Costa Rica Summer 2026 Information

Sloth in Costa Rica

 

WHY STUDY YOGA IN COSTA RICA?

Studying yoga in Costa Rica offers unique advantages, including immersion into its breathtaking natural beauty that provides an ideal backdrop, its “Pura Vida” philosophy of life that emphasizes a simple and present way of living, and its commitment to sustainability that allows for practice in an eco-friendly way. In short, Costa Rica provides the kind of environment especially supportive for personal growth and training.  

Your experiences in this program will include nature-based practices, cultural and community immersion, adventures as a part of growth, mind-body awareness, and philosophy and reflection in sacred places. You will also have the opportunity to complete the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTIVITIES AND FIELD TRIPS

The itinerary will include faculty-led yoga practice and many field trips and activities, including:

  • A half-day sightseeing tour of San José
  • A hike and yoga session at the Huetar Indigenous Reservation
  • A full-day excursion to Manuel Antonio National Park
  • A full-day excursion to a botanical garden and the Macaw Lodge Chocolate Factory
  • A three-day, two-night excursion to Monteverde, accommodation with breakfast, a coffee tour tasting with a farm-to-table lunch, a zipline adventure experience, a visit to a female-led artisanal market with lunch included, and a guided night hike through the biological reserve.

PROGRAM LOGISTICS

  • Open to students age 18 and older with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or more. If you are below a 2.00 GPA and place a deposit for this program, it will be returned to you, and you could be assessed a nonrefundable $50 application fee from AIFS. If you’re not sure about your academic status, please check your SRJC portal or contact the Study Abroad coordinator, Patty Warne (pwarne@santarosa.edu).
  • Students will be taking KIN 72 (Yoga Teaching Methodology for 1 unit), KIN 70 (Yoga Techniques Training and Practice Part I for 3 units), and KIN 71 (Yoga Techniques Training and Practice Part II for 2 units). These classes will begin online prior to the program and finish while you are in Costa Rica and will total 6 units.
  • Students will also have the opportunity to complete the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. Prior to travel, KIN 74 (Yoga Philosophy for 2 units) and KIN 73 (Yoga Anatomy for 2 units) will be offered online by your instructors Tara Jacobson and Andrea Thomas . If you take these two classes, and then take the three required classes for the Costa Rica program, you will only be 1 unit shy of completing the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. (You’ll complete the training program by later taking either KINES 50.2 Yoga Teacher Practicum for 1 unit or WEE 991 Internship for 1 unit.) Questions about the Yoga Teacher Training Program? Contact either Tara Jacobson (tjacobson@santarosa.edu) or Andrea Thomas (athomas@santarosa.edu).  
  • Optional flight transportation package from San Francisco to Costa Rica will be available (minimum 10 students) at additional cost.
  • Accommodations will be in twin- or triple-bedded rooms in hotels in San José (3 nights) and the Punta Leona Beach Club and Resort (17 nights). Linens and towels and free wireless internet are included. In Punta Leona, rooms have equipped kitchenettes.
  • Transportation included for all excursions and travel days.
  • Meals include daily breakfast, a welcome lunch, and four additional group meals.
  • AIFS will provide a dedicated Tour Manager to ensure smooth running of the program and provide information and support to the group, as well as a 24-hour on-call service in Costa Rica for the duration of the program.
  • Student medical insurance will be included as outlined in the AIFS insurance brochure.

PROGRAM DATES

  • Depart U.S.: Sunday, July 5, 2026
  • Arrive at Costa Rica: Monday, July 6, 2026.
  • Leave Costa Rica: Sunday, July 26, 2026 

This program will also include some online work prior to departure. 

AIFS will also conduct a pre-departure meeting, most likely by Zoom, in the spring.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

INFORMATION SESSIONS

Your Costa Rica instructors, Tara Jacobson and Andrea Thomas, will be holding informational meetings on this program either via Zoom or in-person later in the fall semester and into spring 2026. If you’d like to receive emails that announce upcoming meetings, please request to be placed on our Costa Rica Summer 2026 contact list by emailing Patty Warne, Study Abroad coordinator, at pwarne@santarosa.edu, or you can check back here later, as we’ll post the dates and times here.  

HERE ARE THE INFO MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR THIS FALL (ALL VIA ZOOM):

  • Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 4:00pmZoom link: 

 https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/81110532031?from=addon

  • Friday, Nov. 14 at 10:00amZoom link:

https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/89285916364?from=addon 

  • Thursday, Dec. 4 at 5:00pmZoom link: 

https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/85053891292?from=addon

In addition to the upcoming Costa Rica info sessions, your instructors will also be a part of a Zoom information session called Expanding Horizons: 2026 Study Abroad Opportunities on November 17th  at 3pm.

Here is the Zoom link for that: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/84803586659

PROGRAM COSTS/SCHOLARSHIPS/FINANCIAL AID

  • The AIFS program costs will be $4,395. These costs will include all lodging, scheduled field trips, medical insurance, and AIFS services. They will not include airfare, day-to-day expenses such as meals (except for breakfast and the group lunches as indicated), and class tuition and books. AIFS will be offering a group flight option at additional cost, which will also include transportation from the airport in Costa Rica to your first night’s destination. Please click here for a run-down of what is and isn’t included in the AIFS fees.

 

  • Scholarships Information: There will be one AIFS scholarship available for $500, provided you’re willing to maintain a blog/vlog. All students in the Costa Rica program are eligible. Click here for AIFS scholarship and application instructions. (Note: you’ll only be able to find the scholarship application here; do not go to the general AIFS website.) The deadline for the scholarship will be April 6, 2026.

 

  • Financial Aid: Financial aid in the summer is more limited than in the fall and spring, but the Promise Grant and the Pell Grant are still available for qualifying students. In addition, if you are eligible for the Pell Grant, check out the Gilman Scholarship. The application usually opens mid-January and the due date is usually around the first week of March: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/

AIFS REFUND DATES & CANCELLATION FEES

Refund requests must be done in writing to AIFS. They accept emails and that is generally the easiest way (customizedfacultyled@aifs.com). See the official refund policy on your Agreement & Release form on the AIFS application. Dates to remember regarding AIFS refunds once you are enrolled in the program:

  • Friday, April 10, 2026: Last day to request a refund of your $450 deposit less $150 in processing & non-refundable fees. After that date, AIFS will not refund any of the $450 deposit. Students will also be potentially subject to any nonrefundable canceled reservation fees by AIFS after this date. See details on the AIFS Agreement & Release form on your application.
  • Friday, May 8, 2026: Total program fee is due. NO REFUND OF PAYMENTS after this date.

AIFS PROGRAM CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation Policy Costa Rica26 for a summary of the AIFS program cancellation policy.