Costa Rica is a beautiful place. Natural attractions of Costa Rica. Active water recreation

Costa Rica is a nature reserve country (there are 74 nature reserves in total), where wildlife, surrounded by mountains and ocean. The main attractions of the country are National parks, mountain and underwater caves, as well as waterfalls, picturesque mountain and river valleys, volcanoes. Protected natural areas occupy about 25% of the country's area.

Arenal Volcano
Costa Rica is located in an area of ​​increased volcanic activity. There are 120 volcanoes in the country, 70 of which are active.

The most famous Costa Rican volcano is the active, young Arenal Volcano. This - high mountain, absolutely correct conical shape. At night, Arenal is illuminated and illuminates the surrounding area during an eruption.

The Indians considered the volcano a sacred creature, since until the beginning of the 16th century. he was very active. During the era of Spanish colonization, the volcano subsided. And again the volcano in 1968, then the residents of the villages of Tabacon and Pueblo Nuevo died from the eruption. The echoes of this tragedy were felt even in the state of Colorado in America.

Today, tourists from the world come to the Indian village of La Fortuna de San Carlos, located at the foot of the volcano, to stand in admiration at the sight of fiery lava flows running down the mountainside. However, not everyone is able to see the eruption; the volcano is often obscured by clouds. According to the Indians, the air near the crater is healing, as it is saturated with vapors.

Arenal heats water for hot springs, on which entire cascades of pools, ponds, and waterfalls are built.

For tourists, a mini-zoo with tropical butterflies, snakes, frogs and other tropical animals has been built in the village.

Near San Carlos, at an altitude of 600 m above sea level, Lake Arenal (area 80 km) is located. favorite place surfers.

In total, the Arenal National Park, named after the volcano, includes 16 reserves between Guanacaste and the Tilaran mountain range.

Volcano Poas

Poas Volcano (2708 m) is one of the most visited volcanoes in the country, located near the city of San Jose. Poaza Crater, with a diameter of 1.5 km, is one of the largest craters in the world. During periods of special volcanic activity, access to the national park is suspended. There are three craters in total in Poas, two of them are overgrown with dense tropical vegetation, the third contains the amazing Lake Botos, filled with rainwater. The beautiful Botos Lagoon is located in one of the dry craters. The path to it lies through the tropical forest.

In the vicinity of Poaz is the town of Sarchí, a center of Costa Rican wooden handicrafts. Here you can buy skillful handmade crafts made of wood and leather.

Volcano Irazu
31 km. to the north-west of Cartago is the highest active volcano in Costa Rica, Irazu (height 3432 m) and the national park of the same name around it.

The name of the volcano comes from two Indian words - ara (point) and su (thunder). On March 13, 1963, the day US President John F. Kennedy arrived on an official visit to Costa Rica, the most memorable eruption of Irazu occurred. The next time the volcano woke up only in 1994 and is still active.

In the Diego de la Haya crater (depth 100 m) there is a mineral lake that changes color from red to green. Travelers compare the top of the volcano to the surface of the moon.

Warm mud baths and ice lakes in the craters of extinct volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls and mountain rivers, running from the peaks - all this can be seen in the mountainous part of the country.

Jurassic Park
In Costa Rica mountain landscapes and relict plants remained almost the same as a million years ago. It is no coincidence that Steven Spielberg filmed his “Jurassic Park” in Costa Rica. At the filming location, among the jungle, there are rubber sculptures different types dinosaurs.

Manuel Antonio Park
Another of the most famous parks in the country is Manuel Antonio National Park, whose shores are framed by beaches with the purest white sand. This - perfect place for swimming and fishing, iguanas, red crabs, jumping monkeys, and lizards are found here.

Cocos Island
550 km. located off the coast of Costa Rica in the Pacific Ocean desert island Coconut (Isla del Coco, English Cocos), area 24 km. Robert Louis Stevenson settled the legendary Captain Flint here, and Jacques-Yves Cousteau called the island “the most beautiful in the world.”

This is a wild place untouched by civilization, covered with jungle forests.

