Family Immersion Trip Payment
Make your immersion deposit and other payments for your upcoming family trip! Please include 1 deposit* per person who will be traveling on your family trip.
After you make a deposit, you will be given access to our Family Spanish Immersion Pre-Departure Course to help you in your planning.
You may return to this page to make your remaining payments by selecting the Remaining Balance Payment* option to enter a specific amount.
*As detailed in the terms and conditions, program payments are non-refundable. A portion of your payment may be transferable to a future program. Please contact CGI program leaders ASAP if you anticipate a change in your travel plans to discuss your options.
Family Immersion Trip Payment for the CGI family Spanish immersion trip to Ecuador and Costa Rica!
Common Ground’s Spanish immersion for families in Ecuador and Costa Rica provides a safe yet adventurous time learning Spanish and experiencing another culture.
- How the Family Spanish Immersion program started:
In 2003 Rory & Leslie Foster (owners of Common Ground International) started running Spanish Immersion Programs for professionals and students. - The next year, in 2004, they had their first child. They knew they didn’t want to stop traveling with clients, nor leave their kids at home. Their only option was to figure out how to include the kids in their work. They began learning all the tricks of the trade to traveling to Latin America with their children.
- After nearly two decades of travel to Latin America with their children, they have put together the trip that’s perfect for the family that wants to weave Spanish immersion into their vacation or travel plans!
What are the steps to register with your Family immersion trip payment?
- Most families want to have a conversation with Rory first to discuss their unique family, experiences with Spanish and goals for a trip like this. Complete the Family Immersion Interest Form to get a call scheduled!
- After your call, Rory will provide a cost estimate based on the experience you’re looking for. You can calculate your own estimates here on the family immersion rate sheet page.
- Once you’ve decided to travel with us, we request that you make your family immersion trip deposit in the amount of $400 per person in order to secure your spot and begin working on the details of your program for you.
Learn more about our Family Spanish Immersion Trips here
Erik Pardo –
We enjoyed not having to plan events, locations to attend and that lodging was already planned. We enjoyed the communications that were given to us daily as well as before we came out to Costa Rica. It was important for our family that we go through this program together. We liked knowing that all the details were taken care of and felt safe in all of our environments.
Our favorite excursions were both the Toucan Rescue and Isla Tortuga. My oldest daughter enjoyed the snorkeling and banana boat ride. We also enjoyed the food that was provided. The Toucan rescue was also fun as our children were able to learn and see the different types of animals that are native to Costa Rica. Our youngest daughter prays nightly that the animals can be released back into the wild.
I felt like I learned some valuable information when learning in my class to help improve my Spanish. My wife also mentioned that even though we were there only one week, she noticed that her mind was starting to translate quicker and becoming more proficient in her ability. Our daughters feel more confident in speaking Spanish and they are more open to us speaking to them in Spanish. They are not afraid to make a mistake as they were before.
Bonnie Herman –
We thoroughly enjoyed our family and educator trip with Common Ground to Costa Rica this summer. They worked with us from age 12 to 56 to 81! My son left with a positive feeling about Costa Rica and a greater affinity for Spanish. We were matched with the best host family and loved spending time with them. Thanks so much for this great experience. We hope to be back!
Sarah Alexander –
We did the Family Immersion Program in Costa Rica for two weeks. We loved everything about it. We had wonderful homestay experiences with three different Costa Rican Families. Each family was so fun and accommodating. The Lapa Verde Spanish School is lovely. All of the teachers are experienced and engaging. The trip was so well organized. All plans were very well communicated to us. Most of all, the Foster family is so welcoming, helpful and fun. We loved getting to know them and all of the participants. We highly recommend this program to anyone looking for a Spanish Immersion program for families.
Keith Haugen –
Our 16 year old son Sam recently returned from a two-week Spanish language immersion trip to Ecuador with Common Ground International’s high school program. To say it was a positive experience would be an understatement – it was truly life-changing for him.
