Costa Rica Travel and Vacation

Visitor Information

I’ve been to Costa Rica twice and love anywhere I go. I prefer the west side and these areas: Montezuma is a great small beachy town with a good nightlife that goes off every night. A bit smaller and more personal (since you will be seeing a couple of the same people all the time), but also a nice day to relax or do various actives. There are other popular cities close by such as Mal Pais (good surf spot).

Manuel Antonio has become a new favorite. Beautiful beaches, bigger city (but still pretty small) and a great nightlife. National park right on the beach with some nice private beaches if you get there early. A lot closer to San Jose and nice waves! Lounge chairs are also planted along the beach to rent for cheap!

Depending on how long your going for, I might recommend going to two different towns. Both times I went we went for 7-9 nights and always did two different towns… and who knows if you fall in love with one, just stay!

Get a lonely planet travel guide for hotels… gives you their websites and easier to make reservations!

Also this website is great, only works with a number of hotels, but you have a pretty good variety… VERY easy and pleasant to deal with: Vacationcity.com

Pura Vida!



09 3rd, 2010


Highlights from the Germany Vs Costa Rica Game World CUp Germany, 2006 A Great first game.

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    09 2nd, 2010

    As we walked in the small terminal, a uniformed customs agent informed us that only the Americans must purchase the entrance tax of $13 each(including baby). Cash only is accepted in the tiny office. We then take our entrance stamps to the official customs office where through a 32? door all the luggage in random order comes through at the same time as the travelers.

    Our luggage was inspected as if the contraband was coming from Costa Rica to Panama instead of the other way around. The pleasant gentleman meticulously writing all the info from the passports on a carbon copy pad was impervious to the not so gentle nudging by a hurried set of travelers in our group. Even though as Americans we were the last from our plane to clear customs, our luggage was the first inspected. That little 32? door had more action than a flower shop on Valentine’s Day. When they asked for my son’s occupation for the carbon copy customs pad, the agent gave me a sneer when I said “baby. ” He instead listed it as ” estudiante. ” (Student) We enjoyed our stay and found many adventures on which to send our clients. We were also able to secure a business relationship with two fine hotels for our future clients. The food was excellent at most of the places, but unfortunately our hotel was not one of them. Since the dollar keeps declining in value, I kept most of my money in colones(Costa Rican monetary unit) But Panama uses dollars and won’t accept colones. I brought a limited supply of dollars and had planned on using my credit card for most meals, adventures and of course the hotel. As it turned

    out, most of the eating establishments did not take credit cards. Therefore, on the last day, I needed to conserve the dollars for an emergency. I thought it prudent to check with the front desk and see if there was an exit tax at the airport. The local lady just chuckled and said, “No, they just charge you an entrance tax if you are American. ” Somewhat relieved, we used all but $20 in cash in eating the last day.

    After taking the short taxi ride to the airport, we checked our bags at the Nature Air counter. The agent informed me that we needed to purchase our exit tax to leave the country. In another small office, I learned that I was $25 short of the $45 ($15 each) needed. They would not accept any credit cards, nor would they accept any of the $200 worth of colones that sat uselessly in my wallet. The agent just smiled and told me where the bank was about half a mile away. No one

    in the airport was willing to trade $25 U. S. for $50 worth of colones. With 30 minutes before take off, all the cabs were gone and it was pouring rain. I said to myself, ” This is my job. I go through this so none of my clients will ever suffer from a lack of information. I am blazing a travel trail. ” I situated the family in a safe spot and ran to the bank in the rain. The bank was closed. There was an ATM, but my pin number( I never use it) was in my address book in my luggage loaded on the plane. My savior came in the form of a clerk at a surf shop across the street from the bank. He charged my Visa $26. 25 and handed me $25 U. S. I ran back to the airport and 20 minutes later we were in the air.

    Landing in Limon on the way home, I was almost hoping for a nonexistent Costa Rican entrance tax. Those colones in my pocket made me feel wealthy. We deplaned and went through customs again. This time there was an intensive spot check of all of our luggage. Bringing

    powdered baby formula from Panama is not the quickest way to get through customs. Luckily the supervisor was a mother and new the smell and taste of baby formula. We then were back in the air on our final leg. With the baby sucking furiously on the bottle, we cleared the mountains and glided home. As we toted our luggage through the small airport towards the car, an American tourist approached me . He needed to buy $52 worth of colones for the exit tax. I took great pleasure in pulling those colones out of my pocket.

