Become Part of the Family
Homestay Accommodation
To truly immerse its students in Costa Rican culture, Tico Lingo provides each student the opportunity to live with a local family. Located within walking distance of Tico Lingo, each homestay family offers students endless occasions to practice real-world Spanish.
Beyond the benefits to students, the program also benefits the local families involved with the program. Student payments help struggling families financially with childcare, food costs, and education. Likewise, families apart of the program enjoy free English classes at the school and join our support system for local child care and community support.
Beyond the benefits to students, the program also benefits the local families involved with the program. Student payments help struggling families financially with childcare, food costs, and education. Likewise, families apart of the program enjoy free English classes at the school and join our support system for local child care and community support.
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Your Bedroom
Most Costa Rican families have a spare room or two due to children leaving the home for university. Quaint, always unique, and totally private, each room comes with at least a full-size bed, a desk, and a dresser or closet to store clothes.
Your Meals
Fresh fruits and vegetables aplenty! Costa Rican cuisine is nutritionally well rounded, always cooked from scratch, and loaded with the many exotic fruits and vegetables readily available locally. Traditional meals have a home-cooked, comforting feel to them, and with our homestay program you’ll be given two meals a day, breakfast and dinner.
Homestay Perks
Private Bedroom
Each Homestay will come with a private bedroom, desk, closet, and key to come and go as you please
Wifi Internet
Every Homestay is equipped with wifi so students can contact friends and family back home.
Breakfast and Dinner
Morning breakfast is served typically at 7am and dinner is usually served around 6:30pm.
Laundry Service
Once a week, laundry will be collected, washed, and folded for the student.
Happy Homestays
I woke up to the smell of amazing coffee every morning. My homestay mom greeted me with a smile every day and couldn’t have been happier to see me. She fed me delicious food and I know I will definitely miss her!
Kit Ramsey | Philidelphia, USA
Photographer – April 28th, 2017
It was cool to get to know my “tico brother” and be invited to some local parties and outings. I made a ton of friends and was able to practice so much Spanish! I wouldn’t have had those experiences if I chose to live in a local hostel.
Felix Alscher | Munich, Germany
High School Sophmore – July 3rd, 2019
I got to apply everything I learned in class! It was awesome to speak, try out new things, and watch my ability to converse increase day-by-day. The food was great, and I still keep in touch with my Costa Rican family from Belgium.
Kristof Roets | Bruges, Belgium
Restaurant Owner – February 8th, 2018
More Homestay Details
By staying with a local homestay family, students will experience the typical culture, food, and community of Costa Rica. Expect to have many opportunities to speak Spanish with native speakers over meals and family outings. A one week stay is from Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday. Checkout is at 11am. Each student will receive a short bio as well as the contact information of the family before arrival.
What's Included
- Airport Pickup from SJO (Juan Santamaría International Airport)
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Wifi Internet Access
- Laundry Service
- Private Bedroom
- Keys to the outside door and your bedroom
- A short bio and contact info of the family you’ve been placed with (sent before arrival)
- A short walk to Tico Lingo with your family on your first day of class
What does it cost?
| Nightly | 1 Week | 2 Weeks | 3 Weeks | Extra Week | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homestay Family Accommodation Breakfast, Dinner, Laundry, Wifi | $35 | $195 | $390 | $585 | $190 |
How to Sign Up
To live with a local homestay family we require participants to be enrolled in Spanish classes at Tico Lingo. To sign up, simply fill out our basic Registration Form and a Program Advisor with follow up with you within 24 hours.
What To Know
We cannot promise private bathrooms
There is no extra charge for a private bathroom but they will be given to students who specifically request them on a first come, first serve basis.
We know our families, and we want to know you!
To place students with a family that will fit them best, we ask students to provide information about their age, their prior experience in Costa Rica, their diet, their preferences for children and pets, as well as any allergies they may have.
Most students stay with homestay families
More than 95% of the students that take Spanish classes at Tico Lingo choose to live with a local family. Students as old as 91 have stayed with homestays! You’ll learn the culture, way of life, food, and… most importantly… the language!
Groups are welcome!
Some families can host as many as 5 students in their home. We’re happy to place family and friends together if desired. Just leave a comment when you fill out your registration form.
There is no extra charge for a private bathroom but they will be given to students who specifically request them on a first come, first serve basis.
We know our families, and we want to know you!
To place students with a family that will fit them best, we ask students to provide information about their age, their prior experience in Costa Rica, their diet, their preferences for children and pets, as well as any allergies they may have.
Most students stay with homestay families
More than 95% of the students that take Spanish classes at Tico Lingo choose to live with a local family. Students as old as 91 have stayed with homestays! You’ll learn the culture, way of life, food, and… most importantly… the language!
Groups are welcome!
Some families can host as many as 5 students in their home. We’re happy to place family and friends together if desired. Just leave a comment when you fill out your registration form.
Who are the Tico Lingo families?
Each family must first apply to be apart of our homestay family community. The application consists of a written portion that confirms their citizenship, legal status, and local address. Additionally, the written exam tests for basic English language understanding (greetings, names, basic verbs, etc.). We also conduct an evaluation of their home and confirm they have working hot/cold water, laundry services, functioning electricity, reliable wifi internet, and a warm environment for students.
Once allowed in the program, we provide families with written guidelines so everything runs smoothly with our students. Once a student departs, we receive written and verbal feedback from students on the quality of their experience. Yearly, we conduct a re-evaluation to confirm home upkeep and satisfactory facilities.
Once allowed in the program, we provide families with written guidelines so everything runs smoothly with our students. Once a student departs, we receive written and verbal feedback from students on the quality of their experience. Yearly, we conduct a re-evaluation to confirm home upkeep and satisfactory facilities.
Sign up Today
Live with a local family, improve your Spanish,
and experience the true culture of Costa Rica.