Costa Rica has become synonymous with stability and prosperity - Costa Ricans enjoy the highest
rate of literacy, health care, education and life expectancy in the isthmus. Unlike so many of its
neighbours, the country has a long democratic tradition of free and open elections, and even a
Nobel Peace Prize to its name, won by former president, Oscar Arias, a key architect in the Peace
Plan that helped bring an end to the conflicts in the region during the 1980s.
In recent years Costa Rica has also become the prime eco-tourism destination in Central America, if
not in all the Americas, due in no small part to an efficient promotion machine that trumpets the
country's complex system of national parks and wildlife refuges. Every year hundreds of thousands
of visitors - mainly from the United States and Canada - come to walk trails through million-year-old
rainforests , raft foaming whitewater rapids, surf on the Pacific beaches and climb the volcanoes that
punctuate the country's mountainous spine. More than anything it is the enduring natural beauty
that impresses. Milk-thick twilight and dawn mists gather in the clefts and ridges divided by high
mountain passes; on the Pacific coast, carmine and mauve sunsets splash down into the sea like
meteors; vaulting canopy trees and thick deciduous understoreys carpet large areas of undisturbed
rainforest, and vestiges of high-altitude cloudforest offer glimpses into a misty, primeval universe,
home to the jaguar, the lumbering Jurassic tapir and the truly resplendent quetzal.
One glib accusation you're almost certain to hear lobbed at the tiny nation is that it has no culture or
history. It's certainly true that there are no ancient Mesoamerican monuments on the scale of
Guatemala or Honduras, and just one percent of the population is of indigenous extraction, so you
will see little native culture. However, anyone who spends some time in the country will find that
Costa Rica's character is rooted in distinct local cultures, from the Afro-Caribbean province of
Limón, with its Creole cuisine, games and patois, to the traditional ladino values embodied by the
sabanero (cowboy) of Guanacaste. Above all, you're sure to be left with mental snapshots of la vida
campesina, or rural life - whether it be aloof horsemen trotting by on dirt roads, coffee-plantation
day-labourers setting off to work in the dawn mists of the Highlands, or avocado-pickers cycling
home at sunset.
rate of literacy, health care, education and life expectancy in the isthmus. Unlike so many of its
neighbours, the country has a long democratic tradition of free and open elections, and even a
Nobel Peace Prize to its name, won by former president, Oscar Arias, a key architect in the Peace
Plan that helped bring an end to the conflicts in the region during the 1980s.
In recent years Costa Rica has also become the prime eco-tourism destination in Central America, if
not in all the Americas, due in no small part to an efficient promotion machine that trumpets the
country's complex system of national parks and wildlife refuges. Every year hundreds of thousands
of visitors - mainly from the United States and Canada - come to walk trails through million-year-old
rainforests , raft foaming whitewater rapids, surf on the Pacific beaches and climb the volcanoes that
punctuate the country's mountainous spine. More than anything it is the enduring natural beauty
that impresses. Milk-thick twilight and dawn mists gather in the clefts and ridges divided by high
mountain passes; on the Pacific coast, carmine and mauve sunsets splash down into the sea like
meteors; vaulting canopy trees and thick deciduous understoreys carpet large areas of undisturbed
rainforest, and vestiges of high-altitude cloudforest offer glimpses into a misty, primeval universe,
home to the jaguar, the lumbering Jurassic tapir and the truly resplendent quetzal.
One glib accusation you're almost certain to hear lobbed at the tiny nation is that it has no culture or
history. It's certainly true that there are no ancient Mesoamerican monuments on the scale of
Guatemala or Honduras, and just one percent of the population is of indigenous extraction, so you
will see little native culture. However, anyone who spends some time in the country will find that
Costa Rica's character is rooted in distinct local cultures, from the Afro-Caribbean province of
Limón, with its Creole cuisine, games and patois, to the traditional ladino values embodied by the
sabanero (cowboy) of Guanacaste. Above all, you're sure to be left with mental snapshots of la vida
campesina, or rural life - whether it be aloof horsemen trotting by on dirt roads, coffee-plantation
day-labourers setting off to work in the dawn mists of the Highlands, or avocado-pickers cycling
home at sunset.
