After classes and on weekends Intercultura offers a wide selection of activities, conducted in Spanish. Students should check the notice boards in reception daily for times, sign-up sheets and specific information. We encourage all students to participate in as many activities as possible, as you will find they greatly enhance your understanding of, and connection to, the culture. Activities include:

LATIN DANCE CLASSES

From Monday through Thursday you have the opportunity to participate in classes where you will learn salsa, merengue, cumbia and marcado, the most popular dances in Costa Rica. This enables you to go out to discos and dances with confidence and interact on a fun social level with Ticos.

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES CALENDAR

Each month the Spanish school in Playa Samarahas a new activity plan of special events, national holiday activities, and a variety of fun excursions which are accompanied by a school teacher or staff member and in which Intercultura encourages English students to participate so as to promote social interaction with the locals. These activities include football (soccer) games, trips to the bowling alley or roller-skating rink, special dance or theater shows, discussion groups, live music discos and more. For some of the more important national holidays the staff presents educational performances relevant to the occasion, in which student interaction is highly encouraged!

COSTA RICAN COOKING CLASS

Once a week Intercultura teaches students how to make typical Costa Rican dishes, a nice skill to take home and share with friends and family!

LATIN MUSIC CLASS

In this weekly class students learn traditional and modern songs from different Spanish-speaking countries, analyzing their meaning and cultural significance. This helps greatly in overall comprehension. Feel free to join in and bring your own instrument!

LECTURES

The Spanish school holds periodic talks and informal gatherings which cover a diverse range of subjects and inform students about topics such as the ecology and environment of Costa Rica, Latin-American literature, politics, women's studies and other socially and culturally related themes.

FILM NIGHT

Once a week AZ Playa Samara shows a film in Spanish, an entertaining and practical way to practice the language.

INTERCAMBIOS

During these cultural exchanges Spanish students meet with Tico English students at the school to practice conversation skills (in both languages) in a relaxed atmosphere, and to make new friends from the local community.

FIESTAS PATRONALES

These local celebrations are held in all Costa Rican cities and villages every year, usually over a weekend. They are advertised throughout the country and are an excellent source of cultural entertainment. You can watch bullfights "Tico" style, where the bull is not harmed in any way, participate in traditional games and try out a variety of local fare.

EXCURSIONS

On weekends the Spanish school hosts excursions to many different parts of the country: Possibilities range from relaxing on a white sand beach, to studying the complex ecosystems of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, to watching the eruptions of a live volcano! During the week we take students to theaters, museums, nearby parks, the capital city of San José, discotheques, soccer games, concerts and more!