Welcome to your Spanish Immersion | Next Steps to Prepare

Adult Immersion Participants – Welcome to your Spanish Immersion Program!!!

We are so excited for your once-in-a-lifetime journey. This is your program hub and where you can find all the important documents. Bookmark this page; it will be updated frequently as we get closer to departure.

Watch this short video for quick instructions:

What are my next steps? 👣

Mark your calendars with these important dates!

  1. Complete registration form 1 month after making your deposit
  2. Complete pre-departure paperwork 1 month after making your deposit.
  3. Payment # 1: 90 days before the start of the program.
  4. Payment # 2: 60 days before the start of the program.
  5. Final payment due 45-30 days before the start of the program

Check your email!

Check your email and read your official welcome email with next steps! If you did not receive this email send us a message to [email protected]

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

Click on the links below and submit your paperwork! This is imperative for us to have in order to reserve your host family, Spanish classes, volunteer work, spot on excursions, purchase your national park tickets and more!

What is the timeline for preparation?

Follow these steps to get ready to launch into immersion. Bookmark this page & check back frequently! Please do not put this off!
1
START HERE!

Complete these action items within a month of registering!

Passport

Check your passport and make sure it has 6 months of validity.

IMPORTANT!

Your program includes basic travel medical insurance with trip interruption, delays, lost bags, etc. If you have any uncertainties about your upcoming adventure, it’s a good idea to consider additional travel insurance coverage. If you’re looking for a Cancel for Any Reason policy, we suggest you shop for it here and act quickly as it is often has to be purchased within two weeks of your initial deposit.

2
THEN DO THESE…
Travelers Health

Read what the Center for Disease Control says about traveling to Costa Rica & Ecuador. Make an appointment with your primary care physician if necessary.

Book your flights!

Check with Leslie Foster if interested in a group flight. Airport codes are:
– UIO (Quito, Ecuador)
– SJO (San Jose, Costa Rica) and send your flight info to [email protected] along with a copy of your passport.

Payment # 1 DUE

Due 3 months before departure
-Feb. Winter participants: Nov. 1st 2024
-Ecuador Summer participants: March 14, 2025
-Costa Rica Summer participants: April 5, 2025

3
AND FINALLY…do these!!!
Payment # 2 DUE

60 days before departure
-Feb. Winter participants: Dec. 1st, 2024
-Ecuador Summer participants: April 14, 2025
-Costa Rica Summer participants: May 5, 2025

Attend 3 online meetings

Winter Participants Zoom meetings:
-Meeting 1: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 @7pm MT time
-Meeting 2: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 @7pm MT time
-Meeting 3: Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 @7pm MT time
You’ll receive the Zoom link for the meeting via email

Summer participants meeting dates TBD

Final Payment DUE

45-30 days before departure
– Feb. Winter participants: Dec. 15, 2024
-Ecuador Summer participants: May 1, 2025
-Costa Rica Summer participants: May 20, 2025

Download this checklist – hang it on your fridge!

Winter Program Checklist
Summer Program Checklist

Flight Information

Ecuador Flight Info

  • Our programs are held in Cuenca, Ecuador, 8 hours south by bus of the capital city Quito.
  • Our recommendation is to fly into Quito (UIO) and avoid Guayaquil.
  • Arrive to Quito on Saturday and take a domestic flight to Cuenca (flight is 45 min.) Saturday afternoon meet up with your host family.
  • LATAM is the domestic airline we recommend

Costa Rica Flight Info

  • Our programs are held in Santo Domingo de Heredia. The closest international airport is Juan Santa Maria (SJO), just outside the capital city of San Jose.
  • Arrive on a Saturday- your host family will pick you up from the airport.
  • If you wish to participate on an optional weekend excursion before your program begins, please arrive into country the Friday before the weekend.
  • We will have an orientation and town tour on your first Sunday of program.

Ecuador / CR Combo Participants

Do you want to fly with Rory and/or Leslie from Ecuador to Costa Rica? We will be sharing the flights we’ll take if you’d prefer to fly with the same group of combo participants.

  • Fri. June 28: Cuenca (CUE) to Quito (UIO)
    – Latam #1404 departs Cue @7:56pm and arrives into UIO at 8:47pm.
    – You can book a hotel for the night in Quito, some recommended airport hotels are the Wyndham Quito airport hotel and the HolidayInn.
  • Sat. June 29th: Quito (UIO) to Costa Rica (SJO)
    Avianca #646 departs UIO at 15:25 and arrives into SJO at 16:30

Wondering about when to books flights?

Watch this video and get tips on arrival and departure days, host family considerations and more!

Costa Rica Flights

Ecuador Flights

Summer ’24 Immersion Meeting Replays…

Mtg 1 Replay (4/25)

Mtg 2 Replay

Mtg 3 Replay

Before You Depart

1. Bank: Inform your bank about the card you will be using to avoid a “card freeze”
2. Passport: Make 2 copies of your passport. Keep 1 in your backpack and 1 in your main baggage
3. Flight Itinerary: Print your flight itinerary, some immigration officials ask to see proof of your return
4. Travel Insurance: Carry a copy of your travel insurance policy with you
5. Cell phone: Inquire about an international data and calling plan from your wireless provider
6. Join the WhatsApp Groups for all Trip communication (you will get the link via email 1 week before departure)
7. Pack your bags:
Download Costa Rica & Ecuador Packing List
8. Download you program handbook:
Download handbook

Super Important Program Links (all in ONE place)

Volunteer Sign-ups

– Ecuador Volunteer (coming soon)
– Costa Rica Volunteer (coming soon)

Program Itineraries:

– Ecuador Program Itinerary (coming soon)
– Costa Rica Program Itinerary (coming soon)

Participant Workbooks

– Ecuador Workbook (coming soon)
– Costa Rica Participant Workbook (coming soon)

Program FAQs

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