Vacation In Costa Rica

How to Choose the Perfect Costa Rica Travel Adventure
By Henry Cobb

Are you interested in taking a trip to Costa Rica? If you are, you are definitely, not alone. Costa Rica is known as being a popular vacation destination. Although Costa Rica is well-known for its beauty, it is also well-known for its unlimited number of fun and exciting activities. If you are interested in planning a Costa Rica travel adventure, you may want to take the time to familiarize yourself with some of these fun and exciting activities. Doing so, may help to make planning your next Costa Rica travel adventure easy.

As previously mentioned, Costa Rica is well-known for its beauty. That is why a large number of individuals make the decision to take a Costa Rica travel adventure. Since the beauty of Costa Rica is what draws many tourists in, many want to focus on that beauty and soak up as much of it as possible. If you are interested in doing the same, you may want to think about making reservations for a guided tour. These tours often come in the format of hiking. In Costa Rica, you can tour the Poas Volcano, tour the Manuel Antonio National Park, among other parks, and do much more to take in the beauty of Costa Rica.

If you are truly interested in having your Costa Rica travel adventure be adventurous, you may want to examine Costa Rica travel adventure packages. Costa Rica travel adventure packages not only include your overnight accommodations, but they also include fun and exciting Costa Rica adventure tours. These tours may even include rafting. Some Costa Rica tourists claim that you have never really experienced all that Costa Rica has to offer until you go rafting.

Another activity that you may enjoy while on a Costa Rica travel adventure is a cruise. Costa Rica cruises are the perfect way to spend your Costa Rica travel adventure. What is nice about Costa Rica tours is that they come in a number of different formats. For example, you can spend your whole trip on a Costa Rica cruise or you can only plan on taking a Costa Rica cruise for a portion of your trip, like two or three days. Costa Rica tours are breathtaking as many take you along the beauty beaches, as well as through the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica. You never know what beautiful wildlife species you will find on a Costa Rica cruise.

As outlined above, it is possible to book a Costa Rica adventure tour in the form of a vacation package. Adventure tours are not the only Costa Rica vacations that can be booked in the form of a vacation package. Although many recommend doing so, the decision is yours to make. What you should know; however, is that not all Costa Rica vacation packages have your whole trip planned out for you. Many also give you time to do with as you please.

Henry Cobb is a writer for Adventure Brat . com where you can find accurate information about a Costa Rica Travel Adventure and other related information.

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Planning Your Costa Rica Honeymoon
By Henry Cobb

Planning Your Costa Rica Honeymoon

Are you and your soon to be spouse interested in honeymooning in Costa Rica? If you are, you may want to start making your travel arrangements right away, if you haven’t already done so. Costa Rica is known as top honeymoon destination; therefore, you will want to make your honeymoon travel arrangements well in advance.

When it come to making your Costa Rica honeymoon travel arrangements, you will find that there are a number of different steps that you will want to or need to take. Perhaps, the most important step is deciding on your date or dates of travel. When it comes to booking your airline reservations, overnight accommodations, or even the activities that you would like to participate in while in Costa Rica, it is important that you know when you will be traveling to Costa Rica and for how long you will be staying there. Once you have decided when and for how long, you can then focus on planning the rest of your Costa Rica honeymoon.

Although your first thought may be to book your overnight accommodations, as it is important to know where you will be staying on your Costa Rica honeymoon, you may want to hold off with doing so. Instead, you may want to take the time to plan your Costa Rica honeymoon activities. For instance, are you interested in going on hiking, boating, or rafting while in Costa Rica? If you are, you may want to think about making your reservations in the form of an adventure package. What is nice about many Costa Rica adventure packages is that many include an adventure tour, as well as overnight accommodations at a popular hotel or vacation resort. That is why you may want to wait to make your overnight accommodation reservations.

Speaking of Costa Rica adventure tour packages that include overnight accommodations, you will find that that you have a number of adventure tour packages to choose from. When making your decision, there are a number of factors that you may want to take into consideration. A few of these factors include cost, length of the tour, and the overnight accommodations. As previously mentioned, the overnight accommodations included in a Costa Rica adventure tour package may include a stay at a traditional hotel or a vacation resort. If you would like to spend your Costa Rica honeymoon at a vacation resort, you will want to look for Costa Rica adventure tour packages that provide those accommodations.