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      Jaco, Costa Rica –10/12/07– Continuing their tradition of excellence in real estate development, Riverside Developers has just added another award to their already impressive collection by receiving the International Properties Award, sponsored by CNBC, for Best Development Costa Rica 2007. The award was received for Riverside’s work on the Sonesta Jaco Resort in Jaco, on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast. The purpose of the award is to distinguish the highest levels of achievement in the design of residential properties. The Sonesta Jaco Resort has captured the attention of the judges by offering modern condominiums designed for today’s lifestyles in a country where architecture has clung to tradition in style, materials, and methods. The Sonesta Jaco Resort’s condominiums are fashioned of steel and glass, giving the buildings the feel of a cruise ship. The concept is taken a step further by providing very real luxuries to bolster the sensation of being on a luxury liner. Every condominium has a whirpool on it’s private balcony, and amenities and services abound. Like a cruise ship, every service needed for a great vacation is available on the premises. Sonesta Jaco is the only resort of it’s kind in Costa Rica, offering 5-star service at a complete resort destination, including a spa, beach club, conference center, casino, bars, restaurants, and a vast array of water features, including an enormous lagoon-style pool and a lazy river more than 400 feet long. The location of the resort is one of it’s great features. In addition to all of the entertainment available on-site, all that the Pacific Coast has to offer is within a short drive. There is excellent fishing, exciting ATV tours, and exhilarating canopy tours within minutes. World-class surfing, great restaurants, and a thriving nightlife are even closer, within walking distance. “We are excited to see the resort nearing completion. Our Jaco location is the benchmark for developments in Latin America, combining progressive modern architecture, along with the true flavour of the region,” said a representative of Sonesta Resorts, adding “We couldn’t be more pleased with this new addition to our collection of fine hotels and resorts. ” Not resting on their laurels, Riverside Developers is placing a bid for the 2008 International Properties Award with their entry of Ocean Whisper Resort, a new condominium hotel resort under construction in Playa Tambor at the Los Delfines Golf Course and Country Club. Media Contact:   Joshua ten Brink   1-866-864-9859, US & Canada   (506) 2208-6000, Costa Rica   Josh@SonestaJaco. com  

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    Costa Rica Medevac

    Author: admin
    09 2nd, 2010


    This video shows the crews of the air survilance service in Costa Rica, They are angels for the people who live on the indians reservations of Talamanca mountain range. This is the only one emergency medevac in Costa Rica. They work with God bless.

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    09 2nd, 2010


    tv capture from 7 channel news, 2 costarican geologist and 4 from new mexico were making scientific research on the crater just in the moment when the earthquake happened. they will watch volcano Poas activity fro the next 3 months, may be the earth quake affected the volcano

