Costa Rica Travel and Vacation

Every year there are more people traveling to Costa Rica for their summer vacation. Costa Rica offers something for everyone. I have listed a few good tips to make your trip to Costa Rica an absolute dream.
1) While in Costa Rica make it a habit to often wash your hands with water and soap.
2) To be safe, only drink bottled water; completely avoid tap water, ice cubes, and even fountain drinks. If this is not possible, you may make water safer by utilizing 1-micron or less filter and placing iodine tablets into your filtered water.
3) Practice eating totally cooked food, fruits, and vegetables which you have peeled.
4) Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites by attending to your mosquito protection from sunrise to sunset; this is the most active time of a certain mosquito whose bite can pass on malaria.
5) Try to wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a hat whenever you go outside to keep from catching diseases that are carried by insects.
6) Apply insect repellent to your exposed skin. Do not to breathe it in, swallow it, or get it into your eyes.
7) If you are not staying in an air-conditioned hotel room, buy a bed net that has been pretreated with the insecticide deltamethrin or permethrin. To keep yourself from getting parasitic and fungal infections, make it a point of keeping your feet clean and dry; never walk around barefooted.
9) Never eat food from street vendors.
10) Shun diary products that have not been pasteurized.
11) Never share needles with a stranger.
12) Never handle animals such as cats, dogs, and monkeys in order to shun bites and dangerous diseases.
13) Do not swim in fresh water.
14) Bring with you sunblock and sunglasses.
15) Bring with you enough prescription medications to last your entire trip. It can’t hurt also to bring a copy of your prescription.
16) Consider using a local tour specialist. A tour specialist can save you up to 40% as compared to booking the same eact vacation on your own.
17) During off-season seach for deals to Costa Rica; you’ll have a better chance of finding a more cost effective travel package.
18) If you are taking the whole family along, consider an all inclusive tour to Costa Rica. You’ll know how much money you will spend, plus all meals, activities, sports, entertainment, and accommodations are usually included in one price.
19) If you are traveling as part of a group, keep in mind that double rooms in hotels are often less expensive than one room.
20) Protect your cameras and batteries by carrying them in plastic bags; humidity of the rainforest may penetrate electronic items.

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Best Travel Website of 2010 to be Named by Web Marketing Association in 14th Annual WebAward Competition
The Web Marketing Association announces the call for entries for its 14th annual international WebAward Competition for Web site development at www.webaward2010.org. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets benchmarks for 96 industries, including travel, airline and hotel & lodging websites, based on the seven criteria of a successful web site.

Read more on PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance

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I will be going to Costa Rica. I will be staying in San Jose for 1 night. There is a hotel there that is called the Apartotel Sesteo. Has anyone been to it? Is it a nice hotel?

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Image taken on 2006-04-06 08:55:37 by g-na.

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Looking for a second home for vacation, retirement or simply as an investment? If so, then you should consider a location in Central America.

Properties in countries like Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama offer natural beauty as well as great value. Your dollar goes much further in these countries than in the U. S.

Just imagine, you can buy a spacious home on the beach or in the mountains for less than one-third and sometimes one-half of what you would pay for a comparable vacation property at home.

To meet the demand for luxury property in Central America, many developers are now building, upscale, master-planned residential developments.

You’ll find properties that offer everything you could ever want in a second home, from resort-style pools, to world-class golf courses, gourmet restaurants, upscale retailers, beach access and personalized concierge services. And many have rental programs that will keep your home rented and generating revenue for you when you’re not there.

Plus, these countries are encouraging foreign investors, offering tax incentives and generally making it easy and safe for non-citizens to purchase property.

For all these reasons Central America is experiencing a growth spurt that has never been seen before and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. And, as anyone who has ever bought real estate knows, the time to buy is at the start of the upswing.

A second home in Central America offers:

• A low cost of living

• Great weather year-round

• The chance to enjoy another culture

• Quality developments with outstanding amenities

• Beautiful, untouched ocean views

• Beach and mountain locations

• An opportunity to buy real estate at pre-construction prices

• Optional rental programs to generate revenue

• Profit potential when you sell

• Proximity to the U. S.

