This is a report of my trip to Costa Rica. Very nice trip with 7 buddies. I propose here to give you more details on the various cities visited. We are limited to the Pacific coast. Stay done in 2000. We hope this report make you want to go surfing in Costa Rica

For all cities: how to get there? Description of the city, why stay? The different surf spots and my personal opinion.

Tamarindo

We start with the most famous Tamarindo and surrounding areas.

How to get there?

Bus from San Jose to Tamarindo every day at 15:30.

Tip: It is best to start by going to Tamarindo because when you come from elsewhere as we (Quepos or Jaco) is through Puntarenas and Liberia which is very long with many changes of bus. In addition it is easy to find surf in Tamarindo if you come without your own.

City:

Spread over 1.5 km along a paved road and land. The hotels are growing and the city is pretty Americanized. The dollar is king … It is the slightly boring in this region: too many Americans.

On the practical side, there are two supermarkets, a bank, cyber cafes, bars, restaurants. Look no mail, there is none. A wooden box placed in a store serves mailbox! You have to find which store it is!

Accommodation in Tamarindo

The city is quite expensive. Featured

	Cabinas DOLLY: in front of the spot, but a little small. Own. Room for 2 from 20 to 25dollars (July 2000) per night.
	Coral reef (untested): not too expensive, but rustic.
	Cabinas Mariellos: bedroom 3 (35 dollars) and 4 (45 dollars). Very good value for money. It is spacious, clean and beautiful garden. There is also a communal kitchen where you can get to eat that allows you to save money because the restaurants are expensive.

Spots:

North, 30 minutes walk from the beach, there is “Playa Grande”. This beach is better than the swell Tamarindo Beach and in addition there are fewer people!

Playa Tamarindo: 2 spots. A rock on the opposite (safe) with a peak right left. Works best at high tide. Not bad, but not very large (hence its name: pico pequeño). The problem is that there are many world level! Not bad war and there are sometimes 2 or 3 idiots (not Regis?).

The second spot is a bit on the right opposite the river mouth. There is also the world but more space. Works best at low tide.

There may also be ^a 3rd spot on the left side of the bay. Small but clean!

South of Tamarindo, about 30 minutes walking from the beach (5 minutes by car Hotel BARCELO management), we arrive at “Langosta”, near the mouth of a river. Takes much more swell than Tamarindo. The waves are more powerful and if the wind is, there are ways of tuberculosis. It can get crowded when it’s too small in Tamarindo, but it will.

Governed in Playa Langosta. What style!

Further south, but not tested by us (we will return): Little Hawaii, Avallen.

Me to conclude on Tamarindo

A must, I do not regret it but there really too many Americans and I have not come to Costa Rica to speak American all the time! There are too crowded for my taste. So do not hesitate to shift to playa great if you want to surf cool without the fuss. With hindsight, we also think it is good to rent a car, even if it’s expensive to make the spots around: the rock of the witch, playa negra ….

JACO:

This is the first spot we have made. The aim was to find surf!

How to get there?

Bus every day from San Jose to the terminal coca cola (7:30 10:30 ET 15.30). It is better to go early before departure if you want tickets! Price: 510 settlers (15 francs).

City:

Nice, a lot of shops and surf shops. We find everything from supermarkets (max X menos is best), a post at the other end of town (in blue, not yellow!), Bars, restaurants, banks, car rental … .

Staying in Jaco:

Tip: Avoid arriving a week – end! Indeed, many people come here in SAN JOSE WE.

Some addresses good and cheap:

	Cabinas BOHIO: near the spot. $ 20 for 4 people per night. Often full for cheap.
	Cabinas Roble: opposite BOHIO cabinas. 30dollars for 5 with a small kitchen. Not bad.
	Los ranchos near the spot too. Beautiful garden with swimming pool. 6 If you are renting a “villa”. It’s pretty clean ($ 60 for 6). There is a kitchen.
	Not tested: Cabinas Cabinas Emily and Antonio not too expensive.

Spots:

The beach of Jaco. Works best at high tide. At low tide it is smaller (although …) and much more powerful. Often saturates the spot as soon as there is 2m or more. We then see big walls that come in close order close half the time. For those who want to take off feelings is good. For those who want to surf the coolest, offset to the left of the beach or go to a spot north (30min drive) called Boca Baranca.

Nearby, there is also Playa Hermosa (10 minutes by car, direction Quepos). Works pretty at high tide. It is powerful and there is level. Avoid low tide when it’s big because it is really powerful. The take off is so hot! When it is smaller, it’s a great spot. Here is a picture of my apple taken on this spot.

Peter cut back in full

My opinion of JACO: Very good, fun place, good atmosphere. Large sensations for 2 or 3 days where the waves returning regularly to around 3m.

Quepos

How to get there?

Bus from SAN JOSE (6h 12h 17h): about 3:30 or travel JACO (6:30 12): about 1h30 away.

City:

It is quite lively. A lot of bars, restaurants. Prices are sometimes a little expensive (tourist resort), but while browsing a little, little food and shelter for not too expensive.

Tip: go eat in the SODAS is good and much cheaper than in tourist restaurants.

There are 2 surf shops, but not much choice.

Accommodation in Quepos

Tip: Avoid arriving a week – end!

