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The strengths were location (breathtaking views, mostly unspoiled surroundings, I felt very safe), climate (temperate, never too hot), one-to-one teacher-student ratio; nice school setting. The weaknesses were: my home stay accommodations were a little uncomfortable (old beds, bugs); the town has only two internet stations, no internet cafes, school does not offer internet; no place to just "hang out" and study except for the restaurant at the school; limited student activities. he lack of group activities was mostly ok; they offer tours and occasional evening get togethers, but it is definitely not pushed at you. I very much liked meeting other students in between classes, because you don't really run into the other students, there are so few in the town. There were perhaps 10 students when I was there in April 2007: from U.S., Japan, Germany mostly. The Guest House and Hostel both looked very clean and comfortable. My other language school experience was in Antigua Guatemala where it was much more cosmopolitan, but possibly not as safe, and definitely dirtier.

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I attended this school in 2005 and was really impressed. The cost is really low and the teaching is excellent. The school is paired with a youth hostel, so there is a chance to meet lots of interesting people. They give you a course syllabus that is quite detailed, so it is easy to study after classes in the evening. The town of Orosi is small and quaint, a good place to get away from the chaos of the modern world. The inhabitants of Orosi are friendly and helpful. There are plenty of day trips to interesting places like volcanos, forests, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches (a little more distant). I would highly recommend this school to the budget-conscious student. It's a real bargain for a quality product.

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I went to this school last year with my father and brother. We had a great time and learned a lot of Spanish. The teachers were really good and made learning a lot of fun. The best part was all the people I met at the Youth Hostel. They came from all around the world. Some were there to learn Spanish and others were there just to stay for a few days in Orosi.

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If you're planning on taking Spanish lessons while in Costa Rica, I can thoroughly recommend a great school in the Orosi valley, just 90 minutes from San Jose. With so many schools in Costa Rica to choose from, I was pleased to find another time-saving comparison site (www.spanishschoolscostarica.net) which was really useful and helped me choose Montana Linda – and I'm so glad I did! If like me you're serious about learning Spanish in a relaxed setting away from distractions like the beach, then Orosi could be the place for you. It's a peaceful village nested in the mountains, with plenty to do if you like nature and prefer to explore the surroundings at your own pace rather than sign up for organised tours. There's a friendly atmosphere and you’ll not only receive a genuine 'hello' from the locals you pass in the street, but they'll also encourage your attempts to speak Spanish in the supermaket, bakery and internet cafe. Montana Linda Spanish School offers great value for money and caters for all levels. As a complete beginner I was relieved to find that my teacher had heaps of patience and tailored the classes to my own interests and needs. I expected that there might be up to three students in my class, but was fortunate enough to have one-to-one tuition and felt that the three-hour sessions were just the right length (any more would have been too much!). Classes run from Monday to Friday, but the school and lots of flexibility with regards to lesson times (8-11am, 12-3pm or 3-6pm) and accommodation (guest house, hostel or homestay), as long as you arrive by Sunday afternoon or call to make reservations in advance. I chose the cosy hostel as the budget option, but fellow students had a great time with their friendly homestay families, which were all within five minutes walk from the school. I hope you find this useful and enjoy your time in Costa Rica as much as I did! For more information, check out the school’s website, www.montanalinda.com, or Lonely Planet pages 122 and 143 (6th edition).

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I had several different teachers who were very good to excellent. The learning program worked for me. At times the school was noisy (often from the gaggle of geese next door), but otherwise the facility was very conducive to learning. There is good food cooked on site, which is a nice option for lunch. A nice thing about this area is that you can drink the tap water and eat the fresh food, including salads. My family was lovely, very helpful and friendly, but the bathroom plumbing was not wonderful. The school barely lifts a finger to help you have fun; you are mostly on your own for that. Living in the hostel might be more fun, but then you miss the opportunity to live with a family...

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I was very impresed by the prise of the course. It was one of the cheapest around and got great value for my money. I definatly recommend this school to everyone!!

