Costa Rica Vacations

Costa Rica vacations are famous for outdoor activities. The beaches of Costa Rica
boast some of the best surf in the world. Places like Tamarindo, Jaco and Manuel
Antonio are renowned destinations for surfers from around the world. In fact,
Hermosa Beach, located to the south of Jaco, hosts a yearly international surfing
competition. Even if you have never surfed before, a wide range of schools make
Costa Rica the perfect place to fall in love with this highly addictive sport.

Eco-tourism, such as wildlife tours and rainforest excursions are also readily
available. Costa Rica boasts an amazing array of wildlife and fauna that is sure to
satisfy even the most avid nature enthusiast. Moreover, activities such as kayaking in
the ocean, white water rafting, camping, horseback riding and deep water fishing are
all incredibly popular.

Another cannot be missed Costa Rica vacation is a trip to any of the over 200
volcanoes. Of these, 100 still show signs of volcanic activity and five are classified
as active volcanoes. Volcano Arenal, located in the Arenal National Park in the north
of Costa Rica, is the most active of the five and regularly spews hot steam and gasses
into the sky.

Do not worry if outdoor activities do not feature in your idea of an ideal vacation.
San Jose is an international city of over 300,000 people, which features a range of

cultural activities, fine dining and an exciting nightlife. Costal towns such as Jaco
offer the more adventurous an opportunity to meet people from around the world and
experience a vibrant party scene. While a series of luxurious resorts and hotels require
nothing more than that you relax and enjoy yourself.

Costa Rica vacations offer a wide range of activities for travellers of any age and any
mindset. However, there are several things that any traveller needs to know.

Remember, Costa Rica is a Spanish speaking country. This will not be that big of an
issue if you plan on staying in the more touristy areas of San Jose or in luxury hotels
and resorts as everyone will speak English. However, if you are looking to head off
the beaten path and do not any speak Spanish, it might be a good idea to brush up on
some basics.

The Costa Rican currency is called the colon. As of June, 2008, the colon was valued
at around 530 colons to one US dollar. This means that although Costa Rica is not as
cheap as some other Central American countries, travellers from the United States and
Europe could find that most things are far less expensive than what they are used to at
home.

Also, be aware of your surroundings. According to INTERPOL, Costa Rica is one
of the safest countries in Central America. However, you still need to be aware of
where you are and what you are doing. Again, this is especially true if you intend on
travelling on your own or going off of the beaten path.

The easiest way of beginning your Costa Rica vacation is to go there by air.
Costa Rica has an international airport, Juan Santamaria (SJO), which is located
immediately outside of San Jose. From the airport you can easily head into San Jose
or rent a car and travel to either coast or the interior.

A second option is to head to Costa Rica either by car or by bus. This option takes
significantly longer, but - if travelling from the United States - it allows you to
experience Mexico and Central America on your way to Costa Rica.

There are a range of Costa Rica vacations for any type of traveller. Whether you
dream of luxury resorts, hidden beaches, wild nights or outdoor activities; Costa Rica
is waiting.