My Trip to Costa Rica

This was submitted by a recent visitor to Costa Rica.

How does one begin to describe the most memorable experiences from a holiday? In Costa Rica, every day was another experience in color, warmth, uniqueness and beauty – color of the flowers, warmth of the climate and people, and uniqueness of the flora, fauna and animals. I can certainly understand why Costa Rican art is so colorful. One is surrounded by this color every day everywhere. Some artists even chose to use, as a canvas, large boulders in nature.

Certainly one of the highlights of the trip was our journey to Tortuguerro, where we were fortunate enough to see the green turtles lay their eggs, see fireflies and fluorescent caterpillars illuminate the night and enjoy a moonlit and starry sky in the southern hemisphere, listen to the Howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys and capuchin monkeys (my favorite) and all the other wonderful jungle sounds, enveloped by the warmth of the tropics, followed by a wonderful tour of the jungle, where we were exposed to many varieties of birds, monkeys, alligators, lizards and every variety of tree and bush imaginable. Then there were the other jungle tours, equally interesting and varied, in Manuel Antonio Park and La Selva, where we saw a mushroom shaped like a 5 petaled flower.

Another highlight was the day spent at La Paz, where we saw Macaws, parrots, parakeets, many varieties of hummingbirds, frogs, snakes, butterflies, oxcarts and orchids, followed by an opportunity to hike through a lush jungle, enjoying the spectacle of many waterfalls. After this, I had my first experience ever with having a tarantella walk up and down my arm. Considering I’m petrified of even little spiders, this was a major feat for me. It felt like the tarantella had little toenails at the end of its legs.

Then, of course, there were the not to be forgotten cultural experiences of viewing the magnificent collections of Pre Columbian artifacts, of volcanic stone, pottery, gold and jade at the Museo Nacional and the jade and gold museums. What an incredible people they were to manufacture such intricate and beautifully sculptured work! A walk through Barrio Amon, and on another day, a tour of the Britt Coffee Plantation helped us flavor not only some coffee but also what things may have been like during the time of the Coffee Baron Plantations. Seeing the wood carvings, furniture and oxcarts at Sarchi and San Ramon and hearing the folklore about La Angeles Cathedral in Cartago, where an annual pilgrimage takes place, the stone bridge and the haunted house made for a memorable visit.

Equally fascinating were the times we spent visiting the volcanoes – Poas, Irazu and Arenal. The Tabácon Hot Springs are like nothing I have ever experienced before – wonderful waterfall pools amidst areas of jungle flora and fauna, with the Arenal Volcano in sight while one indulges in the hot springs. You have to do it to appreciate it!!

Of course, no trip to Costa Rica would be complete without a stay at the beach. Manuel Antonio provided for a lovely day of jungle touring in the National Park, meeting with friends at Mimos, swimming and frolicking in the warm waters and crashing waves, sampling local food, exploring craft booths, meeting local artisans and just watching people engaged in having fun. Did you notice the “Hole”y bridge, one has to drive over to get there or the palm oil plantations along the way, not to mention the beaches of Bejuca, Hermosa and Herradura, along the way, or crocodile bridge? Thank goodness, it wasn’t the “hole”y bridge!! For a fantastic view of the ocean, try taking a small detour to Villa Caletas. If you haven’t planned to stay there for the night, perhaps taking in a concert or having a snack overlooking the Grecian amphitheatre and ocean might tantalize your senses sufficiently. And yes, there is still much more to explore – perhaps on another occasion!!!

Marjorie Klapey, Calgary Alberta

Retire in Latin America

That was in this months headline on AOL New that caught our attention with this description of Costa Rica"

"It's got the good weather of Florida, but a much cheaper cost of living. And it's a lot more adventurous than Daytona. Politically stable, Costa Rica has a thriving industry of recruiting American retirees. Thousands of Americans are spread throughout Mexico, Panama and the rest of the region."

As residents of Costa Rica for 10 years, we are often asked the reason why we moved here in the first place .. so here's our Top 10 list for those of you contemplating your own adventure , living, working and or retiring in paradise.

10), Climate, Climate, Climate.. You can almost pick your preferred temperature in Costa Rica and we selected 72 degrees year round at our home in the Central Valley Mountains. But what about the Rainy/Green Season? Sure, we have about 2 hours of rain during our "winter" months each day, but most mornings are beautiful and sunny. That sure beats Fargo in Winter and Phoenix in Summer! We also happen to delight in that expected afternoon rain in green season for a few hours. In fact if you haven't experienced the sound of rain falling on a tin roof, with a good book, frankly, you haven't lived.

9) Nature Lover's Paradise: From rain forest to crisp mountains to experiencing the "Gifts from the Sea', Costa Rica is a Nature Lover's Paradise. Each morning Barry and I hike out our front door to the countryside where following a cow on the road is as common and much more delightful than interstate traffic.

