Do you think Nicaragua had the right to invade Costa Rica territory based on Google Maps? What do

you think? Who is right ? Google, Nicaragua or Costa Rica ??????

Costa Rica Vacation – Best Flight Out of Town

 After a couple  took a look at the various locations and the entertainment provided they made a decision.  It seemed the best thing to do was to do a 10-day trip. They thought that 5 days on the coast and 5 days inland around San Jose and Monteverde would give them a nice visit and allow them to see a wide area of the country. 

They got on the phone and called a local travel agent and had a little talk.  They learned quite a bit.  You can book your own flight because these days there aren’t many tour discounts.  That is becoming a thing of the past.  But with tours they have it made easy for you.  You are picked up and directed to the different restaurants and entertainment available to you. 

September, October, and November are the rainy and hurricane season.  Prime season is January, February, March, and April.  You will pay top dollar for these times of year.  It seems there is a small window in the beginning of December and again for the month of May for you to get good rates. 

When talking to the travel agent she said she had been to Costa Rica a couple of years ago.  She said that the traffic in San Jose was was something to be aware of.  Being  from Seattle  they hated traffic, it seems getting away from traffic is near impossible there.  When stating that they had issues with traffic they were told that they could fly into Liberia Airport the other side of the island and avoid the capital (San Jose) all together. 

It seemed to them that spending one day in the capital would be sufficient.  They wanted to spend the rest of their 5 days inland at Monteverde and visit the Arenal volcano.  So they decided that they would fly in from Houston Airport to Liberia Airport on the coast of Costa Rica spend their 5 days there, and then would fly out of the San Jose airport back home.

They were still unsure of when they would be able to actually take this trip but they did ask the travel agent to give them some sample rates for flights.  She gave them Wednesday thru Thursday bookings because she said that you get better rates booking that way instead of weekend to weekend.  It allows the hotels to maximize their occupancy.  You might keep that factoid in mind when asking the boss for time off. 

The agent gave them sample prices for flights.  For the high season of January, February, March, April, the plane fare on Continental and Delta were $655.00 per person.  In the off-season the plane fare was $502.00 so at least there is a choice.

The first thing they had to do is get a passport and that has worried them.  With all the changes brought about by 911 they know it is nowhere near as easy as it used to be to get a passport. They had heard that it can take you up to a year to get one.  They asked the travel agent about this and she said that things were running much smoother and it was taking a little more than 12 weeks to get your passport.

When planning your trip, consider your comfort.  The Caribbean side of the island can be more humid, especially in the summer months. 

Jake -

Romantic Getaway Costa Rican Style 

For those who are married or dating and are looking for a nice romantic getaway Costa Rica has vacation packages for those who want an intimate getaway for two.       Costa Rican Tours Inc. offers romantic getaways for 11 days/10 nights and the itinerary consists of mostly remote hiking, rafting and overnight stays at upscale resorts and hotels with a spa session to relax and pamper you.  As well Costa Rica Experts has an 8 day    Tropical Honeymoon  vacation package which includes an Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Tour (full day).            

Arenal is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, famous for its frequent eruptions, lava streams and incandescent rock explosions. You’ll stay overnight at the Hotel Villablanca one of the best views and especially at night where  usually the glow of the volcano is breathtaking!  

There’s also Costa Rica Tours Ltd. which offers innovative small group tours on set dates and private tours on your dates of choice.   Their  tours  explore the natural beauty of Costa Rica and the diversity of their culture.

Packages such as this usually aren’t that expensive since one price can cover two people and these are perfect for the couples who want a romantic getaway for Sweetest Day or Valentine’s Day where it’s breaking with tradition of the ‘Hallmark Holiday’-greeting card overkill, chocolate, and flowers. The website Resortflamingobeach.com does this package deal called ‘baby-moon’ which is a special package designed for parents who want that special getaway kind of like second honeymoon for parents. 

