Spanish Summer Camp ~ San Jose, Costa Rica ~ Capital City Information

The San Jose metropolitan area consits of over one million inhabitants. San Jose is located in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. This area is known as the heart of Costa Rica and the city acts as the Capital of the Country. The valley is just under 4,000 feet above sea level and is bordered by thre major volcanoes. San Jose is at the bottom of the valley. The city proper can be considered loud from the traffic congetion during certain times but most find the city to be quite charming. The Spanish summer camp is located in Santo Domingo de Heredia, which is a more quaint residential suburb with more pleasantries than the city center. The metropolitan area is made up of many suburbs and Santo Domingo de Heredia is one of the closest to the major parts of San Jose, so it is not a long commute for the high school students to get into the city for key attractions and the city tour. The city itself is known for its museums, markets, and warm welcoming Costa Rican locals.

Since San Jose lies right in the center of the relatively small country, it is quite easy to venture to all parts of the country that are most popular with its yearly visitors in a very short time. On one weekend the teens one of the most spectacular beach in the world, followed by a weekend near the active Arenal Volcano, rainforest, and waterfalls. The main draw for Spanish students is its lack of tourists who stay more than a few days which provides a superb environment to learn and practice Spanish.