High School Immersion Participants – Welcome to your Spanish Immersion Program!!!

Q: What are the travel health considerations / requirements for Ecuador and Costa Rica?

Costa Rica: Please refer to the CDC’s Travelers Health Recommendations Ecuador: Please refer to the CDC’s Travelers Health Recommendations Combo Program: If you’re flying from Ecuador to Costa Rica you DO need a yellow fever vaccine. CGI COVID requirements: Covid vaccine is recommended by the CDC for international travel, but not required by Common Ground International.

Q: Are host families vaccinated?

Ecuador: yes, all families are vaccinated. Costa Rica: most families are vaccinated, you can ask to be placed in a vaccinated household.

Q: Do we submit all paperwork via the pre-departure course or can we email it to someone?

You can email your information to Samanta at: support@commongroundinternational.com

We are so excited for your once-in-a-lifetime journey. This is your program hub and where you can find all the important documents. Bookmark this page; it will be updated frequently as we get closer to departure.

Watch this short video for quick instructions:

What are my next steps? 👣

Mark your calendars with these important dates!

Complete registration form and pre-departure paperwork 1 month after making your deposit.
Payment # 1: 90 days before the start of the program.
- EC: March 20
- CR: April 9
Payment # 2: 60 days before the start of the program.
- EC: April 20
- CR: May 9
Final payment due 45 days before the start of the program
- EC: May 5
- CR: May 25

Check your email!

Check your email and read your official welcome email with next steps! If you did not receive this email, email Leslie at [email protected]

Follow the timeline below to complete your pre-departure tasks!

Click on the links below and submit your paperwork! This is imperative for us to have in order to reserve your host family, spot on excursions, purchase your national park tickets and more!

What is the timeline for preparation?

Follow these steps to get ready to launch into immersion. Bookmark this page & check back frequently! Please do not put this off!

START HERE!

Complete these action items within a month of registering!

Passport

Check your passport and make sure it has 6 months of validity.

Registration form complete

Pre-departure paperwork

Read, sign, and submit

IMPORTANT!

Your program includes basic travel medical insurance with trip interruption, delays, lost bags, etc. If you have any uncertainties about your upcoming adventure, it’s 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 and act quickly as it is often has to be purchased within two weeks of your initial deposit.

Parents and guardians

Read the Parent Manual and get your questions answered!
Costa Rica
Ecuador

THEN DO THESE…

(Nov.- March)

Travelers Health

Read what the Center for Disease Control says about traveling to Costa Rica & Ecuador. Make an appointment with your primary care physician if necessary.

Submit

1 character reference letter

Book your flights!

Check with Leslie Foster if interested in a group flight.
Airport codes are:
– UIO (Quito, Ecuador)
– SJO (San Jose, Costa Rica) and send your flight info to [email protected] along with a copy of your passport.

Payment # 1 DUE

AND FINALLY…do these!!!

(March – June)

Complete your pre-departure course.

This is a required, online course and will set you up for success!
– Costa Rica Pre-Departure Course
– Ecuador Pre-Departure Course

Placement Exam

Submit in March (or earlier)
– Exam for Ecuador participants
– Exam for Costa Rica participants

Payment # 2 DUE

Registration form and all paperwork due.

Attend 3 online meetings

April 26th – 6pm MT
May 31st – 6pm MT
EC Parents Meeting: May 31st – 5pm MT
June 7th – 6pm MT
CR Parents Meeting June 7th 5pm MT
Zoom link will be shared via email

Final Payment DUE

Optional activities

Download this checklist – hang it on your fridge!

Print out checklist

Flight Information

YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS WHEN FLYING ON YOUR IMMERSION PROGRAM

Participate on the chaperoned flight: One of our trip leaders will fly with your teen into Costa Rica and/or Ecuador. You book the flight using the specific flight information below. See chaperoned flight info below

Fly independently: And one of our trip leaders will pick you up from the airport after you exit immigration and customs. We will give you detailed instructions.

Ecuador Flight Info

CHAPERONED FLIGHT INFO

For the start of the program, please book your flight to UIO (Quito). Our programs start in Quito and then we will transistion to Cuenca together as a group. This will require a domestic flight from UIO to CUE which I book as a group flight. Continue reading for more information and return flight details.

Friday, June 19th Chaperoned Flight Info

Depart Friday, June 19th
Meet up in Denver, Colorado
COPA flight CM 477 Denver – Panama City (PTY). Departs Denver at 10:43pm arrives into PTY at 5:33am
COPA flight CM829 PTY – UIO. Departs PTY at 10:29am arrives into UIO at 12:32pm.
Meet trip leader in Denver and fly to Quito together.

Friday, JUNE 26th We will take a group flight from UIO to CUE, the city of Cuenca where our programs are held from June 26- July 10. We will book this flight for you.

