Costa Rica is a very small country about the size of the state of West Virginia in the USA. It has a mountain range that runs right now thru the middle of the country from the north to the southern tip. Located within this range are four active volcanoes. Starting from the north is the mighty Arenal Volcano which huffs and puffs all day long shooting fire and hot rocks from its summit. It is a big draw for tourism to the area.
Near the central valley of Costa Rica is the Irazu Volcano . The capital city of San Jose sits in it’s shadow. It had a major eruption in 1963 when it covered the central valley, esp San Jose in a blanket of ash. At this moment it is quiet. It is also a big tourist attraction and an easy day trip from San Jose .
East of San Jose is the Turrialba Volcano which lately has been spraying ash for miles around its base. It is off the beaten path and not many tourist go there because it is not easy to get to.
The there is the Poas Volcano, the volcano which draws the most tourist as well as Costa Rica visitors. It is only one hour from San Jose by car and the drive up to is is just gorgeous. Coffee plantations dot the sides of the mountains and dairy cows are seen grazing the deep green grass in the higher altitudes. Lately it has been quite active spraying hot water and gasses high into the sky, almost one kilometer.
Costa Rica is a country filled with natural phenomenons. Volcano eruptions, earthquakes, floods, but luckily Costa Rica does not get hurricanes. If you would like to see the big eruption of 1958 of the Poas Volcano on video you can do just that. Go to the top of our home page and click on “buy our video” Also you will see on the video the mighty Arenal Volcano is action, as well as the Poas Volcano.
Ken and Ann at the Poas Volcano
Areanl Volcano in the late afternoon with it's perfect cone
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Canals of Tortuguero, Costa Rica's Caribbean
Lush tropical plants, Costa Rica's Caribbean
Come and tour Costa Rica’s Southern Caribbean Coastline, off the beaten path but truly a an exotic tropical paradise. Most tourist travel to this region by car. Or take one of the private bus services such as Greyline or purchase a transfer through the hotel where they are staying. It’s around four hours by car from San Jose, just take the main highway to Limon and just before you get to Limon you will take a right turn which leads you along the southern Caribbean Coast. The road system here leaves a lot to be desired, quite a few dirt and gravel areas.
Immediately you will sense that this is a much more laid back part of Costa Rica than you have previously experienced. But lush and tropical with a jungle feeling. The beaches are lined with palm trees and the warm ocean breeze blows almost constantly. Rains a lot here-all year round. A large portion of the population are the people whose descendants from the island of Jamaica. You will see their very colorful cultural influence everywhere here, from the coconut infused food flavors to the reggae music to the bright huesof blue and yellow of the houses.
Which area should I visit? First there is the Sloth Rescue Center, very unique plqce where you can see baby sloths being cared for to be released into the wild as well as Buttercup, an eight year old sloth how resides at the rescue center. She was picked up from the side of the riad after being hit by a car and taken to the refuge where she is living happily. This tour takes about 2 hours. Learn more at www.slothrescue.org
Life style and beaches are the draw here. Weather is rainy all year so one has to love rain to stay here very long. The life style is very laid back and easy going. Never see anyone in a hurry. The beaches are beautiful but not many of them are swimmable. You see many rocky areas along the beach where the water washes up. Lots of wild life and gorgeous tropical plants and flowers.
The road system is in poor repair, lots dirt gravel areas and potholes.
Most tourist come here to experience this easy life style, visit the beaches, listen to the reggae music at night in the clubs, and watch the monkeys, sloths, iguanas, green parrots, and yes snakes.
Many small hotels sprinkle the beaches (no big resorts here). Lots of local small restaurants serving Caribbean cuisine such as rice with coconut water, pineapple shrimp, fried plantains, and of course black beans with white rice.
www.greencoast.com is a great web site to great excellent information on tourism on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.
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First the coffee beans are green then they turn a bright red color
Coffee prompts social activity, stimulates friendships and conversation, and should never be enjoyed alone. You should always share it with someone.
So if you are traveling to Costa Rica take every opportunity to have a great cup of Costa Rican coffee.
Coffee is the “gold” of Costa Rica. It made many Costa Rican families wealthy and created an elite class whose children are educated in North America and in Europe.
If you visit the central valley around San Jose, Alajuela, Grecia, and the surroundings you will see the green coffee trees with their red berries of coffee which are picked by hand from November through January. The picking is done mostly by Nicaraguans who live on the plantations.
Learn more about interesting coffee tours at www.coffeetour.com
Also at www.dokaestates.com
Sailfishing in Quepos, Costa Rica-catch and release
Yes, Quepos, Costa Rica has a marina now. Being one of the most popular sport fishing destinations in Costa Rica, this is very good news! The marina comprises forty acres and 97 docking slips and is located just north of the old United Fruit Company pier in downtown Quepos. It is privately owned and built by Harold Lovelady who came to Quepos eleven years ago to retire after a career in telecommunications in Texas. Boats from Russia, Brazil, USA, South Africa, and other countries in Europe have have floated into Pez Vela, the name given to the dock. They come to fill their tanks with fuel and also to spend a few days in the beautiful tropical paradise with is sandy white beaches and Pacific blue waters. Lovelady states that some of the boats hold thousands of gallons of fuel. For example a yacht could hold 10,000 to 50,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Jobs have been created for the locals to work on the docks as well as hope for increased tourism to Manuel Antonio National Park and the surrounding area.
Quepos is famous worldwide for it’s great sport fishing. Many different kinds of fish can be caught, from sailfish, which are catch and release, to large tuna, ,marlin, dorado, snapper, and snook. And the fishing is good year round.
