Costa Rica
Dates
June 3 – June 20, 2026
Subjects
Psychology, Public Health, Conservation, Animal Studies, Latin American Studies
Deadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100
Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
Costa Rica offers students a challenging academic experience with travel through breathtaking scenery, immense biodiversity, culturally immersive homestays, and a variety of unique excursions. The program begins at Arenal Volcano and ends at the Manuel Antonio National Park on the country’s Pacific Coast. In between, students live with local families in the small town of La Paz de San Ramón.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
Travel to the picturesque views of coffee plantations in Zarcero. Taste coffee and learn about the history of the Iglesia de San Rafael and the famous topiary garden designed by Don Evangelista Blanco in 1964 in the park Francisco Alvarado.
A key artisan town in Costa Rica, Sarchí is best known for their colorful and famous oxcarts that are handcrafted there and found everywhere in Costa Rica. Learn more about artisanship and design while visiting.
A local guide leads us on a hike through his private land to a beautiful cascade tumbling out of the cloud forest into a crystal-clear pool several hundred feet below. The hike is long and strenuous, but bring your swimsuit!
Trapiches, or sugarcane processing plants, dot the Costa Rican countryside and are deeply integrated into the national and local economies. Learn about Costa Rican history as you see each step of the process—and taste the sweet results!
We lodge at a comfortable resort and hike to one of the country’s most active volcanoes, nestled within its own national park. Optional visit to one of the many local hot springs.
What's Included
Program Cost: $3,395 + required airfare
To help you budget, keep in mind that you are responsible for the cost of obtaining a passport ($165), personal expenses (approx. $150-400 depending on your spending habits), and any fees from your college/university.
Although KIIS tries to foresee all possible expenses in formulating program fees, please note that dramatic fluctuations in foreign currency valuations and/or airline surcharges may affect the total cost of the program.
Required Group Flight
Estimated Cost: $1,150- $1,250
The group flight is required for KIIS Costa Rica participants (any exceptions must be pre-approved by the program director). KIIS will purchase a roundtrip flight ticket for you. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on April 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville.
Flights to and from Costa Rica are typically the same day. Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.
Student Voices
“Despite how drastic the change was for me, I was fully indulged in Costa Rican culture. I was able to experience the Costa Rica and Nicaragua soccer rivalry in person, I ate tons of “Tico” (the nickname for Costa Ricans) food, and did a lot of other adventurous things. I climbed mountains, swam in rivers, and most of all grew as a person. The rural farm life in La Paz and the urban coffee city of San Marcos both helped me grow in terms of Spanish language skills and I grew connections with both of my host families.”
– Brendan, Costa Rica
“Going to Costa Rica helped me go out of my comfort zone and try new things. Through this program, I was able to watch myself transform into a stronger leader and individual.”
– Alicia, Costa Rica
“It’s been a great experience so far, I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve experienced. I am eager to see what else I’m going to experience.”
– Larry, Costa Rica
“Studying in Costa Rica changed my life. I did not just have one professor but the entire country was like a professor. I learned so much information outside the classroom and inside my home stay.”
– Courtney, Costa Rica
“My trip to Costa Rica was beyond amazing. Being immersed in a new culture, especially one as great as it is in Costa Rica, really opened my eyes and taught me more than a tradition class ever could. You really get to learn a lot about not only your focus area that you study, but also about yourself which is really beneficial.”
– Rachel, Costa Rica
“On the KIIS Costa Rica trip, I realized just how much you need to be immersed in a culture to understand its people, language, and customs. Sure you can read about them in a book or take a language class, but having the opportunity to live with the host families in San Marcos and La Paz was what allowed me to gain a true appreciation for the Spanish language and the people who speak it.”
– Christina, Costa Rica
“My heart has never been as full as it is after living in Costa Rica among some of the most loving people I’ve ever met, who truly know how to appreciate the little things in life. After Costa Rica, I hope to appreciate every opportunity I get, say buenos días to every person I meet on the road, and go back to visit my host family someday.”
– Tess, Costa Rica
“Through these personal (teaching) connections that I was invited to hike Cerro de la Cruz and participate in a reforestation project (pictured in this photo), to go dancing with some of the students from the classes that we worked with, and to learn and compare the education system in Costa Rica with that of the United States.”
