Costa Rica means the rich coast in Spanish and it is hard to argue with the description when you consider the captivating beauty and stunning natural features of this country that is enviously situated with views of the Pacific Ocean to the West and the warm Caribbean Sea to the east.
There are so many reasons for the savvy traveler to visit Costa Rica, and here are some good reasons why you should be making it your next holiday destination.
Weather
Costa Rica is situated north of the Equator and this means that whatever time of the year you choose to visit, you will be greeted by a tropical climate.
There are slight regional variations to consider and the local people tend to split their seasons into two halves. The dry season which is referred to by the residents as simply, summer, runs from December to April each year and the wet season, referred to as winter, runs from May to November.
Need-to-know information
The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish and in 2011, the Census revealed that there were just over 4.5 million people living here.
The local currency is the Costa Rican Colón and the principal source of wealth for the country used to be coffee but bananas now rival that product as the main contributor.
Environmentally friendly
Amongst many of the good reasons why you should pay a visit to Costa Rica, is that it has a very good recent record on human development and environmental sustainability. This means that when you visit this beautiful country, the chances are higher than in a number of other places, that you will meet some happy locals who on the whole enjoy a great climate, a comparatively good standard of living and, having been ranked as one of the greenest countries in the world in 2012, you will find a place that has been officially recognized as being environmentally friendly.
Where to stay
Costa Rica has numerous vacation rentals to choose from and you will no doubt want to witness the intense variety of biodiversity on display first hand.
You should remember when planning your vacation that the busiest periods in the country are the Christmas and New Year period together with the Easter celebrations, so these are the times where you will find competition for somewhere to stay at its highest.
There is a wide choice of locations to choose from and accommodation available most of the time and the difficult decision to make is often which of the amazing natural landscapes you want to explore.
Major attractions
To give you some idea of where you might want to head to, consider the Arenal Volcano in the Northern Lowlands or Monteverde which is situated in the Central Highlands.
It is very difficult to pick a definitive list of must-see places because Costa-Rica is so rich in natural landscape and habitats that all warrant your attention when you come to visit. If you like beaches and surfing then you should head to Mal Pais in Santa Teresa and Manuel Antonio in Central Pacific delivers world-class views, a national park and beaches nearby, for a memorable experience.
Wherever you decided to head to, Costa Rica will not disappoint.
Author: Marcus Anderson is a self-confessed jetsetter who has traveled around the world more than once. When he’s not travelling, he’s writing about it on a variety of websites.
The Savvy Traveler: All About Costa Rica
Costa Rica means the rich coast in Spanish and it is hard to argue with the description when you consider the captivating beauty and stunning natural features of this country that is enviously situated with views of the Pacific Ocean to the West and the warm Caribbean Sea to the east.
There are so many reasons for the savvy traveler to visit Costa Rica, and here are some good reasons why you should be making it your next holiday destination.
Weather
Costa Rica is situated north of the Equator and this means that whatever time of the year you choose to visit, you will be greeted by a tropical climate.
There are slight regional variations to consider and the local people tend to split their seasons into two halves. The dry season which is referred to by the residents as simply, summer, runs from December to April each year and the wet season, referred to as winter, runs from May to November.
Need-to-know information
The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish and in 2011, the Census revealed that there were just over 4.5 million people living here.
The local currency is the Costa Rican Colón and the principal source of wealth for the country used to be coffee but bananas now rival that product as the main contributor.
Environmentally friendly
Amongst many of the good reasons why you should pay a visit to Costa Rica, is that it has a very good recent record on human development and environmental sustainability. This means that when you visit this beautiful country, the chances are higher than in a number of other places, that you will meet some happy locals who on the whole enjoy a great climate, a comparatively good standard of living and, having been ranked as one of the greenest countries in the world in 2012, you will find a place that has been officially recognized as being environmentally friendly.
Where to stay
Costa Rica has numerous vacation rentals to choose from and you will no doubt want to witness the intense variety of biodiversity on display first hand.
You should remember when planning your vacation that the busiest periods in the country are the Christmas and New Year period together with the Easter celebrations, so these are the times where you will find competition for somewhere to stay at its highest.
There is a wide choice of locations to choose from and accommodation available most of the time and the difficult decision to make is often which of the amazing natural landscapes you want to explore.
Major attractions
To give you some idea of where you might want to head to, consider the Arenal Volcano in the Northern Lowlands or Monteverde which is situated in the Central Highlands.
It is very difficult to pick a definitive list of must-see places because Costa-Rica is so rich in natural landscape and habitats that all warrant your attention when you come to visit. If you like beaches and surfing then you should head to Mal Pais in Santa Teresa and Manuel Antonio in Central Pacific delivers world-class views, a national park and beaches nearby, for a memorable experience.
Wherever you decided to head to, Costa Rica will not disappoint.
Marcus Anderson is a self-confessed jetsetter who has traveled around the world more than once. When he’s not travelling, he’s writing about it on a variety of websites.