The trip was exceptionally well-organized from start to finish. What stood out immediately was the quality of the trip leaders. They were not only knowledgeable and capable but also showed genuine care for the students’ experience and safety. As parents, we particularly appreciated their efforts to keep us informed throughout the journey, providing regular updates that kept us in the loop throughout the trip.
The itinerary was well planned, with a perfect blend of language immersion, cultural experiences, and adventure. The highlight was undoubtedly the second week when the group embarked on a backpacking expedition to a high Amazon research station. This portion of the trip provided truly once in a lifetime experiences, including hikes to caves, waterfalls and swimming holes as well as ongoing lessons in local biology/geology/ecology. Perhaps most exciting was the opportunity to monitor and witness an active volcano eruption – WOW!
Common Ground International clearly understands the importance of pushing students out of their comfort zones while ensuring their safety and engagement. The program successfully balanced language learning with adventure and cultural immersion.
Common Ground International’s flexibility and willingness to accommodate family needs was impressive. They helped us coordinate an additional week-long language immersion experience in Costa Rica for our entire family – myself, my wife, our younger daughter, and Sam – after his Ecuador trip. This extension allowed us to share in Sam’s language learning journey and create lasting family memories.
Thank you again Rory and Leslie!
Kate Elia –
The program exceeded our expectations in every way, from the quality of the Spanish lessons to the day-to-day life in Santo Domingo. We took two young kids – they were so adventurous and adaptable, and I chalk that up to the warm and welcoming vibes of Common Ground. It was a beautiful experience.
Anita Chupp –
Well organized, comfortable way to immerse your family in Spanish speaking culture through classes, home stay, and activities. Responsive to needs and providing the right amount of support for your family’s goals/ needs
C. Suero –
The best decision you will make for your family.
This summer, my husband and I participated in the Cuenca, Ecuador, program with our 9- and 7-year-old children; it was life-changing. Everything, from the breathtaking excursions to the host family to the classes, was organized, effective, and enriching. You also won’t find two more consummate professionals and seasoned travelers than Rory and Leslie. They are truly exceptional. I felt so lucky to be with them wherever we went. They were calm under pressure, kind at all times, and fun to be around.
My children’s Spanish vastly improved from virtually nothing to being able to carry on a conversation pretty decently in two weeks. They were in class with the sweetest and most patient teacher, who you could tell loved every minute of being in the classroom. She took them on short field trips, cooked with them, and played with them. The kids absolutely loved their daily classes.
CGI was also very accommodating to my own need to work remotely while participating in the program and made sure I was set up with wi-fi in a quiet space at the school. I really appreciated still feeling like part of the group even though I couldn’t make all of the classes and events.
Our host family was very kind and opened up their beautiful home with open arms. They prepared lovely meals every day, took us around to get to know Cuenca, and chatted with us for hours. In just two short weeks, we all became pretty close, especially our kiddos, who cried when they had to say goodbye to the host family’s 9-year-old daughter. I’m happy to report that we all still keep in touch via WhatsApp!
The city of Cuenca is also amazing. It’s small enough to feel safe and get around with ease, but big enough to have a lot going on, great restaurants, and a vibrant artistic scene. We absolutely loved it and plan to return for a longer period of time.
I strongly recommend traveling with Common Ground International. The CGI team’s wisdom, travel prowess, connections, and expertise curate a unique experience that you couldn’t achieve on your own. They are the perfect team to introduce a country whose natural majestic beauty, delicious food, charming people, rich history, and warm culture will leave you in awe. And you might even leave with one or two lifelong friends!
Ryann Bierer –
I can’t recommend the Family Immersion trip with Common Ground International highly enough! This trip was fantastic and my daughter just asked me today if we can go again (we returned home 2 weeks ago).
After reading reviews and talking to Rory on the phone, I felt confident that I could travel solo with my two children and have the support I needed with CGI. This all proved true. Even when a minor medical issue came up, Leslie met me in the town center and helped me navigate the pharmacy and lab, while also keeping my daughter entertained while I cared for my son.
