in a short distance of 3 hours from San José, Jacó beach is the closest beach from the capital. The temperatures at Costa Rican coasts are between 25 and 35°C all year round, the humidity is high, this is the main reason why everything at the coast is a bit slower, smooth and relaxed. Shorts, skirts, t-shirts and sandals, sometimes just bikinis or trunks are forming a special flair in the coastal areas, people are paying less attention to their clothing here.

Accordingly to the climate houses are more airy, against animals and mosquitoes you will find mosquito screens at almost every window. The furniture is much spare than in the cities, most of the homes use only fans and some have air conditioners. The people here are even more outgoing and talkative than in the San José area. You should be aware that behind this sociableness you will find flirting going on, especially between young Costa Rican men and female tourists.

The extended family is less important than in the cities. Many families consist of single mothers. There are also many non Costa Ricans living close to the beaches. This caused a mix of different norms and mentalities and the interaction in general is less formal.