Although the spot from Manuel Antonio to 7 km south of the corner is the spot, it is better to stay in Quepos and take the bus. It’s much cheaper and there is more room.

Correct and Cheap Hotel RAMUS (bathroom + fan). 1500colons to 3 per night. SODAS nearby.

Spots:

There is a spot on the “beach” of Quepos near the mouth, but you have to cross a river “limit” with great power. I did and I admit it was a little space …

On reaching the spot the other side, it was average. This works best at high tide. In addition, it takes a lot of waves so that the spot market (spot fallback OK)

The commercial area is located 7 km south of Quepos to Manuel Antonio. The area is hyper tourism (national park …). You can surf all along the beach, but the best waves are on the right, at the bottom. Pretty good spot, not too powerful.

Enjoy the days without swell to visit the park, it’s more beautiful (60F entry for the day).

My opinion about Quepos

Nice, but means for surfing, except when heavy swell. Otherwise the bars are nice, beautiful national park (monkeys, birds, iguanas, beautiful beaches …).

Playa Dominical:

How to get there?

Bus from 9:45 to 1:30 p.m. ET QUEPOS 19h price 620 settlers (18 F). Time: 1:45 drive crap.

City:

It is small and there are not many bars and cabinas. There is a small supermercado. There is still a cafe (very expensive) and a “Gendarmerie” (cool guys …)

Most cabins are located along a road 20m from the beach. The prices are quite high although the city is small and loose.

Accommodation in SUNDAY:

	Cabinas El Coco, opposite the bus stop. It’s very rustic, but cheap 1500colons per night. Bedroom 2 or 3.
	Otherwise, different cabins along the path near the beach: Saint Clement, tortillas … from $ 10 a night.

Spots:

Super! The spot is the beach of DOMINACAL. There are several peaks. Attention is powerful and there is current. Getting over on the left (less power). The waves are perfect when there is no wind. At low tide it is hollow, very powerful. I love this spot because this is where I took my first hit “deep”. It’s also where I broke my board …

Be careful when it exceeds 2.50 m, it sends sec. It is better to withdraw 2 km to the south in a bay called (Dominicalito).

If you surf in the middle of some rays and sharks (harmless in the words of local …)

Christmas in all its power to SUNDAY

Me to conclude on SUNDAY:

Excellent. Very exotic, super waves, sharks, rays, tubes, we want more!

When I hear the stories of employees must ensure that the United States in the secondWorld War II had to accept losses rise, my aggression levels dramatically. You push again for an eye, with the suggestion that a re-entry without a visa never happen again.Unfortunately we have on the way back again through the U.S., I already balk at the neck hairs. Since there is no shuttle bus at the time, we are guided by an Indian for Ramada mounted between two approach paths. There is nothing for us but we reserved and paid more, because it does not clock is 15. Nothing matters, just kip first. Let us clock at 22.30 with a taxi to the airport and fly around 0.40 clock after Huston, Texas. There we are then wait at 5.30 local time and clock time must only four and a half hours on the plane to Costa Rica.People who plan their trip like that given what you expected. As we will soon add to aggressive monsters. As I write these lines, my aggression rises again so that I must make a break for me to not completely ruin the mood.
On 20 September, we finally arrive at 12 clock time in San José, capital of Costa Rica. Our luggage is great but actually arrived with us and Joseph receives from Ara-Tours warmly. We are billeted in the Hotel Barceló in the city and Andre bring our laundry to a neighboring hotel, which also has a dryer. A note in his luggage testified that it was controlled in the United States. When my bottle is a Duschgeel expired, and has all soaped clothes become discolored. I am hours cleaning and washing and all the metal is rusted.

At 9 clock the next day we have a Daihatsu 4Wheeler as rental cars and soon break out on the Poas Volcano. Initially, it is still overcast, but then put a severe thunderstorm with heavy rain, which never stop. The volcano is packed into dense clouds and the interesting vegetation because of the rain only immediately recognizable by the roadside. We may go up high as we hoped at 2000 m to push through the clouds, but in vain. The $ 10 admission per person, we can save and return to us again. Everywhere torrents shoot across the road and sometimes the water splashes large pools of us so that’s possible for moments just flying blind. Now we try the great zoo in the near Grecia, but even there it is not advisable to leave the vehicle only for a minute. We decide to drive around town now for a wide area to the southeast, but our map is not very accurate and sometimes denied even the Navi. So we are at prasseldem rain over winding mountain roads that would guarantee the best views in good weather on a steep downhill road, which becomes suddenly between coffee plantations in a greasy trail of red clay. Soon we are faced with an adventurous bridge, which is shown with 2 tons maximum load. Our car has 1.7 tonnes, on the bridge are missing like the first two planks and digested through holes you can look down at the brownish waters of the Rio Tarrazu gurgelden fall. Since we do not know where the trail leads over there on, we avoid these Camel Trophy Attracktion and reverse. With several attempts, but then we do it, Santa Elena to reach high up on the mountain again.

Clock by 18, we arrive exhausted in Orosi valley of the same at the same lodge. Very cozy and led by a German couple. My computer can not boot properly for days, am with my reports back on again. André is also not the Internet. That’s why I’m already in bed at 20.20 clock, a new record.

