Costa Rica Attractions: Vacation Of A Lifetime

The capital of the country is San Jose. It offers an abundance of things to do and most of the population (and traffic) is there. It is famous for its lively Latino style nightlife and also boasts plenty of shops and museums and other attractions. It is also home to a particularly impressive national theatre that is definitely worth a visit if you are going to be spending any time in the city. And, at night, San Jose and most of the beach communities provide lots of adult entertainment. Restaurants, cinemas, plays, bars, nightclubs (many, very adult in tone and tenor), gambling, and beautiful, hot women from around the world. Just remember: what happens here, stays here. And, increasingly, there are more and more places to go and activities for gays and lesbians.

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.

Costa Rica tourism is struggling due to the world's economic problems. Still, a challenge always presents an opportunity and today is no exception. Now may be exactly the time to travel to Costa Rica. Airfares are down and you will find some great travel and accommodation bargains. To check out a few, simply Google 'visitcostarica.com/crplus' to go to the Costa Rica government's official Institute of Tourism (ICT) website that has discount coupons but lots and lots of hotels and resorts are offering special prices right now.

For many, Costa Rica is particularly famous for its plants and animals. Though tiny, only about the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica boasts one of every five species of plant and animal on the planet. There are more kinds of butterflies than on the entire African continent. Little Costa Rica has almost as many different kinds of birds as in the continental United States and only about 100 fewer species than in all of Europe. The diversity is simply staggering. You are going to find fascinating tropical rainforests, spectacular cloud forests, and beautiful beaches and rugged coastlines along two tropical oceans. It even has a teeny, teeny park, just half the size of New York City, which National Geographic calls 'the most biologically intense place' on earth. Hundreds of kinds of birds, six species of wild cats (including the mighty jaguar and puma), reptiles, amphibians, and (yes!) insects galore in a staggering array of primary rainforest only 20 miles long and 8 miles wide.

Costa Rica is world famous for the diversity of its animals and plants. As small as it is, Costa Rica has set aside nearly 25% of the country for protected national park and wildlife sanctuaries. How small is it? Think tiny, but mighty: only the size of little West Virginia, it has more species of butterflies than in all of the countries on the African continent combined? It is birdwatchers' nirvana with nearly as many different kinds of birds as in the entire continental United States (and only about 100 fewer species than the entire continent of Europe). The diversity of life is simply staggering. Though it takes up only 1/10,000 of the earth's land mass, nearly 1 of every 5 species of plant and animal on the face of the planet is found in Costa Rica!

Ever seen a volcano? A real volcano that sometimes spectacularly erupts? Go to Arenal Volcano with its hot springs resorts and you can drink your mai tai, camera in hand, photographing nearly Arenal. At nearby Lake Arenal, you'll find great freshwater fishing at one of the world's best and most famous windsurfing lakes. And a real Swiss train that goes to a real Swiss hotel. 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!

No visit to the country would be complete without spending some time at the stunning beaches. Indeed, many tourists spend most of their vacation along the beaches. Among the most beautiful in the world, you will find many different types of beaches in Costa Rica: black sand beaches, white sand beaches, coral sand beaches, even boulder strewn rugged beaches. Most of the most popular resorts and fancy hotels are located on the Pacific coast but you will find that the Caribbean coast also has no shortage of beautiful places to go too. The Pacific coast is more-and-more Americanized while the Caribbean has a unique, distinctive, Caribbean aura---and is clearly Bob Marley country.

Here is a partial list of more things to do and attractions to see during the days: 1. Fish for marlin (I recently fought a 450 pounder before releasing it), sailfish, tarpon, snook, and dozens of other denizens. 2. Surf world famous beaches or watch world-championship surfing contests. 3. Raft or kayak in whitewater that will take your breath away or leisurely raft a tropical river with the kids. 4. Golf at courses designed by world-famous designers. 5. Windsurf at Lake Arenal. 6. Bungee jump into deep canyons or at night. 7. Ecotourism. 8. Zipline through tropical forests. 9. Go to a bullfight (where only the bullfighters are allowed to be harmed). 10. Horseback ride in the mountains or along the beaches. 11. Hang-glide. 12. Rappel waterfalls. 13. Take a train ride---in a genuine Swiss train to a genuine Swiss mountain hotel. 14. Visit Corcovado, the most biologically intense place on earth. 15. Scuba or skin dive. 16. Whale watch (Costa Rica has the world's longest whale-watching season). 17. Visit tropical gardens or tour coffee plantations. 18. Bike, hike, rent motorcycles. 19. Hike into the crater of an active volcano. 20. Visit an African wildlife park. 21. Take a photography or ecotour. 22. Take a volunteer vacation.

If you crave more than great mountains, tropical forests, 7 Wonders, miles of spectacular beaches, and volcanoes, here is a little more to do and attractions to see during the days: 1. Fish. Great marlin (I recently landed a 450 pounder before releasing it), 100-200 pound tarpon, sailfish, snook, and many more. 2. Bring your surfboard and surf world famous beaches or watch world-championship surfing contests. Or rent your board. 3. Kayak in extreme whitewater or raft in waters that will take your away your breath. Or take the kids for a leisurely raft on a tropical river. 4. Golf on great courses.5. Windsurf at wonderful Lake Arenal. 6. Bungee jump (for fools only) into deep canyons or at night. 7. Ecotour. 8. Zipline and Tarzan jump through tropical forests. 9. Become a bullfighter (but beware that only the bullfighters are allowed to be harmed---fortunately you can buy insurance). 10. Go horseback riding in the mountains and along the beaches. 11. Hang-glide. 12. Rappel waterfalls and canyons. 13. Take a train ride in a genuine Swiss train to a genuine Swiss mountain hotel and dine at a restaurant that rotates completely around to magnificent vistas. 14. Visit Corcovado National Park, the most biologically intense place on earth. 15. Scuba dive. Or snorkel16. Watch the whales in the world's longest whale-watching season. 17. Tour coffee plantations and visit tropical gardens. 18. Hike, bike, rent motorcycles. 19. Walk into the crater of an active volcano. 20. Visit a wildlife park filled with birds or another park with African animals. 21. Take a photography adventure tour. 22. Become a volunteer and take a volunteer vacation.