14 Day Spanish and Surf Summer Experience Holiday in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica
Spanish and Surf Holiday in Costa Rica: Where Language Meets the Ocean
Over fourteen transformative days, you complete 20 hours of Spanish instruction, 4x2 hours of professional surf training, 2 Restorative yoga sessions, 2 Latin dance workshops, a memorable campfire evening, and 3 extraordinary excursions into Costa Rica's wildlife, indigenous heritage, and natural ecosystems. All accommodation, breakfast and dinner, materials, and equipment are included from the moment you arrive until departure, allowing you to focus entirely on learning, surfing, and living the pura vida.
Meet the instructors
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Highlights
- Daily Spanish course (20 hours CEFR-aligned, materials included)
- Progressive surf training (4×2 hours) with instructor, gear, and transport
- Guided excursions: Bribri culture, cacao, waterfalls, and Cahuita National Park hikes
- Latin dance and yoga sessions for movement and expression
- Beach campfire evenings for connection and community
- 13 nights' accommodation in a shared retreat setting
- Meals included (2 per day as specified)
- Certificate of completion included
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Types
10 days with instruction in English
Average daily hours of activity: 5
Accommodation
Facilities
- Gym
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Volleyball court
- Café
- Environmentally friendly
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Meditation garden
- Multilingual staff
- Picnic area
- Restaurant
- Special menu request
- Yoga shala
- Bicycle rental
- Board rental
- Convenience / grocery store
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Tour assistance
- Outdoor shower
The student house offers basic but comfortable accommodation for 4-6 students per room in bunk beds. Breakfast alongside classmates and during evening dinner conversations might stretch from Spanish grammar debates to travel plans for Panama. This shared responsibility creates the accountability and connection that accelerates both language learning and personal growth.
Included amenities:
- Free high-speed Wi-Fi for remote work or video calls home
- Filtered drinking water and coffee station available all day
- Shared kitchen access for lunch preparation
- Surfboard storage and outdoor rinse station
- Yoga deck for morning flows or self-practice
- Library corner with Spanish learning materials and novels
- 24/7 staff support for emergencies or local recommendations
The neighborhood
Step outside, and you are on a quiet dirt road lined with tropical flowers. Ten minutes on foot brings you to Playa Cocles. Ten minutes by bicycle to reach the Puerto Viejo town center. The hostel sits intentionally just outside the main tourist strip — close enough for convenience, supermarkets, small restaurants, and bike rentals. Come and live an authentic immersion with local neighbors who wave as you pass.
Program
Live the pura vida while transforming Spanish skills and riding world-class waves on Costa Rica’s breathtaking Caribbean coast. This immersive summer program blends structured language learning with daily surf instruction, creating an unforgettable balance of education, adventure, and cultural connection.
Mornings are dedicated to interactive Spanish classes led by certified native instructors in small groups tailored to the CEFR-aligned level. Afternoons are spent in the warm Caribbean surf with professional coaches, supporting participants in catching waves from day one. Evenings bring the community together for home-cooked meals, yoga sessions, and local excursions that reveal the region's rich Afro-Latin culture.
Stay in a tropical student house just minutes from the beach, where a pool, hammocks, and shared spaces foster friendships with travelers from around the world. Whether taking a gap year, earning university credit, or simply seeking a meaningful escape, this program offers a balanced mix of personal growth, skill-building, and tropical adventure.
All-inclusive experience. No hidden costs. Just arrived, ready to learn and surf.
Day 1, Sunday: Arrival and welcome
Arrive at the student house, settle in, and explore the pool and tropical grounds. Join the welcome meeting and enjoy a welcome dinner of traditional Caribbean rice and beans with the community.
Day 2, Monday: Spanish and first waves
Morning placement test and module 1 Spanish session covering greetings and present tense, and a city tour. Afternoon surf lesson 1 teaches beach safety and pop-up technique. Free evening to relax.
Day 3, Tuesday: Routines and dance
Module 2 focuses on daily routines and reflexive verbs. Afternoon Latin dance session introduces salsa and bachata basics with a local instructor. Group dinner follows.
Day 4, Wednesday: Food culture and campfire
Module 3 covers food vocabulary and restaurant phrases. Surf lesson 2 builds paddling technique and stance in the white water. Evening beach campfire for storytelling and stargazing.
Day 5, Thursday: Navigation and yoga
Module 4 teaches directions and travel vocabulary. The afternoon yoga session focuses on surfer-specific flexibility and recovery. Free evening to explore town.
Day 6, Friday: Bribri and cacao
Full-day Bribri Indigenous and cacao tour in the Talamanca territory. Grind cacao into ceremonial chocolate and walk medicinal plant trails. Surf lesson 3 covers wave reading and turning before supervised independent practice. Community dinner and weekend briefing.
Day 7, Saturday: Jaguar rescue center
Sleep in, then visit the local animal rescue center for a guided tour of rescued wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, and snakes. Learn about conservation efforts and optionally assist with enrichment. Afternoon beach volleyball games and sunset at Playa Cocles.
