Travel | Costa Rica Travel and Vacation

San Jose, capital and largest city, has the best Costa Rica tours for most travelers and tourists. This city offers numerous spectacular museums, first class restaurants, and amazing night life venues. Some may think less of this city because of its urban sprawl but nevertheless, they soon found out how this city can be very entertaining especially once you’ve visited Plaza dela Cultura and Paseo Colon. Some of the fun things to do in Costa Rica can be done at the Plaza de la Cultura. It is also known as the Culture Square, is usually the place to go to shop for souvenirs, sun bathe or enjoy a night out while watching marimba bands and other entertainers including comedians or clowns, jugglers and colorfully dressed artists playing Andean music. The Paseo Colon; however, is one of the best hotels in San Jose with really accommodating and helpful staff as well as luxurious and comfortable rooms. The Jade Museum is one the most visited attractions according to Costa Rica vacation reviews, highlighting the country’s century-old artifacts and the world’s largest and renowned collection of Pre-Columbian Jade. The Costa Rican Art Museum also known as Museo de Arte Costarricense by the locals, showcases a collection of works by the country’s most celebrated artists back in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its presentation is highly impressive because of its rotating shows and sculpture collection. Most of the works are exhibited in all forms of media. The National Museum, also called the Museo Nacional, was founded in 1887 and is situated in the old fort used by the military during the civil war back in 1948. This museum displays the natural history, Pre-Columbian culture as well as history of Costa Rica. Other exciting Costa Rica tours involve the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum near downtown San Jose. The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum which is part of the Central Bank Museums is an underground cultural center that exhibits the marvelous collection of gold objects that reflect the techniques of the Pre-Columbian people in Costa Rica. The exhibition is divided into two levels: an introductory and area for orientation at the 2nd level of the structure that interprets the evolution of Pre-Columbian cultures. The metallurgy development in Costa Rica, the styles and stages are also featured in this level. The second level which is located at the 3rd level of the structure showcases the diverse uses and meanings of the gold objects. An introductory video is presented in this level before people can view the collection. The Mercado Central also the Central Market in Costa Rica is another destination where tourists go strolling about to purchase the exotic spices, fruits, vegetables and even t-shirts. There’s also a bakery and even wood and leather handicraft sold in stalls. This market consists of three blocks and is located near a train station. Most tourists check out travel agencies in Costa Rica to get the best travel packages only to visit San Jose. The best thing about this city is that most of the tourist destinations are really accessible. Many realized it’s best to explore the city on foot. But if travelers decide to travel around outside the city they can opt to go visit the Monterverde National Park considered the most visited national park in the country. An overseas travel adventure to the Monteverde National Park is only 3 to 4 hours from the capital by car; however, air travel is offered through Sansa Airlines which only takes 20 minutes. It contains the most beautiful beaches and coral reefs coupled with a superb combination of lush rain forests. The rain forest houses a diverse collection of species including monkeys, iguanas, sloths, squirrels and crabs.

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San Jose in Costa Rica is among the favorite destinations of tourists. It features a lot of exciting ways to spend the vacation. Enjoy and have fun with all the tourist spots seen here. Costa Rica’s capital is San Jose and is considered as the largest city located in the middle of Grand Area Metropolitan. San Jose is the official residence of the national government. It is also the center of business and transportation in Central America. Costa Rica nowadays features modern facilities as a result of the upsurge of its tourism. The combination of modern architecture and art has made become a favorite destination of tourist from around the world. According to statistics, there are around 346,800 people residing in the city. This figure makes up one third of the overall population of the country. It has the strongest influence in terms of the political affairs of the country. San Jose is home of the country’s prominent school established during 1843, the University of Costa Rica. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights is also located in the city. The city boasts of its various tourist attractions which contribute to the economy of the city. The Banco Central de Costa Rica is among the tallest buildings considered as a landmark. Another landmark is the Cathedral, the office of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese. Other landmarks include Melico Salazar Theatre and the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica. These theaters hold several plays and musicals attracting many visitors. The city is also home to some of the historical buildings and architectures of great importance to the history of the city. Museums are also abundant offering a wide variety of ways to explore and learn about the beauty of the city. The Gold Museum features a unique collection of different artifacts made of gold from the early civilization of the Latin Americans. The Lankester Botanical Garden is among the favorite of those with an inkling about plants. El Pueblo is the right place for visitors who love the nightlife. El Pueblo holds a lot of bars, restaurants, clubs and disco houses where you can enjoy your favorite wine. There are nearby resorts and hotels where you can stay while visiting San Jose. Many of the entertainment centers open at 9:00 PM till morning and hold various live bands. Calle de la Amargura is close to the University of Costa Rica, and is another place of entertainment with several café, bars and restaurants. Majority of these centers provide cheaper prices for students of the university. For nature lovers, the Parque La Sabana is a perfect place featuring beautiful fountains and a lagoon. This park is also a great place for family picnics. Within the park, visitors can enjoy their favorite sports such as volleyball, basketball, baseball, tennis and swimming pool. The park is also home to the national stadium in which the most popular game of soccer is being held regularly. Pueblo Antiguo is another ideal place to visit where museums and centuries old architectures can be found. The theme park is good for jogging, sightseeing, biking and adventure. Another exciting adventure would be a visit to the Arenal Volcan National Park. The park features an alluring trip through a rain forest. Witness the amazing view of the volcano which captivates every visitor coming to the park. San Jose is indeed a great place for vacation wherein visitors can indulge in variety of outdoor fun and adventure. You can surely have a relaxing and enjoyable vacation right in San Jose, Costa Rica. You can also find the best accommodation from the most luxurious to the cheapest hotels in the city and experience the hospitality of the people of San Jose. Great travel packages are available to give you best budget deals.

