Costa Rica
Costa Rica's fifty three thousand plus square kilometers is about
the size of West Virginia, or one third of the size of Florida.
Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south and one tropical body of
water on each side, the Caribbean to the east and the Pacific to the
west.
This land is tropical yet offers the cooler less humid microclimates
which can reach freezing temperatures throughout the year. These independent
pockets are well above areas visited by most tours.
Costa Rica is only two hours and forty minutes from Miami (non stop
flights). Daily scheduled service from most mayor US gateways: New York,
New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orlando and
Miami; additional connecting service from Washington, D.C., Chicago,
Boston and many other cities in the US.
European carriers also service Costa Rica with direct flights from Madrid,
Amsterdam and Frankfurt, with connections from other European cities.
Daily service is provided by all Central American carriers to/from all
Central American capital cities.
South America is also connected to Costa Rica by some South American
carriers as well as by LACSA, with daily or various weekly flights from
most mayor capital cities of South America.
With a valid passport and round trip for continuing ticket, citizens
of The United States of America, Canada, Germany, Spain and Italy can
travel to Costa Rica for a 90-day stay without a consular visa. With
the same requirements, citizens of France can travel to Costa Rica for
a 30-day stay without a consular visa. Visitors who would like to extend
the visit to Costa Rica, beyond these limits should go to the Immigration
Office upon arriving in Costa Rica. Tourist Cards can be purchase from
the different airlines that service Costa Rica.
The Mountains
Three ranges form Costa Rica's backbone. They are the Tilaran, Central
and Talamanca formations which run down the country.
All three are of volcanic origin. Numerous active and dormant craters
can be found and have become important part of most tours and tourist
attractions.
The mountain ranges play an important role in the climate patterns.
These different patterns cool the humid Caribbean pressure systems,
form cloud forests in various locations and nurture one of the few remaining
paramos in the region.
The Coasts
Both coasts have interesting shorelines and beaches. On the Pacific,
beaches are darker, tides are approximately six times higher. On the
Caribbean, the color of the sand ranges from medium gray to pristine
white, this due to the fact that coral reefs are only found on this
side of the country, producing a lighter color sand. Contrary to the
darker volcanic sand on the Pacific both coasts are also sources of
marine adventures as well as warmth and places for relaxation.
Reefs also play a very important part in developing different environments
on both coasts. Pacific reefs are formed by rocks and shoreline ridges
that jut into the sea, these steep drop-offs make the Pacific a play
ground for the large game fish which attract sportsmen from all over
the world. Caribbean reefs harbor a greater variety of marine species
and coral formations which set the stage for a different type of underwater
experiences.
The People
One of Costa Rica's biggest attractions is not the mountains or the
parks or even the coastal resorts, but its people. Costa Rica has managed
to develop into a successful community and maintain a steady upward
trend towards educational achievements and political stability. This
has proven to be its key to the successful development of tourism, especially
catering to the travelers who are looking for environmental experiences
and leisure activities that incorporate natural settings.
Perhaps its culture or the confidence of the people that make them regionally
unique. Both have been bi-products of a literacy rate which exceeds
that of the US. Not being enough, Costa Rica has formed an even greater
cultural pride through non-violence and four centuries of peace.
Through farming Costa Ricans have led the country to successful export
quotas and diversification into other commercial sectors. Foreign investment
has encouraged local entrepreneurs to build small resorts that fit into
tiny environmental niches and maintain the serenity of the surrounding
nature. Costa Ricans have proven to be one of the most powerful attractions
for the growth of tourism. Costa Ricans' attitude towards foreigners
makes the visitors feel welcome. Many Costa Ricans speak English adding
to the warmth of the every day cultural exchange with visitors.
Vacation Planning
No matter how beautiful a destination may be, it needs easy access and
be reachable within the limitations of an average vacation period. Costa
Rica is only two and a half hours away from Miami.
Knowing and understanding the geographical layout of Costa Rica will
certainly help visitors to work around a specific tour or schedule.
January, February and March are superb months for Pacific beaches. On
the other hand, the Caribbean coast near Limon receives the heaviest
rainfall during the same time period.
Seasonal rains can create a problem when taking road trips through the
mountains. Nevertheless, most mountain lodges remain open during peak
rain fall and roads are kept operable all year.
Weather doesn't have to be a limiting factor in you vacation planning,
tropical rainy seasons are limited to specific regions in Costa Rica.
Temperature is basically warm all year round (75-80 F) with exception
of higher altitudes.
Costa Rica as a tropical destination is available year-round.