Investing in real estate in Central America has never been smarter or easier. Using the Internet, you can learn about properties overseas and the requirements for making a purchase. Transactions can be done via e-mail and phone.

Additionally, financial institutions are more willing now to make loans on second homes abroad than they were in the past. The process has been simplified as lenders have become increasingly transparent, global and linked.

Concerned about buying a home in a country that isn’t as modern as the U. S. ? Don’t be. Infrastructure in Central America has been greatly improved in recent years. There are new and expanded airports, and more frequent and direct flights from major U. S. and European cities. There are better roads and modern marinas, all enhancing access to new property developments.

Plus, these countries now have up-to-date medical facilities, often staffed by American-trained doctors. Getting advanced and affordable healthcare is no longer a concern. Suddenly, what was once considered an exotic location now offers the same quality and conveniences as home.

If being far away from friends and family causes you to hesitate, don’t worry about being out of touch. In Panama, Mexico and Costa Rica, you’ll find global cellular phone connections and easy Internet access, helping fend off feelings of isolation during time spent outside the U. S.

Owning a vacation or retirement property in Central America countries like Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica can provide great enjoyment, diversify your investments, generate rental income and even ultimately increase your net worth. What more could you ask from a second home!

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New travel guides, from Lonely Planet to luxury
Spring is the time when many travelers plan their biggest vacations of the year: Leisurely road trips, family getaways with kids out of school, and travel abroad over the peak summer season. Here are some of the new guidebook releases from this season to inspire you and help plan your itineraries. They include titles from Lonely Planet, Frommer’s, DK Eyewitness, a luxury hotel group, and Budget …

Read more on AP via Yahoo! News

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A collection of clips from a recent trip to Costa Rica. Song is “Seis Por Derecho” by Carlos Tapia y Conjunto Piedemonte.

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Gestion.com.pe
Gestion.com.pe is your gateway to sites on the Internet for vacations! Browse our resources or just try the search.

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Image taken on 2006-07-02 19:53:54 by werdsnave.

