Nature Unspoiled on Guided Tours of Costa Rica

Costa Rica is one of the few safe, democratic countries in Central America and is a perfect spot for guided tours. Much of the country is designated as a national park area and visitors on guided tours can experience the unspoiled and pristine natural sited the country has to offer.

Most guided tours of Costa Rica begin in San Jose, the largest city in Costa Rica. From there, you can enjoy several guided tours of your own choosing. Costa Rica is Spanish-speaking but many tourist areas have those who understand English and the accommodations are generally first-rate.

Some guided tours will take you to the Heredia Highlands, the perfect spot to view the huge Poas Volcano and its nearly one mile wide steaming crater—the largest volcanic crater in the world. Then you’ll spend some time on a naturalist-guided tour of the La Paz Waterfall Gardens with five waterfalls, an aviary and a butterfly garden.

After an overnight stay in Arena, most guided tours of the area will take you on a hike over the beautiful Arenal Hanging Bridges. Some visitors may instead elect to take a spa treatment or go on a canopy zipline tour—an adventurous way to spend the morning. You can also take a walk around the town of La Fortuna and spend the afternoon relaxing at the Tabacon Hot Springs—and, yes, they’re really hot! If you’re lucky, you can catch a glimpse of the smoldering lava flow of the Arenal Volcano at night.

Next, you may wish to catch some waves at one of Costa Rica’s beaches. Many guided tours of the area will allow you the opportunity to stop along the way at the Las Pumas Refuge, a hospital of sorts for injured large cats, monkeys and birds.

Another favorite spot on Costa Rica’s guided tours is the Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge. This is the natural habitat of many species of birds, waterfowl and the howler monkey. This is a tour done by boat and you’ll want to have your camera ready. As the refuge is near the beach, you can also schedule a fishing lesson, a surfing lesson or just hang out at the beach, soaking up the Costa Rican sunshine.

From the beach back to San Jose, many guided tours will take you to Guaitil, an artist’s colony of sorts, in which you can watch how the artisans make their distinctive pottery just like their ancestors did a thousand years ago. Another fun place is called Sarchi. This little village is considered the craft capital of Costa Rica.

In Costa Rica, there are guided tours for everyone—not just for the nature minded. You can take a cooking and spa guided tour that includes a visit to the hacienda of the Ortuno family where you can learn about growing sugar cane, coffee and macadamia nuts. You can also learn about the medicinal uses for foods in the Latino culture.

There are even guided tours of Costa Rica that involve those things related to black history and black heritage. Visitors will learn about their African roots and how Africans first came to Costa Rica in the 1800s to build the railways and to work on banana plantations. There are truly guided tours for every taste and style in this beautiful country. Explore the choices on the internet until you find one that fits your interests and fitness level.

Costa Rica Art Vacations

Costa Rica has quietly been growing in the art world, but in recent years there has been even more of a developing art community. While this island is located in an area that is heavily influenced by Pre-Columbia art, artists that are indigenous and those that have elected to move to Costa Rica are producing new and exciting works of art. For them it is a world of art where they are breaking new ground.

There are more than enough museums in the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose. But there are no real "art" museums yet. One way of showing what their artist's have is in the artists themselves displaying there art in their own environments, their homes. There is a tour that takes you to 5 or 6 artist's homes in a day's tour, and you get a chance to really experience the their work. You get to actually talk to the artist and find out their process for their art. If you are a creative person this can be a real inspiration.

Another tour is given by a fellow Art Journalist, Jan Yatsko. I have always kept a journal but when I discovered art journaling my creativity bumped up a notch. One type of art journal is a travel journal. Travel journals are also much like scrapbooks but you use the bits and pieces of your trip on you pages and write around them. Photos are used a great deal in travel journaling, of course.