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Proudly awarded membership to The Leading Hotels of the World as of January 2007, Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort is a five-star resort located at the foot of the Arenal Volcano, in the northern region of Costa Rica. A three-time World Travel Awards recipient and three-leaf Sustainable Tourism Certificate holder, the 114-room property offers luxurious accommodations and friendly service in a quaint tropical environment.

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With the spreading acceptance of gay culture and the gay lifestyle, many tourist organizations and locations have sought to reach out to the gay community with clubs, hotels, bars and other attractions that cater specifically to them. Costa Rica is one of many regions which has chosen to do so, and gay travel to this wonderful country is now one of the most rapidly expanding subsections of the local tourist market. As such, those who are interested in gay travel here have a great variety of options to choose from. Though Costa Rica was somewhat indifferent or hostile towards gays as recently as the late 90s, the large amount of tourist dollars, not to mention the fact that they are generally well behaved tourists who don’t destroy property or vandalize buildings. As such, in recent years, there has been a great effort to build gay-friendly bars, hotels, and other meeting places. The vast majority of these places are located in San Jose or Manuel Antonio, which are also the largest cities on the island. There are also a number of older (forty years old and up) gays who have chosen to settle in Costa Rica, purchasing various houses and other properties in the area. This offers unique opportunities to gays visiting Costa Rica, not to mention the fact that many of the bars are becoming increasingly gay-themed and gay-friendly properties. Like many formerly conservative areas, it is advisable that gays who are visiting Costa Rica keep to themselves when vacationing there. Though the police and many other organizations have sided strongly with the tourists, there have been a number of incidents. While none of them have led to outright violence or death, the natural tendency towards machismo and confrontation found in some of the native Costa Ricans (especially after a few drinks) means that gay visitors are more likely to stick with the gay friendly resorts and areas. Those interested in gay travel to Costa Rica should remember that it is subject to different rules and regulations than the United States, and that they should be familiar with those laws. However, many laws remain the same. For example, the United States and Costa Rica have a similar stance on many controlled substances, and both nations have the age of consent set at eighteen. Also, both nations have outlawed prostitution. Gay vacationers should also be aware that there are high levels of HIV and other STDs in Costa Rica, and use appropriate protection.

