Posts by Guest

Some History On Costa Rica

Posted by Guest on Feb 14, 2012 in Featured, History | 0 comments

Christopher Columbus was the first European explorer to discover the country of Costa Rica. When Columbus was in his fourth and final voyage during the 18th of September in 1502, a group of Carib Indians paddling in their canoes greeted Columbus’ crew as they were setting off the anchor. However, even before Columbus arrived in the area, early civilization had already existed there as evidenced by the artifacts found by Archeologists dating ten thousand years ago.

Countless of archeological diggings and explorations in the area helped archeologists to prove that a civilization had existed in the area even before Columbians set foot on it. A number of cultural mysteries that were thought to be owned by the early inhabitants of Costa Rica were discovered near the coast. Spherical granite bolas, with sizes ranging from as small as a baseball ball up to as a big as a Volkswagen, bus were uncovered. City ruins were found just recently at the east of San Jose. The large, ancient ruins that were discovered came complete with well-built aqueducts. Marvelous jade and gold works were also been exposed. Archeological sites in the Nicoya Peninsula and Central Highlands revealed various evidences showing influences from Nahuati and Mexican Olmec civilizations.

Four indigenous tribes already inhabited Costa Rica by the time Columbus came to the country. The Diquis, Chibchas and Borucas were residing in the Southwest coast while East Coast was the territory of the Caribs. The colonial period in the area officially started when Columbus discovered it in 1502. After that various Spanish expeditions followed suit. The tribes living in the area did not last long when the Spaniards came. Many perished from the small pox brought by Spanish settlers while others fled the area. In 1524, the very first Spanish settlement was established in Costa Rica, which was headed by Villa Bruselas.

Since indigenous labor force had been annihilated, Spanish settlers had to trade laborers from its neighboring countries, Guatemala and Panama. They followed the policy and traded African slaves to work in Costa Rica.

Among the Spanish colonies, Costa Rica was the poorest and most miserable. In fact, the country enjoyed the least Spanish influence. Since the country had very little resources to exploit, it was not a popular place to settle. Spanish settlers who came to the country were more interested in tightening their hold to Peru and Mexico where huge amount of silver and gold were being mined at the time. Juan Vasquez, who founded the colonial city of Cartago in 1562, was the first settler to successfully establish a colonial in the area.

In 1821, Mexico rebelled against the Spanish Settlers, and the rest of Central America including Costa Rica joined them. After two years, a civil war sparked among the four neighboring countries where a faction in Costa Rica chose to join the Mexicans. Sovereignty was later established when Alajuela and San Jose defeated Cartago and Heredia.

In 1824, Juan Mora Fernandez became the first elected head of state. Fernandez was famous for his land reform projects. Under the leadership of Mora, Costa Ricans repulsed the disgruntled Southern conqueror, William Walker. Walker thought he could annex Central America and transform it into a slave state.

Although military rulings had reared its head to Costa Rica a couple of times, there were no violent extremism occurred in the area unlike in other parts of Central America. General Thomas Guardia grabbed control over Costa Rica by 1870. Guardia was known for creating the most progressive reforms in the country, focusing on taxation, education and military policy.

In 1948 when Rafael Calderon denied relinquishing his power after losing the presidential election, a civil war erupted. Don Pepe Figueres Ferrer became one of the country’s most influential leaders when he defeated Calderon. Ferrer was the head of the Founding Junta of Costa Rica’s Second Republic. Ferrer made reforms on civil rights and policy, thus boosting his popularity. He created a political legacy in Costa Rica that cemented the country’s liberal and democratic values.

Tips in Finding the Cheapest Airline Fare To Your Chosen Destination

Posted by Guest on Feb 4, 2012 in Airfare Deals | 0 comments

Whether you are flying to Amsterdam, Singapore, Malaysia, Hawaii, Paris or Italy, taking time to scour the internet for the best airfare deals available will allow you to save a lot on your planned trip. Everyone is pretty much aware that travelling can be a very expensive endeavour. But of course, like in any other undertakings, there are ways to cut down your travel expenses. One of which is by hunting for the cheapest airline ticket available for your chosen destination. To help you search for the most affordable airfare, here are some tips that you should definitely heed.

