ILISA was such a rich experience, we are definitely coming back! Our progress was beyond our expectations and the cultural activities and trips throughout Costa Rica were a great benefit to our immersion in the culture. A definte must-do is stay with a host family; they’ll make you feel at home right away!

“Studying at ULACIT in Costa Rica has been a truly unique experience. The close-knit community, internationally experienced professors, and welcoming environment made it easy to feel at home while learning in a global context. Choosing Costa Rica allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and gain a perspective I wouldn’t have had elsewhere. It’s an experience I would highly recommend to any student seeking both academic and personal growth.”

This trip exceeded my expectations in every way. It gave me a real outlook on the culture of the environment and it inspired me to feeling more comfortable to travel and plant my feet in new soil. Especially seeing a Morgan State Alumni in the schools and hearing her story and well as our travel guides story. It was truly amazing seeing them living life and being successful in a different country.

My name is Christopher Cosma at Michigan State University and I worked with UNIBE. As an international student, I was granted a new and unique perspective on the amazing culture and festivities in Costa Rica. I got to experience the beautiful scenery as well as experience opportunities of a healthcare system different than the US. My time there really allowed me to dive deep in a different culture while gaining experience in a career I am interested in. I will cherish the memories I had over there bonding with peers and people around the world.

Pursuing a Master Degree in Peace Education at the University for Peace (UPEACE) in Costa Rica was a transformative experience to me. This learning journey enabled me to expand my knowledge, to develop my skills and values, and to raise my sense of responsibility to make the world more peaceful.

I've had the opportunity to visit various parts of the country, such as the Irazú Volcano and some beaches, my favorite being Cahuita. I'd really like to explore more of what the country has to offer. Honestly, my personal growth has been more impressive than my professional growth because even though I'm still studying I've already achieved some of the goals I set for myself. All the professors and doctors I've met are incredibly well-prepared. I'm so impressed by everything they have to offer us as students and their passion for teaching.

Aprendí un montón del programa de ULatina. Disfruté mucho la oportunidad de conocer a estudiantes ticos. También aprendí mucho de español y de la cultura tica de mis profesores fabulosos y las actividades muy divertidas que hicimos en clase. Estoy muy agradecida para esta oportunidad única en un país maravilloso.

My time in Costa Rica was a life-changing experience for my view as a student and a person. The community of the Costa Rica people was extremely welcoming and never made me feel like an outsider. I learned so much from the staff and students that were with us from the Universidad de Santa Paula. It was a refreshing take on healthcare as opposed to what the system is here in the United States. This experience made me fall back in love with my profession of occupational therapy that I had lost at some point during my schooling.

“Thank you for posting on Facebook the images of our visit to TEC. We had a great time at the university and during the travels that followed. Both David Stearns and I were impressed with the lectures we received at TEC. Elemer and the other speakers were well prepared and the content was well suited to the students’ needs….I would like to say that I thought the overall organization of the trip was excellent and the activities were well chosen. Gustavo, our guide, was professional and very enjoyable. The students really liked him. We all felt like we were in good hands with Gustavo leading us. We also enjoyed Jenny. She was friendly and capable. Thank you for making us feel welcome and comfortable during our stay in Costa Rica” Regards,

Hello! My name is Claudia and I´m from Holland and I´m studying at UISIL. I recommend to coming here in UISIL its because it´s verry nice here in Costa Rica, the nature is amazing, people are so friendly, its so interesting to learn about Costa Rica’s life style, the culture and off course the Pura Vida Life Style

Northern Arizona University's collaboration with La Marta Refugio de Vida Silvestre has been an inspiring example of how academic partnerships can create meaningful, real-world impact in conservation and community engagement. Through shared research, education, and sustainability initiatives, this partnership helps protect biodiversity while giving students invaluable immersive learning experiences.

The classes are very interactive and really adapt to each student's way of learning; I love the fact that the teachers are native speakers, as it pushes me—as a student—to put in more effort and learn so much more.

Deciding to study in Costa Rica was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Everyday was full of surprises, and I never knew what to expect. Each person we met along the way was incredibly kind and they welcomed us into their country with open arms. The memories I made with my 5 other classmates will be with me as I grow as a nurse and the adventures we took to Poás, La Fortuna, and Manuel Antonio National Park will be ones that I cherish forever. Thank you, Costa Rica.

This trip exceeded my expectations. There was not a clinical experience I did not enjoy. All the lectures and experiences provided me with life-long knowledge and information. I learned so much not only about Costa Rican healthcare but about patient care as well. I can take back each lecture and experience and apply it to my clinical practice in the US.

Hey Red Raiders! My name is Ramiro López, I am from Nicaragua. I am currently a sophomore at Texas Tech Costa Rica. One year ago, I decided to leave my country in order to get the best quality education in Central America while earning a U.S. degree. This is an opportunity that only Costa Rica could offer me, so I was thrilled when I got my acceptance letter and moved to this beautiful country. When they opened applications for the merit-based scholarship last semester, I didn’t think twice before applying. Today, I am thankful for having earned this opportunity because it gives me peace knowing that I’ll be able to graduate in four years with a U.S. degree in Industrial Engineering. I have to work hard to keep my scholarship, get good grades and take at least 15 credits, but knowing that 1/3 of my tuition is fully covered and that one day I’ll be able to return to my country and pass on my knowledge to my community makes all the hard work worth it. Join our Red Raider family and build your future!

"We have partnered with GreenTico for the past five years because they make it possible for us to focus on what matters most: student learning, connection, and impact. Mauro and his team handle logistics smoothly, build strong local relationships, and create affordable, meaningful experiences that connect students with local communities in authentic and lasting ways."

Our visit to Universidad Latina de Costa Rica was very impactful. Touring the health center and simulated hospital offered valuable insight into how Costa Rica prepares future health professionals through hands-on, meaningful education. Hearing about the Costa Rican Red Cross and the dedication of its volunteers highlighted the powerful role of community engagement in supporting systems of health, security, and societal well-being. Learning about Costa Rica’s seismic code further deepened our understanding of the country’s approach to resilience and disaster preparedness. Together, these experiences provided our first-year engineering students with global, interdisciplinary perspectives that lay an important foundation for their future careers.

“So it´s been amazing, from the staff, the students, the administration, faculty who are here, they have been so supportive and very welcoming, we felt that we got the red carpet rolled out fo rus and anything that we needed along the way has been provided and has a tremenduos ammount of support.”