Thousands of Costa Ricans have gathered for the highlight of the year, Fiestas Palmares 2011. Throughout the year there are several state fairs and festivals but none compare to Fiestas Palmares. The two-week long festival celebrates Costa Rican culture, tradition and customs through music, food and other activities.
Now half-way through, the festival has been a success and will probably continue to be so. In the coming days there are a variety of activities to please every taste. Every afternoon at 1:00pm starts Tarde de Arte y Cultura (an afternoon of art and culture), with the showing of an art exhibition and at 5:00pm a cultural activity. For example, January 18 will showcase a local Cimarrona while on the Read more
Nighttime falls and the sky lights up with red streaks spewing from the mouth of the volcano. On a clear night the view of Volcan Arenal is pretty spectacular. The surrounding town is La Fortuna, in the province of Alajuela. For a lot of people Alajuela conjures up an image of a hot city and the international airport. But Alajuela is lot more than that.
Three volcanoes sit on Alajuela’s borders. Tenorio and Arenal sit on the border with Guanacaste, Poas sits on the Heredia border. Surrounded by these volcanoes the northern plains become more rural with small towns scattered along the main roads. Such towns include Grecia and Atenas, both preferred by expats due to elevation and climate. The Read more
Some people come to Costa Rica to experience the culture, the people, the different landscapes, the rainforest, and so on. Others come to Costa Rica to relax. Plain and simple, no running around, no driving from one end of the country to the other. Just plain laying-on-the-beach relaxation. If that’s what you’re seeking, you’ve found it. Hotel Barcelo Playa Tambor Costa Rica is a five-star all-inclusive resort specialized in relaxation.
Book a vacation with Tambor and they’ll take care of everything from airport pick-up to drop-off. A driver will take you to Puntarenas where you’ll take a luxurious yacht across the Gulf of Nicoya to the resort located on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Once at Read more
Heredia is known as La ciudad de las Flores. Why? There’s two stories. One is that all of Heredia’s women are as beautiful as flowers. The other story is that due to its nearly perfect climate, flowers are always in full bloom. Personally, I believe both may be true.
The city of Heredia (usually referred to by locals as Heredia Centro), is the capital of the province by the same name. Heredia Centro is one of Costa Rica’s larger cities, similar to San Jose in size but more laid-back. The center of town is of course Parque Central, which is surrounded by old colonial buildings now used as government offices, as well as restaurants and shops. A short walk Read more
Playa Conchal is probably Costa Rica’s most exotic beach. The sand shines with the blinding glow of millions of crushed sea shells that cover this 4-kilometer beach stretch. The water is blue and clear, ideal for snorkeling and swimming in the warm water. Playa Conchal is closest to the town of Brasilito where you’ll find small lodges, restaurants, supermarkets and everything else you would need for a lovely day trip to the beach.
If you’re looking for more than a simple day trip to the beach, you’ll probably want to stay at Reserva Conchal, the only community located on the beach. Reserva Conchal is an exclusive luxury community where you can settle down at one of their condos or villas, Read more
Coffee is one of Costa Rica’s main exports. Why? ’cause it’s awesome coffee. Grown in Costa Rica’s highlands, the local coffee is amongst the finest in the world. Coffee plantations around the country offer tours to demonstrate the coffee growing process and the history of coffee in Costa Rica and its effect in the local economy. Want to take a look? Here’s three great tour options.
Espiritu Santo Coffee Plantation is located in Naranjo, Alajuela. The tour, starting at $22 USD starts with a sampling of their coffee, then the tour of the facilities will show you everything from seed to roasting and brewing of the local coffee. Some added highlights are the Casa de Juancho, a replica of Read more
Costa Rica is home to some of the world’s best whitewater rafting spots. The famous Pacuare River “ranks as one of the great rivers of the world” says Michael Kaye, founder of Costa Rica Expeditions. There are other great rivers that have become popular rafting destinations in recent years including Rio Reventazon and Sarapiqui. Due to the popular demand there are more and more adventure tours available to these destinations. Here are some reliable tour companies and lodges that will make your experience unforgettable.
Rios Tropicales was amongst the winners of the 2008 Geotourism Challenge held by National Geographic and Ashoka’s Changemakers. They offer several 1-day rafting trips but they are famous for their Pacuare 4-day trips. This Read more
Rio Celeste is a wonder of nature hidden in the northern part of the country within the Volcan Tenorio National Park close to the towns Guatuso and Bijagua in the province Alajuela. The neighbor town Fortuna gets tons of tourists visiting the nearby Arenal volcano. Rio Celeste, however, is in a rural area and visited by few tourists.
Rio Celeste is no ordinary river. Clear water runs races through the forest and then two rivers meet and sulfur and calcium carbonate mix to create a single bright, shocking turquoise river which then feeds several hot springs and a large waterfall. To get to the waterfall you’ll have to hike about an hour and a half through the national park Read more
Costa Rica is famous for its beautiful beaches, Playa Hermosa Costa Rica is no exception. When planning your vacation to Playa Hermosa it’s important to know that there are two beaches by the name Playa Hermosa. One Playa Hermosa is in Guanacaste, the other is in Puntarenas. They are equal in beauty but the appeal of each one is quite different. Which one should you go to?
Playa Hermosa Guanacaste is a gray-yellow sand beach, perfect for walking, fishing, beginner surfing and water skiing. Accommodations are easy to find and there are lots of options ranging in prices and quality. One popular hotel for the locals is Condovac. If you live in Costa Rica you can purchase Read more
La Fortuna de San Carlos in Alajuela is a beautiful town and a very popular tourist destination. The reason? Volcán Arenal, the country’s most active volcano is a must see. Every night the sky is painted with red sparks and lava spewing out the top of the volcano. A visit to this area of the country deserves a couple of days, so where should you stay? Here are two great places to consider.
Hotel La Pradera is a family owned and operated bussines. They offer two kinds of small villas, Standard room and Mountain Cabin. All rooms have hot water, A/C, cable TV and a gorgeous view of the volcano. If you want to get to know the Read more
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