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Costa Rica

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Accommodations and Accessibility

The IFSA team is ready to help you plan for various accommodations you might need abroad. We’re here to support you and help you prepare for a successful study abroad experience.   

Early planning is key. First, it’s important to know that options for accommodations vary by country, city, and university. This makes it important to share your requests for academic, mental health, diet, religious practices, housing, physical disabilities, and other accommodations early in the planning process. Connect with your IFSA Enrollment Counselor or with our Health, Safety and Wellness team at hsw@ifsa-butler.org as soon as possible.  

The information you share on your health and wellness and housing forms supports this process. After receiving these forms, our Health and Wellness team will follow up as needed to help you arrange accommodations you may need. Our goal is to plan carefully with your help, working with our Costa Rica team as needed.  

Academic accommodation. Accommodation may vary from what you’re used to in the U.S., but our IFSA team can help you navigate the system at your new university to arrange support. We will also provide support during classes taught by IFSA instructors.  

Mobility. Although getting around may be more complicated than in the USA or Europe, it is possible to explore most of the country. In Costa Rica, universities must ensure that all information for public use is accessible for all persons, in accordance with their individual needs. Infrastructure is extremely varied. Roads and sidewalks may be in poor condition. There is a special taxi fleet in San Jose with wheelchair-accessible vans.   

More to explore:  

Mental and Physical Health

Maintaining your mental and physical health while abroad is a priority, and we’re ready to help you plan to support both. If you need it, count on us to help you working with Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) to find convenient health care abroad. 

Eating healthy. Costa Rican cuisine is mostly mild, with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Meals consist of fresh vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and healthy carbohydrates. Many fresh fruits are picked from local trees. Rice and black beans are a staple, often served three times a day.   

Sports and fitness. Athletes will find ample opportunities, including university clubs. Soccer (futbal) plays an important cultural role in Costa Rica. Students often enjoy pick-up games or joining local teams. Swimming, surfing, running, cycling, hiking, basketball, and dancing salsa and cumbia are also popular.  

Check with the IFSA team about CISI insurance coverage for injuries sustained during sports. Coverage is generally broad but there are exceptions for high-level competition.  

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Faith Communities

Studying abroad will likely introduce you to new religions and faith communities. If you plan to practice your religion abroad, consider researching the customs, laws, and places of worship at your destination. 

In Costa Rica, Catholicism is the official religion, though people are free to practice any religion. Most people are Roman Catholic, although not everyone actively practices. The constitution bans interference with religious practices that don’t challenge “universal morality or proper behavior.” If you need help finding a place to worship, our IFSA team is happy to help.  

Religion is a big part of local culture, as you’ll see reflected in language, holidays, and tradition. Costa Rica also has small Muslim and Jewish communities. The Omar Mosque and Islamic Center of Costa Rica in the Montelimar district of San Jose, the country’s first mosque, was founded in 2002. Costa Rica also has more Buddhists than other countries in Central America (around 100,000). 

More to explore: 

Considerations for Women

Costa Rica has a history of traditional gender roles and machismo, characterized by male dominance and masculinity. Men are typically expected to be assertive and dominant, while women are expected to be nurturers and caretakers. Costa Rica has made great  efforts to reduce machismo with cultural education. And in 2010 Laura Chinchilla was the first female president elected in Costa Rica’s history.  

Safety. Expect street harassment—catcalling, unwanted attention—to be more prevalent in Costa Rica. Strangers on the street often make comments as women pass, and this may happen more often to women who look like foreigners. Safety levels are similar to those in the U.S., and Costa Rica is considered relatively safe by world standards. The most common crime is petty theft; tourists are often the targets. The IFSA team will share tips and guidance to help you stay safe. More safety tips for women abroad.  

Dress. Costa Ricans are known for style, and people tend to dress up more than in much of the U.S. Students can dress casually to class or to go out but wearing sweatpants or yoga pants may be considered inappropriate and easily mark you as a foreigner. In professional spheres, it’s best to dress to impress. At religious sites, visitors are expected to dress conservatively, covering knees and shoulders regardless of gender. 

Race and Ethnicity

While you might encounter racism in Costa Rica, expect it to take different forms than in the U.S. Some students of color have experienced situations in Costa Rica where they felt uncomfortable. Despite this, students tend to report a positive study-abroad experience in Costa Rica, thanks to support from the IFSA team and other students.  

Over 80% of the population identifies as White. Costa Rica has a big Afro-Caribbean population (about 8%), especially on the Caribbean coast, where the culture is similar to that of the Caribbean. In the 1980s, Costa Rica decreed August 31 as the Día del Negro to celebrate people who identify as Black.  

Family holds a very important role in Latin American culture.  

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Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

In 2015, Costa Rica was the first Central American country to acknowledge same-sex relationships. Transgender rights activists prompted the government to fund hormone therapy for transgender individuals in 2017, and in 2018, the Costa Rican Constitutional Court ruled in favor of marriage equality. It is not uncommon to see behavior that would be considered politically incorrect or impolite in the U.S.  

More to explore: 

More Support

From help managing money abroad to supporting first-generation college students, our professional advising staff and onsite teams are here for you. 

Travel on a budget. Your IFSA team can share a list of free and affordable things to do in Costa Rica, in addition these resources: 

Student Perspectives

Read about living and learning in Costa Rica: Student Stories.