Spanish Immersion Program for families in Costa Rica and Ecuador: Learn Spanish and volunteer

The perfect Family Spanish immersion cultural adventure and vacation all in one! Learn Spanish as a family, experience another lifestyle and culture, and have a safe trip of a lifetime.

Info Meeting: March 18th, 2025 – Register below!
(5pm Pacific, 6pm Mountain, 7pm Central & 8pm Eastern)

This presentation is a general overview of our Spanish immersion programs in Costa Rica and Ecuador.

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!

Family Spanish Immersion Program Origins
Costa Rica Family Spanish Immersion Trip
Download Program Brochure

Learn more about the 4 primary aspects of our Spanish Immersion Trips: Adventures, Community Service, Host Families, Spanish Classes

CHOOSE YOUR family SPANISH IMMERSION LOCATION

Costa Rica

Costa Rica Spanish Immersion - Common Ground International

Costa Rica Family 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

Based in Santo Domingo de Heredia

2025 & 2026 Start Dates

  • Summer ’25: July 5 or July 12, 2025
  • Winter ’26: Feb 7, 2026
  • Summer ’26: July 11 of July 18, 2026

24/7 Support

24/7 leadership, coordination & support by engaging program leaders

Possible to combine with Ecuador programs

Ecuador

Ecuador Spanish Immersion Trip for families

Ecuador Family 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

Based in Cuenca, Ecuador

2026 Dates

  • Summer ’26: June 20 or June 27, 2026

24/7 Support

24/7 leadership, coordination & support by engaging program leaders

Possible to combine with Costa Rica programs

Family Spanish Immersion Combo Program

Highlights

  • Live with a family in Ecuador & Costa Rica
  • 3, 4, 5 & 6 week programs
  • Spanish classes- massively improve your fluency!
  • Volunteer work in each country
  • Dancing & cooking classes
  • Benefit from personalized instruction in small groups
  • Optional excursions to: Hot springs, zip-line, hanging bridges, waterfalls, beaches, volcanoes & more!

Location

Cuenca, Ecuador & Santo Domingo, Costa Rica

2026 Start Dates

  • 06/20/2026
  • 06/27/2026

24/7 Support

24/7 leadership, coordination & support by engaging program leaders
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Deadline to register: April 6th

Two Ways to Travel and Immerse Yourselves as a Family: On Program and Off Program

Join us during our specific dates in February, June and July OR customize your dates!
Family Spanish Immersion Trips to Costa Rica and Ecuador

On program Family spanish immersion

  • 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 family spanish immersion

  • 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.
Fill out this form and let us know which dates you prefer and other considerations
This program was perfect for us because it allowed the girls to take lessons, for me to take lessons and for Andy to take lessons that were geared towards his interest in medicine. We’ve loved being here. 
Smock Family

Ohio

Watch the most recent Adult & Family Spanish Immersion Info Meeting:
How does Common Ground’s Spanish Immersion for Families Program work?

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)

Spanish classes and volunteer work take place Monday to Friday, the weekends are yours to travel or spend with your host family. We have great suggestions for weekend adventures!

What does it take to reserve my family immersion trip so we can begin planning our Spanish immersion?

It takes a non-refundable deposit to reserve your trip. The minimum deposit is $500 per person so that we can begin planning your Family Spanish Immersion Adventure.

Save your spot!

This program fills on a first come, first served basis. Reserve a spot on the trip – no obligation – no credit card, just 30 days to help you coordinate your schedule!

What are the related costs and inclusions for the Family Spanish Immersion Program with Common Ground?

We work hard to keep the program affordable for families because we’d love to share Latin American culture and all it has to offer with you! We break down our costs to per person, per week, and our various locations have varying costs.

These weekly per person costs include:
These costs do not include:

Depending on your destination and the activities you’d like to do, you may want to consider renting a car. Volunteer projects, day & overnight trips vary greatly in cost depending on location, length, and guide needs. We’ll work with you on a clear proposal for your Family Spanish Immersion program and work within your budget.

We came to Common Ground in order to educate our family and our kids on how to speak Spanish and get a glimpse into a culture.
McDevitt Family

Colorado

How do we get more information?

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!

Family Spanish Immersion in Costa Rica
The ratings and reviews for these Family Spanish Immersion Trips speak for themselves
All of our programs include basic travel medical insurance with trip interruption, delays, lost bags, etc. Here is the standard description of coverage for your included travel insurance plan.
If you have any uncertainties about your upcoming adventure, it might be a good idea to consider additional travel insurance coverage. If you’re looking for a Cancel for Any Reason policy, we suggest you shop for it here:
Adult Spanish Immersion travel insurance

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.

Diversity and inclusivity on Spanish Immersion
We chose the Common Ground program because they were so responsive and made us feel very at ease with the program. We wanted an experience that was total immersion. 
Hoarty Family

Omaha, Nebraska

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

College credit for Spanish Immersion Trip

Spanish Immersion Program FAQs

11 thoughts on “Spanish Immersion for Families in Costa Rica”

  1. 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

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  4. 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.

  5. Pingback: Have Kid, Will Travel: Our Costa Rica Itinerary – That Mango Dream

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3-6 Week family spanish IMMERSION combo PROGRAMS IN ECUADOR & COSTA RICA

Combine both countries

2025 on-program Dates

Ecuador

Costa Rica

3-Week Programs

4-Week Programs

5-Week Programs

6-Week Programs

3-Week Programs

Ecuador

Costa Rica

4-Week Programs

Ecuador

Costa Rica

5-Week Programs

Ecuador

Costa Rica

6-Week Programs

Ecuador

Costa Rica

2026 on-program Dates

Ecuador

Costa Rica

3-Week Programs

4-Week Programs

5-Week Programs

6-Week Programs

3-Week Programs

Ecuador

Costa Rica

4-Week Programs

Ecuador

Costa Rica

5-Week Programs

Ecuador

Costa Rica

6-Week Programs

Ecuador

Costa Rica