Should you decide to book your Costa Rica honeymoon in the form of a Costa Rica adventure tour package, you will soon find that your whole honeymoon isn’t planned out for you; you are also given your own “free time.” For that reason, you may want to start researching Costa Rica attractions to visit or activities that you can participate in on your Costa Rica honeymoon. To do this, you may want to think about requesting a free Costa Rica vacation guide or research the area of Costa Rica that you will be visiting online.

Henry Cobb is a writer for Adventure Brat . com where you can find accurate information about a Costa Rica Honeymoon and other related information.

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Where To Go Costa Rica

When you are planning your vacation it is good to know a little about the area so you can choose what suits your fancy. The locals refer to themselves as Ticos and they are warm and welcoming wherever you visit in Costa Rica. My friend and I plan to visit all areas of Costa Rica but you may have to consider what to put in your itinerary if you have only 7 days. The following is a list of the various regions and what they might offer in the way of entertainment. Pick and choose whatever combination you like.

San Jose
Most museums and art galleries in Costa Rica are found in San Jose. The central part of San Jose is noisy and crowed as the capital of any city will be. The airport is located outside of San Jose and you may come into Costa Rica via San Jose anyway, why not check it out while you are visiting. I have been told that you step of the curb carefully in Europe or get run over. Pedestrians do not have the right of way in San Jose either so watch yourself when you cross the street.

The Northwest
Arenal and Monteverde are located in the Northwest. Arenal is the Volcano located in this area and it is a game of wait-and-see to get the opportunity to view the cone of the volcano spew hot lava. Arenal is one of the only active volcanoes in the world that can be safely viewed by tourists without the threat of bodily harm. I live in the Pacific Northwest, also in the shadow of Mount Rainier so volcanoes don’t bother me.

The road to Monteverde runs from the small town of Santa Elena to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve with hotels, nightclubs and restaurants. This area is usually very dense with tourists. Originally settled by Quakers this area now has a thriving eclectic artist community. Quakers are also reported to be great cheese makers in this area. I just love cheese and Quakers are cool too so I gotta plan to visit the cheese farm. Although this is one of the busiest this region offers many day trips and interesting things to do.

Nicoya Peninsula
While the Costa Rican government would certainly welcome the revenue from more tourists, for the moment the beaches of Nicoya remain somewhat of a secret. Beaches are still relatively deserted. If golf is your thing the course at Playa Conchal is renowned. This would be the vacation for you if you have water sports in mind. There is snorkeling, swimming, diving, surfing, fishing, and even kayaking. The drive from Carrillo to Mal País by 4-wheel drive is simply amazing. This area is also surfer heaven. Horseback riding is also offered by most of the hotels.

Quepos & the Central Pacific
This area is known for beaches and water sports. There is an abundance of quiet beaches to choose from while you do see surfers frequently the beaches are not crowded and it is easy to relax. Along their Pacific Coast Highway there is a vast array of lodging anywhere from the seedy to the luxurious and in between. This area is a wonderland for any beach lover with diving, fishing, golf, and horseback riding, kayaking and even surfing. I want to try the Titi Canopy tours. A canopy tour is like a ski lift going from tree to tree like the monkeys. If you are afraid of heights this is not for you!

Osa Peninsula & Golfo Dulce
This area is much more remote, however there are several luxury hotels. Drake Bay has whale-watching tours and you can often spot dolphins playing around your boat. Corcovado National Park offers tours that are teaming with wildlife to see and take photos of. In Golfo Dulce the are 2 botanical gardens, Casa Orquideas Botanical Garden and Wilson Botanical Garden.

South Caribbean
Miles of banana plantations can be found here. Some believe these to be the most beautiful beaches in the country, although it is much more humid. The culture here is more Caribbean in it’s inhabitants. The usual water sports can be found here.

Vacationing in Costa Rica

When you’re seeking an exotic spot to vacation or honeymoon Costa Rica is a beautiful country located in Central America nestled between Nicaragua and Panama and is just a few square miles smaller than West Virginia. According to reports done on this country you can find the beauty and tranquility in one small little place with a huge appreciation for life and the pursuit of relaxation.

Covering just less than 0.1% of the Earth’s land mass and is home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity. There are 26 national parks and protected areas spread out across the country. Costa Rica offers a lot of great ocean views since it’s got the Pacific Ocean to the West and the Caribbean Sea to the East so those who want to catch a wave can stay in hotels along the Pacific Ocean side and those who want that tranquil island breeze can stay on the Caribbean Sea side.

