What Do the Real Costa Ricans do To Celebrate The New Year?

The Real Costa Ricans head to the beach to celebrate New Years.  They go by car, by bus, and even by horse.  They stay in the expensive hotels, modest hotels, family owned beach houses, and even in tents.   The beaches all over Costa Rica belong to the all people of Costa Rica.  So go to a popular beach on New Year's eve and you may see tents pitched under palm trees. With homemade barbecue grills set up and the smell of roasted pork is in the air.  And Costa Ricans love to drink their beer with pork.  The local beer is called Imperial.  For a reason it is given the name Imperial.  Yes, you guessed it, because the Costa Ricans say even the royal families of the world love Costa Rica's beer!  And it's gaiety and party time with the music of the Latin beat in the air and both young and old dancing salsa and meringue.

In the central valley of  San Jose and Alajuela for those who choose to stay home, it's  fireworks!   From a mountainside villa one can see the midnight sky light  up with hundreds of colorful fireworks.

Yes,  it's family time as people travel long distances to be with their relatives, often whom they see only once a year.  It's roasted pork, home made tamales,  and Costa Rica's Imperial Beer.

Yes, Costa Ricans make New Year's Resolutions.  Could it be that one of the resolutions is to be more aware of time and get to appointments and etc. on time.  Don't think so.

But hey, life in Costa Rica is "Pura Vida" so why rock the boat in a place that "life is good"

Blue Moon Over Costa Rica, A Very Happy New Year!

[caption id="attachment_3439" align="aligncenter" width="269" caption="Blue Moon over Costa Rica with partial Eclipse!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3440" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="New York City, New Year's Eve 2009, The BIG BALL"][/caption]

Costa Rica has something celestial to ring in the New Year.  It's the Blue Moon.  But is it really blue?  No it isn't.  The name it seems comes from folkloric tales from times past.  When two full moons occurred in the same calendar month, meaning something rare, special, or even absurd, but not impossible.     And this month of December 2009 had two full moons, the first on December 2nd and the second on December 31st.  A New Year's Blue Moon!

The rest of the world shares this Blue Moon celebration with Costa Rica.  And even better is a partial moon eclipse!   In Costa Rica it's  called a Lunar Eclipse. The moon has moved into the earth's shadow causing a portion of the moon the be darkened.

In Costa Rica we call these Blue Moon beams tropical moon beams, because it's light shines on beautiful tropical landscapes of flowers, colorful birds, and sandy white beaches surrounded by rain forest, volcanoes, and lush waterfalls.

Quite different from the city of New York where millions will view the Big  Ball when it falls at the strike of twelve midnight.  New Yorkers may see the ball but may not see the gorgeous blue moon due to cloudy skies.  What a shame if they miss the moon.  A Big Ball made of three hundred new Waterford crystals cannot take the place of experiencing  the celestial moon beams.

So Happy New Year to one and all.  To all Creatures Great and Small!   The  Blue Moon rings in the New Year with reminding us to accomplish the rare, the special,  or even  absurd, but not the impossible.

Tips on Living and Retiring in Costa Rica

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[caption id="attachment_3430" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Friendly smile at Costa Rica's  Farmer's Market"][/caption]

Are you thinking of making a move to Costa Rica?  Perhaps to work or even to retire?

But are not sure if you can afford to do so?

I can offer you great tips to help you determine if this is the right move for you.

Cost of Living:  What is less expensive in Costa Rica than in USA or Canada?

No heating and cooling needed in your home.  (unless you live on the beach, then you may want air conditioning.)

Real Estate taxes on your home are less

Health Care is very good and cost much less.  Dental care and also medications are much less in Costa Rica

Fresh vegetables and fruits at the local week end farmers markets are really cheap.

Public transportation such as public buses are very good and very inexpensive

Home phones and cell phones and basic Internet service are cheaper in Costa Rica

Cable or satellite service about same as  US

9.  Domestic help is much less in Costa Rica- around $2 per hour.

What cost more in Costa Rica?

cars- the gov of Costa Rica slaps a tax on all imported cars which is a lot of money!
Expect to pay 50-75% more for the same car that you buy in the US.  Mechanics who repair your car are expensive and car parts which are all imported are expensive.
Gasoline is around $3.50 a gallon.

Apartments and houses (to north American standards)  expect to pay at least $700 and up per month for a 2 bedroom apartment in a safe secure neighborhood.

A week end at the beach?  In an nice 3 star hotel with good food expect to pay around $75-$100 per day per person.

It is what ever life style you choose that dictates how much money you spend every month.  If you want to live the lifestyle like you are now having in USA, then you will of course spend more money each month.  If you want to live a more simple life...slow down..smell the roses.  Well then you will spend less money.

If you are interested in learning more about  "The Real Costa Rica"  please order our video:    Costa Rica A Travel Adventure Spectacular from  page one of costaricalean.com   You will hear  the testimonials of three North American who work in Costa Rica and also those who retired  in Costa Rica.   Plus see this beautiful country up close!   So go to the top of page one where you can view a two minute trailer of the video.     And order you own copy today!

Please tell me one reason why you would choose Costa Rica to retire?   1.  The weather is gorgeous and the Costa Rican people are warm, helpful, and friendly

Do I need to Speak Spanish?  No..BUT  it opens up the true Costa Rican culture to you and if you can talk to the locals...well  you can participate in the community gossip line (ha!)

So if you want to know a lot more about the Real Costa Rica, then take a moment and order our video!

The Leatherback Sea Turtles of Costa Rica, Largest Sea Turtle on Earth!

 

[caption id="attachment_3404" align="aligncenter" width="218" caption="Map Las Baulas National Marine Park, Guanacaste,  Costa Rica"][/caption]

SPEAK FOR THESE CREATURES WHICH CAN NOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

The leatherback sea turtle is the world’s largest sea turtle and is in danger of becoming extinct. In Costa Rica, it nests on the beaches of Tortuguero National Park during  the months of March through May.  One can go with a park ranger at night to see these turtles nesting but you may not take photos  because the light disturbs the turtles.    These turtles have survived for over one hundred million years but now are considered endangered and are under protection because their numbers are decreasing around the world.  The Leatherback sea turtle can be found in every ocean in the world except the Arctic Ocean and and Antarctic  Ocean.

If you are vacationing in Costa Rica during the months of February through May you have a great chance to see Leatherback sea turtle  nesting in the southern Caribbean coastlines of Costa Rica.  Especially in a protected area called Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Reserve on the very southern tip of Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coastline.

Also the Leatherback sea turtle  nests on the Northwestern Pacific beaches of Costa Rica in large number in Las Baulas National Park during the months of November through April.
This area is especially popular with tourists because  it is near by the popular tourist town of Tamarindo where tourist from all over world come to enjoy the sunshine and the warm Pacific Ocean.

There are many reasons that the Leatherback sea turtle is endangered.  1.  Eggs are stolen from the nesting sites for consumption by the locals.  They claim the eggs are  aphrodisiacs.
Killed in fishing lines and struck by boats.  3. Coastal developments damage and destroy nesting sites.  Examples of this is homes and condos being built along the beach, bringing  large numbers of people who interfere with the turtles nesting rituals.
4. Global Warming which warms the temperatures of the oceans is affecting the food supply of the leatherback.  Also,  large amounts of plastics are  being dumped into  the oceans by boats and the leatherback sea turtle  thinks it is good to eat, but it is very harmful to the turtles digestive system.

It is estimated that only one in one thousand hatchlings survive to adulthood.

How can We  help Protect the Leatherback Sea Turtle? By joining the efforts of The World Wildlife Fund  which works with fisheries around the world to decrease the numbers being caught.  Also local communities ban together and protect critical nesting sites.  We see this in Tortuguero, Costa Rica on the Northwest Caribbean Coast and  also in the Northwestern Beaches of Guanacaste where the Costa Rica government has established the Las Baulas National Park to work with the locals to protect these turtles and also to give tourist an opportunity to learn about the world’s largest marine turtle.

Tourism to Costa Rica has brought a large number of dollars into the country and  part of this money  has been used wisely by the Costa Rican government to help develop these National Parks and Wildlife Refuges.    Costa Rica Learn strives to provide those of you thinking of a vacation in Costa Rica with on going helpful travel tips and other valuable information on travel to Costa Rica.  Our information  is categorized on page one of our web page.  so please check out these categories to find information on your  topic of interest.

It is difficult to realize just how large the leatherback sea turtle is by looking at the photo below.  They can grow to a shell length  of 1.7 meters and weight up to 900 kg (approx 2,000 lb). Indeed the largest sea turtle on earth!

Learn more about Las Baulas National Marine Park at  www.costarica-nationalparks.com/lasbaulasnational marinepark.html

[caption id="attachment_3392" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle,  Costa Rica"][/caption]

Vacationing in Costa this Winter? Planning to Rent a Car?

If  you are planning to rent a car on your vacation to Costa Rica,  I invite you to go to my categories-on page one - and click on   RENT A CAR IN COSTA RICA .  It is located  towards the bottom of the category list.   Here you can find the articles I have written on "Tips on Renting a Car in Costa Rica"   Also read my article on  "Renting a Car in Costa Rica-Saving Time and Money"  All of this is invaluable information that will be very helpful to you.

