Beach in Costa Rica
It seems everyone is going to Costa Rica for the holidays these days, so I did too. The question is why?
Well this small country located in Central America is perhaps the unknown paradise. I had to discover it. Located on land which has the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Pacific on the other, Costa Rica has been blessed with a superb climate, soaring mountains and some of the best beaches in the area.
The country is peaceful, has friendly people and has everything that a tropical climate can offer. Not too bad.
Tourism is the fastest growing economic sector in Costa Rica and the reason for this is a well developed and organized industry which caters to the tourist. The country has gone to great lengths to protect the fauna, preserve the diversity of plants, wild life and the ecosystem. In fact, at least 10% of visitor to Costa Rica are nature lovers and there’s lots here to see for nature loves who practice eco-tourism as a principle when they travel.
Costa Rica is a Mecca for the water lover. The country has some of the nicest and most beautiful beaches in the Americas. Besides sun tanning, one can even go a few miles into the ocean and get a glimpse of the whales and dolphins passing through. As usual, just kicking back on the beach is what I do most of all.
The interior of the country is lush with exotic plants, vegetation and all types of wild life. There are ample things for a naturalist to do here, from bird watching, gathering butterflies or photographing orchids. One can hike along the many trails; go karting, deep water fishing, scuba diving or sailing. For the thrill seeker, there is bungee jumping, visiting volcanoes and wild water rafting.
All over the country are located some of the most unique golf courses built on scenic landscapes. Some of the places to visit while in Costa Rica include, the Cocos Islands located a few hundred miles in the Pacific Ocean, the Arenal volcano, Chirripo Mountain, Light Blue River and Poas Volcano. The sights are breath taking and the air is surreal.
For accommodation, Costa Rica is unrivaled. It has everything from luxury to the low budget motels. The exclusive resorts are often frequented by Hollywood stars. Along the beaches can also be found vacation homes for rent which offer all the amenities found in North America. Costa Rica also has liberal tax laws and allows foreigners to buy property on the island. Thus many North Americans come to live here during the harsh winters and some come to stay and find a life here.
Unfortunately many visitors go to Costa Rica for sex tourism. While adult sex ventures are not condoned, it is the child sex trade which has brought the place a bad reputation. The government has made an effort to ban child sex, but the country still sees at least 10% of visitors from North America coming for sexual pleasures. Even in San José, the capital of Costa Rica has hotels especially set up for prostitution because it’s legal here.
Most major airlines from North America fly to the capital, San José and Liberia in the north of Costa Rica. Great discounts are available by most tour operators which usually average about $1000 for a 10 day inclusive package.
