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ENESDENOFRRU
🌊 Costa Rica · Español · Adventures

Learn Spanish.
Explore Costa Rica.

Private Spanish classes tailored to you + unforgettable tours with a local guide who truly loves this land.

★★★★★ 5.0 · 47 Google reviews 🎁 First trial class free · no card
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5.0 Google Rating
💬 0 Reviews
🗓️ 0 Years Teaching Spanish
🌍 0 Students Worldwide
José Cardoza, Spanish teacher in Santa Teresa de Cóbano, holding his teaching degree
9+
Years Teaching

Hi! I'm José Cardoza 👋

I'm a young, hardworking, always-smiling guy living in Santa Teresa, Península de Nicoya — always passionate about what I do. With 9+ years teaching Spanish and more than 2,000 students from around the world, I know how to make you progress fast. If you're visiting the Nicoya Peninsula, I'll show you its most magical corners. If you want to learn Spanish or English, I can teach you from anywhere — online.

5-star reviews from students and travelers worldwide
Certified teacher — with university training in teaching
Native Spanish speaker — fluent in English too
Local expertise — hidden gems & best spots in Costa Rica
Personalized experience — every session is tailored to you
Chat with me Send email

Stories from Real Travelers & Students ⭐

★★★★★

"I have been learning Spanish online with José for about 1-2 months and I do feel that I have made progress. When I started, I could not speak at all, but now I definitely can speak a little and understand a lot more than when I began."

L
Lucy Smith
🗣️ Online Spanish · Google review
★★★★★

"I want to wholeheartedly recommend José, my English teacher. I started from zero, literally unable to say 'hi, how are you?', and today I can hold conversations with much more confidence."

P
Paula Julieta Rodas
🇬🇧 English classes · Google review
★★★★★

"José is a great teacher! I have been taking lessons for only a few weeks and already feel like I am making good progress. He is kind and encouraging and I recommend him to all!"

L
Lauren Strathdee
🗣️ Spanish lessons · Google review
★★★★★

"I had the best experience with Jose. I loved how flexible he was, and I learned a lot. Jose is a very patient teacher who always pushes you to use the words and grammar learned in class."

F
Florian M.
🗣️ Spanish lessons · Tripadvisor review
★★★★★

"Jose created a very chill atmosphere where I felt like I could make mistakes and ask questions, and there was no judgment. I would recommend taking Spanish lessons with Jose for everyone — in all levels of Spanish — who wants a kind and helpful teacher!"

A
Arlo K.
🗣️ Spanish lessons · Tripadvisor review

Unforgettable Costa Rica Tours

Based in Santa Teresa, Nicoya Peninsula, José leads every tour personally across the region — Montezuma, Tambor, Paquera, Isla Tortuga, Cabuya and beyond. Small groups, authentic local experiences, and memories for a lifetime.

Bioluminescence tour, Santa Teresa
Night Tour

Bioluminescence Tour

Witness one of nature's most breathtaking spectacles — the ocean glowing with living light. Paddle through waters that sparkle with every movement in a magical nighttime kayak or boat tour.

$30–$50
USD / person
80–100
minutes
Night adventure Kayak/boat Small groups Photo stops
Tour details

Included: Local guide, kayak or boat, life jacket and photos.

📍 Meeting point: In Paquera — I'll send you the exact location pin on WhatsApp.

🌙 Good to know: We coordinate your exact departure time by WhatsApp — and the darker the sky (less moon), the more magical the glow.

🎒 What to bring: Swimwear, towel, water, insect repellent and a dry bag.

Book this tour Read the full guide →
Isla Tortuga, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Day Trip

Isla Tortuga

A paradise island with crystal-clear turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and incredible marine life. Snorkel, swim, and relax in one of Costa Rica's most beautiful natural treasures.

$60–$90
USD / person
7–8
hours
Snorkeling White sand beach Boat trip Lunch included
Tour details

Included: Round-trip boat, lunch (chicken or fish), drinks, fresh fruit (watermelon & pineapple), snorkeling gear and your guide.

💵 Payment: Cash only.

📍 Meeting point: The bridge at the Tambor dock (muelle de Tambor). We depart at 9:00 AM.

🎒 What to bring: Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, towel, hat and some cash.

Book this tour Read the full guide →
Tours on the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
And More!

And Many More Adventures!

José offers a variety of additional experiences across Costa Rica. Ask him directly about custom tours, private excursions, and hidden local gems tailored just for you.

