Costa Rica Hotels
Why not take a holiday in the nation of Costa Rica. It can be a super place to have a vacation. You may want to see the beaches, the cities the towns, the historic sites, the wildlife the scenic views. You may want a luxury or cheap hotel in the nation.
Costa Rica is located on the Central American isthmus, 10° North of the equator and 84° West of the Prime Meridian. It borders both the Caribbean Sea (to the east) and the North Pacific Ocean (to the west), with a total of 1,290 kilometers (802 mi) of coastline (212 km / 132 mi on the Caribbean coast and 1,016 km / 631 mi on the Pacific). It has a reputation for excellent whitewater kayaking/rafting opportunities.
Ecotourism is extremely popular with the many tourists visiting the extensive national parks and protected areas around the country. Costa Rica was a pioneer in this type of tourism and the country is recognized as one of the few with real ecotourism.
The spine of the country produces many major river systems. Rivers draining into the Caribbean include:
Rio Colorado, Rio Pacuare, Rio Parismina, Rio Reventazon, Rio Sixaola
Rivers draining into the Lake Nicaragua or the San Juan River (whose waters eventually drains into the Caribbean) include:
Rio Sapoá, Rio Frío, Rio San Carlos, Rio Sarapiquí
Rivers draining into the Pacific Ocean include:
Rio Abangares, Rio Guacimal, Rio Sierpe, Rio Tempisque, Rio Terraba
In the eastern half of the country, the Rio San Juan forms the northern border with Nicaragua.
The country has a tropical and subtropical climate and is part of the Neotropic ecozone. It is part of many ecoregions, including Costa Rican seasonal moist forests, Bocas del Toro-San Bastimentos Island-San Blas mangroves, Mosquitia-Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast mangroves, Southern Dry Pacific Coast mangroves, Central American dry forests, and Talamancan montane forests. An inlet from the Pacific the Gulf of Nicoya contains several small islands, the largest of these being Chira Island with a population of around four thousand.
Costa Rica's dry season in most places is from December to April, while the rainy season is from May to November. On the Caribbean coast, however, December is by far the wettest month. The highlands areas are always cooler. The lowest elevation level in the country is the Pacific Ocean at sea level, the highest point is Cerro Chirripó, a volcanic mountain with an elevation of 3,810 m (part of Chirripó National Park). On a clear day, it is possible to see both the Caribbean and the Pacific from the peak.
The creation of the Tortuguero National Park in 1970 gave much needed protection to one of the region's most important and unique natural resources: a 22-km. stretch of shoreline that serves as the principal nesting site throughout the western half of the Caribbean Sea for the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle. Watching these great reptiles emerge from the tropical sea and haul their 100+ kg. bodies ashore to lay their eggs under cover of darkness is truly a memorable spectacle. The nesting season for the green turtles extends from July to October.
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and is at the heart of the sprawling Gran Area Metropolitana or GAM, located in the Central Valley. San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.
There are numerous tourist attractions around San José:
El Pueblo is a mix of more than 50 bars, clubs, restaurants, art galleries and
shops. Lining the picturesque cobblestone streets within walking distance of several
hotels and resorts, it is a lively place from 9 p.m. until dawn.
Calle de
la Amargura in San Pedro near the University of Costa Rica has a wide selection
of bars, restaurants and discos and caters to University students with food and
drinks for relatively low prices. Pickpockets and low-level criminals are a cause
of concern.
Pueblo Antiguo is a theme park with lots of fun and colors; it
has many museums and is modeled after 19th century San José, and is located
inside a massive complex called Parque de Diversiones de Costa Rica.
Both The National Theater (Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica) and The Melico Salazar Theatre offer hectic calendars of cultural activities, featuring acting and dance groups as well as orchestral musical presentations throughout the year. There are some cafés in the downtown area, located in the Central Mail building, The National Theater and The Melico Salazar Theatre, where national coffee is prepared and served in typical Costa Rican ways. There are also many museums and other attractions offering alternative ways of exploring the city. One of these is the Gold Museum, which offers an unusual view of various gold artifacts of the ancient Latin American civilizations. An interesting attraction for the less adventurous travelers is the Lankester Botanical Gardens at the outskirts of San José. Other attractions include various bars and clubs which concentrate their activity on holding musical shows and events. One of them, for example, is "Sand Live", which is a massive inside/outside bar and concert hall which usually holds rock and extreme metal concerts and shows.
Cities, towns and villages in Costa Rica
Alajuela, Atenas, Barva, Cartago, Ciudad Quesad, Desamparados de San José,
Dominical, Escazú, Filadelfia de Guanacaste, Finca 63, Golfito, Grecia,
Guácimo, Heredia, Jacó, La Gamba, Liberia, Limón, Los Chiles,
Malpais, Monteverde, Montezuma, Nicoya, Nosara, Orotina, Orotina de Alajuela,
Palmar Sur, Palmares de Alajuela, Paraíso, Playa Grande, Playa Herradura,
Playa Zancudo, Puerto Jimenez, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Puntarenas, Quepos,
Sabalito, San Joaquin de Flores, San Marcos, San Mateo de Alajuela, San Pedro
de Poás, San Rafael de Guatuso, San Ramón de Alajuela, San Ramón,
Santa Ana, Santa Rosa, Santa Teresa, Santiago de Puriscal, Sarchí, Sámara,
Tamarindo, Tortuguero, Upala, Zarcero
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