I highly recommend you reserve your car from your home country.  Don't wait until you get to Costa Rica.   If you are planning to drive outside the central valley of San Jose and Alajuela I recommend that you rent a 4x4 vehicle.  Because some of the roads in the outlying areas are not in great shape.  You may encounter potholes and unpaved roads.

If you want to rent a minivan I recommend Toyota Rental Agency.

For all other types of vehicles there are many agencies located near the two international airports of Costa Rica.  Juan Santa Maria International near San Jose, the capital city and also Liberia International located in the northern part of Costa Rica  (in Guanacaste).

Car rental prices are quite high in Costa Rica  ( you can compare prices on the Internet) and gasoline is expensive, around $3.50 a gallon.  (In Costa Rica it is sold by the liter).  You can save a lot of money by getting the collision part of the insurance before you leave your home country through you major credit card.  I write extensively about this on my blog article under the category "Rent a Car In Costa Rica"   Please refer to that article.

People often ask me.  Should I rent a car on my vacation in Costa Rica?  And I say yes.  It is a very good way to travel at your own pace and see a lot of countryside you would not see otherwise.

The major tourist destinations in Costa Rica are easily accessible by car and most of the roads are good  (some few sections in the outlying areas have potholes).  The care rental company should provide you with a road map which is easy to follow  If you get confused in the small towns which do not have good road signs-just stop and ask.  Costa Ricans are very friendly and helpful and usually speak enough English to help you out.

Read my article on safety tips when renting a car which is located also under the category "Renting a Car in Costa Rica"

I hope this is very helpful information for you.  Please go to contact us if you are in need of further help with your efforts to rent a car on your vacation to Costa Rica.  We have organized costaricalearn so that you can search by category. So you can read about the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica simply by clicking on the category you are interested in.  Plus read about the history, culture, food, and many other aspects of Costa Rica by selecting the category.

Happy reading!  From costaricalearn.com

We now have a Costa rica Travel Video for sale: " Costa Rica, A Travel Adventure Spectacular"

Our full 58 minute DVD video , Costa Rica, A Travel Adventure Spectacular , which has been in production for a year, is now for sale.  Orders can be placed via Pay Pal.   Pay Pal, an Ebay company, is the largest provider of online transactions on the Internet. It is also one of the safest ways to pay for anything online.

The video is $24.95 and shipping is free world wide. We ship using United States Postal Service First Class mail which is about 3 - 5 days within the United States.  To order just click on the "Add To Cart" button below where you can make payment via Pay Pal. If you would like to watch the trailer for the video, just click the play button below.

About the Video

"Costa Rica A Travel Adventure Spectacular" video,  If you are thinking of coming to Costa Rica on vacation then this Costa Rica travel video is for you .  In our video you will Visit the National Parks and Wildlife Reserves of this nature lover' s paradise. See the active Poas Volcano and Arenal Volcano, and the famous Tortuguero canals of the Caribbean, the largest concentration of wildlife in Costa Rica. Zip line through the jungle, high above the rain forest canopy. Experience the culture and history of Costa Rica- folkloric oxcart parades, tiny mountainside villages, coffee plantations, plus interviews with expats from North American living here who love the eternal spring weather and "pure life" in Costa Rica. And much more!

A Supernatural Adventure to Costa Rica's Arenal Volcano National Park, A Great Family Vacation!

Want to take a supernatural adventure to Costa Rica? Well, Arenal Volcano National Park is the perfect destination for that great family vacation. Something for everyone.  Because it is an active volcano and performs daily by spurting lava and red hot rocks out its summit, and making huffing and puffing noises and small explosions. There is plenty of out door adventure activities to choose including two of the best zip line tours in Costa Rica. The beautiful Lake Arenal is located on Arenal Volcano's north face and you can rent a boat and go fishing or simply cruise around the lake and see all the marine birds that gather on the lake. Early morning is the best time to see the birds and wildlife such as howler monkeys. It is a great destination for a family vacation. The kids will be enchanted with the volcano and can take a dip in one of the many hot springs which come directly out of the base of the volcano. Horseback riding is what kids love and they can ride to a hugh beautiful waterfall, seeing howler monkeys along the way. Lets take a hike around the volcano with Ryan creator of "Super Natural Adventures, Kids. And what an adventure at Arenal Volcano National Park, the perfect destination for a wonderful vacation for all the family!

Move Over Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, Costa Rica has Talent!

For  all of us fans of "American Idol" who are  rushing out to buy the first albums of this last seasons winners Adam Lambert and Kris Allen,  stand up and take notice!  Costa Rica has Talent!

A young many named Eduardo Aguirre took the  first runner up title of "Latin American Idol" in last Thursday nights finals.  With his soft romantic lyrics and clean cut boyish good looks he swooned millions of fans but was not quite able to beat the winner, a young woman named Martha Heredia,  who is from the Dominican Republic.

Eduardo is from the small Costa Rican town of Esparza where hundreds of his fans gathered in the municipal park last Thursday night to express their support and watch the finals on a large screen TV.

How is Global Warming Affecting Costa Rica?

[caption id="attachment_3292" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Could this beautiful frog become extinct?"][/caption]

The participants at the United Nations climate change conference now in progress in Copenhagen, Denmark  are world leaders hoping to formulate a plan to protect our planet by  combating  global  warming.

How is this “run-a-way climate change” affecting Costa Rica?  How is this global warming affecting Costa Rica? Scientist are saying that Coastal residents of Costa Rica could face a significant sea level increase possibly up to  three to  six feet which would inundate many of the existing beach properties which hold concessions in the maritime zones.  And the  port city of Puntarenas could be under water.

This information is from two scientist who have been studying sea level measurements and sea temperatures taken over the past one hundred and thirty years.  They are Martin Vermeer of Helsinki University of Technology, Finland and Stefan Rahmstorf of Potsham Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany. Mr. Rahmstorf  states “ Since 1990 sea levels have been rising at .13 of an inch , twice as fast as the average over the 20th century" .  "If this rates remains constant the sea levels would rise 13 inches in the 21st century."    "But, the warmer the earth temperatures, the faster the sea levels rise due to the melting of the ice in the Antarctica and in Greenland."

Costa Rica is affected in another way by global warming.  Costa Rica has a very large population of frogs, and  several species have contacted a fungus which has killed them.  Scientist speculate that global warming is the reason for this fungus.  One example is the beautiful golden toad which lived in the rain forest of Monteverde.  Today this  golden toads today cannot be found anywhere in Costa Rica.  And other species of frogs in Costa Rica are in danger of contacting this fungus.

What can Costa Rica do to combat global warming?   Scientist state  the most important thing is to preserve its valuable rain forest.  And Costa Rica has made great strides in accomplishing this.  Twenty per cent of its land surface is set aside for protection and conservation in the form of National Parks and Wildlife Reserves. But Costa Rica wants to do more.  The working farmer  needs to clear more land for pastures for his cattle, meaning he has to cut down trees.  This farmer would be willing not to cut trees  but what can he do to make money to take care of his family?  There has to be some type of monetary compensation to this farmer to preserve these valuable  trees which will absorb carbon dioxide from our atmosphere thus reducing  green house gases which contribute to global warming.  These are the kinds of ideas and proposals circulating in the Conference on Climate Change today in Copenhagen.

The Dry Season is just Beginning in Costa Rica

Dry Season Costa Rica is now beginning and it’s a great time to take a vacation to Costa Rica.

The dry season in Costa Rica is considered to be the middle of December through March. This is a lovely time to visit Costa Rica.  The rain has stopped and the flowers are all in bloom because the sun shines all day long.  From around five thirty in the morning until five thirty in the afternoon, a full twelve hours.

It’s a great time to visit the beaches.  The water is warm and the skies are blue.

More tourist are in Costa Rica during these months and there is gaiety in the air, with a lot of activity in the best tourist destinations.

Also the dry season is when Costa Rica holds it’s best festivals.  The annual oxcart parade in the old town of San Antonio de Escazu, the first week of March is a “don’t miss festival”.  Also the horse parade or “tope in Alajuela” is held  around the first week of March with one thousand horses participating and the riders dress their best.
So if you are visiting at this time be sure to stop by Alajuela for this opportunity to see the Andalusian horses.

Many small towns have week end festivities such as bull fights and rodeos. In Costa Rica the bull is let loose in the ring and young men actually get into the ring with the bull.  The bull chases the young men around the ring.  Most of the time it’s a comical affair but occasionally the bull actually does harm to the participate.  That is why a ambulance is stationed just outside the bull ring.

The weather in December, January, and February is cool and breezy but by March is is getting very warm and by April it is actually hot, but then the rains come and cool everything off.

Will the Real Rosemary Rein Please Stand Up.

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WILL THE REAL ROSEMARY REIN PLEASE STAND UP?

Continuing my series on artist and writers in Costa Rica I would like to highlight Rosemary Rein.

Rosemary is a resident of Costa Rica, along with her husband Barry. Rosemary read a book about Costa Rica and told Barry, “We have to move to Costa Rica, so they followed their dream and did exactly that,  settling in Escazu, a suburb of San Jose, where they live happily with their three dogs.

Rosemary says that they have been extremely happy in Costa Rica.  They love the weather, the warm hospitality of the people, and the more simple lifestyle than they lead back in New York.

So Barry and Rosemary, accustomed to being very active, opened a cafe in Escazu.  After running it for  several years, they  got the itch to try something else.  Which led them to the purchase of a Bed & Breakfast Hotel at Lake Arenal.   After awhile they said, “We came here to retire,  didn’t we?”  So they took some time off and traveled to Argentina which they dearly loved.