There’s so much you can do while on a Costa Rican vacation and the activities are endless where you can do like looking at the rare wildlife like macaws, leatherback turtles, morpho butterflies, and the central American squirrel monkey. They offer tours of the rainforests there and even jungle safaris. You can also get an opportunity to see migrating whales, various dolphin species, sea turtles, and manatees when they migrate through the area at specific times of the year.

There are 3 volcanoes in the country and you can view one of them that’s currently active and that’s the Arenal, which is located in the northern part of the country, the other two are just to the midpoint and southern end of the country. Many people also love to go soak in the hot springs near the volcano.

Much of the most lush and beautiful plant life is near the volcanoes because of the ashes it gives off actually works as a fertilizer since the lava had burned away old plants giving new growth nutrient rich soil to grow from. Many people come from far and wide to spend a few days basking in the sun and taking in some of the culture and language since Costa Rica’s national language is Spanish. The best time to visit Costa Rica is between December and April which is the period of the dry season and May through November when they go through the rainy season.

Usually it’s best to visit when the weather isn’t very hot and humid since Central America is only mere miles from the equator, which borders the northern end of South America.

Tourists should be aware of all natural disasters and who they tour the country with because if you don’t know the area or language you’re stuck and many Americans have gone missing in foreign lands because they go off with people they don’t know very well so to make your trip a memorable experience to do your homework thoroughly before you plan a trip to Costa Rica so you know all the important details of how long you’re staying and where you’ll be staying at in terms of hotels or resorts.

Costa Rica is a country that has had a comfortable democracy for quite some time. Even though her neighbors have been torn apart with political strife, Costa Rica has remained peaceful and with little or no political upheaval. It seems to have created a genuinely happy group of people. However, human nature being what it is, there is some amount of crime that does exist.

The usual warnings apply. Stay out of any red light districts there may be and always travel with groups in well-lit areas. Keep your money in a hidden pocket somewhere in your clothing but do not carry a wallet. It is advised that you keep a credit card or travelers checks. Both are insured and when you are on vacation if you are mugged you can get them replaced.

Don’t leave your drinks unattended and don’t make change or flash your cash. It’s not difficult just handle your transactions discreetly. Stifle the need to wear expensive jewelry it’s overdone in this environment anyway. It has been suggested that visitors keep photocopies of their return plane ticket and their passport. Keep an extra stash of cash in your hotel room just in case of an emergency.

If you drive your rented car out of a gas station, grocery store, your hotel, or just about anywhere and it ends up with a flat tire. Don’t let the inevitable Good Samaritan help you that comes right along as soon as you have broke down. In the past there have been tourists that allowed this nice guy that just happened along, to help them change the tire while he has you distracted his buddies sneak into the other side of the car and steal you belongings.

The roads are usually paved and easy to travel but occasionally you have to go down some rough dirt road. If you are unsure of the roads don’t drive them. As a matter of fact, it just isn’t good sense to rent a car. The cost of gas is terrible and you have to stress out about figuring out where you are going. It would be smart to set aside a bus/taxi fare when you plan your trip.

If someone spills food on you move quickly away from them as they try to help you. Wiping ketchup off of you is a way to grab you and pick your pockets. This is an old ploy that is used all too often in many ports of call, not just Costa Rica. Many people come to Costa Rica looking for photo opportunities. Shutterbugs just love their equipment and it is a big tragedy when their cameras get stolen. Get vacation or travelers insurance for your camera and equipment.

If you do get equipment stolen or your wallet stolen, call 911 and follow through with getting a police report. You will need a copy of the police report in order for your camera to be replaced. Chances are that you will never have to use any of this advice, but it never hurts to be safe.

Timeline Of A Typical Tour Of Costa Rica

The average tourist spends anywhere between 7 to 10 days, but many tour companies are offering full 10-14 day tours. One Costa Rican-based company called Costa Rica Tours t offers tourists an 11 day tour where you’re doing different things for the entire 11 days and it’s very well planned out because you’re seeing a lot of the country on their itinerary.

The first night is usually when you’re getting settled into your hotel and then day 2 is when you start off by visiting a coffee plantation since coffee is one of the products produced out of Costa Rica that is also a mainstay in their economic background. Day 3 you’re visiting a village in Cartago to where the tour guide gives you some background information about a young girl witnessing an apparition (she testifies bearing witness on seeing the Virgin Mary) and then the tour continues on to another town where you spend the night at a plantation overlooking Lake Angostura.