The next day begins bright and sunny. Compared with the re-active volcano Turrialba smoke from his 3328 m high chimney. The higher Irazú left of it is still free. After a delicious breakfast we set off towards the Pacific. The pass through the jungle along the National Park-Macizo de la Muerte Tapanti up around us, and soon a dense fog and rain put one. The path leads some time on the watershed between the Caribbean and the Pacific and then we stop for some photos in the soup, where I discover many interesting plants, but the interest as a landscape photographer André not pure. Dine just before San Isidro El General, we in a small restaurant, just down again as a violent rainstorm comes. It’s also rainy and touristy little something going on.

A little further on Platanillo we visit the biggest snake farm in the country, where I study particularly native species. There’s too many of you most poisonous snakes, to us a renewed storm back into the car pitschenass forces. By amazing mountain forest with high tree ferns it goes into the coastal plain down to Dominica. Now we follow the famous Pan American northwest, past endless monocultures of oil palm trees, until we turn to the sea in Quepos and Manuel Antonio, we settle in at the hotel Karah.
Evening in the restaurant near the sea, we must move under the palm-leaf roof three rows of tables on the inside, so the drives come from the Pacific storm pounding the rain. But there’s frog concert at its finest. My computer runs surprisingly high again and I can still write on the balcony and finally download some chips. The thunder of the storm mixes with the waves, the pounding rain and the frog symphony concert to a single wild and blinding flashes light up again and again the white surf waves.When the storm is more violent, even silenced the amphibians as they come to this tremendous noise no longer.
Early the next day, it is still covered and dripping from the trees, I can watch from the balcony in the hotel garden had four agoutis and three young raccoons. After checking out we can leave the car and make us become hot and clear weather the Espadilla beach along the way to the smallest national park in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio NP 6000 colones is the entrance fee per person and soon split up our photographic ways.

Over the next morning I get interesting plants and insects, deer, sloth bear, king woodpeckers, raccoons, one coatis, capuchin monkeys, iguanas and basilisks helmet in front of the lens. The latter have the habit of running only on its hind legs over the water and are so fast that they do not sink it. Why they are called in English also aptly Jesus Christ Lizard.

Of the howler monkeys, unfortunately I only hear the famous roar in the jungle. On the idyllic beaches romp from noon to people who are permanently employed in thieving monkeys, coatis and raccoons to be on guard.

Clock at 15.30 we set off again only to come soon to the north and on the Panamerican Highway in a strike-related congestion, which costs us more than an hour. Residents want urgently a high-water exposure, as the raging rivers inundate constantly from the mountains and their houses damaged. Again, it goes past the endless oil palm plantations and several storm fronts, which are almost flush from the street. About Jacó and Caldera we reach in the dark and get lost in dense fog Miramar 6 km winds up. An atmosphere like a Hitchcock movie. Up there we stay in a cozy Vista Golfo, while it continued raining all night.At breakfast, we can observe from the architecturally beautiful terrace pasted from many colorful butterflies and hummingbirds our first break and then on to Monte Verde. It’s been too long since I was here and so we promptly caught a parallel track that leads east from the main road into the mountains. Interfere only when more and more rock falls the way, we encounter a single car, and suddenly we have to cross a bridge over the foaming adventurous Aranjues Rio, we are puzzled and ask for the only two houses on the road. Since it’s raining again without ceasing and we have lost almost 3 hours, we give Monte Verde altogether, because there makes the weather certainly no exception.Now we take over and Tilarán Juntas of Arenal Lake to target. In the meantime, here are rows of wind turbines along the ridge. In Nuevo Arenal we read of a Deutsch Bakery, pass it and then return after some hesitation, but in order to einzukehren there. There are actually sausages with cabbage, meat loaf with fried egg and Paulaner wheat beer. $ 32 lighter and well fed, we go one step further and hire us in the wonderful Villa Ceiba with a magnificent view over the lake. The approximately 500 years old Ceibabaum spans large and wide over the land and André is strongly reminiscent of the movie Avatar.

Until bedtime, we write in the company of two dogs and a cat on the patio in the rising wind and pull back through heavy rain showers.
The next morning the loud noisy howler monkeys from the jungle. As it should have better weather in the north, we want to visit the Volcan Tenorio NP on the Rio Celeste, the manager recommended to us by the house. When refueling, Arenal is the right rear tire flat. Pumps it back on and go to San Rafael de Guatuso. There are changes to an employee of a gas station quick and free the already almost flat tire. The valve is over.We have a wide view of the height to the north of the Nicaragua Lake and its islands.Until we are at the Rio Celeste, it has been dressed and showered in the national park there already. So we go back on Fortuna to Arenal.

The volcano is actually free to see 14 to 16 clock after we just saw him last night for the first time. We go up to the Skywalk, which was fairly newly decorated. Have there shortly before departure that on television announcements. André, who is fluent in Spanish, presents itself to the owner as a press man from Germany and we get two free tickets when we make good advertising. A wise man At 14 clock, especially in a rain gap, it comes with two guides in an open grid gondola up the mountain across beautiful primary rainforest. A young couple from New York is also the challenge. Up on the platform there is a welcome drink and then it goes in the seat belt hanging on the wire and helmeted raging in 8 stations quickly downhill.