Tags: Marina Pez Vela Quepos Costa Rica, Quepos Costa Rica marina, sports fishing quepos costa rica
You can find the articles on costaricalearn.com by going to the different categories which are specific to the areas researched and written about by Ann, the author of costaricalearn.com
These categories are listed on the right hand side of the home page of costaricalearn.com.
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You can buy our Costa Rica Travel Video “Costa Rica A Travel Adventure Spectacular” from the home page of costaricalearn.com
Go the the top of the home page (across the top) and click on the block “Buy our video” That will take you to the 2 minute trailer of the video and also if you scroll on down you will see “buy now” where you can purchase the video by credit card or pay pal.
Regards, costaricalearn.com
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Blue River in Northern Costa rica
Giant Fern Tree Costa Rica Rainforest
Are you planning to travel to Costa Rica on vacation or some other reason such as business or seeking a place to retire? We have the perfect travel video of Costa Rica. Filmed by Ken Creed, a veteran travel adventure videographer whose film credits include “Alaska” “Ireland” and Along the Blue Ridge Mountains” Ken was chosen by the National Geographic Society to present his films at their travel adventure film series at Constitutional Hall in Washington DC.
You can view a short trailer of “Costa Rica a Travel Adventure Spectacular” on the home page of costaricalearn.com Go to top of the home page and click on “buy our video.” There you can view the short trailer of this Costa Rica travel video and also it can be purchased here
by using a credit card or pay pal.
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Want to sea marine turtles lay their eggs in the sandy beach? Then travel to Costa Rica and witness the Oliver Ridley sea turtle lay its eggs at Ostional beach on the Pacific side of Costa Rica and visit the Ostional Wildlife Refuge created to protect one of the world’s most important nesting sites for the marine turtle , the Olive Ridley, or Lora as it is called in Costa Rica. This wildlife refuge is definitely off the beaten path for tourist but very much worth while to make the trip. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended due to the rugged road system in the area.
Best time of the year to witness this is August through December when the rainy season is heaviest in that region. The Arribada occurs at the start of the last quarter moon during the months of August through December. One could notice hundreds of turtles gathering close to shore several days before they begin to rush upon the sandy shores to lay their eggs. They come out of the water all at once, onto the sandy beach, sometimes running over one another. They begin in the very late afternoon and continue coming all night, until day light. “Quite a sight to see”! There they dig into the sand and lay their eggs.
road map for Ostional wildlife refuge located on Pacific side Costa Rica
Where is Ostional Wildlife Refuge located and how do I get there? It is located on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. See map. It can be reached by 4×4 vehicle from Nosara or from San Juanillo. This is the province of Guanacaste, in the northwestern pacific coast of Costa Rica. Drive from Liberia International airport in northern Costa Rica around 1 hour and a half. Drive from San Jose around four hours.
However in a very very heavy rainfall, the beach area may not be accessible.
If you are planning a vacation to Costa Rica and want to see first hand many of the most beautiful beaches, rain forests, and wildlife refuges to help better plan your vacation then go to the home page of costaricalearn.com At top of page click on buy our costa rica travel video. You can view the 2 min trailer of the full length 58 minute video “Costa Rica A Travel Adventure Spectacular” filmed by my husband Ken Creed whose travel adventure film credits include “Alaska” which was chosen by the National Geographic Society to be shown at its travel adventure film series at Constitutional Hall in Washington DC.
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Are you planning a vacation to Costa Rica and have limited time and need help choosing the destinations you would like to visit? We have just the thing to help you. “Costa Rica a Travel Adventure Spectacular” full length 58 minute Costa Rica Travel video shows you first hand the most beautiful and most popular tourist destinations in this tropical paradise of Costa Rica: Poas Volcano National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park and La Fortuna, and Tortuguero National Park and Tortuguero Canals, , Manuel Antonio National Park, how coffee, Costa Rica’s number one export is grown and processed in Costa Rica, and additionally many cultural events such as the annual horse parade of Alajuela and the traditional folkloric oxcart parade in the old town of San Antonio de Escazu are also included to give insight into Costa Rica’s colorful culture. Plus interviews with North American who now live and retire in Costa Rica , explaining why they choose Costa Rica.
To order this video just go to the home page of costaricalearn.com. Look to the top of the page and click on buy our video.
To read about Ken and Ann Creed who produced and filmed the video go to the home page of costaricalearn.com you will find “About Us, Ken and Ann”
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Waterfall along Blue River in Costa Rica
One half of the earth’s forests have been lost in the last 300 years. Tree’s have been cut to built houses. Whole forest have been cut to clear for pasture lands. And Costa Rica is no exception.
Although Costa Rica has placed 20% of its land surface under the protection of National Parks and Wildlife Reserves, still trees are being cut to clear the way for large tourism developments. Big hotels with hundreds of room. Especially in the NW Pacific Guanacaste province. This area has a lot of sunshine all year, more than any other area of Costa Rica. Therefore, sun worshipers flock here by the thousands especially December through March when the cold weather in North America is quiet unpleasant.
Tourists come to Costa Rica mostly to be with nature. The mountains, oceans, rivers, and abundant rain forest draw people here where they experience this tropical paradise.
What is it exactly that makes Costa Rica for appealing? First is the climate. Sunshine, sunshine, and more sunshine. If you want to be in a cool place go to the mountains and if you want a warm place then go to the beach. Everything is only a few hours by car and even faster by air. Costa Rica has two domestic air carriers which fly to all the popular tourist destinations.
Costa Rica has an abundance of water due to the heavy rainfall from May to December. Everywhere you see waterfalls. And so many shades of green.
Not all the world has an abundance of water and with 6 billion people on the earth with so many not conserving water, not using it wisely could lead to a water shortage in some parts of the world.
Do you believe that the human race’s place is in nature? We would like to hear you comments here at costaricalearn.com
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