This island is also a diving center; thousands of tourists from all over the world come here every year to plunge into the crystalline waters. clear waters ocean.

Coconut excites the imagination of treasure hunters. Its other names are "Treasure Island" or "Pirate's Safe". According to the chronicles, in the middle of the 17th century. the famous pirate Henry Morgan hid a treasure here, the Spaniards hid the treasure of Lima, taken from the inhabitants of Peru, and the Englishman Captain Thompson hid a treasure from the Pacific port of Callano. More than 500 expeditions have already visited the island in search of treasures.

In the summer of 1962, a tragic story happened on Cocos with those who were looking for pirate treasure speleologist Robert Verne, journalist Jean Portelle and writer Claude Charlier. When they were sailing to the bay, the motor in the boat stalled, the waves capsized the ship... Two treasure hunters drowned almost immediately, and the third, Robert Verne, was thrown onto the rocks and lived there for two months until he was rescued by a passing ship.

In addition to Cocos, other uninhabited islands you can visit in Costa Rica are Negritos and Los Pájaros, whose clear waters and beaches provide ideal opportunities for fishing and scuba diving. Tropical forests, palm groves, exotic birds seen here will be remembered by you for the rest of your life.

In a small area of ​​the country, there are about 10 types of tropical forests. Here among the trees you can see unique animals - sloths, monkeys, iguanas, caimans and jaguars, the rulers of the jungle. The country is home to about 850 bird species.

In Tortuguero National Park, located in the north of the Atlantic coast, we recommend visiting the turtle beaches. Green sea turtles lay their eggs here.

Monteverde
Monteverde is a cloud forest, located on the top of a mountain in a cloud, and receives moisture not from rain, but from clouds. There is always high humidity in this forest. The park area is 10,500 hectares and has 6 natural zones. The forest is home to 120 species of amphibians and reptiles, about 100 species of mammals (howler monkeys, ocelots, sloths, agoutis, coatis, millipedes, etc.), about 400 species of birds, including the famous quetzal, the sacred bird of the Mayans. The Quetzal is a symbol of many Central American countries. Aztec priests decorated their headdresses with quetzal feathers. Many people come to Monteverde specifically to see this beautiful bird, but not everyone succeeds. A popular story among tourists is that guides planted a wooden painted quetzal on tree branches and took visitors there who could not find it themselves.

Near the entrance to the forest there are hanging feeders with syrup, where hummingbirds of the most incredible colors flock.

Monteverde is home to about 2,500 plant species, including white and purple orchids.

You can look at the crowns of the tropical forest from above by ordering a skytrack - a flight on suspended ropes.

Costa Rica has a huge number of national parks to suit every taste. National parks Tapanti, Hitoy Serere, Guanacaste for lovers of tropical forests and its inhabitants. Lomas Barbudal for entomologists, Cahuita, Gandoca Manzanillo and Barra del Colorado on the Atlantic coast and parks, Cabo Blanco and Ballena on the Pacific coast are famous for their beaches and natural landscapes. Rocky bays and mountain waterfalls near the village of Montezuma also rightfully occupy a worthy place among the attractions of Costa Rica.

Other famous places include La Amistad Park (area 248.5 thousand hectares), Barra Onda Underground Park, Caño Negro Forest Reserve (Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro), parks Corcovado, Rincon de la Vieja, Rara Eivís and Tortuguero, Malecús Wildlife Refuge, Isla del Caño Biological Reserve, Carara, Curú, Ostional, Cabo Blanco, Marenco, Santa Elena Forest reserves. Marine reserves of Marino Ballena, Isla Bolaños, Tapanti National Forest Reserve, Gandoca-Manzanillo Forest Reserve and Botanical Garden Wilsonov, mountain National Park Chirripo, Cahuita, Braulio Carrillo, Estrella, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa, Corcovado, Tapanti and Palo Verde national parks.

The presence of so many national parks is not surprising, since the country's economy depends almost entirely on the tourism business. However, the emphasis in this business is not on beach holiday, but for ecotourism. The wild tropical forests of Costa Rica are popular among “ecological tourists”, whose number is growing every year.

