Playa Dominical

Program Outline

The Standard 4-hour Language Program is four complete hours of language a day. In Dominical classes start at 9:00 am and end at 1:30 pm with a half hour break and the maximum class size is six students. All materials are included. Each week all students will also have the option of participating in three different afternoon activities: Latin Dance Class, Cooking Classes and one half-day excursion. The Intensive 4-hour + 8 hrs Private has the same group schedule in the morning, followed by 2 hours of private lessons every afternoon except Tuesday, for a total of 28 class hours a week.

The Medical Spanish program is combined with any of our Spanish language programs. In the Medical Spanish program doctors and medical students are instructed two afternoons a week by our in house physician in medical terminology, patient interviews and clinical procedures. Two other afternoons each week, they go to local clinics and shadow local physicians. The Children’s Spanish is a four hour program that combines in class lessons with out of class field trips and games. This program follows the same class hours as the adult program, but is designed with children in mind. Private lessons are available with a minimum of 10 hours required each week. We also have a great deal of volunteer options available. A full description of all options is available at your request.

For added value, there is The Deluxe Adventure Program with can be added to any of the above Spanish programs. For an additional $100/week students receive the following: Airport pickup in San Jose, transportation to Playa Dominical, daily internet access and a Saturday daylong adventure tour. Every weekend, students will experience a different full day excursion. A full description of Saturday tours is available upon request.

Lodging

The Playa Dominical campus has a school lodging option, as well as homestay. Lodging at the school is in shared cabinas on the campus grounds as well as a number nearer to the beach. Each cabina has room for two students (some have room for three) with a private bath, fans and every student receives breakfast at the school. There is also a kitchen at the school available for students in the school stay lodging. Playa Dominical’s host families are within a 20-40 minute walk from the school and bicycles are available to students. The houses are rustic, but clean and the families are very welcoming. Most of the families are located in the small community of Dominicalito, which is 2 miles south of Dominical on the coast.

Cultural

Each week all students can participate in the afternoon activities, Dance and Cooking classes, as well as afternoon excursions to the surrounding area. There are also many different volunteer options that help students become better acquainted with the local community and culture.

Locations

Dominical is a small beach community on Costa Rica’s central pacific coast with about 400 permanent residents. The area around the town and up and down the coast is not very developed, which means that its location is truly in the rain forest. The school’s campus is right on the river in the middle of town and about a 5-minute walk from the ocean. The beach is famous for its world-class surfing as well as the abundant wildlife in the area. There are five national parks within 25 miles from Dominical. Hacienda Baru, is a private nature preserve right across the river from the school.

Local Color

In Dominical every weekend there are dances that attract the locals from all over the surrounding area. It is not unusual to have over 800 people come for the disco on a Saturday night, twice the resident population of the town. The real attraction of Dominical though lies in the surrounding natural wonders of the beach and rain forest.

Hot Tip

Punto Dominical is the best place to catch a bite to eat and see the sunset. The restaurant La Parsela has some of the best food in the area with spectacular views up and down the coast. Behind the restaurant is a trail the goes up and over the point down to a secluded rocky beach where the sunsets are unbelievable.

Start Dates

Every Monday of the year except on Costa Rican National Holidays. In the case of Monday holidays, classes will begin on the following Tuesday. The following Costa Rica Holidays are observed by the school; January 1st, April 11th, May 1st, July 25th, August 15th, September 15th and December 25th. The school is open on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. There are no refunds for missed days because of holidays.

Main points about the Playa Dominical campus:

• The Dominical campus is right off the beach with lots of wildlife in the surrounding countryside and in the town itself.
• Dominical is one of the best surfing beaches in Central America.
• Great afternoon and weekend activities such as Dance and cooking classes, rafting, kayaking and mountain biking.
• Nearby Cano Island and Corcovado National Parks are two of the most untouched rainforests in the country.
• A great Adventure program with mountain biking trips, waterfalls, kayaking and overnights in the jungle.
• Undergraduate College units and graduate level credit available
• The Intensive group 4 + Private is a great combination of groups classes and individual tutoring.
• Extra benefits for those on the Adventure program include airport pick up assistance and daily internet access.
• A very comprehensive Medical Spanish program, combining in class curriculum with afternoon hospital and clinical visits.
• A very safe beach location, perfect for families and those traveling on their own.
• Small school so it is very flexible and willing to set up special programs or group packages.