Exploring Costa Rica

When planning a trip to Central America, you might want to add Costa Rica to your list of considerations. This particular country is beautiful, a true oasis that has a wonderful ecotourism. Many people who have visited Costa Rica come home saying it is a slice of heaven, which is why it is one of the best places in the world to experience the tropics. One of the main attractions to Costa Rica is the coastline, which is ideal for people who love to boat, scuba dive, snorkel, surf, or stretch out on the sand to soak up some local sun.

Another popular aspect of Costa Rica is the jungles. Within their confines, you will discover an entirely different world, one filled with playful monkeys, poison-dart frogs, crocodiles, sloth, and a huge array of other animals. In addition, the jungles of Costa Rica offer some of the most colorful birds in the world to include the Toucan. Of course, the insects and butterflies add to the mystic of the jungles. On special occasion, you might come across jungle cats or spot an endangered sea turtle on the shore.

In most cases, people visit this part of Central America because they want a destination that is peaceful and relaxing or they want a place full of life and excitement. Because of the diversity in Costa Rica, you can enjoy both. Therefore, if you wanted to spend a full day at sea, fishing, boating, or swimming, you could. Then when you come back to shore, you can find an oversized hammock to lie back and enjoy the warm afternoon breeze while looking out over the crystal blue water or the lush green mountain range.

Today, approximately four million people call Costa Rica home. However, the majority of these people live in small villages. As far as the best time to visit this country, there really is no bad time. Since the climate is great all year round. Even so, the peak time would be from December to April and unfortunately, because most tourists go during those months, you can expect to pay more for hotel accommodations, food, transportation, and shopping.

Unlike other Central America countries, Costa Rica is quite affluent. All throughout the country you will see development, booming businesses, and people working hard to meet the needs of tourists. Because the tourist industry is such an important part of Costa Rica’s economy, they people go out of their way to be helpful. The majority of accommodations are extremely nice. However, you want to remember that just like any city, there are some areas that would not be preferred.

During the pre-Columbian days, much mystery revolved around Costa Rica. Although there are numerous quality museums that will provide you with a peak into the past, to date, mystery has still not been solved. First, history shows us that Columbus was so impressed with Costa Rica and the gold necklaces worn by the local people that he gave the country its name, which translates to “rich coast.” In addition, while the country was known for wealth, the riches were not fully enjoyed until 60 years later when Spanish settlers came to the jungles. Unfortunately, as word leaked out, Costa Rica quickly became flooded with settlers.

The interesting aspect of this is that while there was gold, the vast wealth settlers expected to find never came to fruition. For this reason, Costa Rica was all but forgotten until the 18th century when in 1808, coffee was introduced. Then by the 19th century, entrepreneurs came from all over the world to get involved with coffee growing and the money it produced. Sadly, Costa Rica experienced more invasions, one of these by the United States involving the capture of Nicaraguan slaves but as things began to settle down, great things began to happen.

In 1949, black people and women were allowed to vote. It was also during this year when the country’s army dismantled, making Costa Rica the only country without an army. However, this time of peace was short lived. In 1996, Costa Rica was ravaged by the hurricane Cesar. In addition to damaged land, many lives were lost. The damage was so horrific that the country did not regain its composure until 1998. Unfortunately, another hurricane named Mitch hit, this time causing even more damage.

Through years of hard work and rebuilding, what we see is that Costa Rica is a strong and proud country. Today, the country is again strong and the landscape greener than before. When in Costa Rica, you will have the opportunity to enjoy many traditional dishes to include chicken, beef, and fish, which are generally served with corn, rice, or beans along with fresh fruit from the island that might include mango, papaya, and pineapple. Just remember that most dishes served are salty and spicy but full of flavor.

If you want to experience a country that has a completely different culture, one with an amazing environment of tropical rainforests, 1,500 species of trees, and magnificent national parks, the Costa Rica is for you. Without doubt, after experiencing all this country has to offer, you will leave with a new appreciation of the world!


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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