Playa Tamarindo Teens Language, Adventures & Surf Camp - Nicoya Peninsula, Guanacaste. Costa Rica
INTRODUCTION
The world leader in youth Spanish camps in Costa Rica. Over the past 25 years, we have worked with thousands of students, parents, families and high school administrators to set up unique educational summer programs. Each of our Teen Camps is designed to combine the learning of the language with fun, adventurous, educational and culturally significant activities.
Our signature Spanish and Surf Camp, offered in Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica, is still the only one of its type in Latin America. Our Spanish, Service and Turtle Rescue Camp based in Turrialba is a fantastic immersion and service opportunity that really makes a difference in the world.
We believe that learning the language has to do with more than just class time and homework. For this reason, the school offers two different cultural activities each week. Examples of these are Latin cooking classes, Latin dance classes, Spanish movie night, trips to nearby beaches, afternoon field trips to local markets with instructors and half-day tours. By helping students learn more about the Latin culture we believe they are going to learn more Spanish.
THE ACCOMMODATION
Residential campers stay in our fully supervised student housing, designed for comfort and community. Rooms are clean and air-conditioned, with shared common spaces and on-site staff. Meals are freshly prepared, nutritious, and cater to dietary needs. It truly feels like a safe home away from home.
Safety is our top priority. From the moment campers arrive, they’re under the care of experienced, background-checked staff trained in emergency procedures. We partner only with certified local providers for tours and activities, and we maintain a strict 24/7 supervision policy.
THE ACTIVITIES
Surfing. Volunteering. Conversations in Spanish.
An amazing experience where teens grow more fluent in Spanish, more confident in themselves, and more connected to the world around them.
Each day we combine interactive immersion Spanish classes with surf lessons on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Playa Tamarindo. When you add in weekend adventure tours, evening cultural activities and a weekly service project, you get an exciting and challenging study abroad experience. No prior surf or language experience necessary to join, although it does help!
Our Surf Camp takes place in Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica, which is located on the Northern Pacific coast. Tamarindo is a world-famous surfing destination with three different beaches and dozens of different breaks in the immediate area. This makes it an ideal place for a camp with suffers from all levels of ability, from beginner to advanced. Certain parts of the beach are perfect for beginners, while just a couple hundred meters away is a completely different break, great for intermediate and advanced levels.
As students progress in their ability, they will be challenged with larger and more technical waves. This white sand beach is more than a mile and a half long from the point to the river mouth. Our private Spanish institute is literally right on the beach overlooking the ocean and is in the middle of town. This central location makes it walking distance to the surf, the lodging compound and all of the local restaurants and shops. We participate in a number of cultural activities from Latin Dance Classes and Cooking Classes to Yoga Lessons on the beach to warm up for surfing. Spanish classes are from 8 am to 12 noon or 1 pm to 5 pm.
The weekly schedule will depend upon the tides in order to ensure the best surf. On the weekends, we will be exploring the surrounding Guanacaste Province, which is a Tropical Dry Forest region. This means that it gets the least rain and the sunniest days, even in the green season. There are mountains, volcanos, rivers, hidden waterfalls, deserted beaches, pristine islands and primary forests to discover. We will raft down mountain rivers, zip line through forest canopies, horseback ride on white-sand beaches, sea kayak to islands, swim in crystal blue bays and hike to towering waterfalls.
Students can volunteer at local orphanages, schools, churches and senior centres. During the middle weekend, the Camp will visit the Caribbean coast and participate in a Sea Turtle Rescue and Habitat Restoration Project. The final weekend we will volunteer in a remote mountain co-op community, dedicated to sustainability.
By participating in needed projects we will improve the lives of those being served. Costa Rica is an amazing tropical paradise full of exotic animals and adventure tours and cultural activities. On our first day, we will raft down through the pristine primary forest on the exhilarating Pacuare River, hike in the jungle and zip through the forest canopy.
We are committed to helping protect the beauty and natural environment of Costa Rica. In order to give back, all students will participate in a beach clean-up each Friday and a portion of each student’s tuition is donated to the local Surf Rider Foundation.
Safety is our top priority. From the moment campers arrive, they’re under the care of experienced, background-checked staff trained in emergency procedures. We partner only with certified local providers for tours and activities, and we maintain a strict 24/7 supervision policy. Our accommodations are secure and monitored, and we follow a comprehensive safety-first policy that includes health check protocols and emergency response plans.
LOCATION & GETTING HERE
LOCATION
Playa Tamarindo is on Costa Rica’s west coast on the Nicoya Peninsula and is one of the country’s most beautiful beaches. The long, white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters attract nature lovers, surfers, turtle watchers and sun seekers all year round, Guanacaste receives the least amount of rain a year and is very dry, even in the rainy season.
