Costa Rica has become quite the topic of conversation. So much so, that last December there were two articles written about retiring to Costa Rica.
The first in The Wall Street Journal recanted the experiences of two retirees as they planned and consequently moved to Costa Rica. Some interesting points were made here. An important point is the need for planning before moving here. However, I think one of the most important steps in planning may have been overlooked by the writer, Vicki Berrong. The process of applying for residency can be started before you even step foot on Costa Rica. If you start before you move this can actually make the process easier. For more information on permanent Read more
As the holidays approach everyone is planning their winter holiday vacations. What’ll it be this year? Arenal, Jaco, Witch’s Rock, Puerto Viejo? Sure you could try to enjoy the overcrowded beaches and packed tourist spots or you could go where the locals go.
Although Playa Samara in Nicoya, Guanacaste is mostly frequented by locals, it does get its fair share of foreign visitors itching to ride the waves. Only 10 minutes away, neighboring beach Carrillo is a totally different story.
Clean, Lonely beach.
Carrillo is actually in the neighboring county of Hojancha so the beach itself is much cleaner. There are trash cans and signs everywhere reminding you and everyone else to keep Carrillo clean. The waves are great Read more
You’re off the plane and in your hotel room wondering, How do I get to where I want to go? Take the bus! Buses in Costa Rica are efficient and reliable. You just have to know where to find them.
It all depends on where you’re going. In San Jose you’ll find bus terminals to anywhere in the country. In Barrio Mexico, you can find Pulmitan Liberia, the bus company that will take you to Liberia and anywhere on the way to Liberia. From Liberia you can take a bus to many of the surrounding beaches like Conchal, Playa Naranjo, Playa Hermosa and Playas del Coco.
If you want to go to Tamarindo, Samara, Nosara or historic towns like Read more
Fogo Brasil is amongst the best culinary experiences in Costa Rica. Located in the heart of San Jose, Fogo Brasil has been attracting visitors from all over the country for six years now. The service is great, the staff is friendly and experienced, the decor is festive and yet elegant. But the one thing that keeps people coming back is the amazing food.
Fogo Brasil is a rodizio style restaurant. Rodizio works like this: First, you pay a flat rate, like a buffet. Then experienced servers will serve a variety of 17 different cuts of meat. Every cut of meat has been roasted to perfection and is brought to your table on a skewer and cut to your preference. The Read more
Holy Week is one of Costa Rica’s most important holidays. On Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter or Resurrection Sunday there are processions and special masses all over the country. During this week, however, there is an almost biblical exodus from the cities to the beaches. Primarily the Guanacaste area. The streets are packed full of travelers, the beaches are crowded and hotel rates are at their highest. To top it off, Most businesses are closed from Thursday afternoon through the weekend and even those that are open cannot sell alcohol because of the Holy Week dry law.
Located in Manuel Antonio, Gaia Hotel and Reserve has been awarded the World Travel Award for Mexico and Central America’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2 years in a row(2009 and 2010) and is currently nominated for the 2011 awards in that same category. In 2007 and 2008 this Hotel was also named Costa Rica’s Leading Boutique Hotel.
Evidently Gaia Hotel and Reserve has achieved an unmatched level of excellence on the Manuel Antonio coastline. The beach at Manuel Antonio is a blue flag beach. Blue Flag is a Costa Rican program by which the water and sewer institute monitors the water yearly to make sure the water is clean and safe. This 5-star hotel specializes in creating delicate balance between Read more
Costa Rica is well known for ecotourism and the general beauty of its landscapes and vast biodiversity. People from far and wide come to Costa Rica to enjoy this beauty through the usual hiking through a national park, zip-lining in the rainforest, soaking in the hot springs and laying at the beach. Though some of these activities may be adventurous, there are other adventures yet unexplored by most.
Ultralight tours gives you the chance to see Costa Rica as never before. Seated in a small open cabin ultralight aircraft accompanied by a certified ultralight pilot you will embark in a wondrous journey. Soaring in the skies like a bird you’ll see some the country’s most breathtaking landscapes. Tours vary Read more
In the province of Limón, 43 km south of the capital city Puerto Limón lies one of Costa Rica’s most popular tourist and relocation destinations. Cahuita is a small laid-back each town. The black sand at Playa Negra, the howling of monkeys and the sound of huge crashing waves makes for a relaxed, care-free atmosphere.
In this tranquil atmosphere the Afro-Carib cuisine shines through full of spice and decadence. Local classics like rice and beans, jerk chicken in coconut milk, rondon and local seafood raise the dinning experience to whole new level. Also on Saturdays Caribbean favorites like spicy beef or chicken patty and pan bon are sold by the locals.
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
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