About the City

From prestigious universities to hip gastropubs, a vibrant artistic culture to a booming music scene, San José blends urban color and stunning natural beauty; when you study abroad in San José, more than 800 miles of coastline and acres of lush rainforests lie just a short drive from this diverse metropolitan center. When you’re studying abroad in San José, your immersion opportunities are limitless: You can hike on a volcano, explore the rainforest, and get up-close-and-personal with sloths. You can give back to your host community through volunteering, learn new dance moves, and lounge on the beach (Pacific or Caribbean? Take your pick!) Choose from a range of academic offerings in fields uniquely suited for study in San José, like Health Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Spanish Language.

Student Testimonials

"I had a wonderful Fall '22 experience with CEA CAPA in the program in San Jose and I experienced the culture and environment of beautiful Costa Rica. My classes were integral in my experience, including Spanish, and marine biology and ecology. They t..."

Carver Tunnell

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

GoOverseas

Fall 2023, Costa Rica

"I didn’t speak Spanish and I stood out because I was a minority so I was quite nervous upon arriving. When I got there I was welcomed immensely by my host family. She was above and beyond, taking us out to eat, serving lunch meals even when it ..."

Dylan Richburg

Xavier University of Louisiana

GoAbroad

Summer 2023, Costa Rica

"Originally, I saw the study abroad flyers around my campus, and I was very interested but I have a lot of financial struggles so I knew I wouldn’t be able to afford it. Late one night, my mom told me that it would be a good opportunity, and to ..."

Dylan Richburg

Xavier University of Louisiana

GoOverseas

Summer 2023, Costa Rica

"Studying abroad in Costa Rica was a transformative experience that profoundly altered the trajectory of my life and reshaped my perspective in ways I could not have anticipated. Immersed in the rich tapestry of Costa Rican culture, I found myself nav..."

Zoe Spencer

Xavier University of Louisiana

GoOverseas

Summer 2023, Costa Rica

"Great study abroad experience for anyone wanting to learn or practice their Spanish because you're fully immersed in the environment through school and your homestay. Lots of opportunities to explore the city and country, plus travel is cheap too! CE..."

Emily Hung

Ithaca College

GoOverseas

Fall 2022, Costa Rica

Programs in San José (3)

Show All San José Programs

What Students are Saying about Costa Rica

Studying Abroad at Universidad Veritas in Costa Rica
Read More

Studying Abroad at Universidad Veritas in Costa Rica

CEA CAPA alum Alexa Lambert writes about the classes she took at Universidad Veritas while studying abroad in San José, Costa Rica.

3 Places to Explore While Studying Abroad in Costa Rica
Read More

3 Places to Explore While Studying Abroad in Costa Rica

CEA CAPA alum Ebony Owens-Kennedy recounts her favorite excursions during her first month studying abroad in San José, Costa Rica.

Health Science Courses while Studying Abroad in Costa Rica
Read More

Health Science Courses while Studying Abroad in Costa Rica

CEA CAPA alum Ebony writes about the Health Science courses she took while studying abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica. Learn more.

View more blog posts

Where You'll Study

Our Partner Institutions

Excursions

Get out and explore! Excursions are offered for most semester, year, and summer programs. Semester students are typically offered between two to three excursions and summer study students are typically offered between one to two excursions. You'll receive a calendar of excursions during orientation; here are a few day and overnight excursions we've offered in the past.

Where You'll Stay

*Housing options may change and will be confirmed on the housing application form prior to the start of the term. Below are the housing options that have been offered in the past.

Alumni Ambassadors

Dahlia Shearer

Dahlia Shearer

Beloit College
Alyssa Tsing

Alyssa Tsing

Thomas Jefferson University
Maren McDonnell

Maren McDonnell

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Get a Flight Credit worth up to $500 when you apply with code* by November 17, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Studying abroad in Costa Rica is a life changing event for many students. When you study abroad in San José, you experience learning outside the traditional classroom setting, gain international insight, and expand your sense of cultural awareness. Considering this small country contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity and acts as a pioneer in sustainability efforts, it’s an ideal destination to study environmental sciences.
San José is the most expensive city in Costa Rica. While it’s typically cheaper than other U.S. capital cities, it’s pricier than places in South America like Buenos Aires and Valparaiso.
San José is known as a peaceful place, but petty theft in popular tourist areas and on public transportation is common. Costa Rica is considered the safest country in Latin America with low violent crime rates, so it’s generally a safe city for study abroad students.

CEA CAPA offers one housing option while you're studying abroad in San José. In some study locations you may also have the option of arranging your own independent housing. For more information on housing, connect with your student advisor.

The CEA CAPA San José study abroad programs offer homestays as the standard housing option for culture-seeking students who want to live life abroad like a local. Students are typically placed with host families that live within walking distance (around 10-20 minutes) from the CEA CAPA San José Center and Veritas University.

San José Housing options include:

  • Homestay
  • Independent Living
With the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, San José is home to over 800 miles of coastline and lots of lush rainforests to explore. Costa Rica’s capital city blends urban life and natural beauty with prestigious universities, popular gastropubs, and vibrant artistic culture to national parks, wildlife, and waterfalls. It’s a very walkable city, famous for its commitment to sustainability and environmentalism. San José is most known for its world-class museums, parks, theaters, and historic buildings.San José is in the central valley of Costa Rica, in the center of the country surrounded by an impressive range of environments to explore and species to encounter.