Jan's tours are quite different. She takes you into the jungle and shows you the beauty of Costa Rica and you make your own art. The flora and fauna of Costa Rica are amazing and slapping paint around in bright colors is great fun. Mind you, this is not for everyone, but for those with an artistic nature this might be right up your alley. Jan teaches you portability in your art journaling kit and she has 8 years of experience in biking in and around Costa Rica. She takes you to beautiful locations to show you amazing things to draw and paint.

If you are not into actually "doing" art yourself, but are and art lover, there are offerings in the way of museums in San Jose. The Costa Rican Art Museum in San Jose is actually housed in the building that used to be the city's airport. It must make for a very interesting museum. There is also the Museo De Oro Pre-Colombino, which translated means Museum of Pre-Columbian Gold. This has a display of gold sculpted and rendered into beautiful pieces and presented in a fascinating show.

If it interests you there is a coin museum in the INS building, but that doesn't really float my boat. There is a Contemporary Art Museum showing local artist's work as well as a Children's museum that is quite large and will take up a lot of kid time if you need it. There is also an insect museum, a snake exhibit, and finally a crime museum.

There is also wonderful indigenous art. If you go to www.galerianamu.com/map/ you will find a map of all of the tribes indigenous to Costa Rica. This map will show you the tribes local to the area of Costa Rica you will be visiting. I encourage you to look at their art and get your own piece of original Costa Rican Tribal art to take back home with you.

If you are looking to have a truly unique experience, stay for at least a day at the Finca Rosa Blanca. The owners, Glenn and Teri Jampol have created an artful environment. The architecture and décor is whimsical and the service is remarkable. Glenn is an artist himself and might discuss art with you. Each of the rooms is original and different from the others and comes with Jacuzzis and balconies.

It is said that no window is square in the hotel and art treasures from around the world are to be found everywhere. The food provided is a 4-course dinner and it runs about $37 per person. While this is vastly more expensive than any other dinner venue it seems to be worth it in this environment. Throw caution to the wind and treat yourself to a dinner or two at Finca Rosa Blanca Inn.

Costa Rica on a Dime

If saving money while you vacation is your concern then don't worry, it can be done without sacrificing your comfort and good time. You should know that the off season is referred to as the Green Season and this last September to December. The Christmas season would be the time that they come out of the Green Season. I don't know if this means their rainy and hurricane season has ended but Christmas is a time when some families decide to go on vacation.

The first consideration is trying to get a good deal with the airlines to get you into Costa Rica. There are 2 airports, Liberia airport and San Jose International Airport. Liberia is located on the coast and San Jose International is inland outside of San Jose. If you purchase your plane ticket scheduled during the green season you can save up to $150 per person on airfare. It is possible to fly standby as well.

The 2 main airlines into Costa Rica from the U.S. are Continental and Delta. Another possibility for saving money on airfare has just surfaced. Costa Rica has given the official okay for 3 other airlines to land on their airstrips. One of them is an American airline and it is the economy company of Frontier Airlines. I don't know if rates are available yet but you might want to check with them. If you are going to Costa Rica during the Green Season you are a person that likes rain. It might just be worth the extra money to go during the High Season when it is dry and sunny.

The most affordable lodging I have found is the Bed & Breakfast trade. One way of searching is to go to Pamela Lanier's Bed & Breakfast website www.lanierbb.com. When I navigated her website and put Costa Rica in her search window I pulled up nothing. So I clicked on the map that is to the side of the search window and I got Latin America. Click near Central America and you have a list of Costa Rican cities that you can search for a B&B from.

As an example I clicked on a B&B in Monteverde. I found La Colina, which is located in the Cloud forest and surrounded by the local Quaker community. The rates run from $38 - $40 per night and they have quite a few amenities. This facility also offers showers and baths to campers, although I am not sure I would want to camp in the jungle. Give me 4 walls please.

