Accommodations and Costs

Program Coordinator: Greg Lyons

Homestay Program

All students have the opportunity to live with a Costa Rican family. All families are carefully selected by the Institute. In addition to receiving a private room, breakfast, dinner and laundry service, students experience the warmth and the friendship of home. Living with a family provides complete immersion, allows you to practice what you've learned, and gives you a firsthand look at a different culture. Your host family will meet you at the San José airport. They will help you become familiar with Carillo, and with the area surrounding the language school. During our two weeks at the ICLC language school, host families provide all of our students with breakfast and dinner, but not lunch. Students are advised to either buy foods at a grocery store for making lunches, or to purchase a lunch a the ICLC cafeteria.

Program Fees

Based on a minimum of 15 participants, the cost per individual is $3,200, which includes:

  • Roundtrip airfare on program dates from Portland/San José/Portland
  • Group transfers to/from overseas airport
  • Two weeks Spanish Language program at ICLC
  • Private room in a Costa Rican home for two weeks
  • Daily breakfast and dinner while in home-stay
  • Three nights hotel stay at the La Selva Research station, Sarapiqui
  • Five nights accommodation in Ecolodge bunkhouses while in San Luis
  • Cabo Blanco Field Station accommodation for three nights
  • Palo Verde Field Station Accommodation for three nights
  • Medical and travel insurance
  • Most meals on Field Biology itinerary

Not included in the cost are:

  • Portland Community College’s tuition and fees
  • Passport and visa fees
  • Personal expenses (incidental daily expenses; see below *)
  • Lunches during homestay
  • Costa Rican departure tax of approximately $27 is payable at the San José airport
  • Anything not specified as included in the program

*Incidental daily expenses include bus fares, taxi fares, laundry ($10 weekly), occasional meals, entertainment, and optional excursions.  Students should plan on budgeting at least $500 extra to cover such costs over the four weeks—more if you plan on purchasing gifts, clothes and souvenirs. 

Payment Schedule

  1. After sending your three-page application form as an attachment to email, send Release form and Full balance of program ($3,200) by check by Thursday, February 28, 2008.
    Make check payable to OIEC and mail to Greg Lyons, Coordinator, and put OIEC in memo line, Humanities Division, Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend, Oregon 97701