In their leisure time, Rosemary and Barry love trekking into the Costa Rica rain forests and jungles. One day Rosemary with her great imagination said to Barry, “The  skills needed to survive  in the jungle are the same skills needed to survive  and thrive in the business world as a leader and a team.  So Rosemary created “Go Wild, Go Great! The Leader/Team Journey From Now to Wow.  What is this?  It is Rosemary’s own unique training seminars on how to improve Customer Service and Sales Performance.  Find out all about it at www.gowildgogreat.com

If that was not enough, Rosemary has also co-authored a book. “The Blueprint for Success”  14  hot ideas for improving your leadership skills, customer service skills, and living a healthier and happy life.  Read all about it on her web site www.gowildgogreat.com.

You may also read Rosemary’s blog at www.rosemaryrein.typepad.com
She  writes fun filled stories about everyday life in Costa Rica.

Rosemary and her husband Barry are feathered in our video "Costa Rica A Travel Adventure Spectacular". They talk about their life in Costa Rica, why they  choose Costa Rica and why they love it.

Rosemary holds a Ph.D in Human Resource Development.

The Colorful Oxcart, Costa Rica's "National Symbol of Labor"

The Christmas season in Costa Rica is welcomed each year by the Entrada de Santos y Boyeros (the entrance of saints and oxcarts drivers)  to the city of San Jose.   Approximately two hundred colorful hand painted oxcarts with their bueyes (team of oxen)  participate.  Each oxcart carries a santo (saint) made  of wood as a symbol of blessings to the oxcart, oxen, and the driver. This parade, a powerful symbol of Costa Rica's rural heritage,  is a traditional Christmas holiday event and attended by thousands of Costa Ricans as well as tourist from around the world.
Oxcarts once were the principal means of transportation, starting around 1840,  carrying coffee from the central valley over the mountains to the Pacific port of Puntarenas, and today is Costa Rica's  “National Labor Symbol” portraying  Costa Rica’s peaceful traditions and the arduous labor of it’s people and the simplicity and aspirations of rural Costa Ricans.

The colorful painted designs on the oxcarts we see today was the inspiration of an Italian artist who immigrated to Costa Rica.  His paintings on the oxcart’s wheels quickly caught on and today the colorful geometric designs are hand painted on all the oxcarts, with no two designs exactly alike.

If you are traveling to Costa Rica be sure to visit the small hillside village of Sarchi.  Stop by the Fabrica de Carrettas Sarchi (oxcart factory) and see how the Chaverri family has continued the tradition of oxcart painting.  You can purchase you own miniature oxcart to take home.

Also the first week of March, the hillside town of San Antonio de Escazu  hosts its own folkloric  "Oxcart Parade"  for the blessing of the oxen.  Be sure not to miss it if you are in Costa Rica this time of the year and bring your camera! There is typical Costa Rican food, marimba music to compliment the beautiful oxcarts and their boyeros.

[caption id="attachment_3260" align="alignleft" width="299" caption="Around 1850 in San Jose"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3261" align="alignleft" width="224" caption="oxcart wheel "][/caption]

Thanks for reading costaricalearn.com We strive to being you interesting articles related to Costa Rica's history, culture, and traditions.

Travel Tip: What is the best month to Vacation in Costa Rica and Why?

The best month to vacation in Costa Rica is the month of February.  Why?  Because the weather is simply gorgeous.  There is little or no rain, the flowers are in full bloom, as well as the flowering trees.

The warm winds are  blowing.  And the nights are star studded and the moon glows.  You can almost read a book in the moonlight.

The beaches are beautiful, filled with sunshine and gorgeous sunsets.   The water is blue green and warm to swim.   There are lots of tourist which adds vitality and life to the beach destinations.

The restaurants have plenty of tourist business so they hire the better chefs during this time of  year, making the food indeed gourmet.

February also is the time for many annual cultural events in Costa Rica such the colorful oxcart parade held in San Antonio de Escazu  to commemorate the colorful oxcarts used in agriculture to haul coffee and  sugarcane.  These oxcarts date back to the 1800's when the only way to get the coffee from the central valley, across the mountains to the port of Puntarenas was by oxcart pulled by big and strong oxen.

Another large annual event is held in Palmares,  about thirty minutes north of  the San Jose international airport of Juan Santa Maria, on highway one or better known as the InterAmerican highway.  It's probably the biggest fair in Costa Rica.  There are so many festivities such Costa Rican style bullfights,  rodeos,  a craft fair, food galore (all typical Costa Rican)  and it's where you come to watch people.  The young and old dress their best.  Families come together bringing their small children to ride the colorful  Ferris Wheel and the old fashioned Merry Go Round.

So when the weather is cold, bleak, and dreary up north head south and have a great vacation in

[caption id="attachment_2857" align="alignleft" width="640" caption="Sunny Day in February, Pristine Guanacaste Beach"][/caption]

warm tropical Costa Rica!

Costaricalearn.com strives to offer helpful travel tips on vacationing in Costa Rica.  We would love to hear from you about your great Costa Rica vacation and share it with our readers.  Just go to the bottom of this article and click on no comment or reply.

Planning to Rent a Car in Costa Rica? Listen up!

If you are traveling to Costa Rica  or planning a vacation to Costa Rica, and  planning to rent a car?   And you say, "I have checked with several different rental car agencies in Costa Rica and renting a car there seems quite expensive."  Why?

There are many reasons.

1. A large portion of the cost of renting the vehicle is the insurance.  There is liability insurance coverage and then there is all the rest..collision, theft.  Ask the car rental agency to itemize each of the coverages and the cost. VERY IMPORTANT:  Reserve your rental vehicle before leaving your home country.  Then call you credit card company and ask if you can buy (from the credit card company) the insurance on the rental car.  My personal experience with American Express credit card company:  They said yes I could buy the insurance EXCEPT THE LIABILITY.  So I purchased a policy  (except for liability) thru American Express  BEFORE DEPARTING FROM THE US.

2. Maintenance on cars in Costa Rica is very high.   The roads are often not in good condition with potholes and bumps so the tires wear out quickly and have to be changed.

3. Auto mechanics in Costa Rica are not cheap and car parts are very expensive because they have to be imported and the gov slaps a big import tax on these parts, thus raising the price.

4. Costa Rica does not manufacture cars or trucks, or buses.  All are imported.  Adding to the cost of the car is the transportation from where ever it was manufactured to Costa Rica which very often is very high.

5.  Accidents in Costa Rica, such as fender bender  is common.  Costa Ricans in general are not good drivers, so we often see these fender bender accidents.

6.  If you are planning to drive outside of the San Jose (capital city) area, then rent a 4x4 vehicle.  They are higher off the ground and take the rough road conditions in Costa Rica much better than a regular car.

Can I See a Great White Shark In Costa Rican Waters?

Great White sharks tend to stay in cooler water than what we find in the tropical waters of  Costa Rica’s Pacific coastlines as well as it’s Caribbean coastlines.

So you will not likely see the Great White Shark while visiting Costa Rica.  Sorry.

This legendary great white shark is extremely fearsome to us.  We think of it  as a mindless killing machines which attack humans if we get near it.

There are around 100 shark attacks reported around the world annually and only one-third to one-half are attributed to the Great White Shark.

Great White Sharks are the largest predatory fish on Earth. They grow to an average of 15 feet (4.6 meters)   And some can weigh up to 5,000 pounds (2, 268 kilograms)
They get their name from the white color of their underbelly.  They swim very very fast, like a torpedo, and their powerful tails can propel them through the water at up to fifteen miles per hour (24 km)

The most scary thing is their mouths are lined with serrated, triangular teeth arranged in rows.  These teeth can number up to three hundred!  They love to eat sea lions, sea turtles, and even some smaller whales.

These creatures are believed to be decreasing in numbers at an alarming rate. This is due to over fishing and sometimes they are accidentally caught up in gill nets.

Where can I go to likely see a great white shark?  On the southern coast of South Africa is where a very large colony of great whites congregate.  Also the southern coast of Australia,  Mexico’s Isa Guadalupe, New Zealand, California coastlines, and the central Mediterranean  in the Adrian  Sea.  A great white has even been seen off the coast of Cuba!

If you are planning a vacation to Costa Rica you would love to have our recently filmed DVD "Costa Rica A Travel Adventure Spectacular"  travel video. Which beautifully showcases the 10 most popular vacation destinations in Costa Rica.  Go to our home page of costaricalearn then go to the top of the page and click on "Buy our Video"  You can view a 3 minute preview and all the instructions on ordering the video are right there!

[caption id="attachment_2840" align="alignleft" width="470" caption="Great White Shark "][/caption]

SPOTLIGHT COSTA RICA- Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal, and La Fortuna, Costa Rica, Sky Tram & Sky Trek Tour

If you are planning to travel to Costa Rica on vacation and want to visit the most popular area for great outdoor adventure then Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal, and the area around La Fortuna is where you should go.

If you are flying into the central valley of Costa Rica to the Juan Santa Maria International Airport, than by car you are three and one half hours from the Arenal Volcano.  If you fly into the Liberia International Airport in the northern zone of Costa Rica,  by car you are three  to three and one half hours from the Arenal Volcano.