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The industry opens its doors and offers great specials to those affected by the recent travel crisisIn response to the latest airline crisis caused by the volcano eruption in Iceland, Costa Rica’s travel industry is offering travelers a variety of enticing promotional travel packages that will allow them to spend their hard earned vacation days in an exciting destination. Costa Rica’s proximity to North America, convenient flight connections, and diversity of tourism products, will surely please any traveler seeking an alternative vacation spot that delivers a memorable experience. This small nation, almost the size of West Virginia, is known as much for its leadership in sustainable tourism as it is for its incredible offering of activities and experiences for all types of travelers. Whether someone is looking to be adventurous, relax with the family, explore nature, take in a second honeymoon with someone special, or all of the above, Costa Rica has a special offer in hand. There are over 75 special travel promotions running in the country ranging from additional free nights, great upgrades, up to 50 per cent discount on spa treatments and much more. For a complete list of the hotel properties, tours, vacation packages and car rental services, visit http://www. grenwaytours. com.
Spa and well-being vacations are becoming the industry’s newest travel trend and Costa Rica has been recognized by TripAdvisor users as one of the best places in Central and South America to enjoy spa getaways. Costa Rica gives travelers a variety of ways to rejuvenate and cleanse including the hot springs near the Arenal Volcano, the tranquil, yoga-infused beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula or the nature-filled setting of its Central Valley.
Another major attraction of Costa Rica is its beaches. The country boasts over 1000 miles of coast line which vary between three types of climates. For surfing enthusiasts, the choices are endless as well due to the 250 breaking points that can be found on its Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Of course, it caters to those who just wish to take in some sun and relax as well. For the type of traveler who loves to pump their adrenaline, Costa Rica offers some of the top rated rivers in the world for white-water rafting as well as activities like hiking, wind surfing, kite surfing, horseback riding and much more. Of course, no Costa Rica vacation is complete without an exhilarating zipline tour through the canopies of the forest.
An added appeal for Costa Rica and its position as a Central American tourist destination has been its commitment to giving back to the planet and to its people. Due to these efforts, the country has become an ecological haven which is hosted by warm people who are proud and eager to show visitors their wonderful land. Their pride is translated into the vast amount of knowledge that they individually possess, turning any vacation to the country into an educational experience, in addition to being adventurous and relaxing. This attention to detail is what keeps visitors coming back to enjoy its natural wonders.
For a great Costa Rica vacation, please contact Greenway Tours. Our professional staff will assist you and help with a custom itinerary specially designed for your family.

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Costa Rica’s name means, literally, “rich coast. ” The name is appropriate. This beautiful country is rich with amazing wildlife, gorgeous coastlines, and exquisite tropical weather. Cost Rica is a leader in environmental performance and eco-tourism. Its national parks are home to many endangered species, drawing visitors to observe animals in their natural habitat. Costa Rica’s official language is Spanish. Its official currency is the Colon, but many merchants accept the US Dollar. Costa Rica Holidays tours are a popular escape from the winter cold for many travelers who seek a warm and sun-filled getaway.
Visit one of Costa Rica’s butterfly farms for a complete escape from the dreariness of winter weather. Because the weather in Costa Rica is usually very warm, the number of butterfly species is tremendous. Butterflies are a main attraction on Costa Rica tours. In the tiny country of Costa Rica, there are more butterfly variations than in the entire continent of Africa. Many butterfly farms offer travelers the opportunity to spend hours admiring the colourful “flying jewels” in action. It is not necessary to visit a special farm to view butterflies, though. Butterflies are a beautiful part of everyday life in Costa Rica.
Along with butterflies, bird watching is another main attraction of any tour of Costa Rica. Harpy Eagles, an endangered species, have found a home in the nation’s forests. With over 800 different species of birds, Costa Rica’s national parks are resplendent with coloured feathers and chirping songs. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a paradise for those who enjoy watching birds. Canopy tours of the rainforest offer a bird’s eye view of the land below. Guides will escort visitors along suspension bridges and pathways in the tops of rainforest trees.
Tour a butterfly farm, watch birds in a rainforest, or take a skywalk in the Monteverde Reserve. Costa Rica offers a rare combination of beauty, pleasant weather, and richness of wildlife. Whether staying in a five star hotel, or backpacking through the countryside, every tourist will find something to enjoy.

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I was as nervous as my loved ones were about my solitary exploits as a woman in Central America last summer. Nonetheless, I discovered helpful community everywhere from buses to budget hotels, and even with friends of friends.

After two months of road trips from corner to corner of Costa Rica and around southern Nicaragua, my energy was waning. Just then, on a bus ride, I crossed paths with one of the most inspiring people I’d met in months. After finding 1,000 children living in a garbage dump in Managua, Andres was spearheading orphanages around the world—a shining example of someone living his passion.

Andres was one of many people that smoothed out the challenging moments that came with venturing outside my comfort zones. Being open to creating a new community, even a temporary one, seems essential when traveling—especially alone. It touches your heart in so many ways.

The trip began in tiny Playa Uvita, Costa Rica. I walked along a rainforest road, accompanied by roosters and bugs. I was thrilled to end up solo on a wide beach, wading in wonderfully warm water. Suddenly a meddlesome man I’d met earlier rode his horse right up to me, with dog in tow, like a scene from a movie. When Prince Charming’s horse released his bowels in the ocean, my perfect beach moment took a hit as well. I chalked it up to a lesson in tolerance.