8) Health Care: As Business Owners in the United States faced with staggering insurance costs, we sought out a location for retirement that would provide, quality, affordable health care. Costa Rica has U.S. Trained Dr's with state of the Art Hospitals and Medical Facilities. It also has a thriving medical tourism industry. When we first moved to Costa Rica, private insurance cost $1400 annually for the two of us covering most of our medical costs and prescriptions. What this meant was state of the art care when hospitalized. Third World? I don't know about that. In my private hospital room, I had a flat screen t.v. dining menu options and a companion bed for my husband to stay with me. While our insurance has increased slightly as we have aged, I believe the care in Costa Rica unbeatable.

7) Adventure: We probably saw too many Raiders of the Lost Ark movies, but we wanted the next chapter in our life after the rat race to be a "True Learning Adventure!" Flying through the Forest Canopy, White Water Rafting are just two examples and we have a long list of adventures still on the list. Every day, daily living in Costa Rica is an adventure from exploring exotic fruits to rescuing a sloth. I have to say it beats going to Wal-Mart.

6) Social Community: We could keep ourselves entertained 7 days and nights a week with Costa Rica's busy and diverse ex pat community. There's a club for every interest (Birding, Hiking, Bridge, Gourmet Food and Wine, Volunteer Opportunities) just name it and it's here. Foreign residents find each other at social centers and hubs and groups like the Newcomers Organization that help with the transition of moving to a foreign country.

5) Safety: While we now look back to the good old days when there was virtually little crime when we came to Costa Rica. Sadly we are not immune to the increasing crime rates that you find almost everywhere in the world, much linked to the growing drug problem. Still crime tends to be more property related than violent and so we have added precautions like a home security system. What should be noted is there is more violent crime in most major U.S. Cities in one day, yet the media will spotlight any violent crime against U.S Citizens that occurs outside of her borders. Costa Rica ,it should be noted , is also a peace-loving and stable country with no Army, often referred to as the Switzerland of the Americas.

4) Cost of Living: Indeed there are financial benefits of being a U.S. citizen living in Costa Rica. One of the attractions for us in selecting and moving to Costa Rica was the (tax-free foreign earned income benefit --currently $82,400 for each person) Another? property taxes on our new contemporary home in Escazu, Costa Rica were a whopping $100.00 a year. That sure beat $6,000 a year property taxes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We indeed would pay more for better infrastructure and support to the people of our host country. There was also no heating or air-conditioning expenses to contend with and the real kicker indulgence for me was massages were $10.00 an hour. I remember saying "I'm so there" There is no doubt, that we could not afford our current lifestyle in the United States and while Costa Rica is unfortunately being increasingly discovered and developed, there are still affordable options for creating a quality lifestyle at a fraction of U.S. prices.

3) Warm and Hospitable Costa Rican People. Pura Vida! "That's a Costa Rican expression that means "pure life". Sunday morning is our favorite day for walking in the barrio...Mothers and Fathers walking hand in hand with their children to church reminding us of our own childhood. "It's like the United States in the 1950's" . There is tranquility and a commitment to family.

2) Connected: Today's Ability to Work and Live Anywhere. Yes, we have wireless Internet and low-cost phone service in Costa Rica that enables us to work from home on the deck with parrots flying overhead. It's not everywhere in the country and certainly not deep in the rain forest, but technology has enabled us to work and stay connected with our offices and families and friends. Just 2.5 hour flight from Miami and 3 .5 hour flight from Houston, we are closer to many relatives and clients than they are with others living within U.S. borders

1) The Mangos, The Monkeys, The Magic: I love to watch visitors in our learning retreats discover their own magic here while staying amidst the jewels of the Costa Rican rain forest. Forever changed from their journey to paradise, their discovery is almost child-like. I developed the brand for my speaking and retreat business from the voices of those who have discovered their own passion here. On seeing lava flow from an active volcano, a child-like WOW would be uttered competing only slightly with the volcanic rumble.

So why visit/live in Costa Rica?

"You Can Go Wild! Go GREAT! and Embark on your own personal journey from Now to WOW! tm"

Experience a Little of the Costa Rican Culture - Football!

If you want to experience a different type of Costa Rican excitement, take in a football game. Now this isn’t the football of the NFL or CFL but what North Americans call soccer.

In Costa Rica you can see it being played in every community just about everyday. Football is played by nearly everyone, from little kids to professional athletes. Those who are not playing the game are watching it.

In addition to these amateur games there are community teams at the professional level. This is where the sport starts to heat up. Fans can be seen wearing the colors of their favorite teams and most games are sold out. Not only are the games themselves exciting, but before and after the games, you can see people waving their team flags from cars as they drive through town.

Right now there is very high interest in Costa Rican football as the World Cup 2007 playoffs are happening in Korea. The Costa Rican team has made it to the 16^th round. If Costa Rica wins the game against Argentina on August 30^th, they will proceed to the quarter semi finals.

Based on previous experiences, I imagine every TV set that is turned on will be tuned into the game. Fans will be stopping in front of appliance stores to watch a few minutes of the game on display sets, restaurants will have the TV tuned into the game and many customers will be ordering an extra café, just to see another play.

