Academia Tica, Spanish school in Coronado (San José) and Jacó Beach, Costa Rica
Academia Tica teaches Spanish to foreigners in Costa Rica, on two very different campuses: a small mountain town near San José, and a Pacific beach resort. Here is who they are, how they teach, what sets them apart, and the two schools we offer.
Who is Academia Tica?
Academia Tica is a Spanish school for foreigners in Costa Rica. On the presentation page of its official website, it states that it has existed since 1986 and describes itself as one of the first Spanish schools in the country.
It has two campuses, and we offer both. Coronado, about 30 minutes from the centre of San José, is described as an authentic, little-touristed Costa Rican town at the foot of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Jacó Beach is a Pacific seaside resort, with a beach and surf, close to the Carara and Manuel Antonio national parks.
According to the website, the Coronado campus has 10 classrooms, tropical gardens, a library and a student residence next to the school; Jacó has 7 classrooms, tropical gardens, a swimming pool and bicycle and surfboard rental.
How they teach
The method is communicative and conversation-centred, in total immersion: classes are taught in Spanish only, favouring use of the language over rules, without giving up grammar. The programme follows the Instituto Cervantes curriculum plan and the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference, from A1 to C2, with a cultural component at every level. The school sums this up as “fun classes, serious learning”.
Groups have 6 students at most, with an average of 3 to 4 students per class, and lessons last 50 minutes. On the first morning, a short written and oral test places each student at their level. The school relies on a textbook from a recognised publisher, supplemented by its own resources and Central American materials (songs, videos, maps).
Follow-up includes weekly self-assessments, unit tests, continuous assessment by the teachers and a “mini” DELE at the end of each level, according to the official website.
What sets Academia Tica apart
- Two campuses, two atmospheres. The mountains and Costa Rican daily life in Coronado, the beach and surf in Jacó: the same teaching, two ways of living the stay.
- Recognised accreditations. The website states that the Coronado campus meets the conditions of the Instituto Cervantes centre accreditation system, and that the school has been a DELE exam centre since 2013. It also cites a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice award (2025 for Coronado, 2026) and membership of the “Spanish in Costa Rica” association, the GlobalEdu consortium and the Jacó sustainable tourism chamber.
- Programmes that combine Spanish and activities. Surf, yoga, an interactive programme with activities and excursions: Spanish is combined with what the country has to offer.
- A sustainable development approach. The school highlights solar panels, an electric vehicle for most transfers, organic vegetable gardens, composting, recycling and reforestation on both campuses.
Its programmes, and who they are for
In our catalogue, all courses are open from age 18, lasting 1 to 52 weeks with a possible start every Monday. The base is the intensive course of 20 group lessons per week, which can be combined with 5 or 10 private lessons; private courses of 10, 20 or 30 lessons per week also exist, as well as Spanish for specific purposes and an interactive programme (semi-private lessons, activities and excursions).
Depending on the campus, other formats are added: in Jacó, “Surf & Spanish” (20 group lessons and 3 surf sessions), an intensive version with private lessons, and Spanish and yoga; in Coronado, DELE exam preparation, DELE training, a “Bildungsurlaub” educational-leave course for Germans, and Spanish and yoga. The official website also presents volunteering, internships, group programmes and online courses, which we do not offer here.
Prices, school by school
2027 rates from the Synergee price engine, for the intensive Spanish course (20 group lessons per week), starting on January 4, 2027. The “from” price is the lowest per week among the durations priced by the engine; the detail for all durations is in the expandable table below. The exact quote depends on your dates, your duration and your accommodation.
- San José, Costa Rica : from 297 USD per week (12-week course, excluding fees and accommodation)
- Playa Jacó, Costa Rica : from 330 USD per week (12-week course, excluding fees and accommodation)
See all 2027 prices
| Centre | Reference course | Lessons / wk | 2 weeks | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | Registration fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San José, Costa Rica | Intensive | 20 | 640 USD | 1,280 USD | 3,560 USD | — |
| Playa Jacó, Costa Rica | Intensive | 20 | 700 USD | 1,400 USD | 3,960 USD | — |
Course price only, excluding accommodation. Each country uses its own currency.
Accommodation
In Coronado, the catalogue offers the student residence, next to the campus, and the homestay (room with breakfast and dinner, shared or private bathroom). In Jacó, it offers apartments and a student house, without meals, and the homestay. Price of the engine’s reference homestay, per week, for a 4-week stay.
See accommodation prices
| Centre | Homestay, per week (4 weeks) | Residences in the catalogue |
|---|---|---|
| San José | 310 USD | 1 |
| Playa Jacó | 340 USD | 3 |
The schools in detail
Academia Tica — San José
Costa Rica · 13 courses in the catalogue
Mountain campus in Coronado, about 30 minutes from San José: 10 classrooms, tropical gardens, library and a student residence next to the school. Accommodation: student residence or homestay.
Academia Tica — Playa Jacó
Costa Rica · 12 courses in the catalogue
Seaside campus in Jacó Beach, on the Pacific coast: 7 classrooms, tropical gardens, swimming pool, bicycle and surfboard rental. Accommodation: apartments or student house, or homestay.
Sources: the school’s official website (academiatica.com: presentation, methodology, accommodation), consulted on 7 November 2026; school pages served on sejours-linguistiques.com; prices: Synergee engine.