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Where is the CAPA Costa Rica Center? The CAPA San Jose Center is located just outside central San José in the Zapote / San Pedro district. Being close to the Universidad de Costa Rica, this part of Costa Rica has a large student population, giving you the chance to meet students from Costa Rican and around the world. A short bus or taxi ride will bring you to the heart of San José, with its spectacular museums and markets. The CAPA Alajuela Center is located in the province of Alajuela, Costa Rica. The city of Alajuela is about 20 minutes from San Jose by bus, and the CAPA center is about 20 minutes from downtown Alajuela by taxi or bus. Perched at the top of a hill, the CAPA center overlooks coffee fields and sugar cane fields and the beautiful countryside of the central valley. The CAPA Alajuela Center offers you the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of Costa Rica.A member of the CAPA team operates the CAPA center in Costa Rica. Feel free to ask their advice on travel plans, the best place for a glass of refresco natural de cas or a plate of gallo pinto, or more importantly, to discuss any problems you may be having during your time in Costa Rica. They will be able to link you to the proper support. Students take either a local bus or a taxi to the CAPA center. In Alajuela, CAPA strongly recommends that students share a taxi up the hill to the CAPA center. Many students share taxis with classmates living in the neighborhood, making it an economical and safe way to travel. Students will live in homestays with local families. Each student will have his or her own room. Breakfast and dinner are included in homestays. If you have any special living needs or preferences, please feel free to indicate this on your application, and we will do our best to place you accordingly. Homestays are located in a variety of neighborhoods and pueblos throughout Alajuela. You will find that your host family will be a wonderful resource in learning about Costa Rican culture, practicing your Spanish, as well as a good connection to the community. In many cases your host family will not speak English, but students benefit from this as they are fully immersed in the Spanish language and learn faster. You will receive specific details about your housing approximately two weeks prior to departure Although your host family might have a landline, you should make outgoing calls from Internet cafes and payphones, as even local calls are not free. You may also make calls at the CAPA center provided you purchase a phone card to use for international calls. Phone cards are sold at the center, and a ¢3,000 card (about $6) will allow you to talk to the United States for around 18 minutes. Your host family might allow you to receive calls in the house, but be courteous about the amount of time you spend on the phone. It is a good idea to discuss phone usage with your family when you first arrive. Your host family will do your laundry for you, about once a week or once every other week. Please see the CAPA student handbook for more information about laundry in Costa Rica. You will receive specific details regarding the proper addresses for the CAPA center in your pre-departure materials. Be advised that Costa Rican addresses vary from that to which you are accustomed, as they do not implement a system of zip codes or street names. For example, a typical Costa Rican address is:
All mailings should be clearly addressed with your name and school in the Care Of section. Please be advised that when receiving packages from overseas, the sender must elect to assume all associated charges in shipping, including any customs fees. Failure to do so could delay or prevent you from receiving a package. No guests are allowed in homestays. If you have friends or family members visiting from the United States, they should plan to stay in a hotel nearby or in San Jose. The CAPA Costa Rica center has a list of hotels nearby. Keep in mind that you are a guest in your host family’s home, and be respectful of their space. When arranging for visits from friends and family members, we suggest that you utilize the services of STA. STA travel can assist you in finding lodging close to the CAPA center, or your own housing, and within specific budgets. For more information call STA at (800) 224-0371. Is the electricity the same as in North America? Yes, the electricity voltage is 120 volts. In most cases the plug outlets are the same as that in the US. Occasionally you will find European style plugs in older homes; as a result you might want to bring a plug adapter with you as they are easier to find in the United States Costa Rica has a very agreeable climate, and if you are planning to study there, chances are it is a part of what attracted you to the country. Costa Rica experiences two main seasons – the wet season and the dry season. Beginning in May and lasting into November, the wet season brings slightly cooler temperatures and frequent rainfall. During this season, it is generally sunny until 1:00pm and then rains most of the afternoon and evening. It is important to pack an umbrella and rain jacket if you are coming during this season as the rains can be quite heavy. The dry season brings warmer temperatures, and the days can creep up into the high 80s. Even so, the weather can be cool and windy on occasion, so plan appropriately. A good pair of walking shoes is essential; remember that you will most likely be doing a lot more walking than at home. A good raincoat, and another light covering (think fall jacket) should suffice for the cooler days. Although the weather is warm, you should keep cultural expectations in mind when dressing. Please see the CAPA student handbook for more information on appropriate dress, as well as recommended packing lists. How much money should I bring? Spending habits vary greatly from student to student. Although the exchange rate with Costa Rica is a favorable one, keep in mind that Costa Rica’s economy continues to grow steadily. You will find that many items will even be more expensive than in the United States (some toiletries for example). You will also be responsible for paying for your own lunches, as well as