costaricalearn.com blog

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

Posted: 20 Oct 2014 04:19 PM PDT

This year Costa Rica’s National Theater located in downtown San Jose is celebrating its 117th birthday. The National Theater was inaugurated on October 19, 1897. The opening night featured a magnificent presentation of the opera Faust. The sumptuous building, neoclassic in style, is a copy of the Paris Opera House and was financed from the national budget and by contributions from a coffee tax paid by wealthy coffee growers. The detailing was done by Spanish and Italian artisans and took seven years to complete. It is certainly the most magnificent structure in Costa Rica.

The National Opera Company of Costa Rica presents one opera per year in the National Theater.

If you are vacationing in Costa Rica and would like to visit San Jose, the capital city, I highly recommend a half day visit to the National Theater. There is a small fee to enter. You can go inside to visit the opera stage and also go upstairs to view the opulent ballroom. Afterwards take a couple hours to visit the wonderful Gold Museum located directly behind the National Theater.

To learn more about what to see and do in San Jose if you are vacationing in Costa Rica please contact Ann, The Costa Rica Expert. www.costaricalearn.com

“the Costa Rica Learn Adventure Travel Agency”

Read more articles written by Ann about the National Theater

http://costaricalearn.com/category/costa-ricas-history-sulture-food-traditions/page/2

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Thursday, October 9, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

Best Time to Visit Poas Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Posted: 08 Oct 2014 07:57 PM PDT

How do I make the best of my visit to Poas Volcano National Park located thirty five minutes north of the city of Alajuela in the Central Valley of Costa Rica?

You can drive to Poas Volcano National park in a rental vehicle. You do not need a four wheel drive because the road is paved and in good condition. The route is easy to follow going north from Alajuela. Signs along the road guide you to the correct road. Driving time from Alajuela is approx thirty five minutes.

From San Jose, the capital city-it is 45 miles. First drive to Alajuela from San Jose. Very good roads all the way.

Try to arrive to the park by 8:30am because early you have a better chance of seeing the crater which sometimes will cloud over as the morning progresses. Although I have been at the park when it is covered with clouds and I wait fifteen minutes and winds will clear the crater which is a spectacular sight!! The crater is a one mile wide geyser which sprays hot water and sulphur steam into the air.

The Poas is 8,000 feet above sea level so the air is cool and often misty so you need a jacket and good walking shoes. From the visitors center you need to walk about fifteen minutes to arrive to the crater. There is a great hiking trail there at the crater which leads you to the old crater lake (takes approx twenty minutes up and twenty minutes down. A good work out.

The visitors center has a good demonstration of the history of the Volcano with nice photos. You can get a Good cup of Costa Rican coffee at the coffee shop adjacent to the visitors center.

The eco system at the Poas is very unusual. There are large plants called Poor Man’s Umbrella all over the park and huge ferns, mosses, and bromeliads . Yellow and white wild flowers line the paths to the crater.

I highly recommend a visit to the Poas Volcano National Park is you are going to be in the Central Valley of Costa Rica.

Weather patterns at the Poas: Get there early in the morning because clouds often hover over the crater by late morning.

Best time of the year to visit Poas? Dry season is January thru April. It rains less during these months. Rainy season is May thru Nov. The more Rainy months are Sept and Oct. Lasts two weeks of July are good. There is a lull in the rainfall.

What to wear? Good walking shoes, a rain jacket and in rainy season an umbrella. Weather is cool because it is 8,000 above sea level at Poas Volcano.

How long should I allocated to see all the Poas Volcano

Poas Volcano

Poas Volcano Erupting

IMG 4452 200x300 Best Time to Visit Poas Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

National Park You can do it in one half day.

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

Weather Patterns in the Arenal Volcano area of Costa Rica

Posted: 26 Sep 2014 06:43 PM PDT

The area around the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica has become the most visited area of Costa Rica by tourists from all over the world. And the reasons are many. First and foremost is the spectacular natural beauty of the tropical rainforests which is always green. This is due to abundant rainfall. And the rainfall is all year round. There is no rainy season or dry season around Arenal. The abundance of rainfall also contributes to the many food crops grown in this fertile San Carlos Valley. Large pineapple plantations dot the hillsides, as well as smaller crops of paypaya, yuca, bananas, coconuts, and many more. Also located in this fertile valley are farms of gorgeous tropical plants picked by hand and exported to the worldwide flower markets.

At this moment the Arenal Volcano is not erupting. It became inactive November 2012 and continues to be quiet. However, this does not stop the tourist from coming here to do the abundant outdoor adventure activities such as the zip lines, river rafting, hot springs, Blue River hike, horseback riding, ATV adventures, birdwatching, and monkey watching.