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Very good teachers, very good program. Nice little cafe with good food at the school. Tap water is drinkable, and so are the fresh vegetables. I had a salad every day at the cafe. The school is a bit loud because of honking geese next door. If you live with a family, accommodations are very basic, but you will learn Spanish faster. School does little to provide a social life. Probably more fun to stay at the hostel. Nice hiking in the area.

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The school is located in a beautiful area and everything needed is in walking distance. The staff are extremely helpful with anything you could possibly want and the teachers are fantastic. The teacher to student ratio is awesome and the curriculum was geared toward what I wanted. I lived with a family during my studies, but one could also stay at the hostel. This school is geared more toward people looking to learn the language and not necessarily party every night. This was exactly what I was looking for and I would highly recommend Montana Linda to anyone.

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I highly recommend Montana Linda. Context: I studied Feb. 11 - Feb. 29, 2008. I am 36 years old and studied Spanish 7th-12th grades, and one semester in college, but couldn't use my Spanish before coming to Costa Rica as it had just been too long so I could remember very little. Value for the money: Really, you can't beat it. School philosophy: I really wanted to spend my money in Costa Rica at a school that was doing something positive in the community, not just lining the owners' pockets. Though they are "foreigners," the owners of this school (Sara and Toine) are *part* of the Orosi community. They offer English classes to the community (kids one night a week, adults two nights a week) and employ roughly 8 local people, which is a lot for a community that small. (Dare I say it's possible they're the largest year-round employer in town?) Their 3-year-old son attends school locally and is trying to learn English (he speaks Spanish incessantly). They are known and well-respected in the community, given what I observed and learned talking with people. This is a place I was *very happy* to give my money to. They aren't out to make a killing, but to help build a community and expand language and cultural understanding both among students and community. The town school is in (Orosi): Great size (8,000 or so people), very friendly people. Easy to manage. Bank. Three internet "cafes." Plenty of places to eat, pharmacies, etc. The school is conveniently located one block away from one of the internet cafes, a block-and-a-half away from the supermarket and bank, and is close to restaurants in town (and it serves breakfast and lunch many days). Homestay: I suspect the quality of the experience differs by student, but I had an exceptional experience, and the other students with whom I spoke (three others) enjoyed theirs as well. It helps if you're outgoing and/or willing to blunder through with what Spanish you know or learn. Hostel: I ended up staying there one night as I returned to Orosi briefly. I found the hostel clean and peaceful, though I'm sure the latter depends on who else is there. Note that I found the students who were staying in families seemed to be progressing in their Spanish studies much faster than those who stayed in the hostel. Classes: My teacher, Margot, and I got along very well, which made my experience excellent. It is hard to know how someone who has *no* Spanish background might experiene the school, so be sure to read other reviews. For me, however, I found that my vocabulary came back relatively quickly, and thus I was able to spend quailty time re-learning verb tenses and when to use which, etc. My teacher allowed me to direct the pace and focus of our classes, and she was willing to spend some of our class time walking around town showing me things (in Spanish, of course). I found the textbook useful, and am taking it home with me from Costa Rica. I enjoyed the one-on-one classes I had, though I know some people had two-on-one classes. "Fun" factor: There is a lot to do in and around Orosi, though it helps enormously if you are in school in a season where there are more students to do those things with because it helps reduce the cost. Nearby (i.e. within a 30-minute drive): Hike from the school to a coffee farm/waterfall where a campesino coffee farmer where give you a tour of his property for roughly $2 U.S.; hike to a natural "warm springs;" warm springs you have to pay to enter; Tapanti National Park (a $20 taxi ride, roughly, but well worth it for the hiking there if you can get others to split the tab with you); Irazu Volcano (I never went, but others did and enjoyed it. You can get there by bus or taxi depending on day); botanical gardens; organic coffee farm with tours in English in Paraiso, the next town north; local coffee processing tour in Spanish.... I hope this is helpful to some of you out there. When I was doing my research, it was reviews on this site that helped me choose Montana Linda, a decision for which I am grateful. It was an excellent experience, and I hope to return some day.