The holidays are over, it’s January again already, and you’re dreading spending another semester break back in your hometown. Instead of wasting your days just waiting for your free time to come to an end, why not spend some fun-filled days or weeks in Costa Rica? Bring your best girlfriends or your best guy friends, or a mix of both, and escape to one of today’s hottest vacation destinations.
Costa Rica is the perfect place for a spontaneous quick getaway or a longer stay during your month off. Take an easy and reasonably priced flight from your local airport and arrive at any of the country’s two international hubs—San Jose or Liberia. With a well-architected infrastructure, it’s easy to get yourself around once you arrive. Take quick flights within the country to reach your favorite places as soon as possible; rent a car and have the freedom to get up and go any time; or use the highly reliable bus system that reaches all corners of the country. Costa Rica is the safest nation in Central America, and you’ll find that the local people are friendly and accommodating, always reaching out to help new visitors and make new friends.
You and your buddies can spend days relaxing at the beach, warming up in Costa Rica’s many hot spring spots, or a hanging out at the spa and pool. Sign up for group surf lessons and learn how to ride the waves, or maybe try out kayaking or windsurfing.
Although Costa Rica is well-known for its gorgeous, seemingly endless miles of coastlines, there’s more to the country than fun in the sun. Its rainforests, exotic wildlife, and outdoor adventures provide hours of entertainment. Protected lands and national parks are a big draw for ecotourism. You and your friends can see monkeys and toucans in their natural environments, or experience your first active volcano up close at the rim. On a hike through the cloud and rainforests, a guide can teach you the names of all the indigenous vibrant flowers and vegetation.
Need to fit in some hard-core studious hours during your stay? No problem—there are a wide variety of educational and cultural-enriching opportunities to be had throughout Costa Rica as well. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced Spanish classes are offered all over the country. You can enroll in classes for a few days or weeks at a time. If you want an even more fulfilling cultural immersion, opt for a homestay while in Costa Rica. Most Spanish schools can arrange for you to live with a local family who only speaks Spanish. This way you can get in even more language-speaking time and you can learn about the culture first hand.
