Your A-to-Z Guide to an Unforgettable Stay at ILISA Language Institute in Costa Rica
A more elaborate PDF version is available for your convenience.
Activities
ILISA offers a rich cultural program featuring one to three afternoon activities each week. A standout favorite is the weekly happy hour at a local bar near the institute. Students also enjoy weekly dance classes taught by an outside instructor, as well as cooking classes where they can learn to prepare traditional Costa Rican dishes while picking up new Spanish vocabulary.
In addition to these regular activities, the program includes rotating options such as cultural classes and guided tours to local attractions like museums, the central market, and more.
Students often take the initiative to organize their own events, such as attending a show at the Teatro Nacional (we highly recommend “Teatro al Mediodía”), taking dance lessons at Merecumbé, enjoying afternoon coffee breaks, or catching an evening movie. These student-led outings add another layer of immersion and connection during their time in Costa Rica.
Addresses
Navigating downtown San José can feel a bit overwhelming at first. Here’s a quick guide to help you get oriented:
- Addresses in San José are based on Avenida (avenue) and Calle (street).
- Avenues run east-west, while streets run north-south.
- Avenida Central and Calle Central serve as the starting points for numbering all other roads.
- Even-numbered avenues are located south of Avenida Central, while odd-numbered avenues are north.
- Similarly, even-numbered streets are west of Calle Central, and odd-numbered streets are east.
Example: An address like Avenida 1, between Calles 3 and 5 means the location is on Avenida 1, in the block between Calles 3 and 5.
Landmark-Based Directions
While addresses can be useful, don’t expect locals (including most taxi drivers) to rely on them, especially outside the city center. Instead, “ticos” typically use landmarks for directions. For instance, someone might say, “It’s two blocks west of the central post office and half a block north, next to the coffee shop.” Note that 100 meters roughly equals one block.
To complicate matters, locals sometimes use landmarks that no longer exist! Don’t worry—technology makes things easier. Apps like Google Maps and Waze are invaluable for navigating. If you won’t have roaming service in Costa Rica, we recommend downloading the offline map for San José on Google Maps. These tools make getting around simple and cost-effective.
Finding ILISA
ILISA’s address uses a common landmark-based system:
“From the church of San Pedro, 400 meters south and 125 meters east, on the right-hand side.”
A useful tip: church entrances in Costa Rica almost always face west.
For added convenience, you can simply search for ILISA Educational Experiences on Google Maps to find our exact location.
Airport Pick-up
If you require an airport pickup and transfer, it is included in your package. The cost for an airport return transfer is $35. Alternatively, using Uber for the return trip typically costs between $12 and $15, depending on the time of day.
Please note that if your flight is delayed and the driver incurs additional parking fees, you will be responsible for covering those charges.
Allergies
The majority of allergy problems in Costa Rica are caused by dust rather than pollen. If you suffer from allergies, relief is easily found – most allergy medicines are available over the counter in every pharmacy.
American Express
American Express (tel. 2295-9000) has a counter in San José at the Banco de San José on Calle Central between Avenidas 3 and 5. It’s open Monday through Friday from 8am to 7pm. VISA: 2295-9898
Apartments
While we encourage students to participate in the homestay program, some students planning an extended stay or preferring to live independently choose to stay in a local hotel, apartment, or aparthotel. Options include Hotel Le Bergerac, Ave del Paraíso, and Tairona Apartments. Many of our students who prefer an apartment opt for Airbnb, as there are numerous options in the area. Additionally, you can check with your enrollment coordinator about our two student apartments located in Los Yoses.
Arrival
When traveling by plane, you will arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport. Your first stop after disembarking will be Immigration. Here, you will be asked for your intended address in Costa Rica, so be sure to have your host family’s address, hotel name, or Airbnb address readily available.
After passing through Immigration, head to the luggage claim area. If your bags are delayed or lost, there is a counter for reporting lost baggage.
Next, you will go through Customs. If you have two bags or fewer, you can usually walk straight through. Once you’ve cleared Customs, follow the flow of people to the exit. Please note that if you are using an airport luggage cart, you will need to leave it inside the airport, as they are not allowed outside.
We recommend that you avoid exchanging money or purchasing SIM cards inside the airport. An ILISA driver will be waiting for you outside, holding a white ILISA sign with blue lettering and your name on it. We will take care of the rest. (Note: Please see “Z Last Word” at the end of the orientation for more details.)
Please note that the wait for the driver may be up to 1 hour. If your baggage is lost and you need to report it, causing a delay, you will be responsible for the additional waiting time and parking fees (the parking charge is $5 USD per hour).
There is free Wi-Fi at the airport that you can use to contact your ILISA coordinator or driver via WhatsApp (we recommend installing WhatsApp before your trip, as it is widely used in Costa Rica).