Return to Samara Beach Spanish language programs

Each month we have a new activity plan of special events, national holiday activities, and a variety of fun excursions which are accompanied by a school teacher or staff member and in which we encourage English students to participate so as to promote social interaction with the locals.

These activities include football (soccer) games, trips to the bowling alley or roller-skating rink, special dance or theater shows, discussion groups, live music discos and more. For some of the more important national holidays school staff presents eduational performances relevant to the occasion, in which student interaction is highly encouraged!

Latin dance classes:
From Monday through Thursday you have the opportunity to participate in classes where you will learn salsa, merengue, cumbia and marcado, the most popular dances in Costa Rica. This enables you to go out to discos and dances with confidence and interact on a fun social level with Ticos.

Cooking classes:
Once a week we teach students how to make typical Costa Rican dishes, a nice skill to take home and share with friends and family!

Lectures
We hold periodic talks and informal gatherings which cover a diverse range of subjects and inform students about topics such as the ecology and environment of Costa Rica, Latin-American literature, politics, women's studies and other socially and culturally related themes.

Film Night
Once a week we show a film in Spanish, an entertaining and practical way to practice the language.

Intercambios
Students may sign up in the school for one on one 'cultural exchanges', where Spanish students meet with Tico English students at the school to practice conversation skills (in both languages) in a relaxed atmosphere, and to make new friends from the local community

Fiestas
These local celebrations are held in all Costa Rican cities and villages every year, usually over a weekend. They are advertised throughout the country and are an excellent source of cultural entertainment. You can watch bullfights "Tico" style, where the bull is not harmed in any way, participate in traditional games and try out a variety of local fare.

Additional classes
Clase de Yoga: twice weekly, Sámara campus only
Clase de Poi (fire-dancing): monthly, Sámara campus only.
Clases Variadas, include: African dance, hula hoop, self-defense, turbo jam, and other...

Enjoy the beach

The beach itself is a favorite vacation spot for Costa Ricans ("Ticos"), and enjoys a multicultural diversity provided by the visitors from other countries.

Located on the northern Pacific Coast of Guanacaste, Sámara boasts 5 km of white sand lined with palm tress, in a protected coral reef bay. The tranquil ocean is ideal for swimming, diving, snorkeling and surf/boogie boarding.

For the adventurous, Isla Chora is a short kayak or boat trip away, and there you may snorkel or simply sunbathe on this uninhabited island's deserted beach.

Away from the sand, Sámara is ringed by primary and secondary forest that is home to a huge variety of wildlife, including monkeys, toucans, ocelots, iguanas, scarlet macaws, parrots, and more. A favorite for students is being surprised by a group of monkeys coming to their favorite almond tree by the beach for a noisy lunch, followed by a long afternoon siesta! The nearby Nicoya region provides a wonderful opportunity to see remnants of Costa Rica's indigenous Chorotega culture, as well as the colonial town and church. Other activities at Sámara include: horse-riding, bike rental, ultra light gliding, deep-sea fishing, dolphin tours, waterfall visits, canopy tours, visits to local 'fiestas' and much more.

The town itself is a small, local community offering a variety of activities, such as the sunset football games on the beach, eating "bocas" (local dishes serves in small portions with drinks), going to the disco, playing cards, or simply chatting with those who live there. It has a typical Tico character, with a local art gallery on the beach and several ocean-side seafood restaurants and bars. Services available include: internet café, farmacy, laundry, small supermarket, post office, medical clinic, car/bike rental, etc.