Maximo Nivel - San Jose

De la Farmacia la Bomba de San Pedro, 75 mts sur, Mano Izquierda, Edificio Blanco y Azul, San Pedro Montes de Oca, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
courses

All courses

Maximo Nivel - San Jose offers the following course types:

starting at
NZ$ 348

starting at
NZ$ 348

starting at
NZ$ 697

starting at
NZ$ 697

starting at
NZ$ 1,045

starting at
NZ$ 1,206

starting at
NZ$ 1,206

starting at
NZ$ 3,055

starting at
NZ$ 3,207

starting at
NZ$ 697

starting at
NZ$ 697

starting at
NZ$ 1,751

starting at
NZ$ 3,564

starting at
NZ$ 1,206
school
photos

Photos

  • Outdoor patio and snack bar 1/30
  • Building of Maximo Nivel - San Jose 2/30
  • Entrance to Maximo Nivel - San Jose 3/30
  • Classroom at Maximo Nivel - San Jose 4/30
  • Activities offered at Maximo Nivel - San Jose 5/30
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reviews

Reviews

100% recommend

based on 10 reviews
5 stars
6
4 stars
3
3 stars
1
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing

"Well located school with a wide language course offering"

Darrah Hassell, student from Germany

I live in San Jose half of the year and took advantage of the holiday break to take a two week course to improve speaking Spanish. The staff at Máximo Nivel were very communicative and quick to respond to my queries. I arrived for the classes the first day and although I didn't really need an orientation, I thought the tips they gave the international students were really important tips like "always get in the front seat of an Uber." I took two hours of class per day in the afternoon. The teacher did a very good job at trying to respond to the needs of all the students although our goals were all very different. Besides the book that was provided by Máximo Nivel, the teacher also brought supplementary texts that were very interesting. The small group was really ideal for practicing conversation if you already have a strong grasp of grammar. I noticed a real improvement in confidence in my skills even in the short two weeks that I attended the course. It was a good refresher on the grammar I had years ago and allowed me to practice speaking.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Duration of study
1 week
Date of study
2 Jan 2024 - 12 Jan 2024
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"I learned so much!"

Elaine Feller, student from USA

Personalized one-on-one classes when no other students were present at my level. (Class time was halved.)

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
2 weeks
Date of study
25 Dec 2023 - 12 Jan 2024
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Fantastic guidance!"

Grace Holmes, student from New Zealand

The Spanish lessons were amazing! Every staff member was so helpful and kind!

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Date of study
13 Mar 2023 - 17 Mar 2023
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"The best under the given circumstances"

Mirco Karbinski, student from Germany

The "Maximo Nivel" in San José, Costa Rica, is a lovely school located apart the city centre with great teachers and staff. Since it is a smaller school with a mixture out of national and international students in nearly every age class, the atmosphere is mostly familiar and welcoming. They do include a driving service which will you from the airport to your housing. The staff will probably know your name and will treat you well, have talks with you or invite you to activities which are every Monday (salsa dance training) or Friday in the evening (karaoke night / soccer / etc.). They do also have a Tandem program where you can meet up with native speakers and a travel service agency where it is possible to book tourist activities apart from the school itself with extern organizers.

The lessons were very good and the teachers take care of your personal and individual learning standards and levels to give you the opportunity to progress.

All in all it has been a great experience and an enriching learning process, but since October is in the rain season of Costa Rica there were not as much international students as in the summer season. Therefore, due to the fact I have originally booked the Spanish Immersion Intensive Course, which is meant to have 2 single lessons and 4 group lessons, they could not find other students which have been in my language level (intermedium) but only had students in a basic or advanced language level to build groups with. Instead of that they offered me additional single classes (2 single classes instead of 4 group classes).

If I would have known before that I would solely have single classes, I would have decided for another school since it was not originally the product and program I decided for or for what I had chosen this institute, however it was surely a special situation where they tried to make the best out of the circumstances.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Duration of study
2 weeks
Date of study
10 Oct 2022 - 28 Oct 2022
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Great start learning Spanish"

Miyuki Imai, student from Costa Rica

I have not learned Spanish language before coming to Costa Rica, just knowing basic phrases. Because of that, I was placed to have a one hour private lesson instead of two hour group lesson. I really enjoyed learning Spanish with my teacher, Andrea. I can tell she is an experienced teacher because she gave me the lessons according to my needs, not just follow the textbook, as well as making me comfortable to ask questions and speak Spanish. I wish I could continue the lessons with her more.