My kids (8 and 5) had a great experience both in and out of their Spanish classes. They were the only two younger kids in the program during the week we were there and they had a wonderful teacher who was willing to teach them together and meet them at their individual levels. They played and learned and went on mini-excursions when they needed a break from the classroom. Dani was so flexible, always coming up with ideas to expand their learning. I think the one-week program was just right for them this time, but we all agree we would like to return and stay longer.
I really enjoyed my Spanish teacher and loved the small group instruction. I learned so much and loved the dedicated time to study.
We also really appreciated our host mother. She was incredibly kind and helpful, and very patient with my picky 5 year old, trying to find foods that she would eat while still cooking delicious traditional meals for my son and I.
The tours were great and we loved the weekend at Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. Everything is incredibly well organized, yet everyone was flexible and willing to work with us if we needed to take a break from a tour or forego a group activity due to short attention spans.
I’m incredibly grateful to the entire CGI team for making our family first immersion experience such a success!
Kristin Hardie –
Bucket list worthy experience. Very nice family, great learning and service opportunities, interesting day tours. Spectacular views and food. I went with my 12 year old and we had a ball and learned a ton.
Elliott Family –
Our family enjoyed a fully immersive family immersion trip with Common Ground International this past winter! Throughout the planning process we felt supported by the resources CGI provided, ranging from excursion recommendations to packing checklists and video tutorials the methods for communication are accessible and informative.
For the trip with CGI, we spent the bulk of our time in Ecuador at a language school. During planning, CGI gave us the opportunity to select the learning arrangement for myself, my spouse and our 8 yo son. We decided based on the results of the placement test to each have our own tutor. This 1 on 1 learning worked well for a week and the tutors were excellent in providing lessons to improve comprehension in areas we needed. In the future and if we were to go longer my spouse and I would likely request to be together and seek a learning group for our child. The afterschool excursions were thoughtfully planned and guided by instructors from the school. The timing of the extended learning experiences gave us plenty of opportunities to be on our own before returning to school in the afternoon.
By far our favorite aspect of the CGI immersion experience is being pared with a host family. Our host family was kind, knowledgeable of the area, and incredibly welcoming!! Having that opportunity to speak over meals and in a safe and relaxed setting raised our Spanish speaking to another level.
I highly recommend this trip for families looking for international language learning opportunities!!
Schofield Family –
My husband and I decided on an immersion trip with Common ground. We brought with our three children, ages 10, 7, and four. Overall we had a good experience. We were impressed with the organization prior to the trip as they ensured that we were completely ready and informed. Leslie and Rory did a great job prepping us with the meetings and pre trip modules.
Our host family was very sweet and kind. Super accommodating and fed us well each morning and night. She was able to provide foods that my kids enjoyed and ate. Our space was pretty spacious and our walk to school was about 10-12 min.
We decided to do the entire 4 hours of language classes and stay for one week. My husband and I both did medical Spanish but we’re in two separate classes. My 10 and 7 year old were in one class and did really well with the instructors and my older two kids really enjoyed it. My younger child, 4-year-old, did have some difficulty adjusting as the language barrier was hard for her. I think this is absolutely normal though considering the immersion. Overall I would say we had great experience for my family, and we did truly feel safe the entire time.
Erika C –
Our family of 5 (3 kids) went to do this program for only a week over Spring Break, but it was so memorable! I only wish we could have stayed longer, but we know we have to come back! Our 14 year old stayed with another family and while that was a little scary for him at first, it turned out to be a very impactful trip and he was grateful he stayed on his own with another family.
Rory was INCREDIBLE in helping me plan out our excursions when we weren’t in school and he helped to really customize the overall program for our needs. I was so grateful for his guidance and help throughout the planning process and even during the week of our immersion experience.
I loved our host families – we were so connected even though they didn’t really speak English (and we aren’t fluent in Spanish yet!)
