www.CostaRicaTicas.com

http://www.southafrican.co.uk/travel.aspx?ID=160

Start spreading the news...

By Ben Lummis

Costa Rica sits at the southern end of the isthmus of land that completes the continental divide between North and South America.

However despite its Latin/Southern American based culture, an action packed trip through Costa Rica can leave you feeling that you’ve just visited the love Ch*ld of Jurassic Park and the 52nd state of the USA.

This is hardly surprising considering Costa Rica’s average temperature of 26°C, combined with its geographical position and natural beauty makes it a perfect holiday destination for those residing anywhere above the Mexican border. For a relatively small amount of dollars and an even smaller number of hours on a plane, North Americans can be swigging cold drinks and catching a tan watching the waves roll in no matter what time of year it is or how much snow is on the ground back home.

This idea of a ‘holiday’ state has caught on quick and the past decade has seen tourism escalate to the leading source of Costa Rica’s national income. But while this increase in the travel trade has created a haven for holiday makers, a double edged sword now swings in the balance for any weary budget packer destined for the shores of the ”Rich Coast”.

Whether you’re an adrenalin junkie hoping to Tarzan your way through the jungles or a serenity lover searching for sanctuary, Costa Rica serves up slices of paradise no matter what flavour of life you are looking for. The coastal town of Manuel Antonio (a few hours south of San Jose) is a perfect example of this, its white beaches that sweep into mangroves shaded by towering Amazonian canopies allow you to catch glimpses of crocodiles, snakes and sloth’s all after being persecuted by armies of monkeys and all before catching a few waves as the sun sets in the same spectacular way it did the day before.

Ecotourism tours are rife across the country, and the opportunities for hiking, zip lines and whitewater rapids may conjure the image of heaven on earth for any traveller seeking a new experience. Unfortunately and perhaps understandably the proprietors of such tourism outlets don’t see travellers as just anybody. More often than not, whether you are carrying an Armani suitcase or a backpack bought from an army surplus store - you are seen as just one thing....rich.

So while walking along the beach conjures images of paradise for yourself, the impression of a walking US dollar sign is probably being created for someone else. After focusing your camera on amazing sunsets it is inevitable you will then be forced into focusing your eyes on signs advertising an extensive list of activities all of which conveniently do not include the prices. Perhaps the randomness of inflation is to blame for this repetitive occurrence but a cynical mind could quickly come to the assumption that the price is determined by how good your Spanish is or by how much you are willing to spend.

Of course without tourism, travelling would be far harder for everybody and the basis for a countries economy should not influence your decision to miss out on some of the sights you will see nowhere else in the world.

The Monteverde Cloud forest exists as one of most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, boasting more than 130 species of mammals, 500 species of birds and 120 species of amphibians and reptiles. This Costa Rican labyrinth of wildlife is connected by rope bridges that swing above and below more than 3000 types of plants creating a birds eye view of what the land before time actually looked like.

This prehistoric feeling of the dawn of time is driven deeper by the nearby location of the angry and active Arenal Volcano. Performing nightly this volcano gives off the heat, colour and sound that even the most modern town of Las Vegas could not afford to replicate.

As perfect as Manual Antonio and Monterverde are, they are hardly the only jewels in Costa Rica’s crown. The town of Jaco is rated highly by those serious about surfing and even higher by those serious about partying, which probably has led to the US style strip malls found there - along with a high proportion of Costa Rica’s prostitutes.

Tamarindo is a little further north and exists almost as Jaco’s younger and cleaner cut cousin. Dubbed Tama-gringo for its appeal to the US clientele, the beaches are world class and the night life is abundant, however it is much more reserved and family friendly than its notorious cousin.

Between the two lies the peninsula home to the “hippie-ish” town of Montezuma, where street jugglers and musicians pass the day in slow paced fashion and time seems to be no object. This low paced theme can also be found in the nearby surf towns of Mal Pais and Santa Teresa which are proving to be a popular stop for those looking for a wave but without out all the nightlife necessities that call the ever-growing towns of Tamarindo and Jaco home.

Not just a one coast country, the Caribbean side also attracts its fair share of attention and a stop not to be missed is Puerto Viejo.

Basically the gateway to Panama and described by many as “a little Jamaica,” it is clear the genetic make up of the locals has evolved from a different path to their western brothers. Funny smelling cigarettes are not uncommon in most of the bars and interesting cookies can also be bought from various street stalls and hostels. To fit with the “national standard” a dorm bed will cost you around $10 US, however hammocks can also be rented out for a few dollars cheaper to get you in the holiday swing.

San Jose
If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time many travellers may remember San Jose as the Costa Rican epicentre of evil. The city has been made famous for its legalized prostitution rings and its internationally infamous Hotel Del Ray attracts its fair share of “gringos” looking to make the most of Costa Rica’s liberal view on this controversial trade. Cab drivers are your best and worst friends in this city - catching busses in a foreign country while carrying your life on your back is never fun but neither are overpriced fares – if the cab has a meter ask them to turn it on and be weary as drivers operate as vendors for anything on the black market.

A good place to find any essential items you forgot to pack, the general view on San Jose is to get in and get where you are going quickly, however San Jose is the central hub and to catch a bus from almost anywhere to anywhere requires a night’s stop over in the nation’s capital.

Like every travel destination in the world Costa Rica may miss a few boxes in order for it to be ticked off as the perfect package for everybody. However I once heard a saying that described the USA as having “the best and worst of everything”, perhaps Costa Rica is the Central American equivalent.

But sayings aside Costa Rica certainly will go a long way in showing you how to enjoy the natural wonders of this world, or as the Costa Ricans say, “Pura Vida – Pure Life.”

The link to SouthAfrica is not working. would you PM me a link please or post here.