IFSA Butler

STUDENTS

FAMILIES

ALUMNI

FACULTY AND ADVISORS

Costa Rica

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Locations
  4. /
  5. Costa Rica
Student hiking in a dense rain forest with waterfall in the background in Costa Rica.Student hiking in a dense rain forest with waterfall in the background in Costa Rica.

Home of pura vida

Love the outdoors? Passionate about the environment? Ready to boost your Spanish skills? Keep Costa Rica high on your list.

World famous for incredible biodiversity and natural wonders that include waterfalls, volcanoes, and beaches, CR is also well known for its commitment to sustainable practices — and a national commitment to education.

With IFSA, you’ll take classes in Spanish alongside international peers at Universidad Nacional in Heredia. Charming and easy to navigate on foot, Heredia sits in a lush region known for coffee production and  Braulio Carrillo National Park, one of CR’s largest protected areas, with 6,000 species of plants and 515 species of birds.

Did You Know?

  • Hiking trails are just a 15-minute bus ride from campus in Heredia.  
  • La Sabana Metropolitan Park in the capital city San Jose was the site of an international airport for more than 40 years.  
  • In 1948, Costa Rica disbanded its army and redirected military funds to education.  
  • CR is aiming to be carbon-free by 2050.

Our Programs