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No matter what you're looking for in a tropical getaway, you won't be disappointed in Costa Rica. This tiny Central American country offers a stunning natural diversity that is virtually unmatched anywhere else in the world. |
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No matter what you're looking for in a tropical getaway, you won't be disappointed in Costa Rica. This tiny Central American country offers a stunning natural diversity that is virtually unmatched anywhere else in the world. Within its borders are rapid-running rivers, smoking volcanoes and an intersection of mountain ranges. There are low-lying rain forests, dense altitude high cloud forests and miles and miles of pristine, sandy beaches. Shrouded amidst all of it is an amazing variety of animal, insect and aquatic life. Remember to bring a valid passport when you visit Costa Rica. US and Canadian citizens can enter the country with an original birth certificate and two other pieces of ID. Otherwise a passport is required. Citizens of the US, Canada as well as most of Europe and Latin America don't need visas for stays up to 90 days. Those from Australia and New Zealand are allowed to stay in the country without visas for up to 30 days. If you¹d like to stay an extra 30 days beyond the limit, you can obtain an exit visa through a travel agent at least three working days before your scheduled departure. Although Costa Rica covers only 0.03% of the earth's surface, this tiny country holds more than 5% of all life forms. It actively guards this incredible biodiversity in protected areas covering more than one-quarter of its land. It is no wonder, then, that Costa Rica is considered a model for conservation and draws nature lovers from all around the world. But there are many other attributes, from its friendly, peace-loving culture and people, to its relatively stable economy and its many historical secrets, that make the nation a fascinating place to visit. Below we've listed just a few "amazing facts" about this country.
1,500 species of orchids have been classified here, with hundreds more
awaiting verification. Costa Rica's legendary
Ceiba, or silk cotton, tree can grow up to 13 feet
in a year and rise as high as 200 feet. With a huge, thick trunk and
perpendicular branches that give way to glossy leaves and creamy white
flowers, the tree offers such a majestic presence that the Mayas
considered it a sacred tree of life. Costa Rica's
got some 850 species of birds. Though rich in nature and biodiversity, Costa Rica has never been known for being a country rich in indigenous art or culture, though that may be changing. A kind of "cultural revolution" appears to be underway that is spawning greater appreciation for Historically, Costa Rica's cultural roots are in the styles of others. A cultural and commercial meeting point for ancient civilizations of Latin America, the country borrowed and modified the techniques for ceramics, gold and jade work, weaving and stone carving from places like Ecuador and Mexico. Early examples of works of pottery, gold and jade can be seen in the Museum of Gold, the Jade Museum and the National Museum. While today many of these historical traditions have been lost to time, the tourist dollar is supporting the revival of others in a smattering of towns around the country. And a new breed of young craftsmen and artists are using the mediums for their own expressive styles. In Guanacaste's Guaitil, local families have retained the Chorotega Indian tradition of making bowls, cups and vases from the clay in nearby fields. To the south in Drake Bay, women hand sew brightly colored appliques known as molas, which can be framed or used to adorn t-shirts, pillows or even bedspreads. Craftsmen in Sarchí, near San José, are known for their ceramics as well as miniature versions of carretas, the brightly painted ox-carts that are so quintessentially Costa Rican. Likewise, nearby Santa Ana also has a reputation for quality work with ceramics and for producing small tipico adobe house fired in brick kilns and clay pits. Santa Ana and neighboring Escazú are also the favorite stomping grounds for newer artists, who express themselves on canvas or through carvings in tropical woods. Some have even won international acclaim. Among them is Isidro Con Wong, from Puntarenas, whose examples of "magic realism" hang in U.S. and French museums. Beyond art and craft ware, Costa Rica's folkloric music and dance traditions can be seen in the performances of several dance troupes that tour the country or perform in San José year-round or at small-town fiestas. In Guanacaste in particular, the country's folkloric heartland, such pre-Columbian instruments as the chirimia, or oboe, and the single-stringed quijongo are still used to back traditional Chorotega Indian dances. The government continues to do its own bit to raise Costa Rica's cultural identity. The Ministry of Culture sponsors art lessons and exhibits in city parks. It subsidizes the House of Arts, which offers free lessons in painting and sculpture. It's the only country to sponsor a youth orchestra in the Western world. Rincon