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    canopy_ride.avi

    Author: admin
    09 2nd, 2010


    canopy ride at San Jose, Costa Rica

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      09 2nd, 2010

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      New Year’s Eve 2010 Couples Dream Week
      Make your reservations today for the Hotel Desire Costa Rica’s New Year’s Eve couples only week in Heredia, San Jose.
      The grand festivities begin on December 25th and don’t stop till January 2nd, 2011.
      Come join in on all the fun during the one week in Costa Rica you will never forget.
      The all inclusive packages include breakfast, lunch and dinner a la carte, snacks, safe deposit box, mini bar with water, sodas and beer, plus domestic liquor and soft drinks at the bar.
      Book seven nights and your round trip ground transportation to and from the San Jose airport (SJO) is included.
      Come and enjoy the open minded adult ambiance, fun and excitement under the stars and overlooking the San Jose valley in Costa Rica.
      Hotel Desire Costa Rica is a mountain dream getaway retreat surrounded by lush tropical flowers.
      Saturday the 25th the unforgettable week begins with a Christmas dinner and live music.
      Sunday the 26th is Asian night with fabulous Asian cuisine and more live music.
      Monday the 27th is Polynesian luau night. Enjoy a mouth-watering Hawaiian feast along with live music.
      Tuesday the 28th is Open Mic Night featuring live music.
      Wednesday the 29th is Wild on Wednesdays Adventure Night featuring Mexican food night, raffles and live music. Get wild and crazy, feel a bit of Mexico enjoying our delicious chicken, shrimp and beef Quesadillas, Chalupas, Tacos, Burritos, Fajitas and much more.
      Thursday the 30th is Karaoke Night with plenty of International and local music to choose from and where everyone can sing to popular music and dance in between, plus the one and only B. B. Q. Night.
      Friday the 31st is New Year’s Eve! Watch the huge fireworks display right from the Hotel Desire Costa Rica, overlooking an explosive 360 degree view of spectacular fireworks coming from the entire San Jose Valley and it’s surroundings. We welcome live music and delight over our seafood extravaganza with an exquisite variety of International dishes prepared with the best quality of fresh fish and seafood. We offer lobster, ceviches, seafood and shrimp cocktails, mussels, shrimp avocado, fish dishes, seared tuna, shrimp dishes, scallops, seafood paella and much more.
      Saturday January 1st, 2011 the party continues with more live music.
      Sunday January 2nd, 2011 is the grand finally of a fabulous vacation.
      Hotel Desire Costa Rica is a privately gated and adult only resort centrally located only 20 minutes from the San Jose airport and on 6 luscious acres inhabited by tropical flowers, trees, ponds, butterflies and exotic birds.
      Relax and enjoy our professional Spa offering Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Four Hands and Couple Massage, plus Body Ex-foliation, Manicure, Pedicure and Waxing services.
      We offer round trip ground VIP transportation to and from the San Jose airport (SJO). There are many nearby malls and exotic tour destinations to see the Poas and Arenal volcanoes, breathtaking waterfalls and monkeys.
      Delight yourself with our Temptations restaurant serving International and Latin American cuisine.
      Take advantage of our two swimming pools with one designed for nudists, outdoor Jacuzzi at the nudist side, poolside beds at both swimming pools, tennis court, fully equipped gym, free wireless Internet connection and much more.
      Fully furnished hotel rooms, suites and villas are offered – studios, one or two bedrooms, and even romantic private villa enclaves ready for your adult enjoyment. Choose from the prude side or nude side.
      Bring your fantasies to life, fulfill your desires and check out hoteldesirecostarica. com for more information.
      Hotel Desire Costa Rica is where every day is an open minded day, so let your deepest inhibitions run wild and free!

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        Pressure Busspipe Live in Costa Rica-Love And Affection // www.ReggaeForever.com

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          My family is considering traveling to Costa Rica this summer. 2 kids, 15 & 18.

          Where is a good area to stay with a beach.
          any hotel suggestions?
          any other suggestions??
          Also are there lots of jellyfish in costa rica in the summer?

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            Join the party and bring in 2010 under the stars, on a mountain retreat, at La Catalina Hotel & Suites in Santa Barbara de Heredia, Costa Rica. The event begins at 7PM where you can sing and dance with karaoke at our illustrious restaurant and patio. Take part in the best New Year’s eve celebration while enjoying the most beautiful scenery in all of Costa Rica. There is no cover charge. Special dinner is only $25. 00 pp which includes appetizer, entree, dessert, glass of wine. Be prepared to watch the most incredible fireworks display under the stars where you can watch Costa Rica light up the skies from every direction! Rooms are extremely limited, so make your reservation immediately if you wish to stay with us for the entire unforgettable evening. Start the New Year exclusively under the stars, at La Catalina Hotel and Suites located in Santa Barabara de Heredia, Costa Rica     GRAN FIESTA AÑO NUEVO DEBAJO LAS ESTRELLAS EN LA CATALINA HOTEL & SUITES EN SANTA BARBARA DE HEREDIA, COSTA RICA    Disfruten de la gran fiesta de año nuevo, en la montaña y en La Catalina Hotel & Suites en Santa Barbara de Heredia, Costa Rica. Este gran evento comienza a las 7PM a donde podran bailar e cantar con karaoke en nuestro restaurante ilustre . Pueden formar parte de la mejor fiesta de año nuevo mientras disfrutan de las vistas mas bellas de Costa Rica. No se cobra la entrada. Cena especial solo $25. 00 pp que incluye apreitivo, plato fuerte, postre y vaso de vino. Preparence para una exposicion de fuegos artificiales espectacular y debajo de las estrellas a donde pueden ver Costa Rica iluminarse en todas direcciones. Habitaciones estan extremadamente limitadas, hagan sus reservaciones inmediatamente si quieren quedarse con nosotros y pasar una noche inolvidable. Cominezen su año nuevo exclusivamente debajo de las estrellas, en La Catalina Hotel and Suites localizado en Santa Barabara de Heredia, Costa Rica.

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