Though it is a great tourist destination, the town and area still have a very Costa Rican feel. Local fisherman and farmers still live and work as their families have for generations before them.
The school is located right on the beach in the center of town. We are steps away from the sand and as well the shops, restaurants and all that Tamarindo has to offer. The school occupies the second and third floors of a three story thatch roofed building.
Besides being a nature lover’s paradise with numerous outdoor activities and wildlife, Tamarindo has a very enjoyable and active nightlife. The town boasts numerous cafes, restaurants, bars and discotheques, as well as local Fiestas. These ‘fiestas’ move from town to town, but are never far away and a great deal of fun.
Getting Here
Airports
Students are asked to fly into and out of Liberia Airport (LIR). Most US carriers now fly into this airport. Delta, United, American, Southwest and Alaska have daily flights. A Saturday pick-up option is available for an additional fee.
Students can fly into and out of San Jose Airport (SJO) as well, but there is an additional fee for these services.
Additional Information
If you plan to travel with your teen before the camp, please let us know your arrangements. We will happily try to accommodate your needs as long as we are given prior notice.
Spanish classes are held at our private Spanish Institute in Playa Tamarindo. Classes are Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 10 am or from 1 pm, to 3 pm, depending on the surf. All students are given a language evaluation to determine their level and then split up into classes that best fit their abilities. All course materials are included in the camp. There will be
days when the Spanish classes schedule will be switched to the afternoon. This camp staff will make this call dependent upon the best surf conditions.
All activities are scheduled for the dates and times listed but are subject to change due to weather conditions or other circumstances beyond our control. In case of an activity being changed, we will do our best to reschedule. If a surf trip or activity must be cancelled and cannot be made up, there is no refund.
We believe that learning the language has to do with more than just class time and homework. For this reason, the school offers two different cultural activities each week. Examples of these are Latin cooking classes, Latin dance classes, Spanish movie night, trips to nearby beaches, afternoon field trips to local markets with instructors and half-day tours. By helping students learn more about the Latin culture we believe they are going to learn more Spanish.
What to bring and NOT to bring
- For the Teen Camps, students will need very minimal spending money as all essentials are covered.
- There is a $29/person airport exit tax that is not included in any camp price and not always included in the price of the airline ticket. This should be factored into the spending money for each student.
- Students are asked to bring all of their belongings in a waterproof backpack.
- Sturdy water shoes
- Rain ponchos
- Flashlights
- Multiple swimsuits
- Beach towels
- At least one pair of pants
- Bug repellent
- Sunscreen is required
- All clothing should be water-resistant or quick-drying.
- It is not recommended that students bring any unnecessary electronic devices that might be ruined by exposure to rain or water.
Important to know
Most airlines require that students 14 years of age and younger travelling by themselves participate in the unaccompanied minor program. This is an additional service and the charge can be between $75 and $125 each way.
This price is also not a part of any camp price, including the Free Airline Ticket Discount and is paid by the parent. Students 15 years and older are generally not considered minors and thus, the unaccompanied minor program is not mandatory but may be elected.
It is the parent’s responsibility to check all applicable rules that might apply to their child while travelling abroad. The parent must correspond with us to make sure that the arrival and departure dates and times meet the particular student’s needs. Parents must send a copy of the ticket and itinerary along with the unaccompanied minor registration form and invoice if necessary. We will need this in order to pick up the students when he or she arrives.
PRICES & PACKAGES
Dates:
Start dates are every Sunday from June 14 through August 09
Age
13 to 17 years old
Residential Campers Package
Prices starts at $ 1930 per week
- 20 hours/week of Spanish classes
- 2 surf lessons/week with boards
- 1 adventure tour/week
- 2 volunteer days (turtle conservation, beach clean-up, reforestation, or animal shelter)
- Option to add extra surf lessons or Spanish classes
- 3 meals per day
- Lodging in our camp compound
- Weekend 2-day adventure tours
- Evening cultural activities
- 24/7 supervision policy
Day Campers Package
Prices starts at $ 1070 per week
- 20 hours/week of Spanish classes
- 2 surf lessons/week with boards
- 1 adventure tour/week
- 2 volunteer days (turtle conservation, beach clean-up, reforestation, or animal shelter)
- Option to add extra surf lessons or Spanish classes
- Mid-morning snack and lunch every day
- 24/7 supervision policy
Discounts
- Sibling or Friend Discount: $50 off per week for each Residential Camper
- Sibling Discount: $25 off per week for each Day Camper
- Long Term Discount: $500 off for Residential Campers enrolled for 4 weeks or more