So what time of the year if the best weather for my vacation to the Arenal Area? The least amount of rainfall is March and April. The wettest month is October. The rest of the year we often see sunny mornings. If the rain comes, usually it is mid afternoon. Tourist get up early to begin the many outdoor adventures.

How many days should I spend in Arenal on a Family Vacation to Arenal? I recommend at least 4 nights. This gives everyone an opportunity to do the adventure activities of their choice. Is Arenal a good choice for small children to come with the parents on vacation? Yes, children can enjoy the hot springs, floating down a river to watch the monkeys, visit a wildlife refuge to see monkeys, sloths, tropical birds, and much more.

Where is the Arenal Volcano Located? In the North Central Province of Costa Rica, three hours by car or van from the SJO internation airport and also three hours by car or van from Liberia International airport (located the the northern region of Costa Rica.)

If you are planning a vacation to the Arenal Area you can contact “Ann, The Arenal Expert-Vacation Planner Arenal” She can help you set up the perfect hotel and outdoor adventure activities. There is a hotel and outdoor adventure activity for everyone’s budget, and Ann will help you choose the right one for you and your family. Ann knows the outdoor adventure activities well because she has done most of them herself. She knows how long each adventure activity takes so she can arrange things to run smoothly and your time is not wasted.

To contact Ann go to her web page www.costaricalearn.com

001 300x130 Weather Patterns in the Arenal Volcano area of Costa Rica

Mighty Arenal Volcano

Arenal Volcano 1 newsfull h 300x200 Weather Patterns in the Arenal Volcano area of Costa Rica

Mighty Arenal Volcano

howler monkey 51 243x300 Weather Patterns in the Arenal Volcano area of Costa Rica

Curious George

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Friday, September 19, 2014

Costa Rica Learn

How to Plan A Vacation to Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Posted: 18 Sep 2014 02:51 PM PDT

Arenal Volcano

How to Plan Your Vacation to Arenal Volcano Costa Rica and get the BEST outdoor ADVENTURE Vacation of your lifetime! Ann, “the Costa Rica Expert” is here to tell you how to do it . Ann is the owner of “The Costa Rica Learn Adventure Travel Company.” She has worked in tourism in Costa Rica for twelve years-so experience counts!

How much time should I spend in Arenal? We are a family of three teenage children and Mom and Dad. Allow a minimum of 4 nights (or a least 3 nights) Arenal is a place of magnificent natural beauty. It has rainforest, tropical birds, monkeys, iguanas, sloths, waterfalls, raging rivers, (including the famous blue river in Tenorio National Park.

With soo many outdoor adventure activities available… Some are full day adventures and some are half day adventures.. Ann, The Costa Rica Expert, can help you arrange the time schedule so no time is wasted.

How do I choose a hotel? There are many eco lodges as well as luxury hotels. A hotel for everyone’s budget. Eco lodges range from around $130 per night for a double room and up. Luxury hotels approx. $225 for a double room per night and up.

When is best time of year to visit Arenal. The rainfall in Arenal: No dry season or rainy season. The driest months are March and April. However tourist flock here all year round. When the rain comes, it is usually in the mid to late afternoon and the mornings are sunny. Prices for hotels are higher in the high season which is December through April. Then comes the Green Season and prices come down for hotels quite a bit (usually in the 20% range)

Are the adventure tours good for all ages. Yes, there is an adventure tours for all ages. There is even a zip line tour for ages beginning at six years. To pick the adventure tours in fit into your vacation time frame and your level of activity contact Ann and she can explain all the options and help you arrange your time schedule. See Ann’s web site link at end of this article which explains how to contact her.

Arenal Volcano area has the most wonderful adventure tours of any single location in Costa Rica. The infrastructure is well established.

Where is Arenal located and How do I get there? Arenal is located in the north central area of Costa Rica. The roads are paved and in good condition from San Jose International airport to Arenal. Heading north on highway 1 (interamerican highway) -The drive via San Ramon is 3.5 hours and is best not to drive at night because the roads are mountainous with many curves. Northern Zone of Costa Rica- Going from from Liberia to Arenal the roads are good and are paved.( Liberia is where the 2nd international airport is located in the northern zone of Costa Rica) Head south on the interamerican highway (highway 1) Exit at Canas and follow this road to Arenal .
The journey takes approx 3.5 hours. Ann can arrange for a private transfer by van or you can rent a car which Ann can arrange for you. Also you can fly by Nature Air from San Jose to La Fortuna which is at base of the Arenal Volcano.

Contact Ann the “Costa Rica Travel Expert” Owner: The Costa Rica Learn Adventure Travel Company. She will help you plan your vacation to Arenal. She will save you time and money allowing a restful stress free vacation in Arenal. Find Ann at her web site:

http://costaricalearn.com/

imgvol 300x197 How to Plan A Vacation to Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

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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/

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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

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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

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