The Tarcoles River is an important economic and biological part of Costa Rica.

The river originates in the Cordillera, has a length of 111 kilometers and a watershed area of ​​2,121 square kilometers, covering 50% of the country's population. The river is used to irrigate farmland and generate electricity.

The river is the most polluted in Costa Rica, so swimming in it is strictly not recommended. At the same time, the river is known for its diversity of fauna. Here you can find more than 50 species of different birds.

But main feature The river is home to an abundance of American crocodiles. The opportunity to see crocodiles and even feed them attracts many tourists to the Tarcoles River. Some tour operators even focus specifically on the opportunity to observe crocodiles.

Coordinates: 9.86020500,-84.50971800

Stone balls of Costa Rica

Since the discovery of the balls in the 30s of the 20th century to this day, there is no clarity about what they are, where they came from and what they served for. Geologists explain the appearance of balls volcanic activity, archaeologists tend to believe that the stone spheres were not produced by nature, but by people. Perhaps the spheres were installed near the homes of the nobility as a sign of power, or they played some role in cults unknown to us. Interestingly, in Costa Rica, one group of four balls was aligned along a line pointing due north. Some researchers believed that this proves the familiarity of the creators of the spheres with astronomy, and the spheres themselves had a sacred connection with space and even represent a map of the starry sky, serving as “beacons” for spaceships. According to more moderate versions, the balls played the role of landmarks for travelers and marked the boundaries of certain territories or were used as money. It is now almost impossible to refute or confirm this or that version.

Almost all the balls were moved from their original places, and when someone started a rumor that there was gold inside the balls, the spheres began to be sawed, split and even exploded in a thirst for profit. Of course, no gold was found in the balls, but a huge part of the unique objects was irretrievably lost. The age of the balls cannot be accurately determined.

Archaeologists determine the date of origin of the artifacts from 200 BC. to 1500 AD, but there is a theory according to which their age is more than 12 thousand years. It is unknown whether the secrets of the amazing balls will ever be solved. The researchers themselves doubt this.

Coordinates: 10.00604400,-84.13604700

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Damas Island

Damas Island is a small island popular with tourists for boat trips. Attracts with its diversity of animal life.

The island is only 6 kilometers long and covered with mangrove forests. During the excursion, visitors to the island have the opportunity to see pale monkeys, giant anteaters, three-toed sloths, alligators, boa constrictors, crabs, raccoons, and many exotic birds.

It is no less interesting to observe the mysterious and intriguing landscape of the most secretive parts of the island.

After the excursion you can visit the restaurant located on the island.

Coordinates: 9.45439600,-84.20275200

Tortuga Island is a beautiful tropical island, popular place among tourists, known for its pristine beaches and nature.

The island is located in the basin Caribbean Sea, near the Mikoya Peninsula. The name of the island is associated with pirates who founded their stronghold on the island. Legends associated with pirates attract visitors to the island.

But more tourists are attracted by the beautiful nature of the island. Here are the purest sand with an abundance coconut trees the beaches border the mountains. Visitors are offered a variety of ways to relax - hiking in the mountains, relaxing or playing volleyball on the beach, kayaking.

Snorkeling and diving are perhaps the most popular activities among visitors. A wide variety of marine life can be seen near the island, including stingrays, dolphins and even sharks. No less interesting will be visiting the sunken ships.

Coordinates: 20.05496400,-72.79272100

Guacalillo Canal

The Guacalillo channel is great place for excursions on the water. Tourists from boats can observe the diversity of nature and wildlife.

The canal is located at the mouth of the Guacalillo and Tarcoles rivers, a two-hour drive from San Jose. The canal is simply immersed in the greenery of mangrove forests and is densely populated by a wide variety of representatives of the animal world.

The tour lasts two and a half hours through the dense thickets of the tropical forest, during which you can see many exotic animals. The region is home to about 250 species of birds, such as the Macaw parrot, with its bright red plumage. You can also see gulls, cormorants and pelicans.

