Q: What are the travel health considerations / requirements for Ecuador and Costa Rica?

Costa Rica: Please refer to the CDC’s Travelers Health Recommendations Ecuador: Please refer to the CDC’s Travelers Health Recommendations Combo Program: If you’re flying from Ecuador to Costa Rica you DO need a yellow fever vaccine. CGI COVID requirements: Covid vaccine is recommended by the CDC for international travel, but not required by Common Ground International.

Q: Are host families vaccinated?

Ecuador: yes, all families are vaccinated. Costa Rica: most families are vaccinated, you can ask to be placed in a vaccinated household.

Question 1

What are the travel health considerations / requirements for Ecuador and Costa Rica?

Accepted Answer

Costa Rica: Please refer to the CDC’s Travelers Health Recommendations
Ecuador: Please refer to the CDC’s Travelers Health Recommendations
Combo Program: If you’re flying from Ecuador to Costa Rica you DO need a yellow fever vaccine.
CGI COVID requirements: Covid vaccine is recommended by the CDC for international travel, but not required by Common Ground International.

Question 2

Are host families vaccinated?

Accepted Answer

Ecuador: yes, all families are vaccinated.
Costa Rica: most families are vaccinated, you can ask to be placed in a vaccinated household.

Question 3

Does fully vaccinated mean boosted?

Accepted Answer

No.

Question 4

Can you sign up for optional excursions before the program begins?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in fact if it’s an overnight excursion we actually need you to be registered within 30 days of the trip so that we can properly reserve your hotel space.

Question 5

Where can I find the pre-departure course?

Accepted Answer

All of the important program links are found here on the welcome page (the page you’re on now).

Question 6

For weekday optional excursions, do those interfere with our classes?

Accepted Answer

No, we will be back in time for your afternoon classes.

Question 7

Do we submit all paperwork via the pre-departure course or can we email it to someone?

Accepted Answer

You can email your information to Samanta at: support@commongroundinternational.com

Question 8

Do we need cash before the trip or is it ok with just our credit card?

Accepted Answer

You don’t need to take a bunch of local currency with you as you travel. Our suggestion is to have some USD on you and to have both a debit card (for ATM use) and a credit card for everyday expenses.
Be sure to check with your banks about international transaction fees so that you’re aware of your costs to use your cards abroad.

Question 9

Are we going to have WiFi?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you’ll have regular access to the internet at language school and in most host homes.

Question 10

When will I know who my host family is?

Accepted Answer

We usually send out host family info 1-2 weeks before your trip.

Question 11

When is the best day to buy flights?

Accepted Answer

There may or may not be a “best day” to buy flights but when you search for flights, try using an incognito browser and/or clearing your browser cache. Some airlines have cookies that adjust pricing based on your activity searching.
Use google flights to track pricing and get historical pricing trends.

Question 12

What happens / can I come in a day early or a day late?

Accepted Answer

Yes absolutely you can come in early or late. We just need to know your flight details so that we can plan accordingly with your host family.

Question 13

What type of clothes should I pack?

Accepted Answer

We cover clothing pretty well in the packing list info of your pre-departure course but here is a brief summary:
Ecuador: Pack in layers. Pants, long sleeves, bring a backpack with you. It usually gets colder at night.
Costa Rica: prepare for rain in the afternoon, not that many layers, something to keep you dry.
For both countries you’ll want business casual clothing for our volunteer work projects.

Question 14

Can we bring school supplies as donations?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely! Local schools and families benefit greatly from school supplies.

Question 15

What is the laundry situation?

Accepted Answer

Host families will do laundry for you. You only need around a week worth of clothes cause you’ll be able to wash them.

Question 16

How buggy is it where we’ll be traveling?

Accepted Answer

The general rule is that the higher the elevation, the fewer bugs you’ll encounter.
Ecuador: we’re at around 8,000 feet, so the bugs aren’t bad at all.
Costa Rica: we’re at around 4,000 feet and the bugs aren’t bad either.
Your biggest concern is mosquitos, be sure to have bug repellent and proper long sleeves and long pants for dawn and dusk hours in lower elevations (beach, etc).

Question 17

Has the date for the Isla tortuga day trip been decided? It says TBD.

Accepted Answer

Isla Tortuga is a one day trip that can easily be scheduled for any day during your visit.

Question 18

Is it possible to get a street map of the area where we’ll be?

Accepted Answer

You can google “Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica” or “Cuenca Ecuador” in your browser and click on maps and it’ll give you a rough idea of where we will be.

Question 19

Where do I sign up for excursions and what is the deadline?

Accepted Answer

We need you to be registered within 30 days of the trip so that we can properly reserve your hotel space. You can find them here: https://commongroundinternational.com/trips/

Question 20

Are rooms shared during excursions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, usually rooms are either double or triple (each person has their own bed).

Welcome to your Winter Middle / High School Spanish Immersion Program!!!

Watch this short video for quick instructions:

What are my next steps? 👣

Mark your calendars with these important dates!

Check your email!

Follow the timeline below to complete your pre-departure tasks!

What is the timeline for preparation?

Download this checklist – hang it on your fridge!

Flight Information

Costa Rica Flight Details

Chaperoned flight info:

Summer ’24 Immersion Meeting Replays…

Mtg 1 Replay (4/25)

Mtg 2 Replay

Mtg 3 Replay

Before You Depart

Super Important Program Links (all in ONE place)

Program Registration

Pre-departure paperwork

Make Payments Online

Costa Rica Volunteer Sign-up (coming soon)

Program Itinerary:

Packing List

Participant Workbook

Parent Manual

Optional Activities: follow the links to register

Program FAQs

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