costaricalearn.com blog: August 2014

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

La Fortuna, A small town in the Shadow of the Arenal Volcano

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 07:45 PM PDT

La Fortuna is famous because of tourists who flock to the area to view the Arenal Volcano and partake in the numerous outdoor adventure activities here.

It is located 4 miles from the base of the volcano. The name La Fortuna means “the fortunate’ because it was the only small village spared when the mighty eruption of the Arenal occurred in 1968 destroying three small villages on its western side.

Tourists visit La Fortuna because it is full of small gift shops, has three banks, a good size grocery store, a beautiful church, and a great adventure tour company. The small airport is located three miles outside of town and the public bus also makes a stop here. La Fortuna is three hours by car from the San Jose International airport.

Desafio Tours is located on the town square, and can handle all your adventure tours. The park in the center of the town is the prettiest part. Locals meet to visit, bring their babies to take the sun, and tourist congregate to take photos and watch the townspeople. Also, the are many good restaurants situated all around the square, as well as small inexpensive hotels. The trees and plants in the park are always green because it rains here year round. From La Fortuna you can head north towards the Arenal Lake and on this road you will find most of the hotels –dozens of them- The numerous hot springs in the area are also a big draw for tourist as well as locals.

5 fun things to do in Arenal:

1. zip line tours

2. hot springs

3. rappell and canyoneering

4. white water rafting

5. horseback riding

6 And much more!

If you would like to include the Arenal Volcano area in you vacation to Costa Rica contact Ann “The Arenal Expert” and she will help you plan your itinerary here in Arenal.

You can read all about Ann http://costaricalearn.com/

The post La Fortuna, A small town in the Shadow of the Arenal Volcano appeared first on Costa Rica Learn.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

Weather Patterns in Costa Rica’s Pacific Northwest Beaches

Posted: 10 Aug 2014 06:56 PM PDT

“WHERE THERE IS NO WATER, THERE IS NO LIFE”

In the Pacific Northwest Province of Costa Rica with it’s beautiful white sandy beaches-there is a severe drought . This area is the COWBOY COUNTRY and the Cattle are suffering due to the lack of water. Scientist say that it is caused by a natural phenomenon called “El Nino” which seems to wreck it’s havoc approximately every seven years.

El Nino is understood only by scientist. However, a very simple explanation can give us some insight: El Nino occurs when the the Pacific Ocean water off the coast of South America rises in temperature and then meets the high air pressure in the western Pacific Ocean. The results for Costa Rica is that on it’s western Pacific ocean side, there has been much much less rainfall for the year 2014. The cattle ranchers are suffering as well as the fisherman who say this causes the fish to die.

El Nino in Spanish means “Christ Child” named because this periodic warming is noted to begin just after Christmas.

On an average year this area of Costa Rica will have rainfall just about every afternoon lasting around two hours during the rainy season which is June thru November.

How does this affect tourism in Costa Rica. Less rain means more sun and many tourists visiting the Pacific Northwest beaches are looking for sunshine. So for them this is better.

But for the people who live all year round here, it means less beef is produced so beef prices will rise for the consumer. Fish prices will rise as well due to the shortage.

Planning a vacation to Sunny Costa Rica? Contact Ann “the Costa Rica Expert” –Vacation Planning-Costa Rica. Twelve years of experience in Costa Rica vacation planning. Go to her web site to read all about her and how she works www.costaricalearn.com

The post Weather Patterns in Costa Rica’s Pacific Northwest Beaches appeared first on Costa Rica Learn.

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

One of Costa Rica’s Best Fruits-Guanabana

Posted: 01 Aug 2014 08:41 PM PDT

GUANABANA, A wonderful tropical fruit and it is grown in Costa Rica! It is used in drinks and to flavor ice cream. In other parts of the world it is know as Soursop and also Graviola.

Indiginous people use it to make medicines. They use the leaves as well as the inside of the fruit. It is great to aid in emptying the bowls and keeping the GI tract clean, and fighting disease causing agents such as parasites and viruses. It is also used to treat fevers and high blood pressure. Some people say the drink made of the pulp of the Guanabana helps them to relax.

Guanabana contains many chemicals that may be active against cancer.

However, this has not been proven in clinical trails.

This web site shows you how to make the drink from Guanabana. http://cooklikeajamaican.com/new-recipe-soursop-juice/

Please contact Ann, The Costa Rica Expert, owner of “the costa rica learn adventure travel company” for information on planning your vacation to Costa Rica www.costaricalearn.com

The post One of Costa Rica’s Best Fruits-Guanabana appeared first on Costa Rica Learn.