• Try to be flexible with your travel dates. If you don’t mind adjusting your travel schedule, then it will be easier for you to find great airfare deals to whatever destination you choose to visit. Airfares fluctuate a lot depending on the time you want to travel. It is advisable to schedule your trip mid-week rather than on weekends as weekday flights are generally much cheaper than weekend flights.
• Watch out for airfare promos and be ready to book a flight when you see one.
• Join the mailing list of various airline companies (preferably the reliable ones). By doing so you will be able to receive updates with regards to special airfare promos and discounted fares even before they are advertised to the public.

Major Tourist Destinations In & Around Costa Rica

Posted by Guest on Jan 31, 2012 in Featured, Tourist Destinations | 0 comments

A trip to Costa Rica is definitely a vacation that anyone should look forward to. Although Costa Rica may seem like a speck on the map, this tiny Central American country features five percent of biodiversity in the planet. In addition to that, Costa Rica boasts of natural wonders that are beyond compare. Tourist attractions in and around Costa Rica alone draw millions of local and international visitors to the country every year. Because of this, Costa Rica is known as one of the premiere tourist destinations in Central America. Enveloped by parks, reserves, rainforests, mountains, and volcanoes, it is obvious that Nature is the main attraction in the country.

Some of the major tourist destinations in and around Costa Rica that you must not miss include the following:

Nosara

The serene and peaceful beach community of Nosara can be found in Costa Rica’s unspoilt corner, where monkeys meet the turtles. It is the ideal location for nature lovers as well as surfers. Nosara boasts of well-protected national parks. Local residents, meanwhile, take part in the preservation of the community’s pristine and beautiful beaches as well as the protected forests.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Recognized as one of the world’s diverse wildlife refuges, the stunning and mesmerizing Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is always flocked by a great number of tourists. Being shrouded with clouds, the forest reserve exudes a sense of mystery to it, which greatly boosts its charm. There are a wide range of mammals, bird species and insects that are home to this distinct mountain rainforest. The area also feature a variety of exciting activities, with eco-tourism as the highlight, such as canopy touring, zip lining, hiking and horseback riding.

Tortuguero National Park

Remains to be one of Costa Rica’s most visited parks, Tortuguero National Park can only be reached by plane or boat. Visitors who want to come and see the national park need to first head to Tortuguero Village, which serves as its starting point. People coming to this park are caught in awe by its wonderful lagoons and meandering rivers. The park is also known as the breeding ground of the key turtles. Tortuguero National Park serves as the nesting ground of leatherback, Green Sea turtles, and Hawksbill, which lay their eggs on the beach within the park. To witness this one-of-a-kind and memorable phenomenon, visitors can arrange a night tour in the park since egg-laying in the area usually occurs at night time. The park closes at 6pm so you have to make arrangement with your planned night visit to the park where a tour guide will accompany you. Be sure to grab the opportunity to see these creatures lay their eggs (in front of your eyes) since it is certainly an experience that should never be missed.

Poas Volcano National Park

Despite the fact that Poas Volcano may not be as active as Arenal Volcano, it is certainly far from being considered as dormant. The park attracts a great number of domestic and foreign visitors particularly during the weekends. Trails overlooking the volcano are available for the visitors’ disposal. The volcano overlook trail begins at the visitor center offering a 15-minute walk in all directions. If you want to do some exotic bird-watching, then you should walk along the Escalonia cloud forest trail which will take you to the area in the park where exotic birds congregate. There are other trails that you can explore in this scenic park so do not hesitate to make inquiries at the visitor center or find a map that will help you ease your way around the park.