The most inexpensive lodging I found was the Kalexma. This B&B is owned by a woman that is an English teacher. She first started this rooming house to offer lodging to her students. She believes in immersion as a way of learning the language and offers low cost rooms as bridge to that end. These rates are as low as $15 per night. This is a bare bones arrangement and you have a bed and a bathroom. The site can be found at www.Kelexma.com.

Villa Mango located in Nosara, Costa Rica, has the most moderate of prices. A room will cost you approximately $59.00 per night, and $385.00 for a week. This B&B is a 10-minute walk from the beach.
The Villa Decary has rates that run about $85 a night and it is located about 10 miles from the Arenal volcano. The hotel sits on the shore of Lake Arenal with a view of the lake from you window.

If you are a woman traveling on your own I would check our Bed & Breakfast rooming, as it is easier to meet people in this type of environment. A good travel resource for women is journeywoman.com. This site gives great info for the single woman traveler.

My final advice is on eating. The water is good in Costa Rica, you don't have the problems that the Mexicans do with Montezuma's Revenge. There are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to eat that are very cheap to buy. Also there are many Mom & Pop restaurants that cost much less than the big fancy restaurants. My advice is to pick a meal a day to eat big, then, keep on hand snacks for the rest of the day. You don't want to go home heavier than you arrived do you?

Living In Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a very attractive country for expats. It is an increasingly popular destination for retirees, ‘escapees’, ‘PT’s’ and others seeking a better life. There are many places you can go to in the Caribbean or in Central America, but this place is really an opportunity to live in the paradise.

This dreamland, bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the West and the Atlantic in the East, is full of rain forests, vibrant and colorful life, tamed volcanoes and amazing beaches. On the whole, Costa Rica is a friendly place with low cost of living and agreeable weather.

If you're seeking for a great place for a second home, easily accessible from North America, where you can buy inexpensive, developed real estate or profit from a booming rental market, Costa Rica is for you. The real estate is a bargain compared with the U.S.A. and Canada and you don't have to be a resident to buy it. There are some wonderful deals in Costa Rica. The real estate market on the Pacific coast is ‘Red Hot’ and we are still seeing good growth and appreciation. But if you plan to invest in property in a foreign land, be careful, because it’s not that simple to know what you are likely to get as in your country. Always work with professionals.

There are also many tax advantages if you choose Costa Rica. Investors pay no capital gains taxes on real estate, business taxes are minimal and high interest bank accounts are tax free. Property taxes are also reasonable compared to the United States.

This lovely country with white-sand beaches, unspoiled tropical nature and several national parks offers numerous more benefits out of the exceptional natural beauty. A very low incidence of violent crime (no society is crime free), a low cost socialized health care system, a wealth of every imaginable activity, including exciting sports activities like canopy; two excellent English newspapers, cable and DirectTV with all of the U.S. channels, American-like malls, good infrastructure and relatively cheap public transport are all make this country one of the favorite destinations all over the world.

As for the cost of living, most people can live on less than $1,000 monthly excluding rent. Some live for less and some for more depending on their lifestyles. Be careful with prices, because sometimes when a tico see a gringo coming, the gringo price is always 3 times the ‘regular’ price. But you can avoid these situations if you speak some Spanish and shop wisely.

However, this kind of lifestyle is not for everyone. If you are the type of person who is used to all of the comforts of home—efficient bureaucracy, first-class service, punctuality, etc.—then living in a country like Costa Rica might prove to be a little bit frustrating. But with patience and understanding of the culture and the advantages of this behavior and casual lifestyle, you will enjoy living in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Vacation Package, And Why You Should Take One

A Costa Rica Vacation Package is something to be thought about very carefully, even if you have never considered Costa Rica before as a vacation destination.

Apart from the fact that Costa Rica is both exotic and tropical, the fact that it is a dream destination for a lot of people ought to make you check it out, because it could be just the right thing to do to book a Costa Rica Tour package this year.

There are good reasons for this not the least of which is that Costa Rica is one of the most naturally beautiful places you could ever wish to visit. A tiny South American country has got everything you need for the ultimate in getaway holidays.