Custom tours Hidden spots Private groups
Ask about more tours

A method for every
stage of your learning

Every student starts from a different place. That's why I work with two focused approaches depending on your current level.

01
Beginners

Translation Method

We build a solid foundation through translation between your language and Spanish. Key tourism vocabulary and phrases from day one — clear, safe, and effective.

02
Intermediate · Advanced

Natural Method

We leave translation behind and start thinking in Spanish. Fluent conversation, listening comprehension, and spontaneous expression in real tourism and hospitality contexts.

03
All levels

Personalized Plan

Every student gets a plan adapted to their goals: tour guides, customer service, hotels, restaurants, or personal use when traveling to Spanish-speaking countries.

Learn a Language with Purpose 🗣️

José's classes are conversational, fun, and practical — no boring textbooks. Whether you're a complete beginner or polishing your fluency, every lesson is designed around YOU.

🇪🇸

Spanish for Beginners

Start from zero and build a solid foundation. Learn greetings, everyday phrases, and how to navigate real Costa Rican life from day one.

💬

Conversational Spanish

For intermediate learners who want to actually speak. Dive into real conversations, local slang, and cultural nuances that textbooks never teach.

✈️

Travel Spanish

Everything you need for your Costa Rica trip — ordering food, navigating, bargaining at markets, and connecting with locals authentically.

🇬🇧

English for Everyday Life

Practical English classes for Costa Ricans who want to communicate better at work, with tourists, or for personal growth. Real situations, real results.

🎓

Advanced / Fluency Spanish

Polish your accent, master complex grammar, and gain true fluency. Includes debates, storytelling, and cultural immersion exercises.

🌴

Spanish + Tour Combo

The ultimate immersive experience — learn Spanish in the morning, then practice it on a real tour in the afternoon. Language learning meets adventure!

💰

Competitive & Accessible Prices

$22 USD
per private class
$70 USD
monthly · 4 classes

Online or in-person in Santa Teresa, San Isidro, Mal País & Cóbano · Flexible scheduling

🗓️

New! Every Sunday: live online group class — just $10 per person, 40 min. A fun way to practice. Message me to join!

Book a class now

Packages & Offers 🎁

Combine Spanish classes with an unforgettable tour — and save. Every package includes ebooks for our classes and self-study.

Bioluminescence tour

Bioluminescence Package

$75 USD
  • 2 Spanish classes in 1 week
  • Bioluminescence night tour
  • Ebooks for class & self-study
Book on WhatsApp
Most Popular
Isla Tortuga tour

Isla Tortuga Package

$99 USD
  • 2 Spanish classes in 1 week
  • Full-day Isla Tortuga tour (lunch & snorkeling)
  • Ebooks for class & self-study
Book on WhatsApp
🎁 Bonus: Book any other tour over $100 and get 1 FREE Spanish class — private or group!

How It Works 🚀

Getting started is easy — you can be learning Spanish this week.

1

Message me

Say hello on WhatsApp — tell me your goals. No commitment.

2

Free level test

Take the quick quiz (or a short chat) so we know your exact level.

3

Your personal plan

I design a plan around your goals, schedule and budget.

4

Start speaking!

Online or in person — fun, practical lessons from day one.

Limited offer 🎁

Your First Trial Class is FREE

A 20–30 minute lesson with zero risk. See how fun and effective it is — then decide. No card, no commitment.

Book my free class

What's Your Spanish Level? 📝

Answer this quiz (levels A1 to B2) to discover your level and get a personalized class recommendation from José.

¿Cómo se dice 'Buenos días' en español?

(Nivel: Principiante)

1 / 8

Real Photos of the Area

White sand, turquoise water, colorful fish, and pure Caribbean-Pacific magic — this is what awaits you.

I want to go! Book now

Costa Rica in Motion 🎬

Nothing speaks louder than real footage. Watch the bioluminescence glow, the turquoise waters of Isla Tortuga, and the vibrant rainforest come alive.

4 Reasons You'll Feel in Costa Rica

These are the four you notice within a week of arriving. Spanish pays off long after the trip too — I wrote about that separately.

🌿Experience Costa Rica like a local — Pura Vida from within.
🌎Travel deeper — connect with locals, not just tourists.
🍽️Order food, shop & get around with confidence.
💻Open doors to remote work & the digital-nomad life.

