Introduction
Hang ten in this peaceful oasis: the local wildlife highly recommends it. Mention Costa Rica and people think paradise. The country's Disney-like cast of creatures — ranging from howler monkeys to toucans — are prolific and relatively easy to spot. The waves are prime, the beauty is staggering and the sluggish pace seductive.
Costa Rica, despite being such a tiny nation, draws well over a million visitors every year - and you can see why. The incredibly varied topography means you can cruise a cloud forest one day, climb a volcano the next, and finish passed out on a hot sandy beach.
'Costa Rica is a marvelous place to enter the atmosphere.' - Paul Newman
Geography:
Smaller than West Virginia and larger than Switzerland, Costa Rica packs in some of the world's most diverse natural landscapes. Wedged between Nicaragua and Panama, its craggy western border is constantly pounded by Pacific surf, while the temperate Caribbean hugs tropical lowlands and swamps to the east. Costa Rica is defined by its diverse climates and topography: mangroves, swamps, sandy beaches, numerous gulfs and peninsulas, tropical dry forests, rain forests, cloud forests, temperate highlands and a variety of offshore islands. It is split in two by a series of volcanic mountain chains that run from Nicaragua in the northwest to Panama in the southeast. The highlands reach up to 3820m (12,532ft) above sea level.
Destination Facts
Capital: San Jose
President: Oscar Arias Sanchez
Government: democratic republic
Time zone: GMT -6
Area: 51100
Population: 4133884
People: 96% Mestizo (mixed Spanish and indigenous descent), 2% African descent, 1% indigenous, 1% Chinese
Languages: 75% Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant, 11% other
Currency: Costa Rican Colon ( ¢ )
GDP: Approx. ¢ 48770000000
Major industries: Tourism, electronics, coffee, bananas, sugar, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Major Trading Partners: USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico
Country Dialing Code: 506
Getting There
The early months of the rainy season (May to July) are a wonderful time to travel to Costa Rica with some towns experiencing a mini-high season. During this time, rivers start to swell and dirt roads get muddy, making travel more challenging. Remote roads may not be accessible to public transport, so always ask locally before setting out. Bring your umbrella and a little patience. For surfers, the Pacific coast sees increased swells and bigger, faster waves during the rainy season, peaking in the worst rainy months of September and October. The Caribbean side has better waves from November through May. Wildlife enthusiasts may wish to plan their trip around high visibility seasons. The best time to spot the resplendent quetzal is between November and April. The peak season for leatherback turtles from April to May; for green turtles it's during August and September. Fishing is good year-round, but you might choose your season if you have your heart set on a specific fish. Anglers head to the Caribbean coast between January and May in search of tarpon, while autumn is the season for snook. On the Pacific coast and in the Golfo Dulce, the best time to snag that sailfish is between November and May.
Getting there and away
International flights arrive at Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamar í a, 17km (10.5mi) northwest of San Jos é in the town of Alajuela. In recent years, Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia has started receiving international flights from the US. It's expected that many international airlines will start to offer flights in/out of this airport, including some flights direct from Europe (eliminating the lay-over in Miami or Dallas). This airport is convenient for travelers visiting the Pen í nsula de Nicoya. Costa Rica is well connected by air to other Central and Latin American countries, as well as the US. Costa Rica shares land borders with Nicaragua and Panama. Many travelers, particularly shoestringers, enter the country by bus. An extensive bus system links the Central American capitals and it's vastly cheaper than flying.
Getting around
There are two domestic airlines: Sansa (tel: 221 9414; www.flysansa.com) and NatureAir (tel: 220 3054; www.natureair.com). Schedules change constantly and delays are frequent because of inclement weather. Costa Rica has small planes and big storms; you don't want to be in them at the same time. Public transport is well-developed in Costa Rica, although transport to towns other than San Jos é is limited. Local buses are the best (albeit rather slow) way of getting around. They will take you just about everywhere, and they're frequent and cheap. San Jos é is the transport center for the country, but there is no central bus terminal. An alternative to the standard intercity bus is the tourist-van shuttle service. Taxis are considered a viable form of public transport for long journeys, and can be hired by the day, half-day or hour. Cars and motorcycles can also be rented in San Jos é .