When you consider the variety of sights to see and places to go, including fiery volcanoes, lush green tropical jungle with lots of unusual and exotic plants, animals and birds. This is not to ignore the beautiful beaches lining the Pacific coast.

A Costa Rica Vacation package can include any or all of these things, and then there is the huge variety of places to stay with accommodation to suit every budget.

Be a little careful and don’t arrive during the high season between December and April hoping to find a good hotel. You need your Costa Rica vacation package in place before you arrive.

Private lodges, all inclusive resorts, expensive hotels especially in remote areas should always be reserved in advanced to avoid any problems at all times.

If however you are looking for a luxury vacationcosta rica then the Golfo de Papagayo is gret. This part of Costa Rica is where the most expensive hotel in Costa Rica is, and that is the Four Seasons.

If you want something within your budget, then you could do worse than go to the Nicoya Peninsula. There are fantastic beaches here, and all types of accommodation and prices.

To find lower prices on your Costa Rica Vacation Package try the rainy season between April and November. The weather will still be pretty good just interspersed with short sharp rain showers, so you can save yourself quite a bit of money. One thing to beware of is the mandatory sales and tourism tax of 16.39% on everything!!

Nevertheless a Costa Rica Vacation Package can be very good value for money

Costa Rica's Exciting Culture

Cultures are often known for their importance to the constructs of a given society. Costa Rica is not an exception to this theory on culture. Costa Rica is rich with culture, and there are many different venues that Costa Rica has to offer which shows their culture.

Costa Rica has a vast history of music, food, and morals. Music in Costa Rica is often associated to Spanish –style music. Spanish music is highly affluent in Costa Rica. Often times, the Spanish music is played with mariachis, and can be heard in restaurants, concert halls, and on the pedestrian lined streets. Costa Rican’s take pride in their food, which is evident in their cooking. There is a lot of passion and care that is placed into every meal, as the natives believe that every meal that is eaten should be satisfying. The foods that are offered are very flavorful, and have incorporated the spices of the land. Cumin, commonly referred to as cumino, and other spices such as chili powder, season every Costa Rican dish, and give it that extra bit of flare that Costa Rican meals offer.

A sense of family and religion are very important morals in the Costa Rican culture. Costa Ricans are known for their tight-knit families, and their deep devotions to their desired religion. The morals that are given in the Bible often dictate how a family operates in Costa Rica. Churches, commonly referred to as iglessias, are always packed every Sunday as mass is in session. Families convene into churches to worship, and carry on the morals of the culture that was passed down to them from previous generations.

The Costa Rica culture is multi-faceted, but overall, there is a main thread of loving one another that is evident in the communities. Learning how one culture can learn from another is what Costa Rica offers. For those that are visiting, there are a lot of different backgrounds that can be appreciated in Costa Rica.

A Costa Rica Honeymoon At The Gaia Hotel & Reserve

A Costa Rica Honeymoon could be exactly what you are looking for, and you need look no further than the Gaia Hotel & Reserve an exclusive Adults only Boutique Hotel which nestles high on a hill above the Pacific Ocean in the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Romantic honeymoon packages should be the ultimate in luxury and service, and the Gaia comfortably achieves this, and then some more!!

There is nothing better on your honeymoon vacation to be able to not only overlook the Pacific Ocean but also the surrounding rain forest, and realize that you are in the middle of the wilderness but also surrounded by and living in Luxury.

From the amazing rooms and suites, from studio rooms to 2000square foot luxury villas. They all come equipped with hi tech and high quality furnishings.

All are uncluttered even minimalistic, but include as standard things like cable flat screen televisions, home entertainment units, internet connection. There are 500 thread linens, mini bars filled according to the guest’s specifications. There are quite beautiful bathrooms with jacuzzis, and amazing views.

In addition each room has a personal valet who will look after basic needs such as laundry but will organize pretty well anything for you as well as personally take care of your room service needs.

