Welcome to Tico Lingo

watch our
experience video

Learn Spanish 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.

Live with a Local Family

Immerse yourself in the culture and community by living with a local Costa Rican homestay family. Speak the language, live the culture, become part of a community.

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 teach, to immerse, and to instill a life changing experience for our students through classroom education and cross cultural immersion.

Philosophy

With the combination of an interactive classroom and an immersive cultural experience, any student can share their culture, ideas, and passions through foreign language.

Small Group Promise

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

Henrietta couillard
2 months ago
Tico Lingo is a phenomenal program! I initially signed up for a two week session, but I decided to extend and stayed an additional two weeks. I highly recommend the homestay experience. My host families were kind, loving, and so patient. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to live with them and learn Spanish in their beautiful homes. My teachers, Erick, Yobeth, and Elizabeth were incredible! Their teaching styles made learning Spanish a fun and engaging experience for me. On the weekends, I explored various parts of the country with friends from class. We went hiking, ziplining, explored San Jose, and so much more! Overall, I highly recommend the program and hope to return in the future!
Elisha Owens
2 months ago
I attended Tico Lingo for a month. They matched me with the perfect homestay family and everything! My instructor, Zaida, is very knowledgeable, kind, loving and caring and I learned a great deal from her classes. My Spanish speaking skills definitely improved quickly. Yenifer (I believe is the office manager) is very sweet and on top of everything! Chris (the founder and jefe of Tico Lingo) is very down to earth, kind, knowledgeable and informative. All of the staff is friendly and kind and Yami makes the best food! I traveled to several parts of Costa Rica on the weekends and all of it is beautiful and offers so many great things! There is just so much I could say about my experience here! I plan to come back and do it again soon! If you have an opportunity to experience Tico Lingo and Costa Rica, I would say take it as soon as possible! ¡Grandes aventuras y buena suerte!
Valerie Smith
2 months ago
Our son had an indescribably incredible experience at Tico Lingo during his two weeks in Costa Rica. He met wonderful new friends and enjoyed his host family! The program’s staff sent photos and kept us updated every step of the way, and provided him with a rich immersive experience, learning Spanish and engaging firsthand in Costa Rican culture. The Tico Lingo staff facilitated unforgettable excursions including zip lining, kayaking, white water rafting, touring a coffee plantation and more! All the while, I felt confident he was in the staff’s capable and caring hands. Chris, Clay and Craig (among others) made a positive and lasting impression on my son and were very responsive to any questions we had along the way. Gracias, Tico Lingo!
Allison Kitzerow
8 months ago
I spent two weeks at Tico Lingo in Heredia and enjoyed every minute of it. Freddy was an amazing Spanish instructor, very passionate about teaching, and I always felt engaged during his classes. I think I learned more in two weeks at Tico Lingo than in a semester of college Spanish in the U.S. The other students in my class were so interesting and from all different backgrounds and I still keep in touch with some of them. I really enjoyed the free dance classes Tico Lingo offered on Fridays with Rocio and I even went to her studio to take more dance classes on other nights of the week. The school was really nice with beautiful Costa Rican decor, there was always some Spanish music on, the classroom was comfortable, and I enjoyed the coffee available every day. Tico Lingo coordinated a homestay experience and my homestay was incredible. I was paired with a wonderful family who lived near the school. My Costa Rican mom always made delicious meals and was so caring and made sure I was comfortable. We had great conversation and I had a lot of fun learning with her and her daughter. She even took me to a Costa Rican folk dance and Mexican dance group performance one evening and it was an experience I will never forget. Heredia was a very nice place to learn Spanish. Many restaurants and Oxigeno, the big mall, were either a short walk or inexpensive Uber ride away. Tico Lingo was a wonderful place to learn Spanish, and I will be back to the school someday!
Cayla Newkirk
a week ago
Tico Lingo was a great experience!!! The website answers so many questions and Yenifer was great at answering all my questions before I arrived. My host family was exceptional! Marcela & Cesar made me feel welcomed and fed me so well. Marcela made the best and biggest breakfast for me each morning! My teachers were so welcoming and embraced how I wanted to learn. I was challenged in the best way possible. Enroll at Tico Lingo. You won’t be disappointed!!!

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
Play Video about Professor Freddy Farinas Tico Lingo Spanish School in Heredia Costa Rica

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 program that suits you, or work with us to customize your trip.