– Paige, Costa Rica
Take Your Education Further
Description
Dates
June 3 – June 20, 2026
Subjects
Psychology, Public Health, Conservation, Animal Studies, Latin American Studies
Deadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100
Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
Costa Rica offers students a challenging academic experience with travel through breathtaking scenery, immense biodiversity, culturally immersive homestays, and a variety of unique excursions. The program begins at Arenal Volcano and ends at the Manuel Antonio National Park on the country’s Pacific Coast. In between, students live with local families in the small town of La Paz de San Ramón.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
Travel to the picturesque views of coffee plantations in Zarcero. Taste coffee and learn about the history of the Iglesia de San Rafael and the famous topiary garden designed by Don Evangelista Blanco in 1964 in the park Francisco Alvarado.
A key artisan town in Costa Rica, Sarchí is best known for their colorful and famous oxcarts that are handcrafted there and found everywhere in Costa Rica. Learn more about artisanship and design while visiting.
A local guide leads us on a hike through his private land to a beautiful cascade tumbling out of the cloud forest into a crystal-clear pool several hundred feet below. The hike is long and strenuous, but bring your swimsuit!
Trapiches, or sugarcane processing plants, dot the Costa Rican countryside and are deeply integrated into the national and local economies. Learn about Costa Rican history as you see each step of the process—and taste the sweet results!
We lodge at a comfortable resort and hike to one of the country’s most active volcanoes, nestled within its own national park. Optional visit to one of the many local hot springs.
What's Included
Program Cost: $3,395 + required airfare
To help you budget, keep in mind that you are responsible for the cost of obtaining a passport ($165), personal expenses (approx. $150-400 depending on your spending habits), and any fees from your college/university.
Although KIIS tries to foresee all possible expenses in formulating program fees, please note that dramatic fluctuations in foreign currency valuations and/or airline surcharges may affect the total cost of the program.
Required Group Flight
Estimated Cost: $1,150- $1,250
The group flight is required for KIIS Costa Rica participants (any exceptions must be pre-approved by the program director). KIIS will purchase a roundtrip flight ticket for you. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on April 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville.
Flights to and from Costa Rica are typically the same day. Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.
Student Voices
“Despite how drastic the change was for me, I was fully indulged in Costa Rican culture. I was able to experience the Costa Rica and Nicaragua soccer rivalry in person, I ate tons of “Tico” (the nickname for Costa Ricans) food, and did a lot of other adventurous things. I climbed mountains, swam in rivers, and most of all grew as a person. The rural farm life in La Paz and the urban coffee city of San Marcos both helped me grow in terms of Spanish language skills and I grew connections with both of my host families.”
– Brendan, Costa Rica
“Going to Costa Rica helped me go out of my comfort zone and try new things. Through this program, I was able to watch myself transform into a stronger leader and individual.”
– Alicia, Costa Rica
“It’s been a great experience so far, I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve experienced. I am eager to see what else I’m going to experience.”
– Larry, Costa Rica
“Studying in Costa Rica changed my life. I did not just have one professor but the entire country was like a professor. I learned so much information outside the classroom and inside my home stay.”
– Courtney, Costa Rica
“My trip to Costa Rica was beyond amazing. Being immersed in a new culture, especially one as great as it is in Costa Rica, really opened my eyes and taught me more than a tradition class ever could. You really get to learn a lot about not only your focus area that you study, but also about yourself which is really beneficial.”
– Rachel, Costa Rica
“On the KIIS Costa Rica trip, I realized just how much you need to be immersed in a culture to understand its people, language, and customs. Sure you can read about them in a book or take a language class, but having the opportunity to live with the host families in San Marcos and La Paz was what allowed me to gain a true appreciation for the Spanish language and the people who speak it.”
– Christina, Costa Rica
“My heart has never been as full as it is after living in Costa Rica among some of the most loving people I’ve ever met, who truly know how to appreciate the little things in life. After Costa Rica, I hope to appreciate every opportunity I get, say buenos días to every person I meet on the road, and go back to visit my host family someday.”
– Tess, Costa Rica
“Through these personal (teaching) connections that I was invited to hike Cerro de la Cruz and participate in a reforestation project (pictured in this photo), to go dancing with some of the students from the classes that we worked with, and to learn and compare the education system in Costa Rica with that of the United States.”
– Paige, Costa Rica
Take Your Education Further
Additional information
| Subject | Animal Studies, Conservation, Latin American Studies, Psychology, Public Health |
|---|---|
| Term |