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Having Visited Costa Rica, I have compiled a list of the best locations to visit. This list is by no means comprehensive or complete, it is just a checklist of all the places I would visit when I go to Costa Rica. Monteverde Cloud ForestMost famous for being associated with the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the tiny community of Monteverde is a small village located near the entrance of the cloud forest. Monteverde was founded by the Quaker community that migrated from North America to Costa Rica in the 1950’s. In town, which is actually Santa Elena, you’ll find banks, drug store, a local hospital, book store, gas station, ATM machine, police station, post office, supermarkets, internet cafes, restaurantsAs the weather here is quite chilly and misty, due to the village being high up in the Tilaran Mountain Range, you should bring some thick clothes and a light jacket to stay warm. When here, do remember to try out the delicious local cheeses, which are a treat to eat. If you are a bird watcher, this village offers some lovely bird watching opportunities, even though you are not in the cloud forest itself. However, if you prefer to do the more touristy thing, visit the local craft centers, the women’s co-op center, the butterfly garden and the Hummingbird Gallery in town. Dominical BeachLocated on Costa Rica’s amazingly beautiful Central Pacific coastline, the small village of Dominical is a surfer’s paradise where waves can reach over 10 feet high, a place rich in island biodiversity and amazing underwater flora and fauna. It is the perfect combination between the extensive golden coasts full of scenic beaches & luscious mountains. Dominical is a 4 km long beach strip, with a few hotels, lodges, resorts and restaurants in the area. While swimming here is near impossible with the strong swells and rip tides, one can kayak off the coast or enjoy some diving or snorkeling opportunities in the area. Horseback tours can also be arranged to the nearby Nauyaca Waterfalls, or one can visit the Marino Ballena National Park, which is home to a number of marine mammals like turtles and whales that come here seasonally to mate and nest. If you like, you can take a short day trip to the lovely Caño Island just off the coast. This island is considered one of the best adventure diving spots in the world and is home to an impressive array of underwater marine life. TortugueroTortuguero National Park is one of Costa Rica’s most biologically diverse wildlife areas. Featuring one of the most verdant landscapes in the country, the 26,156 hectare park was created with the main purpose of protecting the green sea turtle nesting area. Tortuguero owes its very wet tropical forest to the 5000 to 6000 millimeters of rain it receives per year. These climatic conditions are favorable to more than 400 tree species, around 2200 species of other plants and more than 400 birds, 60 amphibian and 30 fresh water fish species, as well as several endangered animals including tapirs, monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, manatees and sloths. Tortuguero is characterized by beautifully scenic canals, lagoons and rivers that may be toured by boat, canoe or kayak. In addition to the green turtle, three other sea turtle species nest on the park’s beaches. Arenal VolcanoThe Arenal Volcano area is one of Costa Rica’s top attractions. Only 3 hours away from San José, in the town of La Fortuna, stands a majestic 1,633m volcano, known to be one of the most active in the world. Despite its constant activity, the volcano is very safe to visit as long as you stay within the safety perimeter. In this area take advantage of the pristine natural surroundings! Go fishing, horseback riding; take a canopy tour, rafting or experience a tremendous canyon expedition. Whatever you decide, be sure to visit the relaxing hot springs in the area, the most famous being Tabacon and Baldi. La Fortuna and SurroundingsOften simply referred to as La Fortuna, the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos is the gateway to the magnificent Arenal Volcano. A charming and quiet town, La Fortuna is easily accessible from the capital city San Jose, and offers some panoramic views of the spectacular Arenal, Costa’s Rica’s most active volcano. Sitting around 10 kilometers away from town and regularly spewing smoke and ash for some time now, the Volcan Arenal is the country’s top rated tourist attraction and is indeed a sight to behold. Over the last few years in particular, La Fortuna has become quite a bustling town. However, there are plenty of accommodations, hotels and resorts here to suit every budget. A must try when in La Fortuna are the amazing resort spas surrounding the volcano. On a clear day you can watch the volcano erupt and if you wait for nightfall, the Arenal puts on a brilliant show with bright red rocks tumbling down its sides. Beside the volcano, this town has other great tourist attractions like the La Catarata de la Fortuna, Tabacon Hot Springs, white water rafting, hiking excursions, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, canopy tours and Caño Negro Boat Tours are just some of the many activities that one can enjoy while you are here. MalpaisMalpais is situated on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Also known as the Hawaii of Latin America, there are several beaches to swim, dive or snorkel though it’s main attraction is it’s unique conditions for surfing and it’s pristine subtropical nature. Horseback riding, sportfishing, canopy tours, scuba, and nature tours make up some of the other popular activities nearby. Malpais is a community unlike any other in Costa Rica with a strong surf culture and a the laid-back atmosphere that maintains the type of earthy tourism that made Costa Rica famous. MalPais boasts a great selection of places to stay and eat from camping on the beach to luxurious resorts and a wide range of activities. Without a doubt it’s a very attractive place to relax and enjoy the golden rays of the Pacific sunset. Turrialba ValleyWith some stunning views of Costa Rica’s rural countryside, Turrialba is a charming little town in the lush and beautiful Central Valley in Cartago province. Famous for being a white water rafting hotspot and base camp, this town lies 53 km east of the capital city San José and is an excellent place to tour the pre-Columbian ruins at Guayabo National Monument, or the rarely visited but lovely Parque Nacional Volcan Turrialba. A quiet town, Turrialba with its charming street corners and gorgeous surrounding sceneries is among the few places in Costa Rica with direct access to a volcano’s crater. From the summit of the volcano, you can on a clear day, see the Irazu, Poás and Barva volcanoes in the distance Botanists and gardeners will want to pay a visit to the Center for Agronomy Research and Development (CATIE), which is located 5km (3 miles) southeast of Turrialba on the road to Siquirres. This center is one of the world’s foremost facilities for research into tropical agriculture.

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