Whether you are a participant in one of our programs or are just looking for a place to stay in Costa Rica, we can set you up with the accommodation you need. Whether you want to fully dive in into the culture by living with a host family or you want to have your own space, we have something that’s right for you.

Live with a host family

Living with a host family can make the stay in Costa Rica a particularly rewarding experience. You can immediately dive into the culture and gain a clear look into the everyday lives and traditions of the ticos. It will also speed up the time it will take you to integrate into your new environment, as they will teach you where to go and give you valuable travel advice. Finally, your spanish language skills will improve much quicker as it will provide you with many opportunities to practice what you learned. Being exposed to native speakers, you will learn to listen and understand the language and your vocabulary and pronunciation will improve dramatically.

Participants who previously attended our programs built a solid relationship with their host family, which extended beyond their stay. The host family is selected by ICIES according to strict criteria, since our goal is always to offer participants the best stay in Costa Rica they can possibly get. We take into account your religion, social values and personality to ensure a great match with their family members. In case conflicts arise, we will do all our possible to resolve them, which might mean changing the host family for one that better suits you.

Host families are mandatory for minor participants to ensure their safety and support. In addition to learning a new language, they will learn valuable life skills as Costa Rican parents can be strict but very loving of their children. ICIES is in constant contact with host families and receives feedback constantly so you know your children are in good hands.

Share a house with roommates

We also offer accommodation in big shared houses. You will get your own room and be able to access to a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom and a garden, which you will share with other program participants, fellow travelers or Costa Rican students. The house will be cleaned every week but you should still keep it in order out of respect for your roommates.
This type of accommodation is perfect if you want some independence but still want to meet new people of the same age as you. Sometimes being in a foreign country and learning a new language can be hard so it is good to have friends you can depend on when you need it.

Rent an apartment

If you want to have your own place during your stary, we can set you up in an appartment in a good location in whatever city you want to stay. All the apartments are fully furnished with a double bed, fully equipped kitchen, TV and internet access. Some apartments are close to host families if you still want to get the advantages of living with a local family without the constraints.