Let's say you have  two  full days to stay in this area and want to experience the activities that are the most fun.  First, I recommend the sky tram and canopy tour and do it first thing in the morning when the weather is usually best. This is offered by a company called Sky Trek and you can purchase it right at your hotel tour desk.   Or purchase it from  Sunset Tour Company in La Fortuna  located right on the town square.  Arrangements can be made for you to be picked up and delivered back  to  your hotel  by a shuttle service offered by Sky Trek tour company or by Sunset tours.

What exactly do I do on the Sky Tram & Sky Trek Tour?   You will be transported on a Sky Tram Gondola  on a smooth ride through the rain forest up to an observation deck high above the rain forest canopy. Along the way you have a gorgeous view of Lake Arenal.  Also you may see howler monkeys and a flock of colorful toucans.  At the top, from the observation deck,  the view to the south face of Arenal Volcano is magnificant!  It's almost like you can reach out and touch the volcano.  You can hear is roaring and see the  hot molten rocks and fiery boulders shooting from it's summit.

From the observation deck,  you can take a well marked path which leads you into the rain forest and hike for around 45 minutes.  The vegetation here is unique due to the high altitude.  One of the most interesting is the giant fern tree which grows to around eight fee tall.  Imagine a fern that size in your living room!

You can ride the Sky Tram gondola back down OR  you can take the more exciting route down, the zip line cables,  called the Sky Trek. It will definitely get your adrenalin going.  Once strapped into the safety gear,  you just zip from tree top platform to tree top platform.  It's up and over the top of the rain forest canopy.  A beautiful experience!  Just like Tarzan and Jane!

If you are hungry after this great adventure, there is a small cafe right there on the grounds.  Also you can spend an extra thirty minutes and walk through the butterfly garden,  where blue morpho butterflies fly freely surrounded by a very large net.  Very interesting for butterfly lovers.

This tour takes approximately one-half day, and I highly recommend it.

Children have to be at least eight years of age to take the Sky Trek Zip Line Portion of the Tour.

The costs when I took it in 2009 was $65 per person.  Plus $8 if I wanted to be transported by the shuttle to and from my hotel.

What should I wear? Comfortable walking shoes like tennis or light weight hiking boots.  Temperature is cool because you are at a high altitude.  You will need a light weight rain proof jacket because rains frequently.  Take your money etc. in a pouch because if you take the zip line, it's hard to handle a backpack.

costaricalearn.com   strives to help you make your vacation to Costa Rica more fun and more meaningful!   Ken and Ann Creed are the authors and videographer.  You can read more about Ken and Ann by clicking on "about us" at the top of page one.

Spotlight Costa Rica-Lagarta Lodge on Nosara Beach in Costa Rica, See the Sea Turtles nesting

Lagarta Lodge is a small hotel sitting in the mist of a private nature reserve and with views to the beautiful blue green waters of the Pacific Ocean.  So if you are planning on a vacation to Costa Rica and want a place "off the beaten path".  A place with a great beach plus opportunities for nature walks  and bird watching in a tropical forest, then this is the place for you.  Its tranquil and beautiful.  The hotel is small and the service is very good, not hoards of tourists everywhere.

The waves are  big and surfing is good.  You can rent a surf board through the hotel  and  you can arrange for surf lessons.

The view to the Pacific Ocean from the rooms is lovely and you can walk to the beach in less than ten-fifteen  minutes.  The restaurant is open so you can feel the warm breezes and there is a nice view of the ocean.

You may  want to have a rental car or your own vehicle  if you don't want to do the walk to the beach.   On the way back it is a strenuous up hill walk.

A big event here May through November is the Olive Ridley Sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs, usually right after a full moon when the nights are very dark.

Learn more about Lagarta Lodge including directions on how to get there., room rates etc. Go to Google and type in Lagarta Lodge

[caption id="attachment_2818" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Lagarta Lodge Playa Nosara Costa Rica"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2816" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="lagarta Lodge Costa Rica Swimming Pool"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2817" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="View to the beach from Lagarta Lodge Costa Rica"][/caption]

Costa Rica Spotlight: Life at Hacienda Pinilla Costa Rica

What is so special about Hacienda Pinilla?   Is it tranquility?  The beautiful jewel blue-green Pacific waters?  The most gorgeous sunsets?  Golfing with a view to the ocean?   Riding a horse on a Sunday afternoon along the long stretch of unspoiled beach?    Experience a dry tropical forest filled with wildlife-howler monkeys, toucans, and green parrots?

You are one of the lucky ones if you are able to visit Hacienda Pinilla located in the northwestern  Pacific Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.   You can rent one of the gorgeous fully furnished condominiums if you would like a longer stay, or check into La Posada Hotel.  The grounds are meticulously landscaped and  tropical flowering plants  line the walkways.  Dine at El Choral restaurant with excellent international cuisine.

So many outdoor activities are here.  A world class golf course with a view to the ocean.  Stables to rent horses.  Great ocean waves for surfing.  Tennis courts.  Miles of trails for hiking to view wildlife.  Pristine beaches just to relax and enjoy the tropical sun.  Tropical sunsets like you never dreamed you would experience......very romantic indeed!   Swimming pools just to sit and relax and enjoy that late afternoon freshly squeezed lemonade.

There is so much natural beauty here.  Your eyes tire just from looking at the gorgeous landscapes, blue-green ocean, and  the colorful tropical birds.

The fantastic  JW Marriott Hotel recently opened on the property.  A destination unto itself.  It's right on the ocean, only steps away from the water  Read more about this wonderful place on the web at

www.haciendapinilla.com

[caption id="attachment_2810" align="alignleft" width="896" caption="Condominiums at Hacienda Pinilla "][/caption]

Want to See Bats? Go to Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica

If you are traveling to Costa Rica for a vacation and are in the northwestern province of Guanacaste be sure to take a day trip to Santa Rosa National Park. To get there take the Inter-American  highway (highway 1)  north from Liberia.  Drive about 35 km north from Liberia and watch for the signs to the park.

Santa Rosa National Park preserves the most important example of dry tropical forests as well as mangrove swamps  in Central America.   This park has been merged with Guanacaste National park and protects a very large area in the Northwestern Province of Guanacaste in Costa Rica.

This park does not have a lot of visitors.  Perhaps the reason is that it is off the beaten path.  In fact the day we were there we saw only two other cars.

What is so interesting about Santa Rosa National Park?  More than half of the one hundred and fifty species of mammals found in this park are bats.   Including the famous vampire bat. The area where these bats can be seen is named the Murcielago Sector.   The word Murcielago means bat.

What else would I expect to see in Santa Rosa National Park?  1. More than 250 species of birds  reside here. One of the most beautiful is the Magpi-Jay,  a large blue and white funny looking bird that sings many different songs.

2. Beautiful dream-like beaches  with names  like  Playa Nancite,  Playa Naranjo  and Playa Portero Grande You need a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get to these  beaches,   esp in the rainy season when the rivers can swell and you need to cross them in the car.   And you need a map which you get from the ranchers station when you first enter the park.    These beaches are virtually isolated with soft white-beige sand and big waves,  simply gorgeous!  The water is cold,  but we went for a swim anyway.

3. A Cultural Museum to Explore.  The Museum: La Cason de Santa Rosa.   Lots of bats inside this building!   This is a historical landmark . It is the site of the famous battle of 1856 when a North American named William Walker was driven out of Costa Rica along with his band of renegades who were trying to take over Costa Rica and make it into a slave colony.

4. The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle comes ashore at a beach named Playa Nancite.  These turtles  come in the thousands in September and October to lay their eggs in this soft white sandy beach.

You will need to obtain a map when you enter the park, and you should have a 4x4 vehicle.  At the park entrance station at the Santa Rosa Sector  you can purchase a map for $1.  The map  shows the roads, trails, etc.    Also, La Casona Museum offers additional information.

Read more about Santa Rosa National Park, see photos, and get directions:      costarica-nationalparks.com/santarosanationalpark.html

A Great Day Tour in Manuel Antonio-Quepos, Costa Rica. SPOTLIGHT: "The Rainmaker Tour" Home to the Harlequin Toad.

[caption id="attachment_2796" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Suspended Bridge above the rain forest canopy"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2797" align="alignleft" width="129" caption="Harlequin Toad in Costa Rica's Rain Forest"][/caption]

If you are traveling to Costa Rica and plan to visit Manuel Antonio-Quepos and want a true nature orientated tour, take the Rainmaker Tour.  You can purchase this thru Iguana Tours located in Quepos.  Quepos is a very small town, only three city blocks so ask anyone and they can guide you to Iguana Tour's office.

So why the Rainmaker Tour?  It is truly a venture into the rain forest filled with beautiful tropical birds and white face monkeys.  The trees are hugh and very tall.  There are suspended bridges built over the rain forest canopy so you can actually walk above the rain forest tree line.  You pass streams and waterfalls and can swim in a pool formed by a large waterfall.  A well trained guide will accompany you and explain about all the different species of plants and trees.  Be sure to bring your binoculars.  There are three species of toucans in this area.  Also bring your camera. The photography  opportunities are  excellent.

The tour begins with a walk along the Rio Seco's edge.  The easy walking paths are very well mapped  to take advantage of the gorgeous old trees some with buttresses of two meters wide, and the quietness is interrupted only by the sounds of the birds singing deep in the jungle.  We pass a troupe of white face monkeys which show great curiosity at our intrusion into their territory.