Top Things To Do When Visiting Costa Rica

Posted by Guest on Jan 27, 2012 in Tourist Destinations, Vacation/Travel | 0 comments

Congratulations! You have finally been granted a few days off your work and now, you are gearing up for a grand vacation in Costa Rica! Before getting too excited, you must remember to pack your things lightly and leave your expensive jewelry at home to keep yourself safe from the prying eyes of anti-social elements. Also, prepare an itinerary to ensure that you won’t miss out anything nice and fun under the sun. It would also be a good idea to get visitors insurance from reputable insurance companies, like the Sovereign Insurance. Doing so will give you the assurance of a hassle-free trip.

Here are the top things that tourists like you can do while relaxing in the country.

• Comfort in coffee - Before tourism has overtaken it, coffee was the main force behind the economy of Costa Rica. Take time to tour coffee farms and processing facilities.
• Canopy tour - Try the zip-line ride, the naturalist educational trip or the gondola tour.
• Riding the waves - Costa Rica’s waves and breaks are well-known all around the world.  Make sure to try surfing or windsurfing to satisfy the extreme sport enthusiast in you. Surfing destinations in Costa Rica is just as many as the options offered by health insurance companies.
• Seeing the volcanoes - Volcano watching is a popular activity in the area. The Arenal Volcano is a top tourist destination because of its fire belching, rolling smoking boulders and lava flows.
• Nature tripping - Let the picturesque views of the Tortuguero Canals, Damas estuary and Caño Negro wetlands take your breath away.
• The beach - Enjoy swimming, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling and sunbathing in Costa Rica’s amazing beaches.

Exclusive Hotels In Costa Rica

Posted by Guest on Jan 13, 2012 in Featured, Hotels | 0 comments

Costa Rica may be a small country but it is way ahead from its neighboring countries when it comes to exclusive hotels and luxurious eco-resorts. As a matter of fact, tourism in the country is a thriving industry since the government did an excellent job in marketing the country among tourists from around the world over the past decades. Visitors in Costa Rica are not limited to those coming from US and Canada. Today, a growing number of international visitors from Europe and Asia have also been taking vacations in this beautiful Latin country. The burgeoning tourism in the country has attracted a number of foreign investments in the area, thus, dotting the country with an array of exclusive and upscale hotels offering the best and most luxurious accommodations.

If you are one of those people who are willing to splurge top dollar to get the best and most exclusive hotel accommodations in Costa Rica, then here are some of the excellent hotel options that you should consider.

Four Seasons Resort

Enveloped by gold-sand beaches, Four Seasons Resorts is considered as the finest luxury resort in Costa Rica. It features three swimming pools, a serene spa, and 156 generously-sized guestrooms and well-appointed suites. All rooms in the resorts are crafted and designed with stone finishes and indigenous woods. Each rooms offer utmost indoor comfort and provide mesmerizing balcony views.  A nice reprieve from your phlebotomy training classes don’t you think.   Rooms offered in the resort feature décor and furnishings that draw inspiration from the beauty of Costa Rica’s natural surroundings – the ocean, forest and beach.

The Gaia Hotel and Reserve

This five-star luxury boutique beach hotel provides guests with sublime elegance set in a splendidly exotic locale. The Gaia Hotel showcases an excellent blend of convenient modern amenities and picturesque natural scenery. Found in the scenic Costa Rican coastal forests, the hotel offers guests with terraced suites and well-furnished villas showing off the unspoilt and pristine beauty of the wild surroundings of Costa Rica. Gaia Hotel offers all the conveniences that the guests need which include a pool, on-site restaurant, spa, 24/7 room service, gym and a range of personal services that can be availed on demand.

Marriott Los Suenos Resort

Recognized as the ‘World’s Best’ by the Travel & Leisure Magazine, this luxury Costa Rican resort hotel is located between 1,100 acres of tropical rainforest and the warm but calming Pacific waters. Rooms and suites offered by the resort hotel features equally stunning and wonderful garden, ocean and mountain views. Each room is furnished with elegant bedding, fluffy pillows, designer duvets, and soft comforters to ascertain that guests will be offered with the ultimate and most relaxing stay in the country.