Cacaocoastcr Reviews 5

Cacao Coast Classroom is a culture- and conservation-focused worldschooling hub on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. We offer immersive, hands-on learning for children and families, connecting them with local ecosystems and cultures through conservation projects, storytelling, cooking, and guided exploration. Our experiential approach fosters creativity, curiosity, social responsibility, and global awareness while strengthening family and community connections.

Lee (Father of 10 year old Ava)

I cannot recommend Cacao Coast Classroom highly enough. And I mean that about everything, not just the programme itself, but the exceptional team behind it and the whole experience from the moment we decided she should participate through to the care shown long after it ended. It has been life changing for my daughter. That word gets used a lot. In this case it's simply true.

Every day she came home excited and full of energy. She talked about the activities, the things she'd learned, the places she'd been, but what she talked about most was the friendships she was making. I watched something unfold over those weeks that I hadn't expected. One friendship in particular struck me as something genuinely rare, a depth of connection she hasn't found with anyone before, formed in just a few weeks. They're still talking regularly and already planning how to meet again.

Something else I noticed surprised me. She seemed to physically grow taller. I don't mean that metaphorically, she was carrying herself differently, more upright, more at ease in her own skin. Her confidence had grown immensely. She told me she'd discovered she could do things she didn't know she was capable of, that she'd realised she was good at helping other people and that she really enjoyed it. Hearing your child say that about themselves is something you don't forget.

When it ended she was so sad to say goodbye. She's still processing it in some ways. But she's also come home grounded and full of new ideas,excited for what comes next in a way that feels settled rather than restless. Whatever Cacao Coast gave her, it didn't just light her up in the moment. It changed something in her that I think will stay.

For any parent hesitating don't. The value of this experience goes so far beyond what's on the page. For my daughter it was priceless.

My daughter Ava’s Review:
This experience couldn't be got anywhere else. I had so much fun and made so many friends, it was really unique and special for me because it was totally unlike anything else. I made closer bonds than I normally do with friends. We supported each other, we laughed together, we made the best memories. I realised I'm actually good at helping others and that was something I didn't expect.

Every cacao day was amazing. Making facials,making chocolate, grinding cacao at the cacao farm,because it's something most people never get to do. It was a once in a lifetime experience. The patty vs empanada cooking session was one of my favourites and tasted incredible! The last day's celebration was so special and one of those moments I'll never forget.

Cacao Coast is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. The only sad part was when it was time to say goodbye.
(Ava 10 Years old)

I can only give a testimonial based on my son’s perspective of the Cacao Coast world school, as he lived and breathed this excitable experience for two weeks. First, my son is 14 and has lived in Costa Rica for almost 5 years. He originally didn’t think he would learn anything new. Boy, was he wrong!
Everyday my son and others his age, from all over the world, met up and were submerged in Costa Rica’s rich culture of food, language, nature and traditions. From songs, to stories, history learned -his day was filled with activities, reflection, building relationships and learning MUCH more about the land he lives on. He developed a greater sense of Costa Rica’s past and present, an understanding of their culture, and the melting pot that it has come to be.
He did not want the 2 weeks to end and if he had the choice, he would have stayed in that group forever. Much love and gratitude to the teachers involved who were passionate, caring, and spicy ng over with excitement and endless knowledge. WE ARE BIG BIG FANS!!

Our time at this worldschool hub was educational immersion at its finest. Such a beautiful two weeks. We didn’t want it to end.

Sam, Claire, and Susana clearly have a deep passion for connection and learning through doing. From the moment we arrived, the sense of community was immediate and genuine. We were welcomed in so naturally, and it didn’t take long for our girls to feel both safe and excited to learn.

Very quickly we found favorite spots, incredible educators, and experiences that simply couldn’t be booked through a typical tour or travel guide. The rhythm of the days, learning, exploring, creating, and connecting, flowed so beautifully it’s honestly hard to put into words.

There was a nature-rich, almost Waldorf-like feeling to the entire experience that really resonated with our family. Storytelling, cooking together, hiking, art, music, journaling, and wildlife observation were all woven together in a way that felt intentional yet organic. Everything was thoughtfully curated, but never forced.

You could feel the care put into the details and the moments. Art classes, music, hidden local gems, meaningful conversations, and opportunities for the kids to engage in ways that felt natural to them.

The educators guided through inviting and showing, not pushing. Children were included, respected, and encouraged to participate in ways that honored their curiosity.

What made it truly special was the balance between independence and support. Families had space to explore while also feeling held by a thoughtful and connected community.

It’s the kind of experience that is incredibly difficult to describe, but one that I genuinely wish every child and family could experience at least once.

Joining this worldschooling programme in Costa Rica as a single mum with an 11 year old and a toddler felt like a leap, but from the very first conversation with Claire and Sam, I knew there was incredible heart behind what they were creating and I knew me and my children had to be part of it.

Thoughtfully designed, we weren’t just learning about Costa Rica, we were living within it, an experience that only the ‘on the ground’ connections of the team could deliver. From working alongside Indigenous communities, to conservation projects, to food, language and shared reflection, everything felt meaningful and unique, yet adaptable to centre the children in their learning as we went along.

What stood out most to me was the care. The way Claire, Sam, Susana and the educators truly saw and cared for each child. I watched my daughter’s confidence in her learning grow again. Her curiosity sparked, her opinions strengthen, her friendships deepen. She felt safe to be both vulnerable and strong and that absolutely came from the environment that was created around her.

For my youngest, who is only 21 months, there was never a sense of him being extra. He was embraced. Hearing him leave with as much Spanish as he arrived with English made us all smile, but more than that, watching the joy he brought to others showed me how warm this community really is.

Behind all of this is an enormous amount of unseen work. Claire and Sam have created something very special and I don’t think they’ll ever fully know the impact it has on the families who join. I shall miss them so very much, and I personally learned a lot from them and their approach too.

I know that this experience will continue to shape us long after we’ve left.

From my daughter (11):
“I liked that learning didn’t feel like normal school. We were actually doing things, not just writing about them. I made friendships that felt so special, and I felt like I could be myself. I learned that I’m braver than I thought.”