The cheapest time to go on a getaway is during the summer when the rates are cheaper since it’s more expensive to go in the fall when rates go up. 
Some romantic getaway packages can be tailored to include spa sessions for a nominal fee and even some horseback riding on the beach and strolls along the beach during a sunset or even a sunrise for those who are early birds. 
Some hotels and resorts have the all-inclusive option which means you pay one price for all you can eat meals, snacks and drinks which is actually a great value for couples on set budgets and they can get more for their money which is good for those who want to have a good vacation for a good price and value. It’s important to plan your trip so that you’re not going to overspend and going over budget. Romantic getaways are just the kind of rest and relaxation many couples need to reconnect and bond with each other in a loving and caring way.

 
Many couples find it exhilarating to wake up to smelling fresh air and looking out on the beach when they sit out on the terrace of their hotel room having breakfast or that first cup of coffee in the morning like many people have when they get up in the morning to start their day. Looking onto the ocean is a nice feeling first thing in the morning you’re waking up to the birds chirping and the crashing of the waves and the smell of the ocean air and not waking up to the rustle and bustle of urban city life. 
This is a change of pace for couples who spend so much time on a job or some occupation that often leaves them stressed and worn out and a romantic getaway to someplace tropic can be an adjustment to one’s attitude when they’re stressed and burned out from all the things that everyday life brings them. Once you come away from one of these getaways you’ll be a normal person who got some rest and relaxation away from the insanity that everyday life brings to people. 

Costa Rica and Their Diverse Culture

Costa Ricans are actually a close knit people who are homebound until they get married or leave home for college. Many events like baptisms and weddings are prominent among native Costa Ricans because this is where they have the largest turnout of family and friends.

Traditions are also gender based and many tourists learn about that when they visit the country. What makes Costa Rica different from other countries is their practice of a lukewarm approach to Catholicism that combines a strange ritual of parties and religious celebrations during the time mostly Catholic and Indian traditions.

Tourists would be lucky to catch natives engaged in rituals common to them. Most of the things that natives do that tourists are lucky to catch are mostly religious based since Costa Ricans are Catholic and it’s all church or family based when they celebrate special occasions. Even the most non-traditional tourist will get the feeling they’re right at home when they visit Costa Rica since much of the lifestyle there is all based on generous hospitality.

This is kind of like the American south where hospitality is the way of life and tourists who visit get the feeling like they’re at home with nice people. That’s the feeling tourists get when they’re at home with Costa Ricans who make you feel like you’re one of them. The traditions of family, and religion go hand in hand with many different kinds of people and the diversity of the cultures that partake in the spirit of family and religion. Music is also a huge thing in Costa Rican culture and most of it is based on ancient Mayan influence and a mix of Afro/Cuban/Caribbean bringing the east and west together to make what they call tambito and punto. Costa Ricans also pioneered their answer to the funk music movement of the 1970s identical to what the American genre that was popular among teens and young adults.

The food is a mix of Mexican, Spanish, Caribbean, and Southern American influences so many Americans who come to visit Costa Rica feel as if they’re right at home since the culture is so diverse in ethnicity even though the national language is Spanish so anyone who visits who’s pretty fluent in Spanish will be able to communicate and fit in with the people even as a visitor.

The food many tourists are encouraged to try is ‘Gallo Pinto’-Spanish for ‘Spotted Rooster’, but there’s no chicken in this dish. That consists of black beans and rice seasoned with cilantro, onions, garlic, salt, and a locally made condiment ‘Salsa Lizano’, and this dish is typically a traditional meal eaten for breakfast with eggs, meat and sour cream.

Another traditional Costa Rican cuisine is ‘Arroz con pollo’ (rice and chicken), the dish has bite sized chicken chunks mixed with rice and diced vegetables of carrots, peas, corn and garbanzo beans (known in America as chick peas). Which is typically made as a weekend meal is called ‘Olla de Carne’ which is a soup made up by boiling water, meat usually chicken, and whole to large pieces of vegetables and seasoned with spices.

Making this dish is time consuming since the bulk of the meal consists of preparing the vegetables. Experiencing a multitude of flavors in Costa Rican cooking will make a tourist leave there with the flavor of home on their mind.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jake -

Here you will find inside information from this beautiful land under God’s skies and some of the best people on earth.   Here you will get a view of Costa Rica from a Costa Rican Native

Welcome!                    Today is Nov. 6th  2010    ; )