No less mammals and reptiles. For example, the canal is home to 80 to 240 crocodiles per kilometer!

Coordinates: 9.78150000,-84.61876100

Village of Monteverde

Monteverde is a village located in a picturesque area that includes tropical rainforests and coffee plantations. Tourism is well developed in the region.

Monteverde is an hour's drive from Arenal Park. The town is located at an altitude of 1400 meters above sea level and is surrounded by tropical forests. All this makes the region an ecotourism hub, offering visitors a variety of entertainment and recreation and attracting 250,000 tourists annually.

Near the city there are several reserves with humid forests that receive moisture from fogs. The reserves are home to more than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, tens of thousands of insect species and more than 2,500 plant species, 420 of which are orchids.

Also developed in the region extreme tourism, including horseback riding, mountain biking, rafting, abseiling and many others.

Monteverde has good transport and infrastructure, including bars, restaurants, shops and hotels.

Coordinates: 10.30706600,-84.80974000

Selvatura Park

Selvatura Park is a natural and recreational complex located in the north of Costa Rica, in the province of Puntarenas, Monteverde region. The park covers an area of ​​486 hectares, and its entire territory is covered with cloudy mountain forests.

In addition to the magnificent tropical nature that is so characteristic of Costa Rica, Selvatura Park is famous for its canopy tours. Canopy is extreme view relaxation, downhill on ropes stretched between the trees. In total, Selvatura has fifteen cable tracks and eighteen observation platforms. This is the largest entertainment venue of this kind in all of Costa Rica, and it is natural that Selvatura Park attracts many tourists. It goes without saying that the safety of rope descents is organized at the highest level.

Well, for those who like more have a relaxing holiday the park also has something to offer. This includes walks along suspension bridges, a visit to the butterfly garden, an exhibition of insects and reptiles, excursions through the magnificent foggy jungle, as well as watching the Hummingbird birds that are raised here.

Coordinates: 10.31425700,-84.82502400

Monteverde Natural Reserve

Monteverde Natural Park is a unique mountain reserve in the north of Costa Rica, attracting a considerable number of eco-tourists. Located northwest of the country's capital, San Jose. The entire territory of Monteverde is occupied by the so-called “foggy forests” - high-mountain jungles growing in the fog condensation zone.

The Monteverde Nature Reserve is an extremely beautiful and exotic place, real paradise for all wild fans, untouched nature. The area of ​​the reserve is huge - more than twelve thousand hectares, where more than one hundred species of animals and about four hundred species of birds are found.

The biodiversity in Monteverde is among the most extensive on Earth. Many species are listed in the Red Book and live only here.

The reserve is also famous for its orchids - there are more than five hundred species here, and 34 of them are found nowhere else.

Due to the uniqueness of the local ecosystem, visits to Monteverde are strictly limited - only one and a half hundred tourists are allowed into the reserve every day, and it is not easy to get into their number.

Coordinates: 10.31245700,-84.81629900

The most popular attractions in Puntarenas with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places for visiting famous places Puntarenas on our website.

Costa Rica is a republic in Central America, the most economically stable in the region. In terms of living standards, it ranks second here. Agriculture, electronics industry, and tourism industry are developed here. Along with agricultural products, this small miracle state exports electronics and medical equipment. Costa Rica is a neutral country; it does not have its own army, only the police. Low crime and high literacy of the population (96%) set it apart from other Latin American countries. When is the best time to go to Costa Rica? The mountain range that runs through the entire territory provides great climatic diversity, which creates the conditions for natural diversity. Costa Rica is a republic in Central America, the most economically stable in the region. In terms of living standards, it ranks second here. Agriculture, electronics industry, and tourism industry are developed here. Along with agricultural products, this small miracle state exports electronics and medical equipment. Costa Rica is a neutral country; it does not have its own army, only the police. Low crime and high literacy of the population (96%) set it apart from other Latin American countries.

When is the best time to go to Costa Rica?

festival, Ox Cart Day, Orchid Festival - it is impossible to list all the names of the holidays. It is not for nothing that this country is the happiest in the category “International Happiness Index” for 2012!