What an incredible experience – thank you Rory!!!
Jason Murphy –
My family recently returned from a two week immersion and instruction program in Costa Rica, and we had a terrific time. All of the logistics, details and plans were seamless and well-thought out. Everyone involved – from Common Ground, to our school officials to our home stay family – were friendly, competent, caring and eager for our experience to be productive/successful. We thank them all! We had never been to CR, but the planning and throughtfulness that went into organizing our trip meant that we had a wonderful experience that was absent any glitches, issues, or problems. We’d do it again in a minute! Thank you Common Ground….we’re very appreciative – and no big fans!
Delilah Demers –
Wonderful Trip!!! The CGI family took care of most of the logistics and made this a seamless stress free experience. The prep and planning before the trip was great and let us know what to expect in Costa Rica. The school and teachers were amazing and I felt challenged with class while not being overwhelmed. Staying with a Tica Family was icing on the cake – welcoming families and learned much about the culture and daily lifestyle.
Mackenzie Lupov –
My family spent two weeks in Costa Rica this past summer with Common Ground – including my husband, myself, and my two kids aged 5 and 9. We had a wonderful experience and learned so many amazing things.
We lived with a host family so we were exposed to Spanish in the home and also to the Costa Rica culture. The host family took pride in showing us the Costa Rican way including shopping, food, and futbol.
Each person in our family was at a different Spanish level but the classes were created to fit each of us individually. We all were able to improve our Spanish and meet some amazing teachers. My husband knew no Spanish going in and I had years of experience and we both felt like the program met our needs.
Rory and Leslie were so helpful and went out of their way to help us make the experience the best it could be. We felt very supported during our time. They also coordinate some great excursions and it is nice to not worry and just enjoy.
We plan on returning to Costa Rica in the future – hopefully for a more extended period of time!
Pat H –
Wonderful Program! Rory and Leslie were able to accommodate our large group (2 adults and 5 kids) and we thoroughly enjoyed the family atmosphere of Common Ground. Our one week stay in the Central Valley was truly immersive: meals and conversations with our host families gave us the chance to get to know individuals personally, the Spanish lessons allowed us to explore a new language, and the excursions and community building provided greater cultural awareness each day.
Some of our favorite memories are learning to make empanadas at the language school, playing basketball and soccer with kids in the neighborhood, and singing old country songs with our host family at night.
This was such a powerful experience, and we learned so much together in the course of one week. It brought us closer together as a family and planted seeds for reflection and action as we returned to the United States. Many thanks to all of the folks at CGI and Lapa Verde School for this wonderful opportunity!
Matthew McDevitt –
My wife’s and three children, ages 12 and nine and nine, had a fantastic experience with Common Ground. Their immersion program , combining home stays with families and classroom education is a great model and tremendous experience, and really facilitates learning to speak Spanish. Living with a family in Costa Rica was an amazing experience that I would recommend to everyone. We learned so much and had great conversations, and even put together a Spanish karaoke night at their house one evening!
Erin –
My husband, 7-year-old daughter, and I spent two weeks in Costa Rica, including one week of Spanish classes in Heredia and a stay with a host family. It is hard to know where to begin because the entire trip exceeded our expectations in every way!
PLANNING: From our initial inquiry, Rory put me at ease with his description of program possibilities and the questions he asked to better understand our needs. We talked a few times, and fairly quickly, I had a sense this was the right fit for us. I was amazed at the extra guidance Rory and Leslie provided beyond the planning of spanish courses. We had a few phone calls/email exchanges to talk about our trip details before and after the course so he could give suggestions on areas to visit, places to stay, restaurants, tips like what it’s like to actually drive in CR, and more). He followed up with a personalized itinerary for the whole trip – what an awesome benefit!. Since it was a Google Doc, we could work together to add details and work out logistics.
CGI provides helpful resources like packing lists, tips for navigating, travel insurance, and more. One area that was particularly helpful was suggesting ideas for host family gifts and the video geared at kids about not petting dogs.
