Central America’s Costa Rica is bordered by the Caribbean Sea on the east and the North Pacific Ocean to the west; while the country of Nicaragua sits on the north and Panama to the east-southeast. The Republic of Costa Rica, or Costa Rica for short, is a relatively small nation that is amazingly rich in natural resources, partly due to its favorable geographical location and partly because Costa Ricans have learned how to preserve their riches. These last few years, locals have fought against the wasting devastation of forest loss and the unchecked poaching and harvesting of some of nature’s bounty – particularly the flora and fauna that are indigenous to the country. So if you are planning to get in touch with Mother Nature, Costa Rica is certainly the place to find your equilibrium.
San Jose, the largest and capital city of Costa Rica is a great place to start your journey off. Naturally, you cannot expect to see all of Costa Rica in a few days time, but San Jose can afford you a more-than-satisfactory visit. Transportation is no problem at all. We do recommend though that you carry loose change for taxi cabs and other rides.
Accommodations in the city are abundant. Hotels make brisk business here, but be sure to book way (and we mean, way) in advance. Rooms are easily taken especially when there are national holidays and local fiestas – and you can be assured that there are a lot of these in Costa Rica. You can also try the resorts abounding in the city; most of these are located either near the mountains or the beaches. However, if you prefer something more rustic and more budget wise, then San Jose has a lot of bed-and-breakfast inns that are cheaper. These lodgings are even quieter than the hotels since most of inns are located away from the main thoroughfares of the city. Cabinas or cabins near beaches are also extremely popular among large-party guests; as with private lodges. But again, you need to book in advance.
The city of San Jose is an excellent place to stretch your sea legs. Water activities and all manner of water sports are available by the water’s edge. Sports fishing is one such activity that you could engage in; and there are a lot of small boat operators who will be willing to take your party on a 1 to 3 hour sea ride. However, in the more remote locations (and where it is permitted by local and international environmental laws), whitewater kayaking or rafting is also becoming popular. San Jose also offers what is called the Safari Float: a peaceful sightseeing tour right on the Peñas Blancas River where visitors could see the more indigenous animals of Costa Rica – from sloths to crocodiles to tropical rainforest birds.
But of course, a visit to San Jose is never complete without visiting the volcanoes and rain forests. We recommend that you enroll in the numerous walking and hiking tours that would visit: Arenal Volcano, the Butterfly Garden, the Hummingbird Garden, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Tabacon Hot Springs and Selvatura’s Canopy Walkways.
Also, we recommend you braving some of the more exotic food samplers that eating establishments have to offer. Costa Rican cuisine is very colorful and easy on the palate (heavy on the stomach, very filling sometimes) and we highly recommend Casa de Do a Lela (La) and Mirador Ram Luna. Not only do they have great authentic Costa Rican cuisine, the service is also excellent here.