With solid work gloves while you hold the left and right of the wheel holding the rod. The views down to the rain forest, the lake and the volcano is a dream. If it still seems that the sun would. The total track length is 2.8 km long and the longest stretch measuring 750 meters, where it zooms 200 feet above ground over a wooded ravine. Especially memorable because it showed me from the summit platform of two young, each totally different colored lance vipers. We are barely at the base station, it starts to rain again.So we go back to Ceiba in order to redeem another voucher. After nightfall, amazing insects come to light.

Leaves shaped like catching grasshoppers, which are therefore referred to as a walking leaf, as well as many other katydids, moths and beetles. Because of course the occasional gecko lurking for prey. In addition, a gymnastic workout nearly 20 cm long stick insect like a dry leaf skeleton to me.

From the West is again attracting a violent storm front approaching with heavy rain, forcing us to the room. Must get out again at night and constantly feed the cat mewing at my door in my despair with chocolate.
The next day the weather will continue so horrible. Even the leaf-cutter ants can ruhn their work and only a green ribbon of leaf marking their way to work. So we go already visibly annoyed towards San Jose. Maybe it will work out again with a second attempt at the great zoo in the near Grecia, but in vain. So we stay for our last night in Costa Rica at the Hotel Orquideas one of the access road to Poas Volcano.

In the garden romp many colorful birds, including a blue peak Motmot, but it’s a lot for photos in the rain and low clouds have a 15 clock too gloomy.Only at night time as the moon is visible.
The next morning a fine rain, but occasionally blue holes in the thick cloud cover. We deliver from our rental car after we fill up again and taken to the nearby airport. After everyone has gelöhnt $ 26, we can fly through check-in and after 3 hours of waiting for South America, opposed the continuation of the rainy season.

From:

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Think about a tourist destination which has something for everyone. One of the few places which you can relate to such imaginations is Costa Rica. It has beautiful mountains, lush green fields, and exciting rain forest, amazing waterfalls, long and fun filled beaches and a lot more. No wonder people call it a nature’s paradise. Costa Rica is situated in the Central America between Nicaragua and Panama. It is exposed to Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea on its western and eastern borders. It has many kinds of beaches because of the same reason.

You can have a lot of fun with your friends or family members when you are in Costa Rica. You also find the people nice and helpful which is important when you visit a foreign place. The food and beverages served throughout the countries can leave you addicted to them and the variety of beautiful places to stay in will certainly make you confused. If you are in the process of deciding a place to stay in Costa Rica then you should certainly think about different resorts which are available on rent. Resorts in Costa Rica are preferred by many because of the facilities and comfort they provide to their customers.

When somebody visits Costa Rica with a big family then these resorts will provide him rooms which can accommodate the entire family. Togetherness will definitely add a lot of fun to the trip. If you have small kinds then these resorts can keep them occupied in fun filled activities through their play areas. You have a swimming pool which can be used for swimming and also for sitting on the pool side while having a drink of your choice. Usually when you go out to see places across the country, you come back tired. In such situation the spa services of these resorts can provide you a lot of relief. Sometimes it helps a lot to make your mind and body prepared for the next morning.

The food you get in these resorts of Costa Rica will also leave you amazed. Some of the best known cuisines of the country are served here. You can enjoy your food in the beautifully designed interiors of the resort restaurant or you can just ask for room service if you are too tired for the same. Like every other thing the customer service in these resorts is world class.

It’s not very difficult to find a suitable resort for you and the people who are going with you. You can visit websites which can help you in getting the information on the Resorts of Costa Rica. You can pick up one which is located to the areas of your choice and which can suit your budget. While picking up a resort in Costa Rica you should go through the details of different Resorts before you opt for the best one. You can also call different resorts ion Costa Rica to explain your requirements and to get details.

Think about a tourist destination which has something for everyone. One of the few places which you can relate to such imaginations is Costa Rica. It has beautiful mountains, lush green fields, and exciting rain forest, amazing waterfalls, long and fun filled beaches and a lot more. No wonder people call it a nature’s paradise. Costa Rica is situated in the Central America between Nicaragua and Panama. It is exposed to Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea on its western and eastern borders. It has many kinds of beaches because of the same reason.

There are wonderful resorts in Costa Rica!

You can have a lot of fun with your friends or family members when you are in Costa Rica. You also find the people nice and helpful which is important when you visit a foreign place. The food and beverages served throughout the countries can leave you addicted to them and the variety of beautiful places to stay in will certainly make you confused. If you are in the process of deciding a place to stay in Costa Rica then you should certainly think about different resorts which are available on rent. Resorts in Costa Rica are preferred by many because of the facilities and comfort they provide to their customers.

When somebody visits Costa Rica with a big family then these resorts will provide him rooms which can accommodate the entire family. Togetherness will definitely add a lot of fun to the trip. If you have small kinds then these resorts can keep them occupied in fun filled activities through their play areas. You have a swimming pool which can be used for swimming and also for sitting on the pool side while having a drink of your choice. Usually when you go out to see places across the country, you come back tired. In such situation the spa services of these resorts can provide you a lot of relief. Sometimes it helps a lot to make your mind and body prepared for the next morning.

The food you get in these resorts of Costa Rica will also leave you amazed. Some of the best known cuisines of the country are served here. You can enjoy your food in the beautifully designed interiors of the resort restaurant or you can just ask for room service if you are too tired for the same. Like every other thing the customer service in these resorts is world class.