So if you are interested in experiencing another exciting aspect of the Costa Rican way of life and culture take the time to see a football game.

Rod

The Inviting Climate of Costa Rica

Often when a person thinks of being in a tropical climate they picture a variety of plants and animals all living in a hot climate.

What Costa Rica has to offer is a vast array of plants and animals in a tropical climate that overall is best described as mild. Sure there is the dense jungle in Talamanca and the heat at the beaches. But there are also exotic cloud forests, and even barren volcanic tundra. This variance in micro-climates is one of the many factors that bring tourists to Costa Rica.

There really are only 2 seasons in Costa Rica, the ‘dry’ season and the ‘wet’ season. Currently we are in the ‘wet’ season (June to November), this typically means the mornings are sunny while showers may be expected in the afternoon. The ‘dry’ season (December to May) means the days are basically sunny. The average temperature for the country varies slightly between 20 to 23 degrees C. (high 60s to low 70 F.). Bear in mind this is the country average. Temperatures in the Central Valley and the beaches tend to be a good 10 to 15 degrees C. higher. And this temperature is year round.

What this means for the average tourist is simple – pack light! Besides light clothes, a jacket and a raincoat are the only protection you will need unless you plan to hike the higher mountains.

This temperate climate combined with 1500 kilometers of tropical sun-bathed beaches, a vast array of plants and animals and several micro-climates have earned Costa Rica the justified reputation of 'paradise'.

Rod

Mel Gibson now a property owner in Costa Rica

Most of the tourists to Costa Rica are your typical run of the mill people. Just ordinary folk who have heard about the wonders of Costa Rica. Some of these tourists later invest in property realizing how beautiful the country is. One not so 'ordinary' person, Mel Gibson, caused some interest earlier this year.

The first time people in Costa Rica became aware of Mel Gibson visiting the country was back in 2004. At this time he was scouting locations for a film project and was considering the jungles of Costa Rica. He may not have found a suitable location for his filming but his interest in the country continued.

Mel Gibson returned during the first week of January of this year, spending time with his son on the waters of the Pacific Ocean. It was later reported that he also bought a large piece of land in the Samara area.

Mr. Gibson was here again in July when he had the opportunity to meet with President Arias Sanchez who Mr. Gibson reported was a 'neighbor'.

It seems that Costa Rica remains a 'hot' destination for everyone.

Rod

Reminder of Where I Am Living

Some friends from Calgary, Alberta have recently been visiting, reminding me of where I am from and where I am now. Trying to be the good host, I have arranged some tours for them and have driven them to different places as well. Which has proved to be very interesting.

Interesting in the fact that I have been reminded of where I am living. On a recent drive for coffee on the beach, the advertising used by a local artist in Atenas was the topic of discussion for several kilometers.He paints traditional scenes on rocks along the sides of the rad and the occasional rock will have his name and phone number. We found this way more attactive than the usual signs and billboards.

During the drive, the various shades of green were commented on constantly, as well as the varity of plants and the incredible view. Of course we stopped at the 'Crockodile Bridge', whcih provided ample opportunities for many photos.

Rod

On our return tripto Alajuela, we stopped at the original destination. I don't know the nbame of the little restaurant but it is right on the beach and marked by a 'Pepsi' sign. Having a cup of coffee here took an hour! It is amazing howwatching and talking about the water, the small fishing boats and the pelicans that sit on the boats can pass time so quickly.

As we passed through Atenas on the way home, we stopped at a house where orchids are sold. The variety matches most nurseries and the prices were comparable. This stop did cause a minor problem, "Which plant(s) to buy." I mean an orchid for $10 that can be replanted outside after the current flower dies. Is like, so cheap.

During this day trip and after we returned to my house, one of the words that was used often was "envious".

Yes, I was reminded once again that I do live in a paradise.

Testimonial - Los Suenos Vacations in Costa Rica!

When arriving at Los Suenos Resort, everyone in our party agreed that we had just entered "Fantasy Island." It was like being transported to a land of beauty and tranquility. Then, when we entered the Colina condo, again we were quite pleased with the high quality, beautifully decorated home! If you want a reasonably priced delicious meal go to the Hook-up; breakfast, lunch & dinner are all wonderful. The pool and patio areas are splendid and don't forget the swim up bar! Some people who made our stay a breeze include: Omar, our driver (very knowledgable, helpful, kind, and funny), Santos, at the Marriott reservation office (he helped us on a daily basis to book tours & taxis), and our wonderful cleaning ladies who took such good care of us by cleaning the condo each day! If you come to Costa Rica you must go to the Turu Ba Ri canopy tour. They serve a delicious lunch after doing both sitting canopy and SUPERMAN style canopy rides across the rainforest! Also, you must do the Amigos del Rio river rafting tour. The ride to the river is as much fun as the rafting itself. The lunch after the day of rafting and waterfall was very tasty! Thanks also to Arturo for providing us with such comfortable and luxurious accommodations. YOU MUST GO TO COSTA RICA!

Craig and Jennifer Boynton, California, USA