Day 4 Your journey takes you to the small village of Tucurrique for a short cooking lesson from the natives in making tortillas and other authentic Costa Rican cuisines. Day 5 is a hiking adventure in learning about the Costa Rican indigenous people called the Kekoldi and you get a tour by a Kekoldi leader and you will spend a night at a hotel that’s just steps from the Caribbean Sea. Day 6 is a leisure day spent swimming, hiking, and even seeing wildlife on the Gandoca Wildlife reserve near the hotel.

Day 7 you’ll board a flight from Limon to Guanacaste to where you get to tour some of the most spacious ranches and beaches and spend a night at 4 star hotel near the town of Tamarindo. You’re on your own after the days’ activities which many people take it upon themselves to go sightseeing or soaking up rays and taking in other tours before continuing with their main tour group.

Day 8 is going on a tour of the artisian village of Guaitil where you can try your hand at some authentic pottery making with the Chorotega Indians who’s centries old tradition of pottery making is still the mainstay of this particular group of Indians. After you spend a good deal of time making a few pots and learning about pottery, tourists are encouraged to go check out the little gift and pottery shops in the town of Guatil. Day 9 takes you on a tour of Santa Rosa National Park which is home to the dry rain forest and a historical landmark for two important battle conflicts.

The tour makes a stop in the town of Liberia-the center of Costa Rica’s agricultural region to the northwest part of the country and later staying a night at a Las Espuelas a working cattle ranch. Day 10 You will return to San Jose to spend overnight at a luxury hotel in the downtown part of the city. Day 11 The tour wraps up with tours of the Gold Museum, National or Jade museum-this depends on the itinerary that’s planned at the time a tourist arranges a trip through Costa Rican Tours.

A final dinner is planned at an authentic Costa Rican restaurant that specializes in Costa Rican cuisine. You spend a final night before leaving for the airport the next morning at Grano De Orio. A tour like this would run a typical visitor about $2500-3000 depending on the tour package you select since student and group tours are usually cheaper since group rates start when you have 15 people or more to bring the cost per person down so that it’s cheaper and inexpensive to travel to Costa Rica.

Many people who are experienced divers and snorkelers pick Costa Rica as one of the prime locations for scuba diving and snorkeling because of the beautiful crystal blue ocean waters. Costa Rica’s environment makes it premier in the idea of snorkeling and diving in some of the best waters in the world.

Not only do tour companies do regular tours, weddings, but also they do have special tours for those who wish to spend a week diving at various beaches around the country. Many people who are new to diving are strongly advised to undergo training and certification prior to their travel plans because it can get expensive if you come and get certified by an instructor down there and certification standards are different in the United States and Caribbean.

It’s easier to do that so you can be prepared and have yourself together. It’s ideal to be an experienced diver when you visit places like Costa Rica so you can travel with your own equipment since airlines usually allow divers to travel with their tanks and gear depending on who permits it since it’s considered extra weight on flights.

They have packages for how long some people wish to go diving and usually the average times people go on diving trips are about 10-14 days. Divers depending on the tour company you go with will allow you to customize your trip and usually if you’re traveling in a group, it’s a lot cheaper and you get more for your money when you book as a group. Rates for snorkeling go by how much you’re charged per day to rent a boat to go out on the water.

The rates are also priced by the season meaning it can cost more if you’re going out during the high tourist season and it’s cheaper when you’re going on the low tourist season. Usually peak travel seasons are when it’s the most expensive to travel to Costa Rica. It’s cheaper to visit on the off-season because you can get a good rate for travel with airfare and hotel since rates go down in the off-season. That’s why it’s ideal to plan your trips in advance so when you come across a good deal you can book it ahead of time to get the rate that you want.

Google can pull up countless websites for travel agencies that offer diving travel packages so people can customize their vacation packages for their specific need and budgets since not everyone wants elaborate, but want to go low key and inexpensive. Everyone wants to have a good time, but you want to also save some money in the process of it all.

Planning the ultimate diving excursion with friends and family who are into diving can be a lot of fun and having quality time with loved ones and friends is what makes a vacation worth every penny spent. Researching your vacation options early ensures that you get what you’re paying for in advance.