It’s not very difficult to find a suitable resort for you and the people who are going with you. You can visit websites which can help you in getting the information on the resorts of Costa Rica. You can pick up one which is located to the areas of your choice and which can suit your budget. While picking up a resort in Costa Rica you should go through the details of different resorts before you opt for the best one. You can also call different resorts ion Costa Rica to explain your requirements and to get details.

More

Costa Rica is visited by many tourists each year. Everybody who visits the place usually hires a room in a hotel of Costa Rica. That has certainly created a kind of boon for the hotel industry in the country. People from all over the world are investing in the hotel business in Costa Rica. Many of these Hotels are earning millions each year by providing great facilities and places to stay in.

Every person has a different need when it comes to a suitable hotel. Some may have a lot of money while some may not afford expensive Hotels. Some may like to stay in a luxurious one while some may not want the same. A good thing about Costa Rica is that it has a hotel for every person.

First thing which you need to know in order to pick up a good hotel for you is your plan. You should know the places you want to visit in Costa Rica. Once you done with the list then you need to find a hotel which is located near to your preferred destinations in the country. If you don’t do so then you may end up in picking up a hotel which is far away from the places of your choice which will waste a lot of time in traveling. Costa Rica has Hotels everywhere. If you want a hotel closer to the beaches so that you can enjoy surfing during the day then you have aplenty of sea side hotels which can keep you closer to the beaches. Similarly if you want to spend time in the rain forest then forest hotels will be better for you.

Another thing which is important for you to know is your budget. After you finalize the location of the hotel you should collect the information on prices offered by different hotels in that location. You can pick up a hotel in a particular place which matches your budget by doing that. If you don’t plan your budget well then you may face financial problems during your trip which will ruin the fun.

Apart from the prices and locations of the hotel, facilities provide by the hotel should also be checked before you actually check in. You should know what all are included in the prices advertised by the hotel and what are not. You should also enquire about different charges which are not included in the published prices. Many times you will find some additional charges like taxes of different kinds and service charges. Some hotels may include them in the prices while some may not. If you don’t do this exercise then you may end up paying more than what you have planned for your stay which will affect other activities on the trip. You should also know what facilities you may need on the trip. It is always better to go with the hotels which are providing exactly what you need. Some may also provide you an option to cut down on the facilities and compensating the same with discounts.

Costa Rica is a famous tourist attraction. It’s an American country which has a lot to offer to the tourists. That is why a large number of people choose their destination as Costa Rica during vacations or holidays. It’s truly blessed by nature. Costa Rica has mountains, rain forests, beaches and most important of all great people. No wonder people who visit the place often want to go there again. Let’s see some of the qualities of this place in detail.

Nice people of Costa Rica

One of the first things you need in a place you have picked up for your trip is peace. Costa Rica is a highly peaceful place. It’s a nation without an army which itself is a big sign of its peaceful nature. You will find nice people all around the place. People of Costa Rica are fun loving which is also illustrated with the country’s slogan “Pura Vida” which means pure life. You will find happy faces all around in the country. That certainly makes you feel positive and happy too. People out there are highly approachable, honest and helpful.

The choice of beaches

Costa Rica uniquely touches two oceans on its coasts. The two oceans are Pacific and Atlantic oceans. That allows the visitors to enjoy different kinds of beaches which are many in numbers. People who like to surf have beaches with suitable waves. People who don’t like to surf and want to enjoy a calm swim have pristine waters. People who want nothing but to party on the beaches will also find suitable places for themselves in abundance. So no matter what you choice are, you will get a beach of your liking in Costa Rica.

Diversity in the Ecology

The country of Costa Rica is based between two oceans. That causes a lot of rain in the region. Due to heavy rains Costa Rica has developed miles and miles of rain forest which has many different species of plants and animals. Nature lovers will definitely find their senses satisfied when they roam around these thick rain forests. The country does not allow cutting trees anymore and that has helped a lot in the preservation of these forests. People can enjoy a lot in the nature’s arms when in these rain forests of Costa Rica. 255 of the countries forest land are protected by the laws which help to maintain the beauty of these forests.

Festivals and celebrations

Costa Rica believes in celebrating in style. People arrange festivities during New Year and Christmas. All these festivals are celebrated in grand fashions and if you choose to become a part of them then you will certainly enjoy a lot. Apart from the Christmas and New Year celebrations, Palmares fiestas which are generally organized in the second half of January is a local and unique festival organized in the town of Palmares. It includes fireworks, games, fun activities, lovely food and beverages, Costa Rica style bull fighting and a horse parade.

Costa Rica, a small country in Central America, is one of the most beautiful countries in the world having a slew of attractions for the tourists. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the West and the Caribbean Sea on the East. Nicaragua is to its North whereas Panama to the South. Consisting of 51,100 square kilometers, the country covers only 0.03% of the surface of the planet Earth.

Over one million tourists come here every year who are persuaded by fascinating mountains, majestic rivers, active volcanoes, unspoiled beaches, diverse flora and fauna, and many other landscapes famous for their everlasting beauty. The recreational activities like swimming, white water rafting, golf, jogging, cycling, fishing, and windsurfing- almost all sorts of recreational activities can be enjoyed in this country that seems to emerge from an episode of a fairy tale.

