Costa Rica's Amazing National Parks

Costa Rica has set one fourth of it's land aside in national parks, reserves, and refuges to protect these valuable natural resources from  potential exploitation and ravages. This is   more than any other country in the world.

For such a small country,  Costa Rica is home to five percent of all the plant and animal species on the planet.   There is 2,000 species of orchids and 850 species of birds making it a bird watchers paradise.

Costa Rica's First National Park-Santa Rosa National Park  is located in the north western corner of Costa Rica.  This park was established in in 1969  along with the National Parks Department.

Rodrigo Carazo, president of the country from 1978-1982 states "Our parks are splendid natural laboratories which we offer to the international scientific community  the opportunity for scientific exploration and also to visitors from all over the world a unique place to enjoy direct contact with nature in it's most pristine and natural state. "

Here are listed the names of Costa Rica's National parks.  Each is unique and has it's own distinctive ecosystem.   These parks are located in the northern part of Costa Rica:  Santa Rosa National Park    Guanacaste National Park   Rincon de la Vieja National Park- Tenorio Volcano National Park -Palo Verde National Park-Barra Honda National Park-Arenal Volcano National Park

Located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica: Tortugero National Park and Cahuita National Park

Located in the central valley: Poas Volcano National Park- Irazu Volcano National Park-Braulio Carrillo  National Park

Central Pacific Coast: Manuel Antonio National Park and Carara National Park

South Pacific- Corcovado National Park and Marino Ballena National Park

Off the Pacific Coast- Coco Island National Park

La Amistad National Park in the Talamanca Mountains bordering Panama.  It is almost 500,000 acres and is declared by UNESCO a Reserve of the Biosphere and And A World Patrimony Site.  Almost one half of La Amistad has never been explored. It protects the largest virgin forest in Costa Rica and home to 400 species of birds.  One should venture into this park only with a trained guide. The mountains and thick tropical virgin rainforest have few marked trails.

The two most visited national parks by tourist are the Poas Volcano National Park because of it's location in the central valley and has easy access.  And the Arenal Volcano National Park because of the many different choices of outdoor activities offered in and around the volcano.

If you would like to visit one of these national parks contact Ann "The Costa Rica Expert" to help you plan and design that perfect vacation.  Go to her web site for complete information   www.costaricalearn.com

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Costa Ricans Love Liberty,Peace, and Independance

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Why do Costa Ricans love liberty, peace , and personal independence?

Christopher Columbus arrived on the Atlantic Coast of Costa in 1502 at the present  town of Limon.  He found very little gold in this small mountainous country.   Therefore, few people from Spain came to settle here. By 1573 there were only 50 families and they settled in land near Cartago, and most of them lived on isolated farms in a state of grim impoverishment and working their lands as well as they could.  There was very little influence from Spain and very little influence from the Catholic Church of Spain.  The Spanish Colonial Government was set up in Guatemala and it was a three day trip by horse from Guatemala so Costa Rica was largely ignored.

Many Costa Ricans think that this point in history is the explanation for their love of Liberty, Peace, and Independence.  Beginning with the independent yeoman farmer  working is little plot of land , these people lived  a modest life dominated by the struggle to survive without outside help or interference.  No aristocratic social class arose and  there were no groups of strong and powerful landowners to try and put down the poorer class of farmers.

These farmers lowered their heads to the sun and dirtied their hands in the soil of their own fields.

Commerce grew slowly.  The first crop to be cultivated was tobacco but it was not  good quality so there was not a market for it.  The next crop to be planted was Cocoa which did not succeed either.  Pirates sailed in on the Atlantic coast and robbed the Cocoa crops.

In 1521 independence was Spain was declared by the colonial officials in Guatemala and it was one month before Costa Rica received the news by a courier aboard a mule.

Signs of prosperity were brought on by the planting of coffee which grew profusely in the rich volcanic soil.   Soon a small wealthy class of farmers arose from the sale of the coffee to Europe and they considered themselves the "high society" of Costa Rica.  They traveled abroad and educated their children in the Universities of Europe .   Their money built the National Theater in downtown San Jose, the capital city.  Operas traveled from Europe to Costa Rica to perform.

Today Costa Rica does not have a standing army, has a literacy rate of around 95%, and has a socialized medical delivery system.   Costa Ricans are considered among the happiest people in the world.  There is no separation of church and state.  The Catholic religion is taught in the public schools. Most Costa Ricans speak some English.  The family unit is very strong and old people are cared for in their homes instead of Nursing Homes.