It seems that in this rain forest resides a unique toad called the Harlequin Toad.  This toad was presumed to be extinct but one day miraculously reappeared in the Rainmaker Rain Forest Area.  The guides are very good a finding this small toads but don't pick one up because they are said to be poisonous.   It's beautiful colors of yellow and black make it a very unusual looking toad.

Be sure to wear good walking shoes and a light weight rain jacket.  And cotton, cool clothes.  It can get very warm and humid here.  A delicious typical Costa Rican lunch is  included and natural jusices of pineapple, orange, and papaya are also served.  All in all a great day!

One Day in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. What Should I Do?

[caption id="attachment_2787" align="alignleft" width="640" caption="Poas Volcano National Park"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2789" align="alignleft" width="252" caption="Juan Santa Maria's Statue-Costa Rica's National Hero"][/caption]

If you are traveling to Costa Rica for vacations or whatever reason and have one free day in the central valley I recommend that you visit the Poas Volcano National Park.  It's close, only 1 hour northeast of Alajuela and the road  is good.  You could rent a car for the day near the San Jose International airport or buy a day tour through one of the many tour companies located in the central valley.  Your  hotel should have a tour desk where you can purchase these tours.  Try to get to the Poas Volcano summit early in the morning because clouds tend to cover the top of the volcano by 10:30 a.m.  Although,  often the wind will blow the clouds away, so stick around awhile.  There are two hikes near by.  One is to the old crater which has a lovely blue lake (takes about 1 hour up and back for this hike.  And there is a hike through the rain forest. (about forty five minutes)   Both are well marked.

If you are lucky you will see the volcano's geyser spewing and spurting hot water and vapors.  The crater is almost one mile wide.  Great opportunity for photos.

On way down from the volcano's summit you can stop for a typical Costa Rican lunch at Fredda Fresa's family run restaurant where they serve food grown right there on their farm.  They cook it all on a wooden stove.  And it is delicious, esp the fresh strawberry milkshakes.  And of course the freshly brewed cup of Costa Rica coffee.  You can see the coffee fields from the restaurant.

Then in the afternoon stop by the coffee tour at Doka Four Generations Coffee tour and learn all about how coffee is grown and processed.  You get to sample three of the different coffee blends produced  at Doka.  It's well worth the stop.  The coffee  plants are beautiful.  November thru February the coffee beans are bright red.  This is when the coffee is harvested-picked completely by hand.  People come from Nicaragua  do most of the coffee picking.   Costa Ricans pick  also but they seem to find work in factories and leave most of the coffee picking to the Nicaraguans.

As you come back through Alajuela, remember this is the home to Costa Rica's hero, Juan Santa Maria.  A large beautiful statue of him is located in the city park just as you enter Alajuela from the San Jose International airport.

Juan Santa Maria is a hero because he gave his life for his fellow soldiers at the battle of Rivas in 1856.  There was a north American named William Walker who with his band of invaders tried to take over Costa Rica and use it as a slave colony.  But the Costa Ricans resisted.  This young soldier Juan Santa Maria volunteered to carry the torch which burned Walker's fortress.  Santa Maria lost his life in this effort but saved the lives of his fellow soldiers.  The fortress burned and Walker and his men fled back into Nicaragua.

Alajuela also has a pretty square in the center of town with a large white church facing the mango trees which line the park.  It's worth taking a stroll here and sampling a cone of delicious Pops Ice Cream at  the corner ice cream parlor.   They even have the flavor Mango made from the many mangos growing on the trees in the park.  Alajuela is known as the city of the Mangos.

When is The Worst Weather in the Central Valley of Costa Rica?

The worst weather in the central valley of Costa Rica, San Jose, Alajuela, Grecia, Heredia,   and Atenas.  is September and October when the rainfall if very very heavy.  You can expect heavy rainfall every day and with good luck you will get some sunny mornings with the rain coming in the afternoons and into the night.   Also the weather is very cool and you will need a jacket and of course a big umbrella.  The rain will sometimes cover parts of the streets,  gushing from the city gutters.

So my recommendation is to try to avoid vacationing in the central valley in these months of September and October.

Travel Tips on Spending Money and other Things Related to Travel to Costa Rica

I am going to share with you some of the travel tips I have learned over the years while working as a travel agent and arranging vacations to Costa Rica for my clients.

American Express credit cards are not accepted everywhere in Costa.   Master charge and Visa are widely accepted.

If you make a purchase in cash for gifts to take home,  ask for a 10% discount because you gave them cash (not a credit card).  You can bargain better with cash, because credit card commissions are very high for the merchants.

Restaurants already have a 10% tip added to bill when it is presented to you.   If you had excellent service it is customary to add some to that,  say 5% or whatever you feel is right for you.

Take some  $1 dollar bills  to use for tips.

Put your cash and credit cards inside a money bag hidden under your clothes.  I carry a small amount of money in my pocket.  Keep your passport locked in the safety deposit box in your hotel room.

Take your student ID along.  You get discounts at museums and some other attractions, but you have to ask for the discount.

Changing money:  The international airport has a money changing counter but the exchange rate is bad.  There is an ATM machine located in the airport that takes VISA cards.  It is located across from the elevator on the Departure Level for arrivals.  Just ask  any airport attendant for directions to it.   Or you can simply   wait  until you get to the hotel to change  money.  Taxis will accept dollars.  Banks have long lines, so avoid the banks,  unless you are in a small town where the banks are not so busy.  But I always like to change, say $100 into colones.  Most tourist establishments will accept dollars, but it is better to "get the Costa Rica money (colon) straight in your mind."  So if you pay in colones,  you can determine  if the change they give you is correct.

Banks in Costa Rica are  where you can for sure find ATM  machines.   In most popular tourist destinations you can find a bank with an ATM machine.

ATM machines  are closed between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Debit cards are not accepted everywhere in Costa Rica.

Take only the credit cards  you will use on the trip.

Pack light.  Most airlines today limit the weight per suitcase  to 50 pounds.   If it is over that limit they will charge you extra, the amounts depends on the airline.

Small aircraft inside Costa Rica limit the luggage weight to 25 pounds per piece.  Ask ahead of time.  Last time I flew, I was allowed only one piece of checked luggage weighting 25 pounds or less.    I took  my backpack in my hand and they did not weigh it.

Clothing is casual, usually cotton jeans, shorts,  T-shirts,  rainproof light weight jacket,  comfortable walking shoes like  such as tennis,  beach sandals,  sun hat and sun screen.  bug spray.  However,  I see less bugs in Costa Rica than in Florida.   Small backpack,  small flashlight, small folding umbrella if you go during the rainy season.

Electrical current is same as North America.  You do not need a converter (like Europe)

Take an ample supply of medications  you take on a regular basis.  Interesting thing:  In Costa Rica you can buy across the counter (without prescription) all medications,   except narcotics.

Can I drink the water in Costa Rica?    Just the change of water can upset some people's stomach,  so when I am in Costa Rica, I keep bottled water with me at all times.   Is the water safe to drink?  Depends on the location,  so it is better just to drink bottled water.  Check the new bottle to make sure it has an unbroken seal.

Time Zone: same as central time zone in north America except  Costa Rica does not observe day light savings time.   In Costa Rica there is same amount of day light each day-all year .  Sun sets around 5:30 p.m. and rises around 5:30 a.m. every day of the year.

Departure tax per person  (which you pay at the airport upon departure) is  $26.00 per person.

The red taxis are the government approved ones.  At the airport they are orange.  They have meters but always ask when you enter the taxi,  "How much does it cost"?

If I get sick can I get a good doctor?  Yes, the doctors in Costa Rica are considered to be very good.  Some, especially specialist, have been trained in the US or other places abroad.  There are several private hospitals- Clinica Biblica in San Jose and  Hospital Cema in the suburb of Escazu are excellent hospitals with North American standards.

Remember the airlines will not allow you to take the following in your carrry on bags, purse, or backpack.  Liquids, over 3 ounces per container,  jells over 3 ounches per container.  Sharp things such as finger nail files, nail clippers, scissors.

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Can You Guess Where this Beautiful Stretch of Beach is in Costa Rica?

[caption id="attachment_2776" align="alignleft" width="600" caption="This Beautiful Beach is Near Cabo Blanco and Montezuma Costa Rica"][/caption]

What is the Name of the First National Park to be Established in Costa Rica?

[caption id="attachment_2769" align="alignleft" width="203" caption="pristine white sandy beach Cabo Blanco Costa Rica"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2770" align="alignleft" width="156" caption="Cabo Blanco Beach, Costa Rica"][/caption]

Cabo Blanco National park is the first national park to be established in Costa Rica.  It is a  beautiful 1,172-hectare Nature Reserve, located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in Puntarenas province.  Two  immigrant,  Nils Olof Wessberg and his wife Karen Morgenson  donated the area to Costa Rica before the national park system was created.   You can find a  plaque erected  in their honor near the Cabo Blanco ranger station.

For many years,  only scientists were allowed in the area of  Cabo Blanco.  Now tourists can also enjoy the natural beauty of Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, but in order to minimize impact, the reserve remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. There are a number of trails that allow the visitor to explore the area.   For example Sendero Sueco that leads to the totally unspoiled Playa Balsita. From there, you can take another trail called Sendero El Barco. Both trails have tidepools so make sure you check with the ranger station before entering the reserve – otherwise you might get stuck at high tide.