The mountainous Costa Rica is the only Central American country that has maintained long mountain roads leading towards high forests full of greenery and most attractive birds. Some other roads lead to brush-covered peaks presenting a proverbial scenic impact. The Talamanca range, the Guanacaste range and the Central Volcanic range are the three significant mountain ranges in the country. The first has the highest peak measuring about 3,189 meters in height.

Costa Rica is endowed with countless rivers, lakes, wetlands and clear beaches. For water sport enthusiasts, there is a wide range of recreational possibilities ranging from kayaking to white water rafting to fishing. In the Northern zone the rivers such as San Carlos, Río Frío, and Sarapiquí offer water boat activities whereas the same is offered on the rivers of Bebedero, Corobicí and Tempisque in the Northwest. The seasonal lakes including Caño Negro, Lake Arenal, and cano Negro are famous for watching wildlife because great flocks of herons, ducks and waterfowl gather there during the second half of the year.

When it comes to beaches, it appears that Costa Rica has over 300 beaches along its Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. Every beach is distinct and unique for its stunning look as well as outstanding relaxing environment. Interestingly, sand is found in different colors such as white, black and brown. There are some beaches full of shells while others have soft and fluffy sand. Among others Nicoya Peninsula, Playa Dominical, Montezuma, Playa Tamarindo, Corcovado, Jaco Beach and Tortuguero are some of the significant beaches famous for their peculiar exotic and fabulous settings.
Another attraction for eco-tourists in this country is its biodiversity. It is believed that about 6% of the world’s plants and animal species are found in this small country. The country is home to both tropical plants as well as animal species. Of these animals Jaguar, the largest cat in the world, Margay, and Scarlet Macaws are the most remarkable ones. The impressive amphibians found here include different colored poison dart frogs and giant cane toads.

If you are planning to get some days out of boring and tiresome routine, think of Costa Rica as a perfect destination to visit and enjoy. The country has no shortage of natural and eye-catching landscapes. Its high mountains, great rivers, majestic volcanoes, distinct flora and fauna are bound to provide you with enjoyable and memorable moments of vacation.

Learning In Costa Rica: Yoga Training In Paradise

Tropical climates, beautiful beaches, and a rainforest background provide you with perfect setting for learning. Your Costa Rica yoga holiday is the perfect opportunity to broaden your yoga skills, while enjoying all the South American country has to offer. What to Expect Costa Rica yoga lessons allow you to enjoy classes in English, but there are also Spanish classes available if you would like to brush up on your language skills. There are also opportunities to learn surfing and Poi in addition to Spanish and yoga. You can take any combination of classes that you like. Costa Rica has a warm, tropical climate, that provides a relaxing atmosphere for learning yoga. The best way to learn yoga is to practice with an expert. Costa Rica yoga lessons brings you into contact with professional yoga experts. You will practice each morning in the outdoors, enjoying the natural, fresh air and beautiful tropical weather of Costa Rica. Even yoga instructors can benefit from learning the methods used in a new environment. The Basics of Yoga Yoga requires concentration to learn the basics of breathing and posture. Costa Rica yoga training focuses on Hatha Vinyasa yoga, which emphasizes the balance of the body, mind and spirit through meditative breathing and postures. The Asanas, or postures, that you learn will allow you to become stronger and more flexible, while deep breathing is used to aid concentration and to cleanse the body of toxins. Costa Rica yoga training is very personalized, your teacher will provide instruction that allows you to work at a pace that is comfortably challenging. Classes for both beginners and advanced yoga practitioners are combined, giving you a look at what you can learn with dedication. Yoga is an adventure when you are in Costa Rica, and learning has never been more relaxing than it is in the tropical climate. Learning at La Escuela Del Sol Montezuma, Costa Rica, yoga training can be taken as a single class, or in combination with other classes. Combination classes include Poi, or fire dancing, Spanish, and surfing. Montezuma is home to one of the most diverse regions in Costa Rica, with rainforest and beach access. There are trained yoga professionals teaching yoga classes each morning, and Spanish classes can even be used for college credits. La Escuela Del Sol offers morning and evening classes for yoga students. If you have been looking into studying abroad, Costa Rica offers yoga training for students of all levels.

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Panama Vs Costa Rica – The Panama Collection

When you think about living full or part time in Central America, Costa Rica seems to be the first country that comes to mind. Having spent a fair amount of time in both Costa Rica and Panama, I may be able to offer a somewhat unique perspective when comparing the two countries. While both countries are similar in many respects, there are some major differences that you should be aware of.

First of all, there are many similarities. Both Panama and Costa Rica have mountains, oceans, beaches, volcanoes, tropical rain forests, zip line and eco tours, hot springs and exotic wildlife. Both countries have more residents who speak English in the bigger cities, while very little English is spoken in the more remote areas. Both countries have similar temperate climates, and both are quite beautiful. I honestly can’t think of a single good thing about Costa Rica that you can’t also find in Panama.

Now let’s talk about the differences, and they are significant:

Roads: Costa Rica is famous for its bad roads, and they are terrible. Some of the main roads are so bad that they are nearly impassable. Panama’s main roads are all paved and relatively pothole-free .President Martinelli has made a major road building commitment throughout the country, which has already resulted in an even better road system.