Romantic Getaway Costa Rican Style

For those who are married or dating and are looking for a nice romantic getaway Costa Rica has vacation packages for those who want an intimate getaway for two. Costa Rican Tours Inc. offers romantic getaways for 11 days/10 nights and the itinerary consists of mostly remote hiking, rafting and overnight stays at upscale resorts and hotels with a spa session to relax and pamper you.

Packages such as this usually aren’t that expensive since one price can cover two people and these are perfect for the couples who want a romantic getaway for Sweetest Day or Valentine’s Day where it’s breaking with tradition of the ‘Hallmark Holiday’-greeting card overkill, chocolate, and flowers. The website Resortflamingobeach.com does this package deal called ‘baby-moon’ which is a special package designed for parents who want that special getaway kind of like second honeymoon for parents.

The cheapest time to go on a getaway is during the summer when the rates are cheaper since it’s more expensive to go in the fall when rates go up.

Some romantic getaway packages can be tailored to include spa sessions for a nominal fee and even some horseback riding on the beach and strolls along the beach during a sunset or even a sunrise for those who are early birds.

Some hotels and resorts have the all-inclusive option which means you pay one price for all you can eat meals, snacks and drinks which is actually a great value for couples on set budgets and they can get more for their money which is good for those who want to have a good vacation for a good price and value. It’s important to plan your trip so that you’re not going to overspend and going over budget. Romantic getaways are just the kind of rest and relaxation many couples need to reconnect and bond with each other in a loving and caring way.

Many couples find it exhilarating to wake up to smelling fresh air and looking out on the beach when they sit out on the terrace of their hotel room having breakfast or that first cup of coffee in the morning like many people have when they get up in the morning to start their day. Looking onto the ocean is a nice feeling first thing in the morning you’re waking up to the birds chirping and the crashing of the waves and the smell of the ocean air and not waking up to the rustle and bustle of urban city life.

This is a change of pace for couples who spend so much time on a job or some occupation that often leaves them stressed and worn out and a romantic getaway to someplace tropic can be an adjustment to one’s attitude when they’re stressed and burned out from all the things that everyday life brings them. Once you come away from one of these getaways you’ll be a normal person who got some rest and relaxation away from the insanity that everyday life brings to people.
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Renting Villas in Costa Rica

Instead of renting a high priced hotel room, you can go and rent yourself a villa for $1500 a week which is cheap. Comparing to a hotel room costing that much, and with a villa you can get more like a eat in kitchen and actual bedrooms not just a single room. You can rent out up to 6 bedrooms if you have a group of 12 of more.

Costa Rican vacation rentals provide some upscale properties you can rent by the week and is in perfect view of the oceanfront. The homes are privately owned so you don’t have to worry about waking up to dealing with hundreds of other hotel and resort guests. You can wake up in a normal home environment exactly how many people are used to on a daily basis. It’s feeling like you’re at home. Costa Rican vacation rentals also offer amenities like tours around the area, car rentals, social activities, recommending local restaurants and taverns, and more. The management team that is on-site is committed to assisting you through your stay.

All the homes come fully furnished complete with a full kitchen, DVD-CD stereo, satellite television, private pool with waterfall, and central air conditioning. Dishes and beds are maintained with maid service the company provides during your stay. This is what some people call a great vacation because having a house over a hotel room or resort, is actually much more peaceful than to just deal with annoying hotel guests.

And you can wake up and have a cup of coffee without the hustle and bustle of a hotel having to wake up at once to make it to breakfast. Basically you can shower and relax as you were at your own home. Renting a house is actually much better if you’re planning to bring family and friends, so it’s a lot more relaxed and stress free and nobody dealing with having their rooms all screwed up where as everyone has a room and is comfortable.

The nice thing is that honeymooners would appreciate renting a house because it’s much more private than a hotel or resort and it’s putting the romance back into the environment. When you have your own space and not having to deal with anyone outside of the confinements of your villa. What’s even more convenient is that all the properties in the area are within 20 minutes of the Liberia International Airport, when you depart to fly home which is nice because the staff will ensure that you get to the airport to catch your flight home. Too many places where some people are just too far away and have to leave super early just to make it in time for check in, and have enough time to get to the gate so they can get their boarding passes.

At least this place you can relax and get to the airport on time and still make your flight on time. According to the website people who loved staying there left comments about coming back which says a lot for the company’s reputation.