Because of the private lesson, my class was changed to evening first, then afternoon. I prefer to have a class in the morning as scheduled. I also did not like the placement test that was very intimidated since I did not understand any of it although I understand the school needs to do it.

I attended one of the free activities, Latin Dance lesson. It's fun.

Because of my experience at Maximo Nivel, now I am motivated to keep learning Spanish!

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Date of study
21 Feb 2022 - 25 Feb 2022
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Nice, service minded and competent staff all along"

Farideh Radis, student from Denmark

I was supposed to have 4 days in an A1 class. But I was the only one beginning in the Christmas week in elementary class, that’ s why the school gave me private lessons instead and that was great. Last time I tried to learn Spanish was 20 years ago in Malaga. My teacher Lindsay spoke Spanish all the time and that motivated me to try to talk too. She gave me small homeworks and thought me not only in Spanish but told me about Costa Rica’s culture and traditions . She is a very pleasant person. Every time I needed help with some thing, fx booking a trip or printing something etc., I met a smile and en effective action.
The only minus for me was that the school is actually in San Pedro, far away from my condo in the northwest of San Jose. I had to take Uber/ taxi to get there every morning. On the other side I came to see more of San Pedro and this was educational .
Who knows may be I will come back to Máximo Nivel, if I visit Cusco in future. Pura vida

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
School location
Date of study
20 Dec 2021 - 24 Dec 2021
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Excellent school, good location, friendly staff"

Mihhail Kapustin, student from Estonia

I was happy with the school. I booked my classes last minute but they were still able to work me in. The staff was very friendly and all spoke perfect English. As for my classes, I took one week of private lessons, 6h a day. Definitely gave my Spanish a boost.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Date of study
25 Jan 2021 - 29 Jan 2021
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"I met many good and dedicated people, but I did not learn as much as I had hoped."

John Ferrara, student from USA

Everyone who worked at the school made a sincere effort to help me learn and to feel comfortable during my time in San Jose. I studied hard and long. Perhaps I expected too much out of just one week at the class, but despite all the positives, I do not feel I made sufficient progress to give five stars.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Date of study
9 Mar 2020 - 13 Mar 2020
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Fantastic learning opportunity with great people!"

Jasmine Selman, student from UK

My teacher Ana was AMAZING, I am so grateful - she improved my Spanish so much so quickly. All the staff at Maximo are amazing. Great lessons, a focus on what you want to learn, for me it was conversational Spanish. They even had a lovely courtyard to sit and chat and practice your Spanish or make friends. Thank you!

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Date of study
20 May 2019 - 24 May 2019
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Very helpful course"

Konrad Debicki, student from Australia

The school catered to my situation very well. I was extremely satisfied with the quality of teaching and how much I was able to learn in the space of a week.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Date of study
11 Mar 2019 - 15 Mar 2019
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.
housing

Housing

Maximo Nivel offers the following housing types:
homestay

Homestay - 2/4-person shared room - Breakfast and dinner

NZ$ 348
weekly
Age range: 16 years old and older
Location: In the city center of San Jose
Housing type: Homestay
Room type: 3-person shared room
Board type: Breakfast and dinner (14 meals per week)
Facilities: Wireless internet
Distance to school: 5 - 35 minutes by bus
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 348
Family-stays are all with pre-approved families and include breakfast and dinner Monday through Sunday. All of our host families are middle-class and live in homes and areas that are attractive. Most family-stays include a shared room and shared bath. Many of the families have been hosting international travelers for years. Guests are given a key to the house and are free to come and go as they please, but they must respect the routine and rules of the family.

Spanish Camp Homestay - 4-person shared room - Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

NZ$ 348
weekly
Age range: 13 - 17 years old
Location: In the city center of San Jose
Housing type: Homestay
Room type: 4-person shared room
Board type: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (21 meals per week)
Facilities: Wireless internet
Distance to school: 5 - 35 minutes by bus
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 348

Homestay - Single-person room - Breakfast and dinner

NZ$ 402
weekly
Age range: 16 years old and older
Location: In the city center of San Jose
Housing type: Homestay
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast and dinner (14 meals per week)
Facilities: Wireless internet
Distance to school: 5 - 35 minutes by bus
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 402
Family-stays are all with pre-approved families and include breakfast and dinner Monday through Sunday. All of our host families are middle-class and live in homes and areas that are attractive. Most family-stays include a shared room and shared bath. Many of the families have been hosting international travelers for years. Guests are given a key to the house and are free to come and go as they please, but they must respect the routine and rules of the family.
student-residence

