Great Costa Rica Attractions

Originally discovered and named 'Costa Rica' by Christopher Columbus more than 600 years ago, Costa Rica is still being discovered every day by tourists from around the world. It is a tropical paradise with year-round great weather and a government committed to sustainable development. In fact, in 2008 a team of Columbia and Yale researchers found that of 149 different countries' studied, Costa Rica was in the top 5 for environmental performance----far above the United States, Canada, or any other country in the Western Hemisphere.

Costa Rica is a stable democracy and, along with Switzerland, only one of two countries in the world without a military. With two international airports and an ever-growing tourism infrastructure, it is a great place for tourists to visit. There are many things to do and see and the country is particularly famous for its flora and fauna.

The world-wide economic downturn has proven challenging to Costa Rica tourism, which has been struggling. However, every challenge presents an opportunity and if you are thinking of a vacation, now may be exactly the time to travel Costa Rica. Airfares are cheap and there are some great travel and accommodation bargains. Indeed, the Costa Rica Institute of Tourism (ICT) has put together a website with discount coupons. Simply Google 'visitcostarica.com/crplus' to check it out.

Though tourists from around the world enjoy being Costa Rica tourists, 40% of its tourists come from the United States. That country's economic problems have proven challenging to Costa Rica tourism, which has been struggling. But, of course, every challenge creates an opportunity and now may be exactly the time to travel Costa Rica. You will find cheap airfares are some terrific travel and accommodation bargains. The Costa Rica government is trying to stimulate tourism with a website from the Costa Rica Institute of Tourism (ICT) that contains discount coupons. Google 'visitcostarica.com/crplus' and look for yourself but remember: there are hundreds of hotels, spas, resorts, and other places that will give you a discount-----but you need to ask!

You will also find some the world's most famous volcanoes here. Arenal Volcano is a tourist hotspot, with resorts built around hot springs where you can loll in luxury, drink a margarita, and perhaps watch the fabulous eruptions of this volcano. There is also Irazu, just outside San Jose. Here, on the day in 1963 that John F. Kennedy visited Costa Rica, a monstruous eruption greeted the President---I like to think of it as a salute. And, only here on a clear day can you drive to the top of its summit, look into its crater, then look west and see the Pacific Ocean, or look east and see the Atlantic ocean. Or, look at both of them at the same time! This ain't Dubuque!

Do not forget Costa Rica's Seven Wonders, chosen by Ticos themselves. Two great volcanoes: mighty Arenal Volcano and spectacular Poas Volcano near to San Jose International. World famous for its ecotourism is Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve with its great plant and animal diversity---including its spectacular orchids! Hop a boat for a get-away to magnificent Cocos Island (300 miles off the coast), described as the "most beautiful island in the world" by Jacques Cousteau, a famous pirate island with millions of dollars of still-missing buried treasure, and the best large animal diving anywhere. The tallest mountain in Central America is called Mount Chirripo where you will hike from tropical forests to glacial lakes. Unknown to most folks is the Rio Celeste (Celestial River) where the river changes, literally almost magically, from crystal clear to sky-blue in front of your eyes. And, for real nature lovers, there is remote Tortuguero National Park along the Caribbean coast, the world's largest protected area for green sea turtles and the waters teeming with great sportfish.

Be sure to consider going to some of Costa Rica's Seven Wonders, identified by Costa Ricans themselves. For intrepid adventurers and fisherfolk, there is remote Tortuguero National Park along the Caribbean coast. It is the world's largest protected area for green sea turtles, its waters teem with great sportfish, and you will gaze literally over waters sailed by Columbus himself. There are two great volcanoes among the Seven Wonders: mighty Arenal Volcano and spectacular Poas Volcano just outside San Jose. Not far from Arenal is the Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve with its great plant and animal diversity---including its spectacular orchids and the only butterfly in the world that makes a sound! If you like to dive, charter a boat for magnificent Cocos Island (300 miles off the coast and halfway to the Galapagos. Jacques Cousteau called it the "most beautiful island in the world" and you'll still see rocks signed by seafarers. This was a famous pirate island with a fabulous fortune of still undiscovered buried treasure, and today it provides the best large animal diving anywhere. If you like to hike, try Mount Chirripo, the tallest mountain in Central America, where your hike will take you from tropical forests to cold, glacial lakes. There is a magical place, still virtually unknown to most folks, called the Rio Celeste (Celestial River) where the river literally changes color, from crystal clear to sky-blue in front of your eyes.

In Costa Rica there are activities to suit just about everyone. While you can go in for the extreme sports, many people take part in fishing, cycling or surfing, all pastimes which are particular popular for tourists to Costa Rica. Costa Rica is also famous for having some of the best tropical golf courses in the world. And, if that is not enough, here are a few more things to do to keep you busy during the days: 1. Fish the deep sea for marlin (I recently fought a 450 pounder before releasing it), sailfish, huge tarpon, snook, and dozens of other varieties. 2. Surf! Do not know how? Go to surf school. 3. Raft or kayak in some of the world's best whitewater or leisurely raft a tropical river with the kids. 4. Golf. You will find courses designed by world-famous designers. 5. Windsurf at Lake Arenal, considered the second best place in the world. 6. Defy death and bungee jump into deep canyons or at night. 7. Take an ecotour 8. Zipline 80 feet up through tropical forests. 9. Become a bullfighter. But beware that in Costa Rica the bulls cannot be harmed, anybody can jump into the ring with these critters, and you can buy insurance just before you take your life into your hands. 10. Take a horseback ride in the mountains, along the beaches, or even across the entire country. 11. Take a hot air balloon ride or go hang gliding. 12. Become a canyoneer and rappel tropical waterfalls. 13. Take a train ride---in a genuine Swiss train to a genuine Swiss mountain hotel or from San Jose to the beach. 14. Visit a tiny park, Corcovado, only half the size of NYC but the most biologically intense place on earth. 15. Scuba dive or skin dive in a Caribbean marine park at the largest coral reef in the country. 16. Watch whales (Costa Rica has the world's longest whale-watching season). Wonder at the sea turtles as they nest. 17. Enjoy tropical gardens or tour plantations where the finest coffee in the world is grown. 18. Hike, bike, rent motorcycles or ATVs. 19. Take a walk on the wild-side into the crater of an active volcano. 20. Tour an African wildlife park. 21. Take a photography tour. 22. Or go on a volunteer vacation. Enough ideas? I have more!

Night provides more attractions. Bars, restaurants, nightclubs (many, very adult in tone and tenor), gambling, and of course, beautiful women. For gays and lesbians, there are an increasing number of places to go and things to do as well.