Welcome to Tico Lingo

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Spanish Immersion in Costa Rica

Learn the conversational skills you need to begin speaking with locals immediately. Take fun and relaxed classes taught by highly experienced native speakers.

Traveling Spanish Program

Explore Costa Rica and learn Spanish as you go! Enjoy immersive language classes, local meals, and unique cultural experiences across four stunning regions of Costa Rica

Teen Spanish Summer Camp

Join us on this two week jam-packed Spanish camp and walk away with an increased confidence in speaking Spanish a worldly perspective on life outside your hometown. 

Your Spanish School in Costa Rica

Tico Lingo is a Spanish school in Costa Rica devoted to helping its students achieve Spanish fluency through immersion and cultural education. Our aim is to teach, immerse, and initiate a global understanding of Costa Rican culture and language.

We are young, we are connected, and we are passionate about creating the perfect environment to learn Spanish in Costa Rica. We want to spark cultural exchange on a global level with people from around the world. Join our conversation – start learning Spanish today!

Mission

Our mission is to make it easy for educators and community leaders to partner with Tico Lingo, introducing students to the Spanish-speaking world beyond the classroom and inspiring lifelong Spanish learning.

Committed to Excellence

We are dedicated to creating exceptional, custom-designed programs that meet your group’s educational goals and exceed expectations. Our commitment to excellence ensures every experience is unforgettable.

A Culture of Care

Our classes are conducted in small groups of no more than six students. This number allows for open, fluid discussion in the classroom that benefits learning while not distracting from it.

Student Photos

See Who's Talking About Us

Aïssata
a week ago
After four weeks of classes with Tico Lingo and the full immersion experience, I can see incredible progress in my Spanish level. My professor, Freddy, was very structured and clear and had amazing energy on a daily basis, which made learning so fun! Heredia is not the most exciting town, so I recommend doing excursions to explore beautiful Costa Rica over the weekends (you will have to budget accordingly). Overall highly recommend!
Monica Wang
a week ago
​​I just finished 4 weeks at Tico Lingo and my Spanish improved from a handful of Duo Lingo vocabulary words and speaking in all present tense to speaking sentences in at least 4 verb tenses and being able to hold my own in a conversation with a taxi driver and a waitress in a restaurant. 4 weeks here seems like the equivalent of 2 years of university classes. I’m touring Tamarindo right now and the locals speak to me in Spanish as if they think I prefer it to English! Is my Spanish that good now? I can hardly believe it. The person most responsible for this is my teacher Freddy. I took his group class for 4 hours a day in the mornings and he is a very astute and dedicated teacher. He gave each student individualized attention though the group itself was also very cohesive. This is a difficult task but I feel like all the teachers chosen by Tico Lingo are of a specific caliber. They want to teach, they want to see your progress, they celebrate your wins. Every person at Tico Lingo is hand picked for their passion to bring something special to you and it shows. That includes my private class teacher Joe and my host family Grace and Maria Lopez. As a student here you are not just one among many, they are watching to make sure you feel that you are welcomed and that you belong. To everyone at Tico Lingo, I see and feel your love and your effort -- the enormous effort it takes to bring an opportunity like this to us students. Thank you so much!
carley grau
a week ago
I had an excellent experience at tico lingo! It was my home away from home for six weeks. I just arrived back home today and had my first conversation with my family in Venezuela. Before tico lingo, I understood some vocabulary but didn’t speak any Spanish. I am so happy to be able to speak now (although it is slow), it means so much to me to be able to communicate with my family. I have high praise for the patience and skill of all the teachers in the school. I progressed much faster than I believe I would have on any other learning platform. My host family and the director of the school were also amazing. I got sick while I was there and was very well taken care of. Even though I was “alone” in a foreign country, I never felt alone and always had more than enough support. For anyone looking for a crash course in Spanish, a beautiful country and a very safe experience, I recommend tico lingo.
Laura Creagh
2 weeks ago
Tico Lingo was an amazing experience for me, and I cannot recommend this school enough. From an amazing stay with a host who has become a dear friend, to wonderful classes at the perfect level for my Spanish skill, to a charming town where I found a gym and healthy restaurants and warm people to talk to each day, this experience blew my socks off. And I didn’t even get to see much of the country! More trips to Costa Rica are in my future-this was my first-and hopefully another stint at Tico Lingo. Much gratitude to all the people who helped make my experience so positive. Laura
Elizabeth Lee
3 weeks ago
My three weeks of super-intensive Spanish classes at Tico Lingo were outstanding in every respect. Professors Zulma, Kevin, and Karina are highly skilled and experienced teachers who actively adjust content and teaching style to match the needs and abilities of group classes, and customize individual classes to optimize the student's learning experience. They are also great people: kind, funny, compassionate, and interesting. All the school staff are warm, friendly and ever-helpful. A totally positive experience!

Meet a Tico Lingo Spanish Professor

Meet one of our top professors at Tico Lingo, Freddy Fariñas. He’s taught Spanish to students from all over the world and brings his passion to the classroom day in and day out.

Watch the video to hear what he enjoys about teaching, why students prefer to study Spanish in Costa Rica, and why Tico Lingo has the best Spanish programs in Costa Rica.

Professor Freddy Farinas Tico Lingo Spanish School in Heredia Costa Rica
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Meet a Tico Lingo Student

Learning Spanish in Costa Rica Student Video
Play Video about Learning Spanish in Costa Rica Student Video

Join Michelle as she shares her Spanish learning journey, from her background and reasons for studying Spanish to why she chose Tico Lingo. Get an inside look at what day-to-day life is like studying Spanish in the heart of Costa Rica with Tico Lingo!

Our Spanish Summer Camp for Teens

Dive into our all-inclusive journey packed with immersive Spanish lessons, cozy homestay accommodations, vibrant cultural activities, and epic weekend adventures. It’s not just a camp for high schoolers—it’s your ticket to exploring the language, culture, and stunning beauty of Costa Rica!

Check out the video for a sneak peek into the camp life!

Beach trip to Manuel Antonio National Park during Tico Lingo's Spanish Summer Camp
Play Video about Beach trip to Manuel Antonio National Park during Tico Lingo's Spanish Summer Camp

Experience the Language

Experience the culture and language of Costa Rica. Find a Spanish program that suits you, or work with us to customize your trip.