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san jose, costa rica

Costa Rica Study Tour

Program Description

Program Dates and Deadlines:
Term	Year	Application Deadline (or as space permits)	Start Date/Check-in	End Date/Check-out
Summer	2026	February 1, 2026	May 9, 2026	May 16, 2026

Program fee payment deadline: See details below in program cost section. Program fees cannot be deffered. Plan accordingly.Ìý

For questions related to the course offering and itinerary, please contact the primary faculty leader and course instructor:Ìý	For questions regarding study abroad application, eligibility, deadlines, and money matters, please contact the Education Abroad team.Ìý
Faculty Leader: Dr. Rupert Rhodd	Email: goabroad@fau.eduÌý
Email: rrhodd@fau.eduÌý	Phone: 561-297-1208

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Location

San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is in the center of the country, in the mid-west of the Central Valley, within San José Canton. La Fortuna is a small town in Costa Rica, northwest of the capital, San José. It’s known as a gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park, comprising 2 volcanoes.

Housing

Students will stay in a centrally located hotel. Towels and linens are included. Students have the option in between double occupancy rooms ($2,875) or single occupancy rooms ($3,325).

Money Matters

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Program Cost

$2,875 (Double Occupancy) OR $3,325 (Single Occupancy) program fee + tuition for the required program summer course(s). FAU in-state or out-of-state rates apply.Ìý

Program fee payment deadlines:Ìý
1ST PAYMENT:Ìý $600 due by November 15, 2025

2ND PAYMENT: $1,275 (Double Occupancy) or $1,725 (Single Occupancy) due by January 15, 2026

3RD PAYMENT: $1,000 by March 1, 2026

Note:
Program fee payments cannot be deferred regardless of financial aid or scholarship dispursment timelines. Accepted participants will receive detailed payment instructions from the Education Abroad team via email prior to each payment deadline.Ìý

Program Fee Includes:

• Accommodations from check-in through check-out date
• Guided tour of Volcano Arenal Park
• City tour of San Jose
• Welcome and Farewell meals
• Multiple company visits
• International Health Insurance

Activities and excursions are subject to change by faculty leader or program provider/vendor if needed. All efforts would be made to provide a replacement activity or excursion.

Program Fee Does Not Include :

• $200 administrative fee paid at time of application submission
• International flight
• Tuition for courses/credits taken on program (FAU in-state and out-of-state rates apply)
• Personal meals outside of provided program meals
• Personal spending money

Travel Documentation, HEALTH AND SAFETY

Passport and Travel Documentation

• A valid passport is required for all international travel. You need a passport to board an international flight and to enter the country. Passport cards will not be accepted as form of I.D. You may be denied boarding if you travel with a passport that appears damaged or altered.
• Review up-to-date details . Routine processing times can take 6-8 weeks, and expedited applications in 2-3 weeks. Processing times does not include the time it takes for shipping. Processing times begin when your application is received by a passport agency or center, and do not include mailing times. It may take up to 2 weeks for your application to be received by passport agency, and up to 2 weeks for you to receive your completed passport after agency mails it to you. Therefore, you should add an additional 4 weeks to you passport application processing time.
• Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. Check the to learn about entry and exit requirements for the country or countries in which you are traveling. Ìý
• If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you need to renew your passport, or you have any other passport questions, you can find information on the website. In addition, several U.S. Embassies and Consulates provide information to assist applicants in collecting the documentation needed. For a list of Embassies, please visit
• Non-U.S. Citizens may need additional travel documentation. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you should research the study abroad program destination and your home country to determine if a visa or additional travel documentation is required.Ìý

International Health Insurance

All FAU students participating on an FAU Faculty-led Program will be registered in international health and travel insurance coverage through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This mandatory insurance ensures that students have access to medical and emergency support services while abroad. This is included in the program cost. The 2026 Coverage plan will be available in January 2026. Participants can review the current 2025 plan HERE for reference.

Health and Safety Resources to Explore Prior to Traveling Abroad

• U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory – Country Information:Ìý
• U.S. Students Abroad -Ìý
• FAU SHS:Ìý /shs/
• World Health Organization (WHO):Ìý

Pre-departure Orientation and Meetings

All students must attend pre-departure sessions prior to study abroad. Education Abroad and your program faculty leaders will provide you with further details pertaining to dates, times, and location in the semester before your program.Ìý

1) Mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Education Abroad office. This session will cover general international travel related topics such as health, safety, insurance, and travel tips.Ìý
2) Mandatory pre-departure meeting hosted by program faculty leader. This session will cover program and location specific information such as arrival, expectations, itinerary, and course overview.