You will be provided with a private room in a local family’s home. The room will include a bed (with sheets and pillows), closet, fan, and door lock. Students may have to share a bathroom with host family members.

Please note that Costa Rican homes do not have central air-conditioning units. Some homes may have individual air-conditioning units in certain parts of the house, but you should not expect that your room will be air-conditioned. Your host family will provide laundry service once a week.

All homes will have internet service. Be aware that the internet service may not be the speed or level of connectivity to which you are accustomed.

Host families will provide three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) Monday–Sunday. Typical meals consist of rice, beans, cooked plantains, fish or chicken, and fruits or vegetables. The tap water in Costa Rica is safe to drink without a filter. Please let us know if you have food allergies or dietary restrictions.

Your host family will live 15–30 minutes walking distance from the UIN campus. Your host family will show you how to get to school each day. You may choose to walk or take public transportation to school each day. Please let us know if you have a condition or disability that requires special transportation arrangements.