Country Review

Costa Rica: All you need is in Costa Rica
Created on: Sep 1, 2011
Reviewer is American
Lived/have been to Costa Rica, : Yes. Currently in Costa Rica, : No. From Costa Rica, : No.
I have been to Costa Rica 3 times now, and every time I go, I just love it. The country has a cast beautiful creatures, from howler monkeys to toucans, they are very common and pretty easy to spot. Just try not to feed them, as you never know what might happen :)

The beaches are very beautiful and the sluggish pace of the waves is very nice. Costa Rica actually gets about 1.5 million --well behaving, extremely friendly -- tourists every year.

Costa Rica is for every type of travelers: Beaches, volcanoes, rain forests, beautiful scenery, or just culture lovers. Travelers can surf, hike, norkel, and spot wildlife. They can also visit the rain forest one day and the Volcano Arenal another. They can finally relax in a hot spring in the third day, or just go to the beach (about 8 hours from Arenal) in another.
The Adventurous can also try zipping through canopy lines hundreds of meters long and riding the rough surf of the Pacific. Costa Rica has a variety of things you might want to try.
Of course, the frenzy to snatch up a piece of Shangri-la has its consequences. Since the boom, tourism is more luxurious and expensive, but it's also always possible to go to cheap hotels and hostels if you are on a tight budget . Just as other countries, classic destinations are now crowded destinations and local culture is often lost or cast aside.

Here is what I like in Costa Rica:
- Las Fiestas de Zapote (December 25 to Januray 1), San Jose
Join thousands of Ticos for the celebration of Costa Rican stuff (rodeos, cowboys, carnival rides, fried food, drinking, etc.) in the suburb of Zapote, southeast of San José. It all lasts one week!

- Surf at Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Surf at Salsa Brava, a fierce reef break that cuts close to shore in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - it’s one of six top ways to get your adrenaline up

- Watch wildlife at Parque Nacional Corcovado
See the lumbering Baird’s tapir, the giant anteater and the rare harpy eagle at this national park, famously labeled by National Geographic as ‘the most biologically intense place on earth

- Snorkeling at Playa Conchal
the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica --turquoise looking water is just too good to let go!

- Eat churros in San José
Try the deliciously sweet and crispy doughnuts at Churrería Manolo's, San José’s perennial favorite