It almost goes without saying there is a gym, where you will have your own personal trainer, and a full service Terra Spa, plus a spectacular 3-tiered infinity pool.

No Costa Rica Honeymoon would be any good without a decent restaurant serving local dishes. The open air La Luna will not disappoint you, and if you want to you can eat on your own terrace.

You will need to visit the Reserve which consists of over 12 acres, and contains a wide range of rare fauna, flora, and mammals. There are monkeys, 3 toed sloths, red eyed tree frogs, and to add to that the resort is only ten minutes from the Manuel Antonio National Park which has beautiful immaculate white sand beaches, live coral, and 346 different species.

Gaia Hotel & Reserve makes a special Costa Rica romantic Honeymoon package, and you are recommended to it.

5 Things You Must Experience On Your Costa Rica Vacation

Are you tired and worn out? Do you need a break? If so, then, there is no better place than the amazing waters of Costa Ricas breathtaking beaches and lakes. If you really want to experience the grandest vacation getaway you can ever imagine, take a plunge and explore the wonders of Costa Rica, check- in to its world- class hotels, and the rest, as many people say, is a saga.

With 46,768 species of different animals and insects such as orchids, birds, butterflies, and freshwater fishes, Costa Rica is a place where nature abundantly sits on its 51,100 sq. km. land area.

Bordering the North Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica is home to luscious tropical rain forests, lovely beaches, coral reefs, mangrove swamps, cloud forests, volcanoes, and a large set- up of lakes and rivers. With these remarkable features, Costa Rica is one of the worlds most wonderful vacation destinations.

So if you have not yet experienced the best vacation in the world, then, going to Costa Rica will definitely make you see how magnificent Gods creation were.

With its great warm temperate climate and abundant nature, you can do many things while you enjoy your grand vacation getaway in Costa Rica.

Of course, to make the most out of your break, it is best to take note of the recommended activities in the area. These things will surely make your time in Costa Rica something worth remembering all your life.

Here are 5 things you must experience on your Costa Rica vacation -

1. White water rafting

Costa Rica provides a number of the worlds best white water rafting rivers. These remarkable types of waters will let you dive into the unknown tropical boondocks of Costa Rica.

So whether you are a novice or a skilled white water rafter, an adventurer or a nature aficionado, it is extremely important to experience white water rafting in Costa Rica. You will never know the kind of experience that awaits you if you will not try it.

2. Aerial adventures

With its abundant tropical rain forests, Costa Rica can give you one of the worlds best natural parks. Also, the best way to enjoy these extraordinary features is to try the Aerial Adventures. This refers to a chairlift- style trip that was built for optimum wildlife and bird viewing.

Aerial Adventures is the ultimate alternative to cable rides, especially if you are one of those few people who gets scared with hanging cables mounted on top of the trees.

3. Beach escapades

If you think you have already seen the best beaches in the world, think again! If you have not yet visited Costa Ricas lovely beaches, then you are nearly missing half of the bets things life has to offer.

When you have your vacation in Costa Rica, it is a must that you try and experience plunging into its exquisite beaches.

Costa Rica has a long range of glamorous beach resorts and first- class hotel accommodations. For example, in the Caribbean Coast, you can go to Cahuita, a miniature Oceanside community, with a beautiful national park attached to it. This place can give you the best snorkeling and swimming experience.

While on the Pacific Coast, you can visit Playa Samara, one of Costa Ricas stunning white sand beaches. It is blessed excellent coral reef situated in tranquil, shallow Costa Rica waters.

4. Wind surfing

With the strong Tradewinds blowing within the region, wind surfing has been one of the most sough- after activity every vacationer would like to experience.

Among the many lakes situated in Costa Rica, Lake Arenal is one of the finest windsurfing sites in the world. Compared to Columbias River Gorge and Lake Garda of Italy, Lake Arenals Tradewinds creates winds with extraordinary strength.

