Latin America and Caribbean - Costa Rica Remains Central America's Shining Star
The small Central American nation of Costa Rica enjoys a reputation as a stable and stimulating place for tourists to visit. While it lacks the majestic ruins and dramatic history of some of its neighbors, Costa Rica was one of the first countries in the Western Hemisphere to use its environmental resources to attract visitors seeking outdoor experiences. Today, more than three million tourists visit Costa Rica each year to enjoy the abundant rainforests, volcanoes, beaches, and wildlife offered by its relaxed and friendly people. An estimated 70,000 Americans have moved to Costa Rica to retire or enjoy the warm winter climate there.
History
The colonization of Costa Rica took place quickly in the 16th century as the indigenous villagers lacked the weapons and numbers to resist Spanish domination. Little attention was paid to the region for centuries thereafter as the Spanish focused their efforts to extract precious metals and convert the local population to Christianity on other areas. Eventually, settlers found that the rich volcanic soils and climate conditions of Costa Rica’s highlands made it an ideal place for coffee and banana plantations, and a strong agricultural economy developed in the 19th century.
After independence from Spain in 1821, the nation struggled to develop its infrastructure and resisted efforts by outside adventurers and local elites to dominate the economy. Eventually, Costa Rica managed to develop strong and independent institutions by honoring the results of the democratic elections held regularly since 1889, abolishing the nation’s army in the 1940s, and remaining neutral in international and regional disputes. In contrast to other countries in the region, Costa Rica can point to decades of political stability, the emergence of a large middle class, and a relatively equal distribution of wealth. Nevertheless, recent disputes over public debt and health care have resulted in protests and increased polarization in this otherwise progressive society.
Experiences to Enjoy in Costa Rica
There are many things to do during a visit to Costa Rica worth exploring such as:
Visiting San Jose - The capital city of San Jose traditionally did not get much respect as part of the tourist experience in Costa Rica. However, most international travelers arrive here after a long flight. If your schedule allows, it can be useful to relax for a day or two at a resort nearby before heading out into the countryside. One way to do that and get oriented is to stay at the impressive Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen which is a 252-room resort set on beautiful grounds on a hill above the city. A former hacienda located on a thirty-acre coffee plantation, the traditional architecture of the hotel’s bright yellow buildings includes red clay roof tiles, carved woodwork, courtyards, and patios. In addition to modern rooms, the resort offers guests special amenities such as a full-service spa, outdoor pools, gourmet restaurants, coffee shops, and hiking trails. For those who insist on venturing out immediately into the world and exploring the local history and culture, some museums worth exploring in San Jose are the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum which features 3,567 artifacts including 1,586 gold objects, the Jade Museum, and the Museum National de Costa Rica.
Exploring the Rainforests - There are rainforests throughout Costa Rica in and around its national parks which offer a variety of ways to experience the lush flora, fauna, and beauty of these habitats. Guides offer personalized opportunities to hike or camp in the rainforest or fly over them. For starters, most people take a small group tour like the ones available to the Braulio Carrillo National Park located about an hour from San Jose. This tour explores three levels of the rainforest for about three hours. First, it includes a guided walk down paved trails at the base of the woods to see the typical flora, fauna, and even the insects that make up the habitat. It is not unusual to pause to allow an army of ants to cross the trail on a mission. Second, the tour stops at specialty garden exhibits such as a butterfly and hummingbird habitat, a reptile enclosure, and an orchid garden. Third, the tour takes you about one hundred feet up in the air for a 70-minute aerial tram ride in enclosed cars right through the middle of the rainforest. Along the way, you see all kinds of animals, birds and monkeys up close going about their daily activities high in the trees. Most excursions include a lunch featuring local cuisine. Rainforest tours are available at other locations throughout the country. Rather than using aerial trams, some operators have strung elevated walkways through the trees or offer ziplines for the more adventuresome.
Volcanoes and Hot Springs – Costa Rica is in one of North America’s volcanic regions and there are several volcanoes which are active. Most tourists head for the Arenal National Park with the hope of seeing nature’s fireworks in the form of a modest eruption of gas and steam or a nighttime lava flow. One way to see the volcano is to pay the daily admission fee to the 7200-acre national park site and watch from one of the viewing and parking areas located close to the volcano. Another is to stay at one of the lodges near the volcano outside of La Fortuna such as the Arenal Lodge, Arenal Observatory Lodge, or the Tabacon Lodge. These hotels are 2.5 to 6 miles away from the volcano and offer direct views from their dining rooms and hotel rooms. A third alternative that is popular with visitors is to stop for a while at the hot springs located near the former village of Tabacon. These streams range from the comfortable fabricated pools, massages, and mud baths available at the Tabacon Hot Springs Resort to free public locations along various roads nearby.
One other volcano that is popular with visitors is the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano located in the northwest part of the country which rises over six thousand feet and has over nine individual craters. People enjoy seeing the bubbling mud pits, hot springs and volcanic fumaroles of the park along with the tropical rainforest there. Rincon is rugged terrain and is best visited with a private guide or on horseback. Closer to civilization is the Paos Volcano located twenty-three miles northeast of San Jose. This 8,800-foot-tall volcano can be reached by a paved road that goes all the way to the top where you can see the world’s second largest crater along with a visitor’s center. One common characteristic of all of Costa Rica’s volcanoes is that the weather is very unpredictable near them. It is not unusual for the summit of the volcanoes or sometimes the entire area to be shrouded in fog so plan your itinerary so that there will be multiple opportunities to view these sites.
Beaches – For years, Costa Rica lacked the infrastructure to line its 750-mile shoreline with grand hotels and tall condominiums and avoided overdevelopment. That is still true. There are locations and lodgings that offer quiet spots to swim, ride horses, enjoy the sun, or surf. In addition, there are locations in Costa Rica that feature black sand beaches such as Coco Beach on the Pacific Coast close to the Liberia airport and the Four Seasons Resort, and Cahuita Beach located north of the party town of Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast. One outstanding place to enjoy a Costa Rica resort experience is the Westin Reserva Conchal Resort in Playa Conchal, Guanacaste. This secluded vacation spot is an all-inclusive golf, tennis, and spa resort adjacent to the unspoiled beaches and tranquil waters of the Pacific. Not only is the beach spectacular but the resort has a huge free form swimming pool to enjoy. It is an excellent location for relaxing with a family, but the Westin also provides an adult only retreat called the Royal Beach Club for guests.