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, and they wanted to raise a bilingual family with exposure to other lifestyles and cultures.
They began learning all the tricks of the trade of traveling to Latin America with their children in all stages; diapers, nursing, crawling, toddling, pre-teens, teenagers and now young adults.
After nearly two decades of travel with their children, they have put together the trip that’s perfect for families that want to weave Spanish immersion and cultural exposure into their vacation or travel plans!
Costa Rica
Costa Rica Spanish Immersion
Our family Spanish immersion in the Central Valley of Costa Rica puts your family in an small non-touristy city where you can live life like a local!
Santo Domingo de Heredia is located in a historical coffee plantation area of the central valley.
This location is great for:
- Families who love to explore
- Families who want to incorporate volunteer projects in their immersion
- Museums and cultural activities
- Optional chocolate, coffee, and animal rescue ranch tours
- Exploring farmers markets and central markets
- Moms traveling with kids who want some support on their trip (during our regularly scheduled programs)
Location
2025 Dates
Summer program: you choose your start date- July 5 or July 12, 2025
24/7 Support
Possible to combine with Ecuador programs
Ecuador
Ecuador Spanish Immersion
Our family Spanish immersion in the colonial city of Cuenca gives your family exposure to cobblestone streets, historical churches, Incan ruins and a plethora of cultural activities.
Cuenca is a city located in the south central region of Ecuador. “Cuenca” means bowl, the city got its name as it’s in a valley surrounded by mountains.
This location is great for:
- Families who love to explore
- Families who want to incorporate volunteer projects in their immersion
- Museums and cultural activities
- Embedding your family in a non-touristy area
- Hiking in the nearby mountains
- Cuenca is a long bus ride from Quito (8hrs), or a shorter bus ride from Guayaquil. It’s a quick flight from Quito (45 min.)
Location
2025 Dates
24/7 Support
Possible to combine with Costa Rica programs
Two Ways to Travel as a Family: On Program and Off Program
On program
- February, June, July
- Perfect when just 1 parent is traveling with children. We provide infrastructure and day to day support.
- Various volunteer opportunities throughout the trip.
- Other families with children present so that your children can make friends and have classmates.
- Planned and effortless 1/2 day tours, weekend excursions, etc.
Off program
- Customized travel dates: You choose the dates, we put the itinerary together for you.
- Daily Common Ground support via whatsapp, email, etc.
- Limited volunteer opportunities.
- Extremely immersive. Likely no other (or very few) English speakers around while you’re traveling.
- Customized weekend trips, activities and half day tours.
Flexibility: Customized to fit your family needs. Choose the location you prefer, your timeline, and desired activities.
Live like a local: safe and full integrated into the language and culture as a family. Not your style- we have house, apartment and hotel recommendations too!
Family Spanish immersion classes: rarely is the whole family at the same Spanish level, we have classes for adults, kids, beginners or advanced. 10 to 20 hrs. per week, you choose!
Engage in the community: with our unique, family friendly volunteer activities. (Not available in all locations)
- A week of homestay with a local host family
- Two meals per day (breakfast and dinner) with your host family
- Spanish instruction by native, certified Spanish instructors (hours defined by the option you choose – 10 or 20 hours per week)
- Travel medical insurance
- Volunteer projects
- Optional excursions or overnight, weekend excursions for your family
- Transportation
COSTA RICA & ECUADOR SPANISH IMMERSION FOR FAMILIES
If I participate – What are the expected outcomes?
Become more fluent in Spanish
A life-changing experience
A deeper understanding of the culture
Participate in relevant, sustainable and language-rich community engagement projects
Explore the beauty of Costa Rica and Ecuador
Learn outside your comfort zone
Highlights
- 1 – 6 weeks in length
- Consider 10 days to have a full weekend to explore
- Live like a local with a host family (hotel / hostel options too)
- 20hrs/week of Spanish classes
- Optional 1:1 private lessons
- Tuesday – Thursday outreach projects
- Explore amazing beaches, volcanoes , cloud forests, coffee tours, national parks & más!