Features of holidays in Costa Rica

pre-Columbian era. According to legend, in the Sacred Basilica of Los Angeles there is a statue of the Black Madonna, which has healing powers. Thousands of pilgrims come here every year, hoping for a miracle. The main natural attractions of Costa Rica are its picturesque reserves. Monteverde National Park is a tropical forest with a variety of plants and animals. In it you can see both the largest trees up to several tens of meters high, and the smallest trees. There is also a snake farm and a butterfly museum here. The amazing turquoise color of the Celeste River flows next to the Tenorio volcano. The shade of its water is determined by its composition, and, according to legend, by divine power. The river forms a waterfall of amazing beauty. A delightful collection of orchids is contained in the Lancaster Garden - more than 1,400 species, it is named after the British naturalist. The vast Barra Honda National Park is home to unique caves with underground passages and many chambers. Inside, the cavities in the rocks are intricately decorated with limestone formations of various shapes and sizes, attracting lovers of mysticism and the unknown. Holidays in Costa Rica will satisfy even the most demanding tastes. There are beautiful picturesque corners of wild nature and historical monuments, and the necessary conditions for active pastime, and entertainment for everyone. The most important component of tourist attractiveness is a friendly atmosphere towards tourists! You can always find tours to Costa Rica or another Latin American country on our website.

CITIES OF Costa Rica

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  San Jose

  The most interesting places San Jose
  Capital of Costa Rica. The largest city in the state. It is located in the center of the country, on a hill 1170 meters above the ocean. The city is home to 350 thousand inhabitants, and the majority settled here relatively recently - in the second half of the 20th century. Together with its suburbs, the capital is home to a million people. Not far from the city is located largest lake country called Arenal. Main attractions. Museum of Pre-Columbian Gold. The Golden Museum is located in the former National Theatre. Specializes in gold products. At the same time, you can learn a lot about pre-Columbian history. The territory now occupied by Costa Rica was inhabited by many Indian tribes(the last of which disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century) which are interesting to know more about.

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  Costa Rica city

  The most interesting places in Costa Rica
  A small country in Central America. The name Costa Rica means “rich coast”. The republic ranks second in terms of living standards among all Central American countries. In 2012, the country was recognized as the happiest in the world. The country's population is just under 5 million people. The peculiarity of Costa Rica is that it is the only country in all of America where there is no army. This is a neutral state where there is only one power structure - the police. The republic has a low crime rate compared to neighboring regions. Most of the country's territory is covered with forests, where you can find rare and valuable tree species. In addition, a large number of species of animals, insects and birds live here.

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  Guanacaste

  The most interesting places in Guanacasta
  One of the seven provinces of Costa Rica, located in the northwestern part of the country. It is popular for its beaches and mild climate. The government's concern for the environment is clearly visible here: cleaning technologies are being introduced, which have made it easier to clean the city and beaches. Ecotourism to waterfalls, cliffs, volcanoes, etc. is actively developing in Guanacaste. It is worth noting that this is an ideal holiday destination where you can go at any time of the year. It rarely rains here, which could ruin the trip. A large number of beaches that stretch for hundreds of kilometers will allow you to diversify your vacation, because each beach and each entrance to the water is unique.

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  Alajuela

  The most interesting places in Alajuela
  The city of Costa Rica, which ranks third in size in the country. It is located in the northern part of the state. This is a place meant for family vacation, since there are cozy family hotels and restaurants. This province is actively engaged in agriculture, namely, the cultivation of fruits, coffee, and tobacco. Favorite craft local residents is painting and wood carving. Visitors to the city can purchase the resulting creations as souvenirs. It is worth noting that this art here is raised to new level, so when you go to any shop with wooden souvenirs, you will be pleasantly surprised. Despite the fact that the city is quite large, walking is important.

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  Quepos

  The most interesting places in Quepos
  Main center tourism and recreation in Costa Rica. Coastal city is located in the Western part of the country. It boasts a variety of world-class ecotourism and sport fishing activities. They are one of the city's attractions. Attractions. Quepos is the gateway to Costa Rica's Manuel Antonio National Park, where every path leads to stunning sites. For example, fabulous beaches, emerald bays, places inhabited by monkeys, parrots, toucans and much more. This is one of two places where titi monkeys are protected. The most interesting attractions are the variety of wildlife tours.