8 more reasons, beyond your trip →

Learn Spanish on Your Own 📚

Prefer to study on your own? My ebooks take you from your very first "¡Hola!" to real, confident Spanish — real conversations, clear grammar, and the living culture of Costa Rica & Nicaragua. Request yours on WhatsApp (₡3,000 each, pay by SINPE).

Ebook A1 — ¡Hola, Mundo! · Beginner Spanish
A1 · Beginner

¡Hola, Mundo!

Your first adventure in Spanish

Your very first steps in Spanish: greet people, introduce yourself, order food at a Costa Rican soda, and talk about your hobbies. Fully bilingual (English explanations throughout), with real dialogues, clear grammar, vocabulary tables, culture from Costa Rica & Nicaragua, and exercises with a full answer key. 3 units · ~52 pages.

Ebook A2 — ¡De Viaje! · Elementary Spanish
A2 · Elementary

¡De Viaje!

Adventures in Spanish around the world

Travel the Spanish-speaking world with confidence: the airport, hotel check-in, transport, asking for directions, and shopping & bargaining at the market. Mostly in Spanish, with English support for new vocabulary and key grammar (ESTAR, ir a + infinitive, past tense, comparisons). Dialogues, culture & exercises with answer key. 4 units · ~60 pages.

Ebook B1 — ¡Raíces y Sabores! · Intermediate Spanish
B1 · Intermediate

¡Raíces y Sabores!

Spanish from the inside

Spanish from the inside — written entirely in Spanish (immersive, no translations) for learners ready to think in the language. Master the many uses of SER / ESTAR / TENER / HABER / HACER, reflexive verbs and the RID pronoun rule, plus markets, fairs and iconic dishes (casado, gallo pinto). Rich Costa Rica & Nicaragua culture, with exercises and answer key.

Enjoy my work? Support me!

Your support helps me keep creating Spanish lessons, tours and free resources. Every little bit means the world — muchas gracias!

☕ A coffee ≈ ₡1,000 — or whatever you like ❤️

Buy me a coffee ☕

Free gift 🎁

Free Phrasebook: Survival Spanish for Costa Rica 📘

Get 30 essential Costa Rican phrases to greet, order food, ask directions and connect with locals — a taste of my ebooks, totally free.

Get it free on WhatsApp

Frequently Asked Questions 💬

Both! I teach online to students anywhere in the world, and in person in Santa Teresa, San Isidro, Mal País and Cóbano (Nicoya Peninsula). You choose what works best for you.
All of them — from complete beginner (A1) to advanced fluency (C2). I also teach English to Costa Ricans. Every plan is built around your level and goals.
Private classes are $22 USD each, or $70 for a monthly pack of 4 classes. Online or in person, with flexible scheduling. Every Sunday there's a live online group class ($10 per person, 40 min). Your first trial class is free, and my self-study ebooks are just ₡3,000 each.
Just message me on WhatsApp and we'll arrange it easily. Within Costa Rica I accept SINPE Móvil; for other options, ask me and we'll find what works for you.
No — I provide everything you need for your lessons. My ebooks are optional, for extra practice on your own between classes.
Absolutely! My Spanish + Tour combo lets you learn in the morning and practice on a real tour (Isla Tortuga, bioluminescence and more) in the afternoon. Learning meets adventure.

Tips, Guides & Stories 📝

Stories and practical guides about learning Spanish and exploring Costa Rica — written by José.

José Cardoza with a group of Spanish students in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

8 More Reasons to Learn Spanish (Beyond Your Costa Rica Trip)

Career, memory, music, real friendships — and why Spanish is easier for English speakers than most people assume.

Read more →
Whale and dolphin watching in Costa Rica's Nicoya Gulf

Whale & Dolphin Watching in Costa Rica's Nicoya Gulf

Humpback whales and playful dolphins on a small-group boat tour from Bahía de Tambor. Whale season July–November & December–April.

Read more →
Bioluminescence night tour in Santa Teresa

Bioluminescence Tour in Santa Teresa — Night Kayak Magic

Everything you need to know about paddling through glowing waters on a magical night tour on the Nicoya Peninsula.

Read more →

Let's Make it Happen! 🌴

Whether you want to book a tour, start Spanish classes, or just have a question — José responds quickly. Don't hesitate!

📍 Santa Teresa, Península de Nicoya

Tours across the Nicoya Peninsula — Montezuma, Tambor, Paquera, Isla Tortuga & Cabuya. In-person classes in Santa Teresa, San Isidro, Mal País & Cóbano. Online classes available worldwide.

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Send a Message

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