So this post is our light-hearted view of Costa Rica.

It has some of the interesting stuff, a few trivial facts, and our thoughts on the country.

Costa Rica is an intrepid traveller’s paradise. It offers a vast array of activities, and allows you the chance to see a huge amount of flora & fauna, beaches from the Pacific to the Caribbean and it allows you to get a perspective on the human’s place on the planet. Costa Ricans live by the maxim ‘pura vida’, it’s literal meaning is pure life, but it’s just about loving life – say hurrah to that.

Centre of the journey will be the International airport, just outside the capital San José.

Costa Rican colón (CRC)
Also the US Dollar (USD) can be used but the exchange rate can suck.

Central Standard Time (CST)
No daylight saving

• Costa Rica has no military force. Its Police are armed though, and it has a paramilitary force for Border Patrol.
• By law, coffee producers in Costa Ricia can only grow the Arabica coffee variety. Considered the best by many in the know.
• About 25% of the country is in protected national parks, or protected areas. The country contains around 5% of the world’s biodiversity.
• Costa Rica has a tropical climate, with only 2 seasons the dry season, or summer that generally starts in December and runs through to April, when the wet season, or winter kicks in. Plan your trip carefully.

100% Arabica – One of the best places to drink a coffee is on a plantation tour. The real meaning of from bean to cup.

Rice and black beans stir fried together. We loved this at breakfast served with fried plantains & eggs

Gary’s favourites back in 2007, although the new wave of microbrews would interest him today.

A real-life active volcano, which with the right conditions means you can actually see lava flowing from the earth’s core.

Life’s too short. Enjoy the vistas as you zip through the air.

Explore this fabulous region to wonder in it’s wildlife.

Truly stunning flora & fauna as you wander through these natural parks.

See the bright red berries on the bush, to the dried green beans, before they are roasted for our delight. From berry to cup.

The beaches are to die for. Feel the sand between your toes in this tropical paradise.

Our experience back in 2007 is captured in our ‘Sloths & Mojitos – The Costa Rica road trip‘ It’s a story of 4 parts;
Manuel Antonio here we come…
Monteverde highlights
Arenal…..what zip line!!!
Tortuguero…..how humid?

Iguanas, Blue-jeans frog, crocodiles, caimans & the Jesus Christ lizards to name but a few.

Look out for 2 & 3 toed varieties – amazing to watch. Almost like life in slow motion.

Far too many to mention, but one highlight would be to see humming birds at a feeding station.

I would love to head back, and Gary would like to meet up with old friends. Still plenty to see & do in this wonderful country.

Prices generally cheap, but a lot of the tourist activity is priced for the market, rather than actual cost. A few drinks with a friends in a bar won’t break the bank.

What’s it like driving in the country.

Which side of the road do they drive on? They drive on the right.

(0% - They’re suicidal – they’re out to kill us 100% - I’m in driving paradise.)

Standards are pretty good, but the traffic in downtown San José can be a nightmare, especially at peak times. Some of the routes out to the popular destinations involve dirt roads. Generally not to bad but can be affected by heavy rain. Signposting could be better, so we’d advise opting for a GPS (Sat-Nav) if possible.

I loved the wildlife roaming freely in Costa Rica, particularly the Sloths. Tortuguero was equally amazing, meandering through the canals & waterways.

In 2007 you were unable to fly direct from London to San Jose, so that made the trip a bit arduous. But now all that has changed, from 2016 BA currently fly there.

From our 2007 tour – so much, but it has to be Tortuguero, despite the rainfall & humidity – I think I’ve finally dried out now.
From the country; lots of good friends after working with a team daily for 7 years. Wonderful people, so friendly

Being stopped by a traffic patrol for ‘speeding’ when I really wasn’t. Taking sensible precautions, and understand the correct options saved the day though.

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This beautifully biodiverse country offers a vast array of experiences, with the opportunity to visit both the Caribbean & Pacific oceans. What are you waiting for?

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