Day 8, Sunday: Day off
For action lovers, a full-day rafting trip or half-day adventure tour (additional costs) is available. A more relaxed option includes beach exploration by bike or time by the pool.
Day 9, Monday: Past tenses and final surf
Module 6 introduces the past tense for sharing surf stories. Surf lesson 4 refines technique with personalized video analysis and feedback. Evening Latin dance session in merengue and calypso.
Day 10, Tuesday: Environment and recovery
Module 7 explores environmental vocabulary using weekend experiences and includes participation in a weekly beach cleanup. Afternoon yoga session supports deep tissue recovery and breathwork.
Day 11, Wednesday: Future plans and free surf
Module 8 teaches the future tense and subjunctive for travel planning. Free afternoon for independent surf practice or optional private Spanish tutoring. Evening live music in town.
Day 12, Thursday: Presentations and national park
Module 9 includes student cultural presentations and collaborative projects. Afternoon excursion to Cahuita National Park for a coastal rainforest hike with wildlife spotting; optional snorkeling depending on conditions.
Day 13, Friday: Final review and fiesta
Module 10 includes final review, progress evaluation, and certificate ceremony. Afternoon campfire with performances and a gratitude circle. Evening farewell pool party.
Day 14, Saturday: Departure
Final breakfast before departure from paradise. Optional extension includes volunteering with conservation programs, continuing Spanish classes, or independent travel.
Included excursions
- Local rescue center tour
- Bribri cultural and cacao experience
- Waterfall visit
- Cahuita National Park hike
Instructors
Beate Heycke
Beate Heycke is originally from Germany and has been living in Costa Rica since 2004. She is a mother of three and speaks German, English, and Spanish.
Location
Based on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast, where dense tropical rainforest meets turquoise Caribbean waters, this region moves to a slower rhythm than the crowded Pacific surf towns — think reggae beats drifting from beachfront cafes, bicycle paths shaded by coconut palms, and a melting pot of Afro-Latin, indigenous Bribri, and expat cultures living in harmony. The pace is intentionally unhurried. The air smells of salt, cacao, and fresh tropical fruit.
The Caribbean coast offers something the Pacific cannot replicate: cultural depth combined with uncrowded waves. You will surf breaks with five people, not fifty. You will practice Spanish with locals who have time to talk. You will wake up to the sound of howler monkeys and toucans. This is where immersion actually works — because the environment slows down enough for you to absorb language, skill, and perspective simultaneously.
Food
Breakfast
A healthy spread to start your day — fresh bread or toast, cheese, seasonal tropical fruits, granola, house-made yogurt, and marmalade. Coffee and tea available throughout the morning.
Dinner
Shared evening meals rotating through simple, fresh options:
- Local dishes — Caribbean rice and beans with fish or chicken, plantains, and fresh salads
- Pasta nights — vegetable primavera or homemade pesto with garden herbs
- Group favorites — falafel, burritos, breaded fish with roasted vegetables, curry, and rice bowls
- Weekly special — communal cooking evening where students and staff prepare a meal together
All meals include vegetarian options. Local ingredients are used when available, and everything is straightforward, healthy, and filling. Fresh juice or iced tea for dinner.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Lactose Free
Exclusive Gifts
Planet Conservation has prepared a few special surprises for you, including unique experiences and thoughtful extras to make your journey even more memorable.
Free Surf board comb keychain
Things to do (optional)
- Rafting tour
- Adventure tour
- Kayak tour
- ARA project visit
- Bike and quad rental
- Horseback riding beach
- Volunteering
Spa treatments
Ice bath and steam bath experiences are available in the rainforest, as well as a massage and a mindfulness workshop.
What's included
- Language course: 20 hours per week, group Spanish lessons (Monday - Friday mornings) with all materials, placement test, and progress certificate
- Surf Instruction: 4X2-hour lessons with certified local instructors, board, and rash guard rental included
- 13 nights' accommodation in the tropical student house with pool, hammocks, and communal kitchen
- Meals: Breakfast and dinner daily (vegetarian/vegan options available), featuring local Caribbean cuisine
- Activities: Weekly yoga sessions, eco-volunteer projects (turtle conservation, beach cleanups), cultural workshops (cooking, dance)
- Discounts for local tours, services, and shops
Included Exclusive Gifts
Free Surf board comb keychain
The Free Surf board comb keychain is our newest addtion from your plastic-free campaign and is a small but purposeful gift for you —something that blends everyday utility with a clear environmental message and a cute reminder of your time here. We hope you like it as much as we do.
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfer
- Lunch and snacks
- Medical insurance
- Other excursions than mentioned, gifts, and evening activities
- Local transportation
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer available for additional US$ 60 per person
Limón International Airport
47 km away from your destination
Transfer available for additional US$ 70 per person
Juan Santamaría International Airport
166 km away from your destination
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
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