de la Vieja National Park (summit elev. 1,916 m) This
is quite a unique park, packed with immense diversity in both animal and
plant species and in its geologic formations. Wildlife here Now
about that volcano... Rincon has several cones, lagoons and craters, which
have given it the nickname, “ The Yellowstone of Costa Rica.” It has
erupted at least 12 times since 1860. Although it’s still very active,
scientists believe that the abundance of fumaroles, boiling mud pots,
springs and sulfuric steam vents help it to let off enough pressure to
prevent a big explosion. There are lots of trails through these wondrous
sights, so you’ll have no problem getting photos of the rainbow-hued
landscape, colored by minerals the volcano emits through steam vents. Arenal
Volcano National Park
(summit elevation 1,657 m) In
July of 1968, the people of Arenal Hill were suddenly made to realize that
what they always thought was a harmless hill was actually a violent,
resting volcano. This volcano came to life, in a fury of rocks, lava, and
ash. It devastated the west flank and caused 78 deaths. Intermittent
rumbling, explosions, and nocturnal fire-spitting are the mesmerizing
features that draw visitors to its base by day and night. Clouds often obscure the summit, but when lava-flows cascade, incandescent rocks fly and Arenal roars, few forget it. Its flanks have been declared a national park but the nocturnal light show can be witnessed equally well from outside the boundary. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve (10,500 h. of land) Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve protects more than 100 species of mammals, more then 400 species of birds, and more than 1200 species of amphibians and reptiles, including the golden toad, an endemic species that is deaf and dumb and lives on the continental divide -the males are a striking bright orange colour. It is one of the few remaining habitats of all five species of the cat family: jaguar, ocelot, puma, margay and jaguarundi. Insects include over 5,000 species of month, 2,500 species of plants, among which there more over 500 butterfly species are 300 species of orchids that mainly flower in March and 200 species of ferns. The preserve has kilometers of trails, sections of which are not for the weak-hearted. Parts ooze with mud; other sections have been magnificently covered with raised wooden walkways. Because of the fragile environment, the preserve allows a maximum of 120 people on the trails at any one time. The paths are strewn with exotic blossoms, such as "hot lips". Shorter nature trails are concentrated in an area called "The Triangle". Manuel Antonio National Park (682.7 h. of land 55.000 h. of sea) With the establishment of Manuel Antonio National Park in 1972, the people of Costa Rica decided to preserve, for future generations, one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse areas in the world. Although it is the country's smallest national park, the stunning beauty and diversity of wildlife in its 683 hectares is unequaled. Manuel Antonio contains a charming combination of rain forest, beaches and coral reefs. This beaches are the most beautiful in the country, lined with lush forest, and the snorkeling is excellent too. The forest is home for sloths, iguanas, the rare and adorable squirrel monkeys and millions of colorful little crabs. And the trail that winds around Punta Catedral affords some spectacular views. The park is easy to reach, south of the town of Quepos, and is near a good selection of hotels and restaurants. Playa Hermosa Guanacaste Winner of the "Ecological Blue Flag"
award in 2001, this sparkling clean beach is a very popular destination for
tourists looking for a charming, tropical beach with an easy ambiance. Playa
Hermosa is 1,600 meters in length and is surrounded by tropical dry forest. Playa Manuel Antonio Visiting the park, one is treated to an abundant diversity of wildlife. Cathedral Point, with its forest topped cliffs was once an island, but is now connected to the coast by a thin strip of island. This land bridge now forms the spine separating the parks two most popular beaches, Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio. The southern facing beach, Playa Manuel Antonio, is a picturesque half mile long, white sand crescent bisecting deep green foliage to one side and a private, secluded cove to the other. Standing with your feet dug into the sand and watching the wave crash against the rocks on either side of the lagoon, it is easy to believe that you are a thousand miles from anywhere.
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