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  Puntarenas

  The most interesting places in Puntarenas
  One of the seven provinces of sunny Costa Rica, located on the western side of the country. It is larger than other provinces and occupies most of the coastal area. In addition, the province includes an island in the Pacific Ocean. The most interesting sights. Plays a major role in attracting tourists to Puntarenas local nature. She is the main attraction. Everything that is located here should impress vacationers, from tall palm trees and orchids to wide rivers And active volcano. Here is Poas, a famous volcano that erupts about once every half hour. Every tourist can watch this process.

Costa Rica (Costa-Rica) - translated from Spanish means "rich coast", in fact, a lot of wealth can be found in this country: Quiet and Atlantic Oceans with their wonderful beaches, many national parks, forests and reserves with animals and birds, volcanoes, including active ones, provinces rich in adventures and authentic souvenirs, and finally, the capital with its colonial architecture. Costa Rica will not leave anyone indifferent.

Geography of Costa Rica

Costa Rica is located in the narrowest place in Central America, excluding Panama, the distance between the two oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic, at the narrowest point is only 118 km. Costa Rica borders on the north and , on the south.

Due to the presence of long oceanic borders, Costa Rica has a large line sea ​​coast- 1228 km, on which many sea resorts are located. In the center of the country there is a plateau with cloud forests and volcanoes, also called the “Central Valley”.

In the center of the country there are many small but fast rivers that originate in mountains and volcanoes; canoeing is often arranged on them and canopies and zip lines are arranged over them.

Largest cities in Costa Rica:

• Capital - (San Jose)
• Alajuela is a satellite city of the capital, part of the capital agglomeration
• Liberia is a large city in the north-west of the country (the capital of the province of Guanacaste), from here you can reach most of the seaside resorts on the north-west coast of Costa Rica (,).
• Puntarenas - resort town in the west of the country, the capital province of the same name. From here you can get to the resorts of the western and southwestern coasts of the Pacific Ocean (Playa Herradura, Manuel Antonio, Marino Ballena).
• Limon is a large port city on the Atlantic coast of the country, the capital of the province of the same name. From here you can reach all resorts on the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica (,).

Russians do not need a visa to visit Costa Rica. For up to 30 days, you will be given an entry stamp right at the border or at the airport. .

Currency of Costa Rica

The currency of Costa Rica is the Costa Rican colon or simply colon. On price tags it is designated as CRC.

The Costa Rican colon exchange rate for 2019 is:

1 USD = 600 CRC.

IN tourist places you can pay in dollars. In many shops, restaurants and cafes you can pay with plastic cards. The banking infrastructure is very well developed in Costa Rica, so that even in the most run-down town there are bank branches with automated teller machines (ATMs) where you can withdraw money from your card.

All outlets in Costa Rica are American type 110V.

The climate in Costa Rica is determined by its distance from the ocean and altitude. The closer to the ocean and lower, the warmer and the climate is more tropical; closer to the center and higher up, the colder. At all central part The country is located on a plateau, and it is quite comfortable here.

There are clearly defined rainy (May - November) and dry (December - April) seasons.

How to get to Costa Rica

By plane

There are no direct flights from Russia to Costa Rica, so you need to make a transfer in Cuba, the USA or Europe. The most profitable options are offered by Iberia airlines - via Madrid, Lufthansa (Condor) - via Frankfurt and Cubana - via Havana. Charged upon departure airport tax. A taxi from the airport to the center of San Jose takes about 15 minutes and costs about 20 USD. The bus travels for about 1 hour and costs 1 USD.

By bus

Costa Rica can be reached from nearby countries (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama). The Pan-American Highway travels through all these countries. international buses. The most common bus companies: TicaBus, KingQuality, etc. Compare prices on websites and choose cheaper. And, of course, all these international buses arrive and depart to/from their terminal. These terminals are available in different cities, if there is no terminal in the city, then you will be dropped off in the city or somewhere nearby.

