|
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.
|