Student residence (off-campus) - 2/4-person shared room - Breakfast and dinner

NZ$ 447
weekly
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Housing type: Student residence (off-campus)
Room type: 3-person shared room
Board type: Breakfast and dinner (14 meals per week)
Facilities: Wireless internet
Distance to school: 5 - 25 minutes by bus
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 447
Student residences are similar to a family-stay, as they are still houses managed by a family living in the residence, in charge of catering the meals daily. however, they are larger and offer accommodations with a larger group of participants from 10 to 40 people between the ages of 18 to 26 years old, to create a "university dormitory" style experience. Families are less involved with the students who stay in these big houses. Both private and shared rooms are available as are private and shared bathrooms. Student residences include breakfast and dinner 7 days/week. Guests are given a key to the residence and are free to come and go as they please, but they must respect the routine and rules of the residence.

Student residence (off-campus) - Single-person room - Breakfast and dinner

NZ$ 581
weekly
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Location: In the city center of San Jose
Housing type: Student residence (off-campus)
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast and dinner (14 meals per week)
Facilities: Wireless internet
Distance to school: 5 - 25 minutes by bus
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 581
Student residences are similar to a family-stay, as they are still houses managed by a family living in the residence, in charge of catering the meals daily. however, they are larger and offer accommodations with a larger group of participants from 10 to 40 people between the ages of 18 to 26 years old, to create a "university dormitory" style experience. Families are less involved with the students who stay in these big houses. Both private and shared rooms are available as are private and shared bathrooms. Student residences include breakfast and dinner 7 days/week. Guests are given a key to the residence and are free to come and go as they please, but they must respect the routine and rules of the residence.
apartment

Private apartment - Single-person room - No meals

NZ$ 355
weekly
Age range: 18 years old and older
Location: In the city center of San Jose
Housing type: Private apartment
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Private bathroom, kitchen, and wireless internet
Distance to school: 5 - 15 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 355
Apartments are comfortable, fully furnished and with equipped kitchens. They're all centrally located within easy walking distance or a short bus/taxi ride to the Institute.
hotel

Hostel - 12/16-person shared dorm - Breakfast

NZ$ 241
weekly
Age range: 18 years old and older
Location: In the city center of San Jose
Housing type: Hostel
Room type: 4-person shared room
Board type: Breakfast (7 meals per week)
Facilities: Computers, wireless internet, and free internet
Distance to school: 5 - 15 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 241
Hostels are a good option if you want to save money while still remaining 100% independent. All hostels are clean and safe with excellent service and amenities including WiFi and TV rooms. All hostels are within a 5-15 minute walk from Maximo Nivel. Hostels are clean and safe, but basic accommodations. Shared bathrooms are standard for all room types in hostels.

Hostel - Single-person room - Breakfast

NZ$ 491
weekly
Age range: 18 years old and older
Location: In the city center of San Jose
Housing type: Hostel
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast (7 meals per week)
Facilities: Computers, wireless internet, and free internet
Distance to school: 5 - 15 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 491
Hostels are a good option if you want to save money while still remaining 100% independent. All hostels are clean and safe with excellent service and amenities including WiFi and TV rooms. All hostels are within a 5-15 minute walk from Maximo Nivel. Hostels are clean and safe, but basic accommodations. Shared bathrooms are standard for all room types in hostels.

3-star Hotel - Single-person room - Breakfast

NZ$ 911
weekly
Age range: 18 years old and older
Location: In the city center of San Jose
Housing type: 3-star hotel
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast (7 meals per week)
Facilities: Private bathroom, wireless internet, and free internet
Distance to school: 5 - 10 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 911
Maximo Nivel works with very nice, comfortable 3-star hotels. Hotel accommodations include private room with private bath, and breakfast. Hotels are a more expensive option, but provide you with the highest comfort and the most privacy. All hotels are within a 5-15 minute walk from Maximo Nivel.
visa

Visa support

We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. However, the school can supply you with all the documentation you need to support your visa application.

Your letter of acceptance will be sent to your home address by regular mail at no charge to you.

Flights and airport transfer

Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to San Jose based on your budget, schedule and preferences.

Travel insurance

Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.

Learn more about our insurance plan »

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map

Map

De la Farmacia la Bomba de San Pedro, 75 mts sur, Mano Izquierda, Edificio Blanco y Azul, San Pedro Montes de Oca
San Pedro de Montes de Oca
San José
Costa Rica

School location

Máximo Nivel is about 15 minutes outside of downtown San José, in the university district of San Pedro. The area is full of restaurants and shops and Spanish learners live in nearby residential areas.

questions

Questions and answers

Have questions? Get answers from Maximo Nivel - San Jose staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.

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