So

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what are the negatives about living in Costa Rica?  Petty theft is a big problem. People have to have someone in the home at all times unless they  live in  a gated-guarded community. Driving is difficult because the young men especially speed and dont follow the rules of safe driving. Cost of living is higher than their neighboring countries of Nicaragua and Panama.

Tourism (eco tourism) is the number one money maker in Costa Rica followed  by coffee and bananas.  Also large pineapple farms are popping up in the north eastern part of the country.

Unemployment is not a big problem.

The Costa Rican government has placed 20% of it's land in National Parks and Wildlife Preserves.

If you would like help planning a vacation to this tropical paradise, contact Ann "the Costa Rica Expert " The Costa Rica Vacation Planner"  Go to her web site  www.costaricalearn.com

 

 

Costa Rica's Amazing Diversity

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COSTA RICA'S AMAZING DIVERSITY

Costa Rica is not an island in the Caribbean. It is located in  the center of the Central American isthmus.  It is a very small country with less than 20,000 square miles, bordered on the north by Nicaragua and the south by Panama.  On the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the east by the Caribbean Sea - Atlantic Ocean.  This is a complex area with perhaps more DIVERSITY  than any other place it's size on earth.   Costa Rica is divided into several distinct regions, each of them feels and looks very different from the other.

In the above photo you can see the major mountain ranges which  run (down the middle) from the north to the south of the country . Here are located seven different volcanoes.  Only one of these volcanoes is active and it is the Poas Volcano located in the central valley of Costa Rica

Costa Rica has attracted an international community of  conservationists, biologist, environmentalists, and over one million tourist per year. Tourist come to enjoy a multitude of outdoor adventure activities from birdwatching to zip lining-from surfing to snorkeling and scuba diving.  They come to explore the rainforests in the many national parks and wildlife preserves.

Cost Rica has  seven volcanoes.  The only one which is  active is the Poas Volcano located in the central valley-sixty eight miles northwest of San Jose,  the capital city.  This volcano has a crater one mile wide with active geysers which spew up hot steam and sulfur gases on a daily basis.  The Arenal Volcano is the most visited and  is located in the north central area of the country.  It ceased to be active in November 2011.  However tourist still flock to this area hoping that it will without warning start up again and spew it hot lava hundreds of feet into the atmosphere.

Most of the population of Costa Rica live in the Central Valley at elevations between 456 meters and 1,300 meters.  Temperatures here are very mild at between 70 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.  Costa Rica has an abundance of rainfall between the months of May and November.  So this tropical rainy climate allows for rich soil which grows coffee, bananas, sugar cane, rice, black beans, and hundreds of tropical fruits and vegetables. Pineapple and bananas are exported to the USA and also to Europe.

The highest peak in Costa Rica is Chirripo  mountain. (located in south central  Costa Rica.) It is around 12,000 feet above sea level with cold and brittle weather.   Tourist from all over world come here to hike  Chirripo.

The coast lines of Costa Rica are a very different story with hot temperatures with abundant  bright sunshine.  The NW Pacific Coast is the most visited with dozens of hotels with a price range and budget for any tourist.  This coastal  area in the north western side of Costa Rica is arid with small trees and less rainfall. In contrast, the Caribbean coast is very rainy all year, thus attracting fewer tourist. It is more tropical and lush with the  natural beauty of palm trees and coconut trees lining the pristine white sandy beaches.

To make one understand more easily, the temperature of the area you are located in Costa Rica is determined by the altitude.

Costa Rica has a dry season mid December until mid April..although on the Caribbean coast this does not apply because here it rains there all year round. Also the south western  Osa Peninsula gets a great deal of rain all year round. Rainy season in Costa Rica is considered May through November with less rain on the northwest Pacific Coastline.

For such a small country Costa Rica is filled with amazing DIVERSITY and climates. This is why North Americans and Europeans find retiring here very appealing.

San Jose is the capital city located in the central valley.  It is not an attractive city and we do not see the beautiful Spanish Colonial Architecture like we see in Granada, Nicaragua. Traffic jams are horrible in San Jose. There are "more vehicles in Costa Rica's central valley than there are roads".

Daylight hours are the same in Costa Rica all year round.  Sunrise -around 5:30 am and Sunset around 5:30 pm.  Twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of darkness.

If you ask someone who has retired to Costa Rica-"What is your favorite thing about living here?"  The say "It is the beautiful weather along with it's Amazing Diversity."