Though everyone passes through it, hardly anyone falls in love with San José, Costa Rica's
underrated capital. Often dismissed as an ugly urban sprawl, the city enjoys a dramatic setting amid
jagged mountain peaks, plus some excellent cafés and restaurants, leafy parks, a lively university
district and a good arts scene. The surrounding Valle Central is the country's agricultural heartland,
and also home to several of its finest volcanoes, including the huge crater of Volcán Poás and the
largely dormant Volcán Irazú, a strange lunar landscape high above the regional capital of Cartago.
Though nowhere in the country is further than nine hours' drive from San José, the far north and the
far south are less visited than other regions. The broad alluvial plains of the Zona Norte are often
overlooked, despite featuring active Volcán Arenal, which spouts and spews within sight of the
friendly tourist hangout of Fortuna, affording arresting night-time scenes of blood-red lava
illuminating the sky. Off-the-beaten-path travellers and serious hikers will be happiest in the rugged
Zona Sur , home to Mount Chirripó, the highest point in the country. Further south, on the
outstretched feeler of the Osa Peninsula, Parque Nacional Corcovado protects the last significant
area of tropical wet forest on the Pacific coast of the isthmus and is probably the best destination in
the country for walkers - and also one of the few places where you have a fighting chance of seeing
some of the wildlife for which Costa Rica is famed.
In the northwest, the cattle-ranching province of Guanacaste is often called "the home of Costa
Rican folklore", and sabanero (cowboy) culture dominates here, with exuberant rag-tag rodeos and
large cattle haciendas. Limón province, on the Caribbean coast, is the polar opposite to traditional
ladino Guanacaste, home to the descendants of the Afro-Caribbeans who came to Costa Rica at
the end of the nineteenth century to work on the San José-Limón railroad - their language (Creole
English), Protestantism and the West Indian traditions remain relatively intact to this day.
Close to the Pacific coast , Monteverde has become the country's number-one tourist attraction,
pulling in the visitors who flock here to walk trails through some of the last remaining cloudforest in
the Americas. Further down the coast is the popular beach of Manuel Antonio, with its
picture-postcard ocean setting, plus the equally pretty but far less touristed beaches of Sámara and
Nosara on the Nicoya Peninsula.
underrated capital. Often dismissed as an ugly urban sprawl, the city enjoys a dramatic setting amid
jagged mountain peaks, plus some excellent cafés and restaurants, leafy parks, a lively university
district and a good arts scene. The surrounding Valle Central is the country's agricultural heartland,
and also home to several of its finest volcanoes, including the huge crater of Volcán Poás and the
largely dormant Volcán Irazú, a strange lunar landscape high above the regional capital of Cartago.
Though nowhere in the country is further than nine hours' drive from San José, the far north and the
far south are less visited than other regions. The broad alluvial plains of the Zona Norte are often
overlooked, despite featuring active Volcán Arenal, which spouts and spews within sight of the
friendly tourist hangout of Fortuna, affording arresting night-time scenes of blood-red lava
illuminating the sky. Off-the-beaten-path travellers and serious hikers will be happiest in the rugged
Zona Sur , home to Mount Chirripó, the highest point in the country. Further south, on the
outstretched feeler of the Osa Peninsula, Parque Nacional Corcovado protects the last significant
area of tropical wet forest on the Pacific coast of the isthmus and is probably the best destination in
the country for walkers - and also one of the few places where you have a fighting chance of seeing
some of the wildlife for which Costa Rica is famed.
In the northwest, the cattle-ranching province of Guanacaste is often called "the home of Costa
Rican folklore", and sabanero (cowboy) culture dominates here, with exuberant rag-tag rodeos and
large cattle haciendas. Limón province, on the Caribbean coast, is the polar opposite to traditional
ladino Guanacaste, home to the descendants of the Afro-Caribbeans who came to Costa Rica at
the end of the nineteenth century to work on the San José-Limón railroad - their language (Creole
English), Protestantism and the West Indian traditions remain relatively intact to this day.