transportation to and from the CAPA center. Many students find that they can get by on $75-$100 a week. In the CAPA student handbook, you will find a “Do – It – Yourself” budget for Costa Rica. Fill it in prior to departing the United States and bring it with you. After the first week and a half, check your actual spending against this budget to figure out if your habits will leave you with enough money to get through the program, and adjust accordingly. What form of currency should I bring? Diversify, diversify, diversify. In today’s day and age, you will find that an ATM card with a credit option will get you just about anywhere you need to go. Remember, however, that in the event your wallet gets lost or stolen, you are high and dry until you can replace that card. We recommend that you bring a modest amount with you in traveler’s checks (approximately $150). Set them aside as an emergency only fund when you arrive in country. Be aware that you will need a photo ID to cash traveler’s checks at most locations, and they are not accepted everywhere. If you bring your ATM card overseas, be certain to talk to a representative at your bank to make sure that your card has international capabilities. Also find out about any other steps you might need to take before using your card overseas. Ensure that your PIN will work in Costa Rica. Note that almost all ATMs will add a fee for international transactions. You may want to get a credit card with a low credit line before going abroad as well. To keep better track of your spending, we recommend you use it in case of an emergency ONLY. Visa and Mastercard are accepted more commonly than American Express. You will need to pay an exit tax in cash when departing Costa Rica from the international airport. Currently that tax is about $27 USD, but could fluctuate. Set aside an appropriate amount of money to cover this at the beginning of the program so that you will have it at the end. No, most students have no need to open a bank account in Costa Rica. Are there Internet facilities? Should I bring my laptop? There are computer facilities with dial-up Internet access at the CAPA center. Currently, wireless Internet is not available in the area in which the CAPA center is located. As computers are slow, and there are not many computers available, you will probably find it more convenient to connect to the Internet at local Internet cafes. Bringing your laptop is a personal decision, and it is up to you whether or not you will need it during the program. Be advised that if you do bring a laptop, you may want to purchase additional insurance in the event that it breaks or is stolen as lost or stolen items are only covered up to a maximum of $250. Costa Rica has excellent doctors and medical facilities. You are automatically covered by CAPA's World Student Insurance policy up to $10,000 per medical claim. Please be sure to keep a copy of the brochure outling your coverage. Your healthcare coverage will operate differently overseas than in the United States. When visiting the doctor or hospital, you are required to pay up front for services. You will then be reimbursed up to $10,000 for this by the World Student Insurance policy, provided that you hold onto all receipts associated with your medical services and submit your claim within 30 days of returning to the US. For minor symptoms, you might want to try soliciting healthcare advise from a local pharmacist first. This is very commonly done in Costa Rica, and you’ll find it to be a quicker and more efficient way to get care. Should I bring any medication? If you are taking prescription medication, you should bring enough for your stay in Italy. Remember to keep any medication in its original packaging and bring this in your carry-on luggage. We recommend that you get a note from your doctor explaining the medication that you’re taking, as well as the generic name of the medication. Hold onto this in the event that you have any issues with your prescription or need to obtain more medication for any reason. It can be difficult to have medications shipped overseas. If you are currently in counseling, you may want to set up weekly phone calls with your counselor. CAPA can provide you with a list of local counselors and psychologists, or your own psychologist may have some connections overseas. Your host family will provide you with two meals a day -- breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is usually served before 8 am. A typical Costa Rican breakfast will consist of gallo pinto (rice and beans), fruit, and coffee. If you have any specific dietary restrictions, please state them clearly on your CAPA application so that you host family can be informed of them as early as possible. When can I travel and what are the holidays for my program? Please speak with your study abroad advisor at your institution or your CAPA Program Manager for the specific dates of holidays during your program, such as semester breaks or long weekends. As these vacation dates can be subject to change, we suggest that you not make any lengthy travel arrangements until you arrive in country. Your weekends can also be used to travel. Buses are the easiest way to get around Costa Rica, and can vary in price and level of comfort. You might also want to look into discount air carriers for flights to other countries in Central America. Contact STA Travel (800) 224-0371 to book your flights.How will I get to know the locals? The CAPA Centers are not affiliated with a university in Costa Rica and you will not be taking classes with local students. You will, however, find that CAPA’s My Education program will provide you with many opportunities to immerse yourself in local culture. Additionally, the CAPA International Program Services Team can recommend a number of individual opportunities, such as volunteering, cooking classes, or language exchanges that you may want to get involved in while in Costa Rica. Ultimately, the study abroad experience is as rich as you want it to be. The more you put into it, the more you will take away. How can I find out more on how to prepare?
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Where is the CAPA Costa Rica Center?
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