Cost of goods: Panama is a big winner here. Thanks to the Panama Canal and its huge port, manufactured goods are much less expensive in Panama. Household appliances, electronics, building materials, almost everything is more expensive in Costa Rica. I haven’t had any experience buying cars in Costa Rica, but I’ve heard from reliable sources that Costa Rica has a huge tax on automobiles that I know for a fact Panama doesn’t have. Apparently a ,000 car in Panama would cost around ,000 in Costa Rica.

Currency: Again, Panama comes out ahead. The official currency in Panama is the Balboa, which is tied directly to the U.S. dollar. The paper money (one dollar bill and up) is all U.S. currency, and there is no exchange rate. The currency in Costa Rica is the colon, and exchange rates fluctuate on a regular basis. You need to constantly change your U.S. money into colones, bring a calculator everywhere you go, and always be aware of locals trying to take advantage of you. Financials transactions of any kind are much easier in Panama.

Capital Cities: When you fly into San Jose, Costa Rica, it feels like you’ve landed in a third world ghetto, but when you fly into Panama City you feel like you’ve arrived to a modern, cosmopolitan metropolis. It’s really about that simple – the difference between the two cities is staggering. San Jose is a dirty, dangerous place with about four street signs in the entire city. Panama City has dozens of gleaming new skyscrapers and is in an obvious phase of progressive expansion. One reason that Panama City is light years ahead of San Jose is the fact that the U.S. was actively involved in the Canal until 1999, so the infrastructure is surprisingly modern. It’s not a coincidence that a Trump Tower is going up in Panama City, but not in San Jose.

On a side note, I have found the people in Panama City to be much friendlier and more helpful than those in San Jose.

Crime: No contest here; Costa Rica has a much higher rate of crime. Armed robberies, carjackings and other violent crimes occur far more frequently in Costa Rica. In 2007 the U.S. State Department designated Costa Rica as a “high crime rate country” for tourists (www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=62156). While these crimes do occur in Panama, the incidence is much lower and they occur primarily in the Canal Zone, between Panama City and Colon. I’ve been living part time in Santiago (three hours west of Panama City) for over two years, and nobody I’ve talked to has ever heard of a murder, armed robbery, or even a mugging. I’ve left tools and work boots outside of my house for weeks at a time, and I’ve never had anything stolen. This would be unheard of in Costa Rica, where theft is a common, everyday occurrence.

Real Estate: Let’s save the best for last; you can purchase land in Panama for a fraction of what it would cost you in Costa Rica. For example, the same five acre mini ranch with ocean views and riverfront that I’m selling in Panama for around ,000 would cost more than 0,000 in Costa Rica. Land in Costa Rica is roughly five times more expensive than comparable land in Panama.

Another big difference between the countries involves squatters. In Costa Rica if you buy land and squatters move onto it, in three months they actually have legal rights to your property, and protracted legal action is required to get rid of them. Incredible, but true. In Panama, squatters have no legal rights of any kind. If you buy land in Panama, leave it alone for ten years, and upon your return people are living on it, you can have them removed immediately.

Having spent about half of my time in Panama over the last two years, I was initially puzzled by the fact that the interior of the country is so far behind Costa Rica in terms of real estate development. It is a vastly superior country to Costa Rica (for the aforementioned reasons), and when I started inquiring as why this was the case I kept getting back a one word response – “Noriega.” Up until 1990, when he was forcefully removed from power, Noriega had a stranglehold on the country, and he allowed very little development from outside investors. That was only 20 years ago, and Panama has been catching up ever since.

There are some popular, well developed places in Panama. Panama City itself (as well as the entire Canal Zone), Valle de Anton, and Boquete are probably the better known areas. They all have large “gringo” communities, and prime land is often well in excess of 0/meter squared (the way land is measured in Panama).

In my opinion, by far the best area in Panama in terms of future growth potential is the western slope of the Azuero peninsula. Located on the Pacific side of Panama about three hours from Panama City, there is a new (completed four years ago) paved road that runs the entire length of the coastline, ending at the Cerro Hoya National Park. The land is beautiful, the views are outstanding, and it is very early in the development cycle. At present there are no large projects in the area, but there will be. I believe that marinas, hotels, large housing projects, etc will all happen in the next several years.

One can look at Ocean Ridge Estates to get a feel for the low prices that are available in the area. I have 16 mini ranches between 3 and 12 acres, most of which have riverfront and ocean views. The purchase price of .00/meter squared includes water, electric, a road to each lot, and full title, as well as any assistance needed in the building of a house. This is one of the best values in Panama, if not the best.

I think the facts speak for themselves. If you visit both countries you’ll find out for yourself that Panama is far superior to Costa Rica for many reasons. Do your research, and you should come to the conclusion that Ocean Ridge Estates on the Azuero peninsula is one of the best values in the entire country of Panama.