The most common and cheapest transport in Costa Rica are buses. The bus network very tightly covers almost the entire country, including even the most hidden corners, national parks, volcanoes, etc. Almost everywhere can be reached by bus. There are city, intercity and international buses. It should be noted that in Costa Rica there is no such cruelty as in other Central Asian countries (I mean chicken bass). There are none here, just ordinary modern buses, very often with air conditioning.

In the capital and large cities you can use taxi services, for example a short trip around San Jose will cost 10-15 USD.

You can also rent a car at one of the rental offices: license, age over 21, 1000 USD as deposit and the car is yours. It makes sense to rent a car for traveling around the country, it’s very convenient

Where to stay, what to eat, prices in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a huge number of hotels, hostels, cabins, lounges, etc. There are also luxury chain hotels: Hilton, Holiday Inn, Best Western, and quite cheap hostels for 20-30 USD.

On popular sea ​​resorts You can often come across themed hotels, for example the world-famous airplane hotel () in .

In small resort towns, you don’t have to book a hotel in advance, but look for it upon arrival, because... Usually these towns are small, and there is a lot of housing, then you can go around and look for it. In addition, you can evaluate the level of comfort live and bargain.

In large cities, such as San Jose, you need to either have a reservation or have several options with addresses in mind, because... V big city It can be quite difficult to find a hotel at random. You can book standardly on or on a newfangled

The cuisine and food of Costa Rica is not very different from the cuisine of other countries in Central and South America: it is still the same arroz con pollo (rice with chicken), arroz con carne (rice with meat), arroz con camarones (pilaf with seafood cuisine), ensaladas (salads). There is also a large selection of fast food (all kinds of burgers).

As a side dish, they usually serve platano (banana cakes), patacones (fried plantain stalks), casados ​​(rice-vegetable mixture).

The cost of food and housing is quite high when compared with other Central Asian countries. It’s very cheap to eat in a cafe with a drink for about 7-10 USD. Eating in a restaurant for tourists from 30 USD. Housing is the cheapest 20 USD per double. with very modest conditions (this will most likely be a cabinas (room)).

Sights of Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a country attractive for all types of holidays. Here you can either bask on the beach with snow-white sand, drinking rum and cola, or climb a volcano or conquer the waves on a board.

The main attractions of the country are undoubtedly its natural beauty: oceans, beaches, volcanoes, tropical and cloud forests, and national parks with a variety of inhabitants.

On the Pacific Coast National parks definitely worth visiting: Santa Rosa, Guanacaste, Marino Ballena

You can see the capital of Costa Rica - its architecture, churches, parks and museums, but I would not stay here more than 2-3 days, because there is so much interesting in Costa Rica.

Safety in Costa Rica

Costa Rica feels like the most safe country V Latin America. There is a lot of white population (descendants of the Spaniards), maybe because of this this impression is created. It was a little awkward in San Jose early in the morning, but that's normal for a big city.

Let me remind you of the safety rules that should be followed even if everything seems safe:

• In the dark, it’s better not to go out at all, and if you really need to, we take a taxi. We plan all transfers during daylight hours
• Do not flash money, photo or video equipment on the streets or in crowded places. We carry all our camera equipment in a bag or backpack. We take out our camera, quickly take pictures of what we need and put the camera in our backpack.
• Do not wear jewelry or earrings
• It’s better to wear discreet clothes, but even though you’re tourists you can already see
• Do not go into potentially dangerous areas (usually the city center, markets, bus terminals)
• Try not to go out on Sunday in business centers and the city center (all centers “die out” on Sundays)
• Drink only bottled water, wash fruits with water.

But of course, all these rules are for strong reinsurance, otherwise the country is cool - come, but it’s expensive.

Reference

• Costa Rica covers an area of ​​51 km? — it’s a little larger than the Moscow region
• The only state in all of America that does not have an army, i.e. Costa Rica is a completely neutral state
• Population 4.8 million people.