Heredia sits tucked into Costa Rica's lush Central Valley, framed by coffee-covered hills and volcano peaks — a charming colonial city that moves at its own unhurried pace. Known as La Ciudad de las Flores, it offers colorful markets, tree-lined streets, and the kind of authentic local warmth that tourist-facing cities can't manufacture. Minutes from San José but worlds away in feel, it's the perfect base for learning Spanish the way it was meant to be learned: in context, in community, in life.

The Language Program

Do more than memorize phrases. IPSL's partner school places you in Spanish classes designed to build real communicative confidence — speaking with locals, navigating daily life, and gaining a genuine feel for Costa Rican culture. Courses are tailored to your level, whether you're a complete beginner or looking to sharpen fluency you already have.

This is where the program earns its depth. Depending on your interests and skills, volunteer placements span education, conservation, and community development — hands-on work that puts your growing Spanish to immediate use and leaves something real behind. Costa Rica's extraordinary biodiversity and its communities' genuine needs make for volunteer experiences that are purposeful, not performative.

Heredia's location makes the whole country feel accessible. Weekend escapes take students into cloud forests on the slopes of Barva Volcano, to the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and through some of the most biodiverse terrain on the planet. Closer to home, the historic downtown — 18th-century architecture, lively plazas, cafés pouring exceptional locally grown coffee — is worth exploring slowly.

Homestay with a local Costa Rican family is the centerpiece of the living experience, and consistently the part students remember most. Immersed in daily family life, your Spanish improves faster than any classroom alone can deliver. Additional housing options are available depending on your needs and timeline.

Financial aid is available for eligible students. IPSL accepts the AmeriCorps Segal Education Award.

This is your opportunity to connect, contribute, and come alive in one of the most biodiverse and welcoming places on Earth.

*Literally "Pure Life" but in Costa Rica it is used for everything: as a greeting ("Hi!"), a farewell ("Goodbye!"), a response to "How are you?", or to say "everything is great".