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. During the high season the hours may shift and we may also do afternoon classes. 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 our Welcome Drink. 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 designed to be combined with any of our Spanish language programs. In the Medical Spanish program doctors and medical students will receive an additional four hours of medical Spanish classes each week in the afternoon, conducted by a local physician. These medical classes including: medical terminology, patient interviews and clinical procedures. One other afternoon each week, students go to one of the clinics in the area and shadow local physicians. The Children’s Spanish Program for 8 to 13 year olds is a four hour/day 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 number of Volunteer Options available. A full description of all options is available at your request.

Lodging

The Playa Dominical campus has a School Lodging option, as well as Homestay. School Stay is in standard cabinas that have room for two students with a private bath and fans. There is also the option of having a private room for an additional fee. We also have larger cabinas that accommodate three students as well as two Apartments. Some of the cabinas are equipped with air-conditioning that can be requested in advance for an additional weekly fee of $50/room. There is a communal kitchen available for students and free wifi. Playa Dominical’s host families are within a 15-45 minute walk from the school depending on their location. 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. Breakfast and dinner as well as weekly laundry service are included in the homestay option only.

Cultural

Each week all students can participate in the afternoon activities, Dance and Cooking classes. There are a great many excursions to the surrounding area and our students receive discounted rates. We also have a Surf Program available for those students who would like to learn to surf. There are 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 1, April 11, May 1, July 25, August 15, September 15 and December 25. The school is not 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
• Afternoon Surf Program
• 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
• Undergraduate College units and graduate level credit available
• The Intensive group 4 + Private is a great combination of groups classes and individual tutoring
• A very comprehensive Medical Spanish program, combining in class curriculum with afternoon hospital and clinical visits
• Children’s Spanish Immersion Program for 8 to 13 year olds
• 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.