I wanted to either visit lima or costa rica to relax and study some spanish for 2months. which one is better?

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dougger

If your main interest is Spanish then go to Peru. Costa Ricans (Centralamericans in general) speak a very simplified, sloppy Spanish. Also they slur a lot, and have dropped out many sounds. In Peru the Spanish is much easier to hear and conversation is not limited to just slangy phrases in the present indicative.

Costa Rica is very expensive. By the end of 2 months the savings of living in Peru will more than make up for the extra airfare. Most Northamericans are comfortable in Costa Rica, you hardly feel your have gone abroad. Peru will feel like a foreign country.
Despite the publicity the nature tours in Costa Rica are no better than anyplace else that has scenery. BUt there are lots more of them. Costa Rica now feels like a boy scout camp for nature merit medals.

On the other hand it is easier to live in C.R. than in most Latinamerican countries. If your in good shape and not a overly cossetted wimp try Peru.

yellowstone

In part it depends on the kind of person you are. In terms of personal safety, Costa Rica is safer, but Lima is a very large city with all of the things to do (restaurants and clubs) that a large city has. Unless you fly, it is hard to get to the rest of the country on weekends so you won't be able to visit much of the country on weekends. Peru is a large diverse country and has much more archaeological heritage where Costa Rica is about nature.

The Spanish in Costa Rica and Colombia are reputed to be the most "neutral" (similar to Spain with less regional vocabulary).

So I guess it depends on your priorities and your resources, if Spanish is your # 1 priority and not the country--definitely Costa Rica. If you will have the time and money (for airfare and extended trips) to get to other parts of Peru, then maybe Peru has the nod. If you are interested in rainforests and biodiversity-- either Costa Rica or some place in Peru other than Lima.

xblitznyx

costa rica speaks just like colombia, the best most neutral spanish. costa rica is also WAY safer than perÃº (i've been to both). perÃº has beautiful architecture and history, but you will have a better time in cr...

*Amber*

The Spanish in Costa Rica is MUCH better than the spanish in Peru.
Costa Rica does NOT speak like the other central American countries(Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala) The second person who answered this question obviously has no idea what he's talking about. If he really visited Costa Rica he would know that Costa Rica and Panama are basically the only countries in Central America that did not adapt the Central American accent that countries liike El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua did. Costa Ricans speak a very neutral and CLEAR spanish, they do pronounce the "s" and they don't drop sounds.

Costa Rica is much safer and has way more Spanish and European influence than Peru. It's very "Americanized", so if you wan't to feel more at home I recommend Costa Rica, otherwise Peru would be cool.

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