Visa:
Visa requirements for Costa Rica change rapidly so check with your consulate before leaving. Currently, citizens of the US, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, South Africa, South Korea, Uruguay, the UK, France and most other western European countries do not need a visa for a 90-day stay. Citizens of India, Singapore, Russia and most of Eastern Europe and Latin America can stay 30 days without a visa. All nationalities are required to have an airline ticket to exit Costa Rica or proof of financial resources. If you do need a visa, it will cost around 20.00 from a Costa Rican consulate.
Weather
Costa Rica is a tropical country and experiences only two seasons: wet and dry. The dry season is generally between late December and April; the wet season lasts the rest of the year. The highlands are cold: San Jos é and the Central Valley get an 'eternal spring' with lows averaging 15 ° C (60 ° F) and highs averaging 26 ° C (79 ° F). Both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts are pretty much sweltering year-round - get ready for some bad-hair days. Temperatures vary little between seasons; the main influence on temperature is altitude. The humidity at low altitudes can be oppressive.
Places of Interest
Getting back to nature has never been easier. Impulsive adventurers seeking an adrenaline rush will find it in Costa Rica. The country's laid-back pace also suits beach bums and hammock-surfers. Surfers of another kind will find their break in the glorious swells, and those searching for jungle critters will not be disappointed.
Mention Costa Rica and people think paradise. The country's Disney-like cast of creatures ranging from howler monkeys to toucans are prolific and relatively easy to spot. The waves are prime, the beauty is staggering and the sluggish pace seductive.
Costa Rica, despite being such a tiny nation, draws well over a million visitors every year - and you can see why. The incredibly varied topography means you can cruise a cloud forest one day, climb a volcano the next, and finish passed out on a hot sandy beach.
Hang ten in this peaceful oasis: the local wildlife highly recommends it. Mention Costa Rica and people think paradise. The country's Disney-like cast of creatures — ranging from howler monkeys to toucans — are prolific and relatively easy to spot. The waves are prime, the beauty is staggering and the sluggish pace seductive.
Costa Rica, despite being such a tiny nation, draws well over a million visitors every year - and you can see why. The incredibly varied topography means you can cruise a cloud forest one day, climb a volcano the next, and finish passed out on a hot sandy beach.
'Costa Rica is a marvelous place to enter the atmosphere.' - Paul Newman
Geography:
Smaller than West Virginia and larger than Switzerland, Costa Rica packs in some of the world's most diverse natural landscapes. Wedged between Nicaragua and Panama, its craggy western border is constantly pounded by Pacific surf, while the temperate Caribbean hugs tropical lowlands and swamps to the east. Costa Rica is defined by its diverse climates and topography: mangroves, swamps, sandy beaches, numerous gulfs and peninsulas, tropical dry forests, rain forests, cloud forests, temperate highlands and a variety of offshore islands. It is split in two by a series of volcanic mountain chains that run from Nicaragua in the northwest to Panama in the southeast. The highlands reach up to 3820m (12,532ft) above sea level.