- A great place to include your family or significant other for a post-trip vacation
- Interprofessional mix of fellow travelers
- Fly in and out of San Jose (SJO)
Location
Based in Santo Domingo de Heredia
- 7/5/25-7/12/25
- 7/12/25 – 7/19/25
- 7/5/25 – 7/19/25
- 7/12/25 – 7/26/25
- 7/5/25 – 7/26/25
- 7/12/25 – 8/2/25
- 7/5/25 – 8/16/25 (wks 4 – 6 are “off-program”) – see FAQs
General Program Itinerary:
First Saturday & Sunday
Saturday is generally the day we ask you to arrive in country so that you can get settled in with your host family and have Sunday to get to know the town before your program starts on Monday.
Mon – Fri Afternoons
Small group Spanish classes from 1-5pm
Tue – Fri Mornings
These are the days we dedicate to community outreach work.
Weekends
Explore the country! We put together a weekend trip every weekend. You are free to join us, stay with your host family, or DIY a weekend excursion!
Highlights
- 1 – 6 weeks in length
- Consider 10 days to have a full weekend to explore
- Live like a local with a host family (hotel / hostel options too)
- 20hrs/week of Spanish classes
- Optional 1:1 private lessons
- Tuesday – Thursday outreach projects
- Explore local markets, Inca ruins, national parks, the Andes, soak in volcanic hot springs, mitad del mundo & más
- Include your family or significant other on a post-trip vacation to the Galapagos Islands
- Interprofessional mix of fellow travelers
- Fly in to Quito (UIO) with domestic flight to Cuenca or overland travel with us on optional weekend excursion
Location
Based in Cuenca, Ecuador
- 6/14/25 – 6/21/25
- 6/21/25 – 6/28/25
- 6/14/25 – 6/28/25
- 6/21/25 – 7/5/25
- 6/14/25 – 7/5/25
- 6/14/25 – 7/12/25 (wk 4 is “off-program” – see FAQs | consider combo trip)
- 6/14/25 – 7/19/25 (wks 4 & 5 are “off-program” – see FAQs | consider combo trip)
- 6/14/25 – 7/26/25 (wks 4 – 6 are “off-program” – see FAQs | consider combo trip)
General Program Itinerary:
First Saturday & Sunday
Saturday is generally the day we ask you to arrive in country so that you can get settled in with your host family and have Sunday to get to know the town before your program starts on Monday.
Mon – Fri Afternoons
Small group Spanish classes from 1-5pm
Tue – Fri Mornings
These are the days we dedicate to community outreach work.
Weekends
Take time to explore the country! We put together a weekend trip every weekend. You are free to join us, stay with your host family, or DIY a weekend excursion!
*Check out the Costa Rica or Ecuador programs
It’s easy to get more information and make sure you’ve got all the details squared away for your Family Spanish Immersion trip. Fill out the following form to let us know what you’re looking for so we can help you find your best options!
Diversity and Inclusivity on Spanish Immersion
Our mission of Impacting Communities Through Language extends to ALL travelers and learners regardless of age, gender identity, physical ability, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status.
Earn College Credit while you travel!
Get up to 5 undergraduate university credits for all of the fun and challenging immersion work you’ll do abroad.
Our trips are accredited for 200-level (2nd year) college credits as follows:
- 3 College Spanish credits for 2-week programs
- 4 College Spanish credits for 3-week programs
- 5 College Spanish credits for 4 week programs
Additional fees apply. Email Leslie for more information
I’m looking for a 2 week program for me and my daughter (age 12) to learn Spanish (at different levels). We’d like to learn more about the classes, esp for 12 year olds, about homestay options, and also about possible volunteer work. Fun outings also of interest!
Thank you,
Ellen Chen
Hi Ellen, thanks for the note! We’d love to work with you and your daughter… I’ll email and we can set up a time to chat! Cheers,
Hello! I just sent an email using the contact me link (I think), but wasn’t sure if it went through. My family (self, spouse, 6 year old) are interested in several weeks abroad this summer. Would love to share more about our specific goals and learn more about your programs.
Received Matt! I’ll respond to your email. Cheers,
Definitely interested in a family immersion vacation with room for volunteering or excursions if possible in April of 2023. Looking forward to receiving as much information/ possibilities to see if this can happen. Thanks so much! Tanya
Thank you
Looking for more information about travel dates and program specifics.
Sure Nora, we should schedule a call. I’ve emailed you – respond and we can set up a time for a call. Best,
Hi, my family is looking to travel to Latin America the last two weeks of July to do a language school for dad and two kids. Mom is fluent and would love a school by the beach to hang out and maybe take some surfing lessons when family is in school.
Looking to understand timing, program availability, lodging and pricing
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