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La Casita del Turista
La Casita del Turista is an independent residential learning center in the countryside of Cartago, offering focused two-week programs in Spanish, biodiversity, gastronomy, and arts and culture. Created for curious learners from around the world, our programs combine structured lessons with workshops, field experiences, conversations and educational journeys throughout Costa Rica.
Where Costa Rica becomes the classroom
At La Casita del Turista, learning is rooted in place.
Each of our programs explores a specific field in depth while connecting it with the landscapes, communities, traditions and everyday life of Costa Rica. Classroom sessions provide the academic foundation, while workshops, field visits and guided experiences allow students to observe, practice and investigate what they are learning.
Depending on the program, you might document species in a tropical ecosystem, prepare traditional recipes, learn alongside local artists and community members, or use Spanish in real-life situations.
La Casita remains your home base throughout the experience: a peaceful place among the green mountains and chayote fields of Cartago, where small groups can study, exchange ideas, reflect on their discoveries and feel genuinely welcome.
Each program stands on its own, with its own subject, learning objectives and field experiences. You choose what you want to study and Costa Rica becomes part of how you learn.
Come to study. Leave with a deeper understanding of Costa Rica.
What makes us different?
Learning Spanish with us is personal, practical and closely connected to the place around you. Our programs combine individual support, real-life practice and locally rooted experiences, all within the welcoming atmosphere of a Costa Rican home.
1
LIVE WITH YOUR TEACHERS
You will share a home with the people guiding your learning. Spanish becomes part of your daily life through conversations, meals and shared experiences, giving you more opportunities to practice and build confidence.
2
EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE
Our home was designed around the student experience, with accommodation, learning spaces, an open kitchen for workshops, a garden and a swimming pool. All of this is located in Santiago de Paraíso, a small rural community surrounded by the landscapes of Cartago.
3
ONE COMPLETE PROGRAM
Lessons, accommodation, meals, workshops and community experiences are included in one boutique program at a competitive price. Everything is arranged for you, so you can focus on learning, connecting and enjoying your stay.
Costa Rica awaits: where nature, culture, and magic meet.
One Program. One Complete Experience.
La Casita Immersion Program brings together personalized Spanish lessons, accommodation, meals, cultural workshops and community experiences in one thoughtfully planned stay.
Learn in a welcoming Costa Rican home, practice Spanish in everyday situations and experience the culture alongside the people who live it.
Spanish lessons • Accommodation • Meals • Workshops • Community activities
LA CASITA
A place to learn, relax and feel at home
La Casita del Turista is more than a school. It is an owner-hosted home created for a small number of students who value personal attention and a peaceful environment. Throughout your stay, you can enjoy comfortable learning areas, an open kitchen for cooking workshops, a garden, a vegetable patch and a swimming pool surrounded by the rural landscape of Cartago.
Meet your Hosts
La Casita del Turista is owned and hosted by Diego and Celso, a Costa Rican couple who share their home with their pets and a small number of international guests.
Together, they have created a welcoming place where people from different cultures, backgrounds and beliefs can learn, connect and feel at home. Guests do not need to think alike, but kindness and mutual respect are an essential part of life at La Casita.
Cultural Experiences
Language becomes more meaningful when it is connected to real experiences. Depending on your program, your stay may include:
Tradicional cooking
Local arts and crafts
Community activites
Visits to farms and local businesses
Markets and nearby towns
Nature walks and outdoor adventures