Mountains, rivers, and deep cultural connection.
Study Spanish in a peaceful, authentic, off‑the‑beaten‑path town.
Turrialba doesn’t try to impress — and that’s its magic.
No tourist traps. Just mountain views, friendly locals, and the sound of rivers nearby.
Here, you’ll experience the Costa Rica most travelers miss.
A place to focus, slow down, and immerse yourself in the real thing.
- Go white‑water rafting on the Pacuare River
- Visit indigenous villages, cacao & coffee farms
- Explore lush trails and waterfalls
- Take cooking classes and eat with locals
- Practice Spanish in town, not just in class
What to do in your free time
Take cooking or dance classes
Chill in a hammock or share a BBQ with classmates
Go rafting or kayaking on the tropical river Pacuare
Go canyoning or cross the forest on ziplines
Go horseback riding to waterfalls
Learn hands-on on coffee & cacao tours
See wildlife on the night tour in the botanical garden
Go hiking and bird watching
Visit the Guayabo archeological site
Is this location right for you?
You want real immersion in language & culture
You prefer quiet, natural surroundings
You like connection over crowds
You’re ready to disconnect to reconnect
5 / 5
Marianne, Switzerland:
27 May 2024
If you are looking for a good school to learn Spanish and have fun to discover some new places I can really recommend spanish@locations.
Cozy hostels, fantastic outdoor classrooms, great teachers and people! Ingrid and her staff are amazing, I had a wonderful time in Turrialba and Puerto Viejo…for sure will come back!
Muchas gracias y Pura Vida!
Jaime, USA:
27 May 2024
I will never forget this amazing experience and consider it to be one of the top experiences of my life.
Staff and teachers were so accommodating and took excellent care of us. They are all very kind, interesting people who encouraged us to use our Spanish while there. Turrialba was special because I was able to do bird watching right there on the terrace while waiting for my class to start. Puerto Viejo had beautiful beaches and delicious restaurants!
Mountains, rivers, and deep cultural connection.
Turrialba