Many wild animals can be found in Cabo Blanco.  such as howler-, spider- and white faced monkeys, sloths, iguanas, raccoons,  armadillos, anteaters,  and deer can be observed easily, while creatures such as the margay and ocelot are more elusive.   Marine birdlife is abundant, too, and you likely will see the brown booby, as well as magnificent frigate birds, laughing gulls, common terns and brown pelicans. In the coastal areas, large populations of fish, crabs , lobster, shrimp, giant chonches and clams are prevalent.

How can I get to Cabo Blanco? You can reach Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve by a four wheel drive vehicle on a 11 km long dirt road from nearby Montezuma.    Or, you can hire a taxi in Montezuma, where mountain bike rental provides another option for transportation. The park  is open 8 am to 4 pm Wednesdays to Sundays and an entrance fee of  $7 has to be paid at the ranger station. There you can also get a map explaining the trail system.   Part of the  beauty of this area is that there is no infrastructure.  Bring water and food along if you want to spend  some time walking the beach and hiking in the national park.

One of the most wonderful things about this park is there are few tourist here.  Perhaps because it is off the beaten path and to get here by car you have to put the car on the Puntarenas ferry.  Or take a commuter flight  on Sansa Air or Nature Air to  Tambor and then there  hire a taxi to Montezuma beach.

Is Tamarindo Beach Town In Costa Rica Named for the Tamarind, a Tropical Fruit Tree?

[caption id="attachment_2760" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="The Tamarind Tree of Costa Rica"][/caption]




[caption id="attachment_2761" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="Tamarind Pods"][/caption]

Tamarind is a tropical fruit tree native to Africa. It grows in tropical climates and can survive without a lot of rainfall, such as the NW Pacific areas of Guanacaste in Costa Rica.  Its tree itself is often planted for a shade tree and it's  fruit contains an acidic pulp, dark red in color.    This pulp is used to make a drink which quinches the thirst, and is very popular in Costa Rica.  If you are vacationing in Costa Rica be sure to order a Tamarind drink and see how you like it.  In the glass it has a color similar to red wine.

There is a small town in Costa Rica named Tamarindo, located on the NW Pacific beach of Costa Rica in the province of Guanacsate.  Don't know if it is named for this tropical fruit tree. Tamarindo is famous for surfing because the waves there are just right, even for beginner surfers.  There are long stretches of beach nice for walking especially in the late afternoon.  The sunset is beautiful.

Deep Sea fishing is great in Tamarindo.  The beautiful deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean offer the best of sailfish, large tuna, and marlin.

In recent years Tamarindo has become a very popular destination for young people looking for sun and fun.  There is abundant night life in the high season of December through March. And lots of small locally owned  restaurants.

So if you are traveling to Costa Rica and want a beach destination, check out Tamarindo and be sure to order a Tamarind drink.

Was Christopher Columbus Disappointed in What He Found in Costa Rica?

[caption id="attachment_2755" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Catholic Church Nicoya built by Spaniards 1640"][/caption]

Today October 12 is a Holiday in the US.  It’s Columbus Day.

On September 8, 1502 Christopher Columbus arrived on the Atlantic Coast of Costa Rica and took refuge just off the coast near what is now the Port of Limon.  Was he disappointed in what he found in Costa Rica?

The native Indians were friendly towards Columbus and his men and brought goods to trade  with them.  They brought cotton cloth, clubs, bows and arrows.  Columbus especially admired the pendants made of tumbago which is an alloy made of copper  and gold and the golden mirrors worn about the Indian’s necks.   The Indians communicated that there was gold along the coast to the south.   So Columbus named the area “rich coast” or in Spanish Costa Rica.  Thinking that it would be a rich jewel in Spain’s Crown.

But sadly, it turned out to be one of the poorest of Spain’s  colonies. And for many reasons.  Mainly it was the terrain which was almost impassible.  The impenetrable forest and raging rivers and swamps  made it almost impossible to navigate.

The Spaniards did not find the gold they have anticipated.  And for them this was a great disappointment.  Sixty years passed before  the first settlement  was established. Despite the obstacles the Spanish settlers began  to carve out the jungle to make their new homes. But life was hard.  They learned from the Indians  to use native methods  to cultivate  crops.  The land was fertile  and the forest abundant in wildlife.   But food was scarce. Generating wealth was difficult. The settlers became discouraged but  stuck it out.   Gold was consistently the theme  and the Indians always pointed south, and this gave the Spaniards the fever.  But these legendary mines were never discovered.
The settlers remained, carved out the land, built their homes, and raised their families.
Today Costa Ricans will tell you that it was this independent yomen farmer, working his plot of land in the hills that planted the seeds for the beginning of the great democratic tradition in today’s Costa Rica.

If you travel to Costa Rica  you will immediately see the Spanish culture, language, and traditions brought to the new world by these Settlers.  The King and Queen of Spain sent Catholic priest to serve  the immigrants and to convert the Indians.  Today Catholicism is the official religion.  Beautiful churches are found in every town and children are taught Catholicism in the public schools.
Costa Rica does not have an official day (holiday) to commemorate Christopher Columbus.

Planning a Vacation to Costa Rica? Should I Use a Travel Agent to Help Plan my Vacation.

[caption id="attachment_2744" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Poas Volcano National Park Costa Rica"][/caption]

If you are planning to travel to Costa Rica on a vacation and want to get the most from your time there and know how much you will expect to spend,  a Travel Agent specializing in Costa Rica is what you need.

The advantages are:  The specialized travel agent for Costa Rica has personally visited the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica, gaining the knowledge of the hotels and tours offered.  He or she will know if the value is in the hotel or what to expect from a specific tour.   Also she will be familiar with the distances between the destinations-for example how long does it take to drive from Arenal Volcano to Tamarindo Beach?  Are the roads good?

What specifically is the weather each month in the  most popular tourist destination?

If I had only  8 nights which  destinations should I try to experience?

Which airport should I fly into.  San Jose international or Liberia international?

What are the beaches like and how are they different one from the other?

Is Costa Rica really a great ecotourism destination?

What wild life can I expect to see?

What is the food like?

All these questions can be answered very well  by a travel agent specializing in Costa Rica.

Yes, you can surf the internet and make your own plans and reservations.  But a computer cannot talk to you and a computer cannot analyze.

So if you are thinking about a vacation to Costa Rica please consider costaricalearn.com.   Ann has 15 years experience in Costa Rica Travel.  Specializing in honeymoons, family vacations, and escorted group tours.  You may contact Ann to help plan you Costa rica Vacations  at  anncreed23@gmail.com

Are the Months of December through March really the Best Weather Months to Travel and Vacation Costa Rica?

[caption id="attachment_2735" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="NW Guanacaste Pacific Beach"][/caption]

The weather in Costa Rica is always a big dilemma for travelers. The months of December through March are considered the "dry" months which means that it rains less...and most of the time you will have the entire day sunny.  But this is the time that the hotels and travel companies charge more.  You can get significant discounts if you travel and vacation in Costa Rica in the months of May through November.  And these times are very nice.

The NW Pacific beaches gets less rain  and it is great to travel there  in the months of May through November.    This area of Costa Rica is arid and in the rainy season months you get sunny mornings and late afternoon showers.

I personally like to travel to Costa Rica May thorough November.  There are less tourist and all the prices are better.  I do my major outdoor activities in the morning when there is sunshine and if it rains in the afternoon, I just rest.

But if you are looking for sun all day long then plan your vacation December through March.  However there are areas of Costa Rica like the Arenal Volcano where  there is no dry or rainy season.  Here it rains a lot.  Get out early in the morning when the sun is shining and do your outdoor activities.

Want to Have a Costa Rica Expert Help Plan Your Perfect Costa Rica Vacation?

[caption id="attachment_2883" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Ann, the Costa Rica Travel Specialist Can Help you Plan Your Vacation"][/caption]

Are you thinking about taking a vacation to Costa Rica or a Costa Rica Honeymoon? And want expert help on the planning?  You have found the right source.    Ann Cabezas Creed  is a Costa Rica Travel Expert. She has fifteen years of experience planning honeymoons, family vacations, and group trips to Costa Rica, and is the owner of Unique Costa Rica Journeys, a travel company specializing in Costa Rica.

Ann will help  plan your Costa Rica vacation  to those special places, whether it is the beach, the mountains and the rain forest,  the National Parks and Volcanoes, whatever your destination wishes Ann can make sure your time is well planned to fit your desired activities and your budget.

Read more about Ann, just go to the top of this page and click on About US Ken and Ann.   You may contact her at anncreed23@gmail.com

What's the Weather Like in the Tortuguero Canals, Costa Rica in July and August

 

[caption id="attachment_2719" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Exotic Fan Plant along the Tortuguero Canals"][/caption]

The weather at the Tortuguero Canals in  Costa Rica during the months of July and August is rainy, however you may experience some sunny mornings, even a full day of Sun.  I travel to Costa Rica to see the  the canals in August for three days and I had two days of full sun and on the third day it started raining around 1 p.m. and rained well into the night.  Since this area is located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, it get a lot more rain than the rest of the country.  I suppose it has to do with the trade winds coming off the Atlantic Ocean bringing the rain clouds with them.  Therefore this area is lush and green with hundreds of different tropical plants and trees.

We did out tours of the Tortuguero Canals in the morning and when the rain came in the afternoon, I decided to go to my room and read my book, in bed.  A great afternoon!

