| If you want to enjoy a Costa Rica vacation with | | | | vacation companies offer you that. However, it is |
| sheer unadulterated luxury, then you have to | | | | worth the cost because you get to see the |
| know what the country has to offer. As with | | | | environment as it really is, not sanitized for the |
| most vacation destinations, Costa Rica has a lot, | | | | tourists. A good naturalist can provide you with |
| since although the country is not the richest, it | | | | information that you could never get trying to |
| knows how to treat tourists from which much of | | | | explore the area alone, and that can really make |
| its wealth is obtained. | | | | your vacation in Costa Rica come alive. A |
| Geographically, the Republic of Costa Rica is | | | | rainforest has a life of its own, and you need |
| bordered by Panama to its south and east, | | | | people that knows it to show you as it really is. |
| Nicaragua to the north, and sea to the rest. | | | | Costa Rica has its own 'land of fire' that not many |
| Specifically, the Pacific Ocean to its west and | | | | tourists have the privilege of visiting, so make |
| south, and the Caribbean to the east. As a piece | | | | sure that you get the chance. The area is called |
| of trivia, Costa Rica was the first ever country to | | | | the Fire Mountain, and is a volcano, the name of |
| officially abolish its army. | | | | which correctly is the Arenal Volcano. In 1968 it |
| Without you and others like you, this Central | | | | erupted and killed over 100 villagers of Pueblo |
| American country would be poorer, as would its | | | | Nuevo, with significant economic deprivation. |
| citizens. That is one of the reasons why you will | | | | However, it then became a tourist center, and a |
| be well looked after: the other being that this | | | | new road has brought a significant amount of |
| country actually has an awful lot to offer. It is | | | | money into the community. |
| friendly and peaceful, and also contains a large | | | | Get the right hotel here, and you can not only |
| number of Americans who have made this their | | | | overlook the twin peaks of the volcano, but also |
| home. Its attractions include the climate, the | | | | enjoy the hot springs that are a natural result of |
| culture and the customs, much like the Brits | | | | it. You can also watch the lava flowing from the |
| move to Spain in their retirement years. | | | | volcano, because this one is very active (without |
| Costa Rica offers some of the best hotels in the | | | | presenting a hazard unless you get too close). |
| American continent, including such as the Finca | | | | The biodiversity in this region is very widespread, |
| Rosa Blanca that is one of the premier boutique | | | | and you can canoe in Lake Arenal or go on a |
| hotels in the world, with the appearance of a fairy | | | | hiking trip to explore it. |
| tale building on a bluff with an outlook right across | | | | If you have never seen them, you must have |
| the Central Valley. This is only one of the famous | | | | read about adobe buildings. Guanacaste is famed |
| hotels in this wonderful country, and one worth a | | | | for its 19th century white adobe buildings, made |
| visit by any tourist. | | | | of adobe with a white lime coating. Because of |
| Nobody that vacations in Costa Rica should miss | | | | them the town is known as the 'White City'. It's a |
| the Braulio Carrillo National Park - a typically | | | | great place to explore and in which to have lunch |
| tropical rainforest full of bright green vegetation, | | | | because it really brings it home to you that your |
| waterfalls and plants, and animals that give you a | | | | vacation in Costa Rica is exposing you to real life |
| sense of being very close to nature. The beauty | | | | as was in the past. This is not designed for |
| of this national park cannot be conveyed in | | | | tourists: it is real! |
| words, and it's next to impossible to describe the | | | | So there it is. That is what a Costa Rica vacation |
| breadth and scope of the area that the Braulio | | | | has to offer. You can do all that, have a horse |
| Carrillo covers. | | | | ride to the waterfalls near the Rincon de la Vieja |
| Another feature you must visit on your Costa | | | | volcano and then head back to San Jose. You can |
| Rica vacation is the Tortuguero Canal. In order to | | | | reflect on what you have seen before flying back |
| appreciate these areas of this country you | | | | home, and perhaps leave with a different view of |
| definitely need a personal guide, so make sure | | | | Central America than you had when you arrived. |
| that when booking a vacation you are provided | | | | The animals and scenery will do that to an extent, |
| with a tourist guide or escort that knows the | | | | but most of all the friendliness of the people and |
| area. This is because there are so many animals | | | | the (to you) unexpected quality of the |
| and plants in this country that you need | | | | accommodation and the food. Who knows - |
| somebody that knows about them: what they | | | | perhaps this will also be your destination next |
| are and where to find them. | | | | year! Because your Costa Rica vacation was |
| The Tortuguero Canal area is best explored from | | | | more than you though it would have been. |
| a lodge in or close to the jungle, and only the best | | | | |