Close to the Pacific coast , Monteverde has become the country's number-one tourist attraction,
pulling in the visitors who flock here to walk trails through some of the last remaining cloudforest in
the Americas. Further down the coast is the popular beach of Manuel Antonio, with its
picture-postcard ocean setting, plus the equally pretty but far less touristed beaches of Sámara and
Nosara on the Nicoya Peninsula.
| Tell me a little about Costa Rica |
| Occidental Grand Papagayo All Inclusive |
| Area Attractions Valle de Sol Golf Course Los Reyes Golf Course Water sports Aerial Tram Rainforest Arenal Volcano National Park Poas Volcano La Paz Waterfall Gardens San Lorenzo Canopy Carara National Park Doka Estate Coffee Plantation The Butterfly Garden Zoo |
| Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose |
| Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose stands on a Central Valley coffee plantation. La Isabela Tapas & Wine Cellar prepares elegant Spanish cuisine, while Villa Hermosa offers casual atmosphere and an international menu. La Castilla is the site of cigar and martini bars, and hosts live entertainment. The hotel features a golf driving and practice range, practice putting surface and sand traps. A pro shop offers club rentals, group clinics and lessons. Three lighted concrete tennis courts are located on site, as are two outdoor freeform pools with mountain views. |
| The Resort Martino is a luxury resort located in the lush tropical central valley of Costa Rica that is known for having one of the three best climates in the world. Located only 10 minutes from the airport, this European- style hotel is surrounded by tropical jungle and provides the perfect central location for exploring mighty volcanoes, rainforests and of course, the jungle. The resort, situated in a six-acre park-like setting, features a full-service spa, modern gym, casino, outdoor neoclassic pool and a five-star gourmet restaurant, which only uses the freshest natural and organic ingredients. The latest technology is employed in the state-of-the-art health spa and fitness center so that guests experience the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation. |
| Hotel Martino Spa And Resort |
| Presidente Hotel |
| Outstanding Service And Location Set The Hotel Presidente Apart. A True City Hotel, The Hotel Presidente Is In The Center Of The Action In Downtown San Jose. Free Wireless Internet Access. Restaurants And Lounges, Concierge And Rooftop Spa. With Its Full Menu, The News Cafe Is The Place For A Great Meal And Lively Conversation. When Looking To Unwind, The Skybox Club Sports Lounge Has All The Necessary, Ultra-comfortable And Super Entertaining Elements Including Sports Action On Flat Screen Tvs, Pool Tables And A Full Bar. |
| Gran Hotel Costa Rica |
| The Historic Gran Hotel Costa Rica Is A Restored 1930s Property That Stands Adjacent To The Plaza Del La Cultura And The National Theater In San Jose, Costa Rica. The Omni Mall Is Located One Block Away And The Metropolitan Cathedral Is Two Blocks From The Hotel. Hotel Features. Complimentary American-style Breakfasts Are Served Each Morning, And Restaurant 1930 Is Open Daily For Breakfast, Lunch And Dinner. Bar Bufo Dorado Features Live Music And Large-screen Televisions While Cafeteria Las Arcadas Y Cafeteando Serves Gourmet Selections 24 Hours A Day. |
| Courtyard By Marriott San Jose Escazu |
| The Courtyard by Marriott San José Escazu is close to downtown San José, Forum business complex and the largest shopping mall in Costa Rica, MultiPlaza Mall. The hotel offers complimentary transportation to and from Juan Santamaria International Airport, Forum and MultiPlaza Mall. Guests at this Courtyard are steps away from the best restaurants in San José and are close to Arenal Volcano National Park where they might see a spectacular display of flowing red-hot lava and incandescent rocks flying through the air. |
| Ramada Plaza Herradura San Jose |
| This amenity-packed hotel provides complimentary buffet breakfasts each morning. Four on-site restaurants include Sakura, where Japanese fare is served during lunch and dinner hours. The Tirrenia Restaurant specializes in flavorful Mediterranean cuisine while the poolside Tropicala Restaurant prepares casual dishes. The business center offers computers with complimentary high-speed Internet access. |
| Tour China See the tourist sites of China and stay at some of the best hotels around. |
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