This area of Costa Rica is one of my favorites.  It is so beautiful!  And remote.  Very few people live here because there are few roads so  the area is accessible by boat.

Thinking of vacationing to Costa Rica?  You would love a copy of our full length Costa Rica Travel Video "Costa Rica a Travel Adventure Spectacular" video. Just go to our home page of costaricalearn.com to the top of the page and click on "buy our video"  which leads you to a 3 minute trailer and also instructions on how to order the video.  Filmed and edited (three years in the making)  by Ken Creed a National Geographic veteran and Ann Cabezas Creed, a travel writer and Costa Rica Travel Agent.

I'm a Photographer, Where Should I go in Costa Rica to Take Great Photos?

[caption id="attachment_2714" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Poas Volcano Costa Rica"][/caption]

Tortuguero Canals Costa Rica

Since I am a photographer and my husband is a professional videographer I can recommend some great spots for you.  First, in the cnetral valley of Costa Rica, the Poas Volcano is a great subject.  Go early in the morning and you will have a better chance of getting it without a cloud cover.

Second is the Arenal Volcano located in the northern region of Costa Rica.  The Arenal has many moods.  Again go early in the morning because it also tends to get a cloud cover.  If you are lucky you will get one of its mighty eruptions with fire and hot rocks spewing from it's summit.  Also Lake Arenal is gorgeous early in the a.m. with losts of water birds and the view of the volcano from  the lake  is the best!

The blue River in the northern zone is a photographer's dream.  It is located at the base of the Tenerio Volcano.  However, it is hard to get to.  Requires a hike of more than two hours .  The water is sky blue due to the mineral deposits in it.  But if you love hiking and are in good shape, then go for it!  Sunset tours in La Fortuna will sell you a day tour to the Blue River.

The Tortuguero Canals on the  north eastern Caribbean  side of Costa Rica allows you to photograph the dense jungle with monkeys, crocodiles, and toucans.  Also the exotic tropical flowering plants are unique.

The  Southern Caribbean beaches of Costa Rica are lined with palm trees and coconut trees and the houses are painted bright colors of yellow, blue, and green, reflecting the Afro-American culture here.  Everything here has color.  The dense rain forest in it's thousand shades of green.  The sloths which hang out quietly in the tree tops, and the beaches are rocky and the water beats upon these rocks. There are lots of monkeys, crocodiles, and wildlife galore such as several species of Iguanas.  The whole culture here is colorful , even the fishing boats are colorfully painted in blues and yellows. It's a great place for a photographer.

So bring your camera and come on down!

costaricalearn.com strives to present travel tips that will make your vacation to Costa Rica a more meaningful one.   Bring your camera and come join Ann's escorted group tour to Costa Rica departing on June 19, 2010 for 8 nights.  I guarantee you will have wonderful photography opportunities.  Contact Ann at    anncreed23@gmail.com

Also

Costa Rica Spotlight: Like to Take a Trip on the African Queen "Down the Tortuguero River"

[caption id="attachment_2704" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Tortuguero Canals, Costa Rica"][/caption]

Let's  travel to Costa Rica and take this wonderful lyrical five hour trip , not down the Amazon, but down the Tortuguero River to the Tortuguero Canals, and Tortuguero National Park, which run  parallel to the Atlantic Ocean on Costa Rica's north eastern  Caribbean sea shore.    We are not on the African Queen and we  are  not Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.  But we are having just as much fun floating dreamily down the Tortuguero River and the tranquility soothes the savage within us.  We pass an Ilan Ilan Tree and smell it's  sweet fragrance,  "things for which the most famous French Perfumes are make of."

A flock of green macaws suddenly fly from the top of the rain forest, making a swooping sound and land unexpectedly very near us.   Fresh water turtles, basking in the warm sunshine,  lounge lazily on the logs lining the side of the river.   Howler monkeys shake the branches high in the rain forest canopy,  certainly getting our attention.

Dug out canoes pass us painted in bright colors of green and yellow.  The local indigenous people who inhabit this region scout these waters for their daily food supply, mostly Tarpon, a large fish with beautiful white flesh.   These people are mostly self sufficient.  They grow their own vegetables and pick the wild fruit of bananas, coconuts, and wild pineapple.  They fish the waters and and hunt the wild forest  for the small pork,  a  pig weighing around three pounds.

At night  along the long stretches of unspoiled beach, we see the green sea turtle coming ashore, digging a large hole and laying its eggs.   We  are here in the month of July and hundreds of green sea turtles  can be seen here.   We visit the Caribbean Conservation Corporation in the small village of Tortuguero. It's purpose to to study and protect these sea turtles.

How can I arrange a tour to the Tortuguero Canals?  You can purchase a 2 night or 3 night all inclusive package.  Contact Ann at  anncreed23@gmail.com for the information you need about booking  this  2 night-3 day  ( All Inclusive)tour of this region.

What time of year is best to visit here?  This is a very rainy area of Costa Rica...no specific dry season here but we do get sunny mornings and many days it does not rain at all.  So any month of the year is good.

What is the weather like in the region of the Tortuguero Canals?  It is warm and humid.

costaricalearn.com strives to offer you helpful travel tips to make you Costa Rica vacation more meaningful.  Saving you time and money in planning your trip., and sending you to the most exotic and interesting places in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica SPOTLIGHT: Lands In Love, Hotel and Resort and Adventure Center all in One, A Pretty Place with a Pretty Name in Costa Rica

If you are planning a vacation to Costa Rica and are looking for a destination in a tropical setting, not so far from the San Jose International Airport then "Lands in Love Hotel and Resort" could be a great choice for you.  It not only has a pretty name but it is a pretty place!  Its only 2 hours driving time from the San Jose International airport, and located in a beautiful area of Costa Rica where you will see tropical rain forest and lots of wildlife.  And have a wide choice of outdoor adventure activities.   If you drive to San Ramon and take the highway towards the Arenal Volcano, approx. 1.5 hours from San Ramon  (32 km)   you will find "Lands in Love"

[caption id="attachment_2692" align="aligncenter" width="137" caption="Hotel Lands in Love, view from the room"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2693" align="aligncenter" width="137" caption="Hotel Lands in Love, Rooms"][/caption]

One of the big treats here is their restaurant which serves international as well as Israeli  food, specializing in vegetarian dishes as well as  special menus for diet conscious people.

The setting of the hotel is in a beautiful quiet valley surrounded by mountains and rain forest.  In the early morning you can hear the monkeys howling and the tropical birds singing.

Prepare for an exciting outdoor adventure.  The most fun is the canopy  tour, or better known as the zip line tour where you  swing high over the tree tops.  There are nine cable and ten platforms, three trails, two hanging bridges,  and one Tarzan swing.

Canyoning- Rappel down five descends from a 110 meter long waterfall and at the end the fun Tarzan swing and horseback ride through the cloud forest.

Take a horseback riding tour  along the Balsa River and the Cacique mountain with it's magnificent view.

Go white water rafting  passing through the tropical rain forest, deep canyons, and see all the colorful birds and monkeys.

Take a guided hike through the tropical rain forest, waterfalls, and along the Balsa River where we see toucans, monkeys, and exotic plants such as wild orchids.

And at the end of the day you can relax by the pool and enjoy the jacuzzi.

Learn more about Lands in Love www.landsinlove.com

Costa Rica: Young Ladies Pump Gas

[caption id="attachment_2681" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="young lady gas station attendant"][/caption]

If you are on vacation in Costa Rica and you stop at a gas station to fill up your rental car, you will see something that you do not see in the United States.  Young ladies working at the gas stations.  ladies  pump gas , check your oil and water levels,   put air in your tires , even wash your windshield.  And they are very professional and efficient.  They wear a uniform and usually white  pants with a T Shirt.   And you get service with a smile.

In  Costa Rica you get full service when you put gas in your car.   You don't have to pump it yourself and  you will get all you fluids and oil checked.  And your windshield washed..all at no extra charge!  A great service!   I usually tip the attendant if he or she is smiling and friendly.

Costa Rica Spotlight: Tell Me The Most Interesting Place to Vacation in Costa Rica

From the Costa Rica Spotlight Series:  I would have to first ask you, would you want to go to the beach?  Or would you like to go to a rain forest and the mountains?  If you say the mountains then I would tell you the following:

The most interesting place for a rain forest and mountain vacation is the area of the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna.  The reason is that this area has a diverse eco system.  It has a rain forest with hundreds of beautiful tropical birds and a great variety of monkey and other wildlife.   And of course the biggest attraction is the Arenal Volcano itself which spews and spurts lava and hot rocks from its summit.   At night is looks like the 4th of July fireworks celebration.

What activities do you recommend?  Depends of course on what you like to do.  My favorite is the zip line over the rain forest canopy.  There are two companies in Arenal which do this.  1. Arenal Mundo Adventura Ecological Park  and   2. Sky Trek   Can't really say one is better than the other.  I went  with  Arenal Mundo Adventura which had 11 platforms and was very high so I could clearly see the tops of the large trees.  Plus I saw a group of Toucans playing in the trees.

My next favorite is the hot spring.  I especially like the Tabacon Hot Springs because the water is just the right "hot" and cascades down so you can sit under it and let it roll over you.  The botanical gardens there are spectacular.   Also the spa is very very good.  The massage therapist are excellent and have extra training from Sweden.  There is another hot springs called eco thermales but I haven't been there yet.