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THe facts and History Surrounding Costa Rica and Coffee

Article by boake moore

Coffee and Costa Rica:
“He proudly shows us the branches of the coffee trees, bent under the weight of their crop. He touches them tenderly, as a father would his children… his eyes shining with happiness. ‘Do you know, doctor, why these branches curve so toward the earth? They are grateful to the farmer, and bow before God.’”
José Corvetti, describing a visit to the farm of Italian immigrant T. Malavasi,Tres Ríos, 1935
Coffee and Costa Rica were meant for each other, and they have grown and prospered together, complementing each other in the pursuit of excellence. Costa Rica repealed the death penalty in 1870 and abolished the army in 1948, and coffee supported those reforms with its high productivity and environmentally friendly disposition.
In a country which has enacted laws protecting 21% of its territory in order to preserve the 5% of the world’s biodiversity it shelters, Costa Ricans are encouraged by their environment to love what they do, and to do it well.
In its desire to protect the environment, Costa Rica has carefully tended the soils and climate that are best suited to coffee production. As Costa Rica’s soils have been enriched by volcanic ash, they contain a slight degree of tropical acidity. They are also rich in organic matter, which makes for good distribution of the coffee plant’s root system, enabling them to retain humidity and facilitating oxygenation. This combination of factors invigorates the coffee plants and is one of many elements contributing to the quality of Costa Rican coffee.
Over 70% of the country’s coffee is produced in the mountains, which vary in altitude from 3,280 to 5,580 feet above sea level. Mountain temperatures range from 63 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunlight is stable, and precipitation levels are ideal. All this makes for as dependable and high-quality a coffee crop as any produced in a greenhouse.
Costa Rica is the only country in the world which has issued an executive order (N°19302-MAG, 4 December 1989) banning the production of any variety of coffee other than Arabica. This standard is made possible by the expertise, experience and favorable physical conditions which converge in this remarkable land.
The story of Costa Rica’s coffee is the story of the nation that saw it come to life over two centuries ago. Throughout the years, it has been the yardstick by which the country’s life and economy have been measured.
Our grandparents tell us…
Coffee was first brought to Costa Rica during the last decade of the eighteenth century. So we are told in a letter sent by Panamanian trader Agustín de Gana to the Governor of Costa Rica, Don José Vásquez y Téllez, announcing that he was sending two pounds of coffee.

The history books tells us that Father Felix Velarde was the first Costa Rican coffee grower; his will, dated 1816, refers to a plot of land on which coffee had been planted. Tradition has it that he bequeathed the seeds to his neighbors, inviting them to plant them. His suggestion must have taken hold, because the first recorded export of Costa Rican coffee, a one-hundred pound shipment to Panama, took place in 1820.
By 1832 coffee was also being exported to Chile by Jorge Stiepel, a German businessman living in Costa Rica. In Chile, the coffee was repackaged and sent to England, where it was sold as “Valparaíso Chilean Coffee”.
Meanwhile, a group of forward-looking coffee producers, including Mariano Montealegre, who was the main promoter of the crop between 1830 and 1840, decided to take on the task of exporting it directly to England. The first shipment was made in 1843 thanks to the efforts of the captain of an English ship, The Monarch, which transported 5,505 one-hundred-pound sacks to Europe.
The first two Heads of State of Costa Rica, Juan Mora Fernández and Braulio Carrillo, strongly supported the coffee trade, as they sensed that it could generate economic growth and enhance Costa Rica’s position on the international market.
As coffee production developed further, the country’s economy, society, and culture flourished. But that is another story…
The story of Costa Rica’s coffee is the story of the nation that saw it come to life over two centuries ago. Throughout the years, it has been the yardstick by which the country’s life and economy have been measured.
Coffee bears fruit…
What does coffee have to do with the theater? What does the tax year have to do with the coffee harvest? In Costa Rica such relationships are essential, and are part of the benefits obtained from the “Golden Grain”, as it is called in Costa Rica.
Coffee exports to Europe during the mid-nineteenth century brought many opportunities for Costa Rica, opening a window to the Old World that would eventually bring in railroads, a postal service, printing presses, the country’s first university, and what is perhaps the region’s greatest architectural treasure: the National Theater. Designed as a miniature copy of the Paris Opera House, the National Theater, located in the center of the capital city of San José, became a symbol of coffee-driven prosperity because it was initially financed by coffee taxes.
Coffee did not simply transform the Costa Rican economy and its landscape, it also changed consumer behavior and working patterns. The development of a taste for coffee was, perhaps, a reflection of the democratic society that was being forged. In the words of historians Peters and Samper, “Drinking coffee became a ritual of Costa Rican society, a society that was free of economic and social distinctions; everyone drank it, from the simplest farmer or laborer to the most prominent politician.”
And, just as Costa Rica lives and breathes democracy and peace, it also lives and breathes coffee. It is no coincidence that per capita consumption of this drink is the highest of all coffee-producing countries in the world. The close relationship between coffee and daily life led Costa Ricans to plan their calendar around the harvesting, processing and sale of coffee, to such an extent that the Costa Rican tax year is based on the coffee trade: it begins in October and ends in September of the following year.
For a long time, in fact, even the school year revolved around the coffee harvest. But that did not prevent education in Costa Rica from becoming in 1886, what it still is today: free and mandatory.
Textbooks and teachers arriving from Chile during the early years of the coffee trade, and later on, from Europe, became part of a tradition which also included a unique land ownership structure, in which small and medium-sized properties have remained a part of the rural landscape to this day. That landscape has changed over the years. What has not changed is Costa Rica’s continuing love affair with coffee.

About the Author

Boake Moore is an IT Sales engineer by trade and founded a non profit coffee company called Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee -http://www.missiongrounds.com/ourphilosophy.php. It donates all its profits and proceeds to helping orphans and impoverished children. We currently are building schools in rural China, orphanages in South America; supporting orphans in Russia and Africa. And helping homeless children in the United States. http://www.missiongrounds.com

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