Nosara was next, a stormy beach where friends of friends hosted me in their tropical guest house. I continued to discover community in the most unexpected places. What was that pounding on the roof? An iguana! Screeching at 5 a. m. ? A jungle bird. Loud scary dog-like sound? Howler monkey. Strange creature on the floor along with the ants and worms? A scorpion!
In Nosara, I met a jovial New Yorker who offered me a ride to Nicaragua. We made our way through rain, road construction, passport stamping on both sides of the border, and changing money from colones to cordobas. Then came the task of finding the least decrepit and safest budget hotel once arriving in charming San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.

I felt comforted by my growing travelers’ community when I took a spontaneous jaunt with another Californian to Isla de Ometepe, a peaceful island with petroglyphs, cows and pigs walking freely in the roads, and adorable children smiling from their patios. On the way to the island, I asked the taxi driver to slow down since I didn’t want to die—especially on my birthday. Next, we took a sweltering ferry ride to Ometepe, where the taxi driver was amusingly island-paced, stopping in the middle of the road to chat with friends on foot. He suggested we eat bull testicles with chili and lemon to feel strong. Settled into a hotel, we swam in a lake along with pop-up sardines and a view of two volcanoes. As I later stood by a tree, a cow chomped on avocadoes and a squirrel dropped a mango on my shoulder.

My fellow adventurer woke me at 4 a. m. to ask me to turn on the light; he was spooked by the sound of an animal on his upper bunk bed. As happens sometimes in Latin America, the electricity was out, so he wondered if the noise was a monkey munching on some food. I found this unsolved mystery hilarious.

Worn out from so many two-day trips, the bronchitis that I’d had in San Diego was back, so I stayed several days in beautiful colonial Granada, Nicaragua. The doctor who helped me recover couldn´t fathom how at 38, I had no kids and was traveling alone. Eleven years ago, my ex-husband had guided me through four months in South America and it was one of the most meaningful experiences I’d ever had. Now I am so grateful that I followed my dreams, as I found out it wasn’t too late to take the solo trip I’d fantasized about at age 20.

For safety, I hired a guide to accompany me to a lake and an historic outdoor market outside Granada. The usual child vendors, working to help their needy families, climbed aboard the bus. A few girls selling plaintain chips and candies asked, “Is everyone in the U. S. white?” I explained that I had friends who were African-American, Asian, Mexican, and so on. As we chatted, one girl sadly asked if I could adopt her as her parents had died, and she disliked living with her grandmother.

San Jose, Costa Rica may be run-down, but I kept returning to the city as it’s a hub for buses throughout the country. Through family friends, I met Raquel and Federico, whose home was respite from the noise and cigarette smoke typical of budget hotels. We shared lovely meals and became fast friends, touring a volcano and lush hilly smalltowns.

Next came the malfunctioning foot portion of the trip. The scene: a hostel with the typical array of 20-something North Americans, Italians, and Israelis vying for the Internet. Ironically trying to avoid a construction zone, I rammed into something in that disheveled area too difficult to see in the dark. Thinking it was a bad toe stubbing, I socialized for a few hours until I discovered my foot was bleeding and cut.

I relocated to Casa Ridgway, the San Jose hostel where I most felt a sense of community among interesting activist travelers. A delightful Australian living in Hong Kong burned incense in our room, and then flew off to Cuba. A 16-year-old drilled me about the goods and bads of solo travel, plotting her future. I befriended a humanitarian videographer, and a group of young breakdancers from Nicaragua and Guatemala. Unable to walk, I’d call on whoever was passing by to bring water, beans or avocados from the market.

Then Raquel’s amiga rescued me. Marielos picked me up, cleaned up the pitiful foot, and with help from a doctor friend, started me on antibiotics. Within a few hours, we were like sisters, watching a dubbed Ben Stiller movie on her bed. I lived with her family for a week until I was back on my feet again.

It was time to return to California. I decided I wasn’t going to become yet another U. S. expat in Costa Rica. I’d heard of too many tourist robberies, found the mosquitoes and humidity irritating, and as a vegan, was longing for more variety than gallo pinto (smashed rice and beans). While I’d enjoyed the lush beaches, tropical creatures and made dear friends, those nights when I was scared for my safety sleeping alone made me long for the comfort of San Diego and friends there.

It was indeed a life-changing trip. Not only did I find community in all corners of the world but also cultivated a profound inner strength for having conquered deeply-rooted fears about traveling alone.