JULY 10th return from CUE to UIO and on to the USA

**We have a partial chaperoned flight option for the return. Please read the details below.

JULY 10th depart Cuenca. There are a few options to consider:

OPTION #1: Book a flight originating from Cuenca (CUE) in the morning of on July 10th. Most stop in Quito and continue to the USA. This is an unchaperoned flight, but we will get them to the airport in CUE and make sure they depart OR…
OPTION # 2: Fly with Leslie Foster on July 10. Flight #1: Avianca Airlines #1607 departs CUE @ 8:30pm and arrives into UIO at 9:35pm. This is the chaperoned flight
OPTION # 3: Some participants continue on this red-eye flight from UIO- IAH- Denver on United airlines:
- UA2083 (UIO – IAH) 12:35AM (July 11)
- IAH to DEN July 11th, 8:30 am United
OPTION # 4: If there is not a red eye option available, this will require a stay at an airport hotel on the night of the 10th. In this case… Rory and Leslie will be staying at Holiday Inn Quito Airport and fly out of UIO on July 11th. Please note, we continue to Costa Rica and depart on July 11 at 11:35am. Please find a departing flight around this same time OR earlier. If you would like us to book your hotel, please email Leslie Foster.

Costa Rica Flight Info

CHAPERONED FLIGHT INFO

Our programs are held in Santo Domingo de Heredia. The closest international airport is Juan Santa Maria (SJO), just outside the capital city of San Jose.

Thursday, July 9th Chaperoned Flight Info

Depart Thursday, July 9th
Meet up in either LAX OR Houston (Hobby) airport
Southwest airlines
For LAX meet-ups: Fight # 2399 departs LAX at 5:10am and arrives into HOU at 10:30am
For HOU meet-ups: Flight #0112 departs HOU at 5:10pm and arrives into SJO at 7:40pm

Wednesday, July 22 Chaperoned return details

Return to USA, Wednesday, July 22
United Airlines
SJO – IAH (Houston) flight # 1447 departs at 7:55am arrives into IAH at 12:43pm
**Please note our trip leader departs IAH at 5pm to return to Costa Rica, please try to book your flight from IAH to your home airport departing before 5pm.

Wednesday, July 29 Chaperoned return details

Return to USA, Weds. July 29th
Southwest airlines
Trip leaders: Caleb & Anna Foster Confirmation #AQDSQ4
Flight # 1203 departs SJO @1:4Opm arrives into HOU @6:20pm
Flight #1975 departs HOU @9:25pm arrives into DEN @11:05pm

Ecuador / CR Combo Participants

CHAPERONED FLIGHT INFO

We will be traveling from Cuenca to Quito to Costa Rica on Thursday, July 9th.

Thursday, July 9th Chaperoned flight Info.

OPTION # 1:

Flight #1: July 9th -Avianca Airlines departs CUE @ 7:40am and arrives into UIO at 8:35am. Flight #AV1605
Flight # 2: July 9 Avianca airlines departs UIO at 11:35am arrives to SJO at 12:50pm. Flight#AV646
Anna Foster is the chaperone on this flight. Confirmation #AE68LH

Summer ’26 Immersion Meeting Replays…

Meeting #1 (04/26)

Before You Depart

1. Bank: Inform your bank about the card you will be using to avoid a “card freeze”
2. Passport: Make 2 copies of your passport. Keep 1 in your backpack and 1 in your main baggage
3. Flight Itinerary: Print your flight itinerary, some immigration officials ask to see proof of your return
4. Travel Insurance: Carry a copy of your travel insurance policy with you
5. Cell phone: inquire about an international data and calling plan from your wireless provider
6. Join the WhatsApp Groups for all Trip communication (you will get the link via email 1 week before departure)
7. Pack your bags:
– Download Costa Rica Packing List
– Download Ecuador Packing List

Super Important Program Links (all in ONE place)

Program Registration

Pre-departure paperwork

Make Payments Online

Character Reference Form

Volunteer Sign-up :
– Ecuador Volunteer

-Costa Rica Volunteer

Program Itineraries:

– Ecuador Program Itinerary
– Costa Rica Program Itinerary

Packing Lists:

– Costa Rica Packing List
– Ecuador Packing list

Participant Workbooks

– Ecuador Participant Workbook
– Costa Rica Participant Workbook

Parent Manuals

– Ecuador Parent Manual
– Costa Rica Parent Manual

COSTA RICA Optional Activities: follow the links to register

1. MORNING SURF LESSON – open to 2,3 weekers
2. SOCCER – open to 2,3 weekers
3. TOUCAN RESCUE RANCH – open to 2,3 weekers
4. RANCHO ARIZONA COFFEE TOUR – open to 3 weekers

ECUADOR Optional Activities: follow the links to register:

SOCCER – open to 2,3 weekers
Hot Springs Soak & Mud Bath

Program FAQs

What are the travel health considerations / requirements for Ecuador and Costa Rica?

Costa Rica: Please refer to the CDC’s Travelers Health Recommendations
Ecuador: Please refer to the CDC’s Travelers Health Recommendations
Combo Program: If you’re flying from Ecuador to Costa Rica you DO need a yellow fever vaccine.
CGI COVID requirements: Covid vaccine is recommended by the CDC for international travel, but not required by Common Ground International.

Are host families vaccinated?

Ecuador: yes, all families are vaccinated.
Costa Rica: most families are vaccinated, you can ask to be placed in a vaccinated household.