Of course hiking around the base of the volcano inside the Arenal  Volcano  National is a unique experience.  You can hear the volcano "breathing"  We saw an eyelash viper snake.  Very small and green in color.  Our guide told us not to dare get near it, it's very poisionous.

You can choose from so many different activities.  Mountain biking, horseback riding,  ATVs,  river rafting,  river float,  birdwatching,  Day trip to Cano Negro Wildlife Reserve to see marine birds, crocodiles, monkeys, and much more.  There is a tour to a farm which uses only organic methods and you get to eat luch from all the different organic vegetables.

You can learn more about the tours  at  www.sunsettourcr.com

Also www.desafiocostarica.com

Thanks for reading, if you can add an interesting comment please do so at the end of this article-just click "no comment"   costaricalearn.com

What's So Great About Costa Rica as A Tourist Destination?

[caption id="attachment_2669" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Poas volcano Central Valley Costa Rica"][/caption]

Thinking about taking a vacation to a warm tropical place where sunshine abounds and lots of outdoor nature orientated activities are available.  Costa Rica has the mountains, rain forest,  pristine beaches,  wild rivers,  colorful birds, monkeys, and well almost everything except giraffes,  rhinoceros, lions, and elephants.  The are lowland dry forest, low land rain forest,  cloud forest at the high elevations.  River rafting from a river float to a class IV rafting.  You can sleep on the river banks and feel like you are living in the jungle.  The many wildlife reserves provide sanctuary for hundreds of species of tropical birds. As well as three species of monkeys, the howler, the spider, and the white face.

Costa Rica has set aside over 20% of its land surface for National Parks and Wild life Reserves.  Quite an accomplishment so such a small country about the same size as out state of West Virginia.

Costa Rica has the Poas Volcano National Park in the Central Valley, the Arenal Volcano Nationl Park in the northern zone, and the Irazu Volcano National Park just east of San Jose near the smaller town of Cartago.  The most visited and the most exciting is the Arenal which spews fire and hot rocks from its crater several times a day.

The two coast of Costa Rica, the Pacific and the Atlantic (Caribbean are distinctively different)   read about the differences by clicking         http://costaricalearn.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=2226

Most beach lovers choose the Pacific coast of Costa Rica because there is consistently more sun there, all year round.   And in certain areas there are long stretches of beach with no rocks and waves good for surfing.

Also there is the jungle destination of the Osa Peninsula, where the low land primary rain forest are just gorgeous and full of wildlife.  Development has not yet reached this pristine area because it is very inaccessible.  No roads to speak of so you have to take a boat or small plane to get there.   Many small eco lodges are here but it is not inexpensive because of it's remoteness.

Costa Rican Don't Throw Things Away, They Fix It

This is a short story but has a long  meaning.  I was in Alajuela one day and spotted a sign "Watch Repair- Don't despair" "We fix them all"   I had a watch which was very dear to me and it had stopped running and I had taken it to a repair shop in the states.  They said the battery had corroded the insides of the watch and it was hopeless.  The watch was so pretty.  Had a gold plated stretch band and around the face were clusters of diamonds.  Well, they were real diamonds but to me they were just as pretty.  So with much saddness I gave up.  Until I spotted that sign!

I hurried into the repair shop and pulled my watch from my purse.  The watch repairman took into his small hands, opened it up and it looked  awful inside,  corroded indeed.  But he smiled and said,  "Leave it with me a few days."

I returned after five days and the watch repairman was still smiling.  He handed me the watch and I could hear it ticking and sure enough telling me the correct time of 10:15 a.m.  I felt so lucky and told him in my limited Spanish.  Muchas Gracias!

So I had my  beautiful watch back and working and it cost me only $10.

Repair shops of all kinds still exist in Costa Rica.  Somewhere there is someone who can fix most anything.

The Quetzal can be Found In Monteverde, Costa Rica

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On your travels to Costa Rica are you planning to go to Monteverde?  If so you may be lucky and see the most beautiful bird in the rain forest, the resplendent Quetzal. Yes, Quetzals can be found deep in the Monteverde Cloud Forest reserve.  They make their nests in holes in the trees.  The female lays two light blue eggs. Then both she and the male take turns sitting on the eggs to incubate them.

The quetzal is found in the highland cloud forest from Mexico all the way down through Central America.   To the Mayas and the Aztecs, the quetzal was sacred.  They used the tail feathers from the male in their headdresses.  Guatemala's  monetary unit is called the quetzal.

In was in the month of August that I was very lucky and spotted a Quetzal  not long after I started my hike into the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.  What a sight!  It was a male with his long tail feathers, seeming about two feet long.  Our guide said we were extremely lucky because this bird is reclusive and very hard to spot.

Thinking of vacationing in Costa Rica? You would love a copy of our Costa Rica travel video (DVD) "Costa Rica a Travel Adventure Spectacular" Video. You will see first hand the 10 most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica, including the Monteverde Cloud forest.  Go to the home page of costaricalearn.com, then to the top of the page and click on "buy our Video" There You can view a 3 minute preview and also instructions on how to purchase the video.  Three years in the making , filmed and edited by Ken Creed, a National Geographic veteran and Ann Cabezas Creed, travel writer and Costa Rica Travel Agent.

A Great Day Outing, Irazu Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

[caption id="attachment_2631" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Irazu Volcano and Crater Lake"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2632" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="Location of the Irazu Volcano in the Central Valley"][/caption]

If you have a free day while vacationing in Costa Rica and you are in the central valley of San Jose, be sure to see Irazu Volcano National Park, located about one hour out side San Jose. You can purchase a day trip from one of the local tour operators in the San Jose Area.  There are many, just check with your hotel and they will recommend one.

The ride up to the Irazu Volcano is beautiful.   On a January morning, we  left very early,  around 7 a.m.  We could hopefully get to the volcano summit before the clouds covered the top.  We got to Cartago and stopped for coffee and asked for directions to the volcano summit.   As we ascended,  beauty unfolded before our eyes.  The rich fertile soil of the volcano grows may vegetable and most of the farms are small ones, not big corporate farms like in America.  There were potatoes, cabbage,  carrots,  all those cool weather vegetables because at 4,000 feet the air is cool and crisp.  Perfect for the dairy farms, the cows love the cool air and thick green grass.

After around one and one half hours  we reached the summit, and it looks so much like the surface of the moon.  The day was completely clear with lots of sunshine.   The view to the central valley was perfect, we could see the sky line of San Jose and the out lying smaller cities.  The Irazu Volcano has several craters and one is filled with blue green water, captured from the heavy rainfalls.  A few scrubby scorched trees dot the landscape.  Not much life here, except an occasional hummingbird.

Presently Irazu Volcano is a dormant volcano but in 1964 it violently erupted throwing ash over  Cartago, San Jose, and the central valley.  And continued off and on for  two years.  I lived in Alajuela in an old wooden house and remember when the small earth trimmers came the ash from the Irazu would fall from between the cracks in the ceiling.

Today, it is a quiet picture perfect monster hovering over the central valley.

If you have a rental car, its an easy drive to the Irazu Valley from the areas of San Jose and Alajuela.  Go to Cartago and stop and ask anyone how to get to the summit.

To see more beautiful photos such as the one above go to  anywhereincostarica.com

Travel Tips: What's the Weather Like at Arenal Volcano National Park June, July, August, September?

If you are planning to travel to Costa Rica Arenal Volcano National Park or take a vacation to that area, in the months of June, July, August, and September what kind of weather can you expect?   The Arenal Volcano is located in Costa Rica's San Carlos Valley in the Northwest.  This is the "bread basket" of Costa Rica and receives a large amount of rainfall all year round.

These months you can get nice sunny mornings and rainy afternoon.  However I have been there in these months and experienced  a full day of sun.  You should get up very early, and do your outdoor activities in the morning.  Also you have a better chance of seeing the Arenal Volcano early in the morning since clouds cover it later in the morning.

We  like to stay at the Arenal Observatory Lodge since it has the best view of the volcano.  We  like photography and start around 9 p.m. photographing.  Sometimes earlier if the Volcano is fully visible.   We  rent a boat and so out on Lake Arenal where the possibilities for photography are very nice.  The view of Arenal from there is beautiful and many marine birds are active early in the morning.

The Arenal Volcano National Park has nice trails and I used to be able to hike to the old lava beds, but recently I was there and the park ranger said this part is closed because the volcano was very active that day.  This area of the old lava bed is great for photography.  The lava bed have hugh black lava rocks and you can hear the volcano huffing and puffing.

Around the Arenal Volcano Lodge are many beautiful  birds.  Early morning around 6-6:30 a.m. is the time to see these.  If you have a telephoto lens for your camera-well that even better to get close up of these gorgeous birds.

The Tabacon Hot springs has a wonderful botanical garden filled with flowering tropical plants, great for photography.

If you are planning a vacation to Costa Rica you would love our Costa Rica travel video, "Costa Rica a Travel Adventure Spectacular"  This full length DVD takes you  first hand to the 10 most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica, including the Arenal volcano.  Three years in the making, Ken Creed, a National Geographic veteran and Ann Cabezas Creed, a travel writer and Costa Rica Travel agent,  and one year spent editing...they have created a beautiful 58 minute film.  Just go to the home page of costaricalearn.com..then to the top of the page and click on "buy our video"  This takes  you to a 3 minute preview of the video and also instructions on how you can order it.