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Whenever one talk about Costa Rica what comes in mind is beautiful rainforests, warm beaches, volcanoes, relaxing environment and wildlife that is worth watching. There is a lot that one can choose in Costa Rica — the most popular place that people visit along the southern border of Spain. Planning a trip to Costa Rica may go out of your budget but a few strategies can help you plan your trip to Costa Rica in budget. First of all it is very important to decide that where in Costa Rica you actually want to go. You can ask friends and acquaintances who have already been to this place. If you do not get enough information you may search the Internet. After you have accumulated enough information about Costa Rica, decide on which are your kind of activities and which all places would you like to visit. You may have some great surfing areas, national park and beach vacations in Costa Rica. The second step goes towards deciding about what will the period of your stay in the country. The best time to visit Costa Rica on budget is during the spring time, that is in the month of August. In Costa Rica it rains a lot but it does not keep raining during the whole day. Because of rain, tourists do not come here and prices tend to become much cheaper. Choose Iberian Airlines as there are a lot for Costa Rica at all times in your. You may be lucky to get air travel tickets for as low as dollar 300 per person. Before booking tickets, check with all travel backsides and airlines and choose the option that you think will be the cheapest. The best service will be available amongst Orbitz, Expedia and Priceline. Looking for a good budgeted hotel, will not bring you respite. The best way to go about accommodation is renting a private and self catering villa. Make sure that you do not go for additional comforts in villa like maids, extra accessories, luxuries etc. Go for the villas that are situated inland. Villas near the beach will obviously cost you double the rent. You will be allowed to cook yourself and you can always buy fresh produce from the market and to cook it in the way you want. Transportation is an important part of your trip and the best mode of transportation would be using the bus service of Costa Rica. Hiring the car would require you to furnish various documents along with your credit card and the car service may also cost you a heavy service tax. Along with this, you will also need to invest in re-filling and maintenance. The service will connect you to all parts of town and you will have a splendid vacation in Costa Rica.

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CostaRica Videos: CostaRicaTravelChannel.com Costa Rica Travel Video share. Promote your costa rica business for free with the Costa Rica Travel Channel. Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna, Costa Rica Home.

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If you are planning an exciting vacation, travel to Costa Rica for the best fun under the sun. Take courses in languages, and other activities taught by English-speaking instructors. Learn something new and have a great time on your vacation. There are a lot of things to see and do in Costa Rica. The beautiful beaches offer some great activities including water skiing, scuba diving, and turtle watching. Costa Rica has some of the rarest wildlife on earth. Travel to Costa Rica is simple and uncomplicated; you do not need a travel visa if staying less than 90 days. Most travel agencies have discount travel packages to meet every budget. Grab a board and go surfing, or sign up for lessons to get you riding the waves like an expert. There are many points in Montezuma that have great waves. Soft sandy beach areas with almost no rocks make this a great surf spot. Spanish is the native language of Costa Rica. In fact, the name Costa Rica means “rich coast” in Spanish. English and Spanish are spoken in the widely public areas used by tourists and visitors. Hotels and restaurants and other businesses are also bilingual. While in Costa Rica, why not spend some of your vacation time learning a new language or getting your scuba certification. There are some great places to dive in Costa Rica if you are already an experienced diver. For example: Montezuma is home to many volcanic and coral reef formations. Dive sites are abundant near the coast, including Tortuga Island (the Spanish word for Turtle) Aquarius, and Franklin Chang( the site of a shipwreck). Learning Spanish in Costa Rica is ideal as it will give you the real world experience of speaking a second language. Not only will you learn to speak Spanish in the classroom but you can use what you have learned right away. The best way to learn a new language is to be around native speakers of the language to hear the correct pronunciation. Enrich your vacation by taking classes in a native setting. Break away from the usual classroom experience by learning in a beautiful island paradise. La Escuela Del Sol in Montezuma, Costa Rica, offers classes in Scuba Diving, Spanish language, Yoga and Poi. Get scuba certified in 2 weeks and dive to some of the most beautiful places in the area. Swim with the fish, dolphins and manta rays. Most classes are completed in 2-4 weeks and food and lodging are included. Many people who travel to Costa Rica love it so much that they return year after year. Great activities to get into: Biking Snorkeling Kayaking Dolphin Watching Visit the Turtle Conservation Project Montezuma Waterfall Hike Horseback Riding on the Beach to El Chorro Waterfalls Scuba Diving at Isla Tortuga Deep Sea Fishing Hike to Cabo Blanco National Park

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