Attracting nearly 2 million foreign visitors a year, Costa Rica has become a very popular tourism destination. The pristine Central American country was one of the pioneers of ecotourism, owing to its incredible biodiversity. Those who travel to Costa Rica can visit 20 natural parks, eight biological reserves, and numerous beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. A Costa Rica vacation can even include riding above the rainforest in an aerial tram.
Getting around during a vacation in Costa Rica is easy and safe. It takes just three hours by car to travel from coast to coast in this small, peaceful nation, which hasn’t had an army since 1948. Cultural activities include taking a coffee plantation tour, and learning more about the country’s Spanish and indigenous heritage, especially in the capital of San Jose. Those interested in a Costa Rica beach vacation have a variety of watersports to choose from, with diving and snorkeling especially popular. Adventure sports including surfing, windsurfing, and whitewater rafting and kayaking in the nation’s rivers. Children can receive quite an ecological education during a Costa Rica family vacation. Where else is it possible to view volcanoes, watch sea turtles nest, and wander through a rain forest or cloud forest, all the while keeping an eye out for thousands of plant species, 800 bird species and more than 200 mammal species in such a small geographical area?
U.S. citizens require a passport and roundtrip air ticket to enter Costa Rica. No visa is required. International flights arrive at the airports in San Jose and in Liberia, the provincial capital of the Guanacaste region. A U.S. driver’s license satisfies the requirement for driving in the country (for up to three months), and car rentals are widely available. The official currency is the Colon, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted. The departure tax is $26. Spanish is the official language, though English is widely spoken. Costa Rica is a tropical country. Average temperatures range from 70°F to 81°F, with March-May being the hottest months. For more information on Costa Rica travel, log on to www.visitcostarica.com, the Costa Rica Tourism Board’s website.