HOST FAMILY: If you are curious or apprehensive about the host family stay, my advice is to just go for it. To be honest, we didn’t know what to expect, but it turned out to be such a gift to experience local life. Our host mom took me to a Zumba class at a neighborhood rec center, we shared meals, fumbled through language together, and it was just such a special time.
CLASSES: Per Rory’s suggestion, we spent two hours per day in classes. Each of us was in a separate, private class because we are all different levels (my husband is a Spanish newbie, I used to be decently conversational but have gotten very rusty, and my daughter had some exposure in school). Classes were in the afternoon because it was rainy season. This allowed us time to explore in the mornings before the rain.
I cannot say enough good things about our instructors. My teacher was able to gauge my strengths and weaknesses quickly, and I appreciated that she provided some direct instruction in Spanish (e.g., reviewing past tense verb conjugation) and a lot of opportunity for conversation. She also supplemented with tactile and visual aids (like flashcards, games, reading passages). My husband also loved his teacher. They jumped right into beginning conversation and by the end of the week, I was amazed by all he had learned. My daughter’s teacher was warm and friendly and also gave her the structure she needed. To teacher her, they created art, made pastries, sang songs, and played games. It was perfectly exactly age- and level-appropriate.
When we visited, we were the only family studying, along with a group of 8th graders and a group of high school students. Leslie made us feel welcome and included, and invited us to join the students’ activities, like a hip-hop class and a cooking class. The entire staff was lovely and made us feel at home.
If you are considering Spanish classes with your family, I cannot recommend CGI enough. I hope we can do it again soon. On a future trip, we would definitely do the host stay again. My only change would be to go for longer if possible – the one week worked out well this time but I didn’t want to leave!
Michelle F –
Wow! My 2 children and I had the most amazing immersion experience with the Common Ground family. From the moment I decided that we were going to do it, Rory and Leslie were helpful, supportive and patient. They clearly communicated the pros and cons of program options and were flexible in making things work for us. Although our Spanish was limited, I felt welcomed and safe to practice my “best” Spanish with the Common Ground family and other program participants. Everyone was super nice and helpful, especially with my 12- and 14-year old who were overwhelmed and “shy”.
The Common Ground family facilitated a true immersion experience, yet supported our limited Spanish…I learned so much (including to adjust my expectations for myself and my children). Learning another language is challenging, but the Common Ground family helped make it fun and really understood how overwhelmed we were at times.
I can’t say enough great things about our trip … we adored our host Tica mom and our Spanish teachers. We went on amazing trips, exploring the beaches, National parks, and other parts of Costa Rica, with the Common Ground family and on our own. (Rory and Leslie were extremely helpful with our planning for our solo trips.) And, most importantly, we extended our comfort zone and learned a ton of Spanish in the process. My kids are looking forward to starting Spanish at school and want to do the program again in the future.
Thank you Common Ground family!
Julie –
Loved everything about the family immersion trip!!!
The teacher was perfectly suited for our family! After the first lesson, I asked my 5yr old what she learned, and she replied, “Nothing. We just played.” How perfect is that?–She had no idea that she was learning. The immersion method really works, too. Our children’s Spanish took a huge leap as a result of the classes designed specifically for their ages and interests. The teacher was so kind, and took into consideration my children’s requests to play certain games over and over. (And over. And over. And over again.)
I also loved how we were able to work together with Common Ground to design a class and schedule that worked best for us. They were with us every step of the way and even made changes to the program activity schedule for us after we were already there to accommodate our needs.
Casa Papaya is also very conveniently located, making it exceptionally easy to get around without a car. Everything you could possibly need is within a few minutes’ walking distance. It is a safe, comfortable place to stay and really lends itself to the immersion experience as most of the residents and shop owners do not speak English.
I cannot say enough good things about this program. My only regret is that we couldn’t stay longer. We plan on returning and doing it all again in a few years.