Costa Rica
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Costa rica is a
country of just under 4 million people, and is known for its beaches
and relatively stable democracy. Considered something
of a Latin
American success story, Costa Rica abolished its national military
around 1948 and has had very little violence compared specifically to
its neighbors to the North (Nicaragua) and to the South (Panama), and
in general to the rest of
feudal developing Latin America. Much of the population is
urbanized, and the majority lives in and around the major cities of
Heredia, Alajuela, San Jose and Cartago on the Central Plateau.
In the 1980s, tourism became the
biggest contributor to the Costa Rican
economy surpassing the traditionally important banana and coffee
industries. With a land area of 19,650 square miles, Costa Rica
boasts ports on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, world renowned
beaches, and an extensive rain forested region.
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San Jose, Costa Rica |
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As the
capital of Costa Rica, San Jose has its problems, but you can't
get to know a country without getting to know its busy, industrial, and
somewhat frightening capital. San Jose is no exception, and it's
the hub for buses to all over the country and Central America, so to
say the least San Jose is an important part of any visit to Costa Rica. |
Heredia, Costa Rica |
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| Heredia is
the home to the second most renowned university in the
country, the Universidad Nacional Autonoma. It's a suburb of San
Jose, but it's a little smaller and easier to get around in than the
capital. |
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Monteverde, Costa Rica |
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Monteverde
is a favorite among tourists because it is home to two
rain forest reserves. It lies up in the hills, an hour on a dirt
road off the Pan-American highway, in the geographical center of the
country, but is so high up that the pacific is still visible. The
sun setting over the Pacific is a stunning sight. |
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The rain
forsts of Monteverde are the site of many biological studies,
and are great for hiking. |
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| In addition,
ecoturism is a very important industry, and recently there
has been the development of the "Sky Trek," an intense way of seeing
the rain forest at many miles per hour as you ride a zip line from
mountain to mountain. For more information on Sky Trek, or to get a better feel for this outrageous adventure, check out the Sky Trek web site. |
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Volcan Poas |
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Costa Rica
is home to many volcanos, including Poas, Arenal, and Irrazu
which I have visited, and many others which I did not get the chance to
see. |
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And of
course, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to add a few beach
pictures. To the left is Playa Jaco on the pacific side, and to
the right is Cahuita on the Caribbean side, near my favorite town
Puerto Viejo. |
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