In fact, reports say that all through the dry season, the average wind speed amounts to 33 miles per hour. Only the professional windsurfers can manage this speed.

Hence, with great equipments and superior wind surfing ability, you will definitely enjoy this fun activity while you stay in Costa Rica.

5. Fishing and Scuba diving

Fishing and Scuba diving will never be the same again if you will experience this in Costa Rica. With its famous, Manuel Antonio National Park and Quepos, you can only be assured of a remarkable vacation near the waters.

QueposManuel Antonio is the place that created Costa Ricas world recognition. Blessed with many kinds of fishes, anglers will surely have a grand time catching the best inshore and blue water fishes in the world. You can also have a taste of fresh water fishes at Lake Arenal.

If you want a more extreme adventure, you should try scuba diving. With Costa Ricas great coral reef, you will surely enjoy your time under water.

All of these things are definitely some of the best activities you must experience on your Costa Rica vacation. Otherwise, it will just be like your other vacation trips.

Costa Rica Vacation: Travel By Horseback, Canoe And Hot-air Balloon

When you arrive in Costa Rica, the first thing you may notice is its lush scenery and beautiful landscape. If you have been to this country but have experienced it only from the ground, you haven't really experienced Costa Rica. Vacation travel takes on a whole new meaning when you arrive, because once the transportation logistics is over, the real fun can begin. How many different ways can you enjoy a vacation? As many as you like: on dry land, in the water, on air or a little of them all.

Many of the sites of Costa Rica are best seen while hiking through the complex system of trails guiding hikers through extensive ecosystems. Because many of the animals and special details of these intricate ecosystems can often go unnoticed to the untrained eye, it is recommended that a guide is hired for the tours. This will help you get the most out of the natural habitats of Costa Rica. The trails travel through wetlands, up and around mountains, in and out of trees and everywhere in between. The guide will also make sure you don't get lost in all of this.

Experience Costa Rica on Horseback

There are many places in Costa Rica that should be experienced on horseback. It is one of Costa Rica's most popular activities for tourists and can be found in nearly every single town. The Northern Pacific area, also known as Sabanero Country (cowboy country) is home to horse and cattle ranches that would make a Texan jealous. If a romantic gallop along the beach at sunset is your fantasy, the Central Pacific area is the one for you. You can also ride in and around waterfalls and rainforests. Monteverde and Arenal include a great deal of mountainous terrain and also pass through a few coffee plantations along the way.

It's hard to think of Costa Rica and not imagine the beautiful ocean waters that rise to the sandy beaches. These waters are full of fun activities like dolphin and whale watching. Canoeing is a good workout and also a fun way to see the sights from the water. Explore the underworld beneath the surface of the ocean with scuba diving and snorkeling. You will be amazed at the colors the ocean hides beneath the waves. Many different species of fish, crustaceans and coral live here and are all intricately decorated by nature. At the end of your long day of hiking and climbing, relax in the natural hot springs heated by the active volcanoes around Costa Rica.

See Costa Rica on a Hot Air Balloon

The luscious greens and crystal blues of the Costa Rican landscape and water is often best seen from above. Float over the rainforests, ocean waters, mountains, volcanic rock and picturesque coffee plantations from the comfort of a hot air balloon. Not to worry, you don't have to know how to work one. An experienced professional will pilot the craft while you and your companions relax and enjoy the scenery. Parasailing is another amazing adventure in the air that flies you far above the water. It's incredible how much sea life you can actually see from hundreds of feet above.

For a true nature lover, and certainly not for the faint of heart, a canopy tour is an absolute must-do. They provide an interesting look into the delicate ecosystem of the rainforests from zip-lines and aerial trams. No matter what method you choose to experience your full Costa Rica vacation travel, remember that it doesn't stop when you reach your destination. If it does you are missing out. See Costa Rica the way it was intended, from all perspectives.