Destination Facts
Capital: San Jose
President: Oscar Arias Sanchez
Government: democratic republic
Time zone: GMT -6
Area: 51100
Population: 4133884
People: 96% Mestizo (mixed Spanish and indigenous descent), 2% African descent, 1% indigenous, 1% Chinese
Languages: 75% Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant, 11% other
Currency: Costa Rican Colon ( ¢ )
GDP: Approx. ¢ 48770000000
Major industries: Tourism, electronics, coffee, bananas, sugar, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Major Trading Partners: USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico
Country Dialing Code: 506
Getting There
The early months of the rainy season (May to July) are a wonderful time to travel to Costa Rica with some towns experiencing a mini-high season. During this time, rivers start to swell and dirt roads get muddy, making travel more challenging. Remote roads may not be accessible to public transport, so always ask locally before setting out. Bring your umbrella and a little patience. For surfers, the Pacific coast sees increased swells and bigger, faster waves during the rainy season, peaking in the worst rainy months of September and October. The Caribbean side has better waves from November through May. Wildlife enthusiasts may wish to plan their trip around high visibility seasons. The best time to spot the resplendent quetzal is between November and April. The peak season for leatherback turtles from April to May; for green turtles it's during August and September. Fishing is good year-round, but you might choose your season if you have your heart set on a specific fish. Anglers head to the Caribbean coast between January and May in search of tarpon, while autumn is the season for snook. On the Pacific coast and in the Golfo Dulce, the best time to snag that sailfish is between November and May.
Getting there and away
International flights arrive at Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamar í a, 17km (10.5mi) northwest of San Jos é in the town of Alajuela. In recent years, Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia has started receiving international flights from the US. It's expected that many international airlines will start to offer flights in/out of this airport, including some flights direct from Europe (eliminating the lay-over in Miami or Dallas). This airport is convenient for travelers visiting the Pen í nsula de Nicoya. Costa Rica is well connected by air to other Central and Latin American countries, as well as the US. Costa Rica shares land borders with Nicaragua and Panama. Many travelers, particularly shoestringers, enter the country by bus. An extensive bus system links the Central American capitals and it's vastly cheaper than flying.
Getting around
There are two domestic airlines: Sansa (tel: 221 9414; www.flysansa.com) and NatureAir (tel: 220 3054; www.natureair.com). Schedules change constantly and delays are frequent because of inclement weather. Costa Rica has small planes and big storms; you don't want to be in them at the same time. Public transport is well-developed in Costa Rica, although transport to towns other than San Jos é is limited. Local buses are the best (albeit rather slow) way of getting around. They will take you just about everywhere, and they're frequent and cheap. San Jos é is the transport center for the country, but there is no central bus terminal. An alternative to the standard intercity bus is the tourist-van shuttle service. Taxis are considered a viable form of public transport for long journeys, and can be hired by the day, half-day or hour. Cars and motorcycles can also be rented in San Jos é .
Visa:
Visa requirements for Costa Rica change rapidly so check with your consulate before leaving. Currently, citizens of the US, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, South Africa, South Korea, Uruguay, the UK, France and most other western European countries do not need a visa for a 90-day stay. Citizens of India, Singapore, Russia and most of Eastern Europe and Latin America can stay 30 days without a visa. All nationalities are required to have an airline ticket to exit Costa Rica or proof of financial resources. If you do need a visa, it will cost around 20.00 from a Costa Rican consulate.
Weather
Costa Rica is a tropical country and experiences only two seasons: wet and dry. The dry season is generally between late December and April; the wet season lasts the rest of the year. The highlands are cold: San Jos é and the Central Valley get an 'eternal spring' with lows averaging 15 ° C (60 ° F) and highs averaging 26 ° C (79 ° F). Both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts are pretty much sweltering year-round - get ready for some bad-hair days. Temperatures vary little between seasons; the main influence on temperature is altitude. The humidity at low altitudes can be oppressive.
Places of Interest
Getting back to nature has never been easier. Impulsive adventurers seeking an adrenaline rush will find it in Costa Rica. The country's laid-back pace also suits beach bums and hammock-surfers. Surfers of another kind will find their break in the glorious swells, and those searching for jungle critters will not be disappointed.
Mention Costa Rica and people think paradise. The country's Disney-like cast of creatures ranging from howler monkeys to toucans are prolific and relatively easy to spot. The waves are prime, the beauty is staggering and the sluggish pace seductive.
Costa Rica, despite being such a tiny nation, draws well over a million visitors every year - and you can see why. The incredibly varied topography means you can cruise a cloud forest one day, climb a volcano the next, and finish passed out on a hot sandy beach.
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