Costa Rica has it all.  Plenty of water.  Veins of water come right out of the side of the mountains forming streams and rivers which run into the seas.  The soil is exceptionally rich due to the volcanic ash fallen to the earth through the centuries.

Geographically Costa Rica is mostly mountainous.  From the air one can look down and see mountains after mountains and all is GREEN and  lush.  This is why it takes so long to drive from the central valley to the coast.  You have to wind up and around the mountainous terrain with two lane often narrow roads.

If you are thinking of a vacation to Costa Rica contact Ann, "The Costa Rica Expert" She can plan your vacation (along with your input) and make the arrangements for you.  This can save you a lot of time surfing the internet and getting confused.  She has twelve years experience in VACATION PLANNING TO COSTA RICA.  You can read all about this on her website www.costaricalearn.com

 

Costa Rica's Treasure-It's National Parks

Costa Rica's people values it's national treasures so much that  20% of it's land has been set aside for  National Parks and Wildlife Preserves,  protecting and preserving them for vacationers to enjoy some of the most  beautiful  tropical scenery in Central America.

Located in the central valley sixty eight miles north the capital city of San Jose we find the Poas Volcano National Park.  Rising eight thousand feet above sea level with it's southern slope covered in vibrant green colored bushes known as coffee.  It is the most visited national park with over 200,000 people from all over the world visiting annually.  Poas' crater is one mile wide and easily viewed from a look out point on it's south face.  The gurgling steaming sulfuric blue waters inside the crater often spray upward forming a beautiful geyser-exactly what the visitors come to see!   It's last major eruption was in 1952.  However, frequently small eruptions occur shooting  steam and gasses into the air. There is good hiking  and the best is a thirty  minute hike up to Botos Lake (the old crater) which is very beautiful with cold green water. You hike a well maintained trail  through giant umbrella plants and small dense alpine forest.   The weather is cool, damp, and foggy giving one a mystical feeling.

Plan to spend at least half a day here.  There is a visitor's center with a small natural history museum, a great  gift shop, and the  BEST  coffee shop serving Costa Rican coffee grown here on the slopes of the volcano. Try to arrive early in the morning to get the best views.  Sometimes by late morning clouds move in and cover the crater.

What is unique about Poas Volcano National Park  for visitors to see?  It is the only active volcano in Costa Rica .  Vacationers can view from a look out point above the crater the steaming fumaroles and quite often a big burst of steam rising from it's hot blue pool of  sulphurous water. and gases.  In May 1989 Poas shot ash and hot steam one mile into the air.

Can I hike in Poas Volcano National Park?  Yes, the are two well maintained trails for hiking and you can see a rainforest here.  The trees are not very tall because it is  windy at eight thousand feet above sea level. Many wild flowers grow in the park and a great variety of moses, bromeliads, and ferns.  The giant umbrella tree is the most famous plant in the park  (pictured above).  Several varieties of hummingbirds can be seen and will buzz around you as you walk through this vivid landscape.

Xinia and I spent one morning in the park.  We left Alajuela around 7:45 am and arrived at 8:15 am  to the park.  We got a great view of the crater with its deep blue steaming water because the clouds had not yet covered it.  Cold and damp weather welcomed us and we were glad we had  our raincoats and comfortable tennis shoes. We hiked both trails and were quite tired so we descended and decided to stop at Fredda Fressas for lunch.  Located on the main road heading down, Fredda Fressas offers a typical Costa Rica Lunch.  We choose the Casada which is the most typical. It is  rice, black beans, cabbage slaw, piccadilla de pappas (potatoes finely chopped with sweet red peppers boiled with a little Salsa Lizano added).  Fresh strawberries in leche (milk) was our drink.  And three milk cake  (tres leches) was our choice of desert.  Everything was delicious.

I highly recommend Poas Volcano National Park if you are vacationing in the central valley of San Jose and Alajuela.  It is a great day trip.  The road is good all the way to the summit.  Coffee Plantations line the hillsides and are spectacularly beautiful.

The Park is open all year round.  Take a raincoat and  comfortable shoes.

If you would like help planning your vacation to Costa Rica contact Ann, "the Costa Rica Expert"  She will help you plan an itinerary that fits your specific needs and you will not have to deal with a lot of different people while planning.  Also you will save time not having to surf the internet hoping to find the hotels and tours.

Go to  www.costaricalearn.com    and read how Ann works and how she can help you plan your vacation to Costa Rica