Costa Rica Travel Guide
Travel Facts
Holiday Theme:
Luxury, Quiet, Active
Local Airports:
San Jose Airport
Flight times from UK:
14 Hrs
Currency:
Costa Rican Colon (CRC)
Language:
Spanish
Time difference:
GMT Time - 6
Costa Rica: Just 500,000 people inhabit the island,
which is 51,200 sqm in size what makes this even more amazing is that
in this small country there are more species of birds than in all of Europe
or North America. A very laid back country which abolished the death penalty
way back in 1882 and abolished its armed forces in 1949.
History can only identify Costa Rica since Christopher Columbus discovered
the country and fell in love with the country and friendly locals wearing
gold jewellery that he named the country Costa Rica, ‘the rich coast’.
Despite this lure of wealth the colonisation didn’t happen immediately
and it took over 60 years for the Spanish settlers to change any of the
dense jungle. Gold was never found and Costa Rica became a forgotten land.
Coffee was the magic ingredient that gave Costa Rica the wealth and
class structure to have a more forward thinking perspective and to establish
themselves as a country with financial stability.
Costa Rica has survived invasions by the US military, civil war and
more recently Hurricane Cesar and Hurricane Mitch. However the people
and the country are some of the most friendly and welcoming in the world
and the country offers so much diversity that it truly represents a unique
holiday experience.
Over 1 million tourists visit this small country every year, the reason
being that where else can you explore a tropical rainforest, climb a volcano
and then bathe in beautiful azure seas and laze on the golden white sand
beaches.
Costa Rica is a destination for people who like to explore there are
so many activities to choose from that spending your entire time on the
beach would be wasting a wonderful opportunity, though the beaches are
so perfect you may find it hard to pull yourself away.
Azure Holiday's travel advisors will strive to ensure you have the perfect
villa holiday in Costa Rica and take in as much or as little exploration
as you like. We have fantastic jungle hideaways, beachfront villas and
luxurious condos.
Resorts within Costa Rica:
Top 5 Activities
1) Parque Nacional Volcan Arenal
This volcano was dormant until 1968, when it suddenly exploded destroying
3 villages and killing over 80 people. Today the volcano is ever active
sometimes you will have daily explosions while other times it will remain
calm for weeks or even months. Night time tours are available which can
be a fascinating sight.
2) Peninsula De Nicoya
A unique and wonderful setting the Nicoya Peninsula is a sun-drenched
coastline that is surround by a lush tropical rainforest. The area is
certainly the most popular tourist destination.
3) Explore the Jungle
One of the most popular day trips in Costa Rica is a canopy tour, a high
thrill adventure high above the rainforest floor. The view are fantastic,
as long as you can keep your eyes open.
4) River Rafting
Costa Rica offers fantastic white water rafting and kayaking rivers,
there are three rivers close to Manuel Antonio The Pacuare, Naranjo and
Sevegre which offer iii / iv /v class rapids.
5) Sunset Dolphin Cruises
Sailing along some of the finest coastline during the sunset is a spectacular
sight, you sail past stunning beaches and the islands of Manuel Antonio
National park.
Weather Information
Costa Rica has a series of microclimates that vary from barren cold volcanic
tundra to the exotic cloud forest. Costa Rica can only be described as
having two seasons a dry and wet, the wet season runs from June to November
and tends to follow the format of sunshine in the morning and rain in
the afternoon. The dry season runs from December to May, temperatures
will average around 30 deg throughout the year with March to May the warmest
months. If venturing inland the average temperatures can be around 10
degrees lower.