Does fully vaccinated mean boosted?

No.

Can you sign up for optional excursions before the program begins?

Yes, in fact if it’s an overnight excursion we actually need you to be registered within 30 days of the trip so that we can properly reserve your hotel space.

Where can I find the pre-departure course?

All of the important program links are found here on the welcome page (the page you’re on now).

For weekday optional excursions, do those interfere with our classes?

No, we will be back in time for your afternoon classes.

Do we submit all paperwork via the pre-departure course or can we email it to someone?

You can email your information to Samanta at: [email protected]

Do we need cash before the trip or is it ok with just our credit card?

You don’t need to take a bunch of local currency with you as you travel. Our suggestion is to have some USD on you and to have both a debit card (for ATM use) and a credit card for everyday expenses.
Be sure to check with your banks about international transaction fees so that you’re aware of your costs to use your cards abroad.

Are we going to have WiFi?

Yes, you’ll have regular access to the internet at language school and in most host homes.

When will I know who my host family is?

We usually send out host family info 1-2 weeks before your trip.

When is the best day to buy flights?

There may or may not be a “best day” to buy flights but when you search for flights, try using an incognito browser and/or clearing your browser cache. Some airlines have cookies that adjust pricing based on your activity searching.
Use google flights to track pricing and get historical pricing trends.

What happens / can I come in a day early or a day late?

Yes absolutely you can come in early or late. We just need to know your flight details so that we can plan accordingly with your host family.

What type of clothes should I pack?

We cover clothing pretty well in the packing list info of your pre-departure course but here is a brief summary:
Ecuador: Pack in layers. Pants, long sleeves, bring a backpack with you. It usually gets colder at night.
Costa Rica: prepare for rain in the afternoon, not that many layers, something to keep you dry.
For both countries you’ll want business casual clothing for our volunteer work projects.

Can we bring school supplies as donations?

Yes, absolutely! Local schools and families benefit greatly from school supplies.

What is the laundry situation?

Host families will do laundry for you. You only need around a week worth of clothes cause you’ll be able to wash them.

How buggy is it where we’ll be traveling?

The general rule is that the higher the elevation, the fewer bugs you’ll encounter.
Ecuador: we’re at around 8,000 feet, so the bugs aren’t bad at all.
Costa Rica: we’re at around 4,000 feet and the bugs aren’t bad either.
Your biggest concern is mosquitos, be sure to have bug repellent and proper long sleeves and long pants for dawn and dusk hours in lower elevations (beach, etc).

Has the date for the Isla tortuga day trip been decided? It says TBD.

Isla Tortuga is a one day trip that can easily be scheduled for any day during your visit.

Is it possible to get a street map of the area where we’ll be?

You can google “Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica” or “Cuenca Ecuador” in your browser and click on maps and it’ll give you a rough idea of where we will be.

Where do I sign up for excursions and what is the deadline?

We need you to be registered within 30 days of the trip so that we can properly reserve your hotel space. You can find them here: https://commongroundinternational.com/trips/

Are rooms shared during excursions?

Yes, usually rooms are either double or triple (each person has their own bed).

High School Immersion Participants – Welcome to your Spanish Immersion Program!!!

Watch this short video for quick instructions:

What are my next steps? 👣

Mark your calendars with these important dates!

Check your email!

Follow the timeline below to complete your pre-departure tasks!

What is the timeline for preparation?

Download this checklist – hang it on your fridge!

Flight Information

Ecuador Flight Info

Costa Rica Flight Info

Ecuador / CR Combo Participants

Summer ’26 Immersion Meeting Replays…

Meeting #1 (04/26)

Before You Depart

Super Important Program Links (all in ONE place)

Program Registration

Pre-departure paperwork

Make Payments Online

Character Reference Form

Volunteer Sign-up :
– Ecuador Volunteer

Program Itineraries:

Packing Lists:

Participant Workbooks

Parent Manuals

COSTA RICA Optional Activities: follow the links to register

ECUADOR Optional Activities: follow the links to register:

Program FAQs

Search…

Product categories

High School Immersion Participants – Welcome to your Spanish Immersion Program!!!

Watch this short video for quick instructions:

What are my next steps? 👣

Mark your calendars with these important dates!

Check your email!

Follow the timeline below to complete your pre-departure tasks!

What is the timeline for preparation?

Download this checklist – hang it on your fridge!

Flight Information

Ecuador Flight Info

Costa Rica Flight Info

Ecuador / CR Combo Participants

Summer ’26 Immersion Meeting Replays…

Meeting #1 (04/26)

Before You Depart

Super Important Program Links (all in ONE place)

Program Registration

Pre-departure paperwork

Make Payments Online

Character Reference Form

Volunteer Sign-up : – Ecuador Volunteer

Program Itineraries:

Packing Lists:

Participant Workbooks

Parent Manuals

COSTA RICA Optional Activities: follow the links to register

ECUADOR Optional Activities: follow the links to register:

Program FAQs

Search…

Product categories

Volunteer Sign-up :
– Ecuador Volunteer