Peaceful and army-less, Costa Rica has a reputation as Latin America's Switzerland.
Top five attractions
- White-water rafting at Turrialba.
- The surfing scene on the Nicoya peninsula.
- Rincón de la Vieja national park for riding and volcanoes.
- Monteverde cloud forest.
- If you can visit around the time of a full moon, watching the arrival of the Olive Ridley sea turtles on the beaches of the Pacific Coast.
Best city
Not San José, one of Latin America’s least inspiring capitals. Try the cowboy town of Liberia, in Guanacaste province.
Souvenir to buy
Costa Rican coffee is among the best in the world.
Quirky Costa Rica
By way of greeting, Costa Ricans say “Pura vida” (pure life) or “Que tuanes”, which is of obscure provenance, but may be a corruption of the English “Get-to-our-knees” – in other words, I like you so much I am genuflecting.
Read
‘Monkeys are Made of Chocolate’ by Jack Ewing (Pixyjack Press), a celebration of jungle life and man-and-nature symbioses by a resident with 30 years’ observations.
Comments
This is my first time i visit here. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog, especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the leisure here! Keep up the good work.
rincon de la vieja
293 DAYS AGO