Oct/100
Exploring Costa Rica’s Capital – San Jose
For many travelers San Jose City is nothing more than a stop over and move on to their next adventure in a new destination. But this pulsating cultural capital of Costa Rica and so much more than that. There are tons of interesting things to see and do here: museums, theaters, delicious international restaurants, and great shopping places will be waiting for you. My advice for travelers is to make this your home base for day trips to some of the countries most popular attractions that this area hosts.
Can't Miss This
Museums and Gardens
City parks and plazas Theaters
Churches and Downtown Landmarks Volcanoes
Shop at the Central Market (Mercado Central)
Take a cultural tour of a coffee plantation
Hike up to the mouth of Poas and Irazu Volcanoes
A full day at a nature adventure park
A Bit of History
San Jose City (better known as San Jose) is actually the second capital of Costa Rica. The original capital was cartago until it was moved in 1835. Around the year 1737 this city was known as 'Villa Nueva de la Boca del Monte del Valle de Abra'. A few years later the name was changed after the city's patron who was Saint Joseph.
There were many historic events that impacted Costa Rica's culture and San Jose's but the ones that made the most impact were the development of the coffee exports industry, the influence of the French revolution and the country's declaration of independence from Spain. Before the independence the country was split into two: the Democrats, who wanted the country to remain a Spanish territory, and the Republicans, who wanted to centralize the power and make Costa Rica an independent country. In 1823 there was a which ended up being won by Republicans as a result the capital was moved to San Jose and Costa Rica became an independent country.
Did You Know?
San Jose is located in the Central Valley of Costa Rica and is surrounded by large forested mountain ranges and some volcanoes. There are also green savannas, and working coffee plantations.
Other Nearby Cities
Alajuela
Escazu
Grecia
Santa Ana
Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, lives in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She's traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. Having first hand experience of all the places with her family, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!
Sep/100
Volcano, Cloud Forest And Beach Romance Package, Costa Rica
Have you ever considered Costa Rica as a destination for your anniversary or romantic getaway? There are many packages out there. How about one that takes you everywhere in Costa Rica? This is what it would look like:
As soon as you get to the International Airport of San Jose you will be recieved by your private transfer and go to your hotel in San Jose. This is where you will stay for the first night. Get some rest because the adventure starts the next day with a two night stay in Tortuguero.
To get to Tortuguero staff from the lodge yo choose will pick you up early in the morning at your hotel in San Jose and take you to a dock where you will hop on a boat and go for a ride down the Tortuguero River and canals. The next day you will go on a relaxing boat tour in the canals. Then after breakfast you will go on a new adventure, a tour along the Tortuguero Jungle. Here you will enjoy the company of many species of beautiful animals. The second day in Tortuguero will start with a hearty breakfast. Then you will board a boat that will take you to a small airport where you will meet your 35-min chartered flight to San Jose.
Then it's time to visit Arenal. Rest a lot because the next day another adventure will be waiting for you. It is a combination of the exciting Lost Canyon Adventures Canyoneering and Rafting on Ro Balsa. Your last day in Arenal will be spent in a hiking guided tour that will take you through the rain-forest with a guide close to the base of the Arenal Volcano and to take a relaxing dip and dinner in the naturally heated hot springs of: The Springs Resort and Spa.
The next step on your romantic adventure will be visiting the Monteverde area. To get there you will go on a scenic one-way transfer that consists in riding a jeep, then hoping on a boat for a relaxing ride and at last going for a final jeep ride to your hotel. For your adventure in Monteverde you will go on a canopy tour through 2.5 miles of cable over the cloud forest and you enjoy all of its beauties.
To continue this romantic adventure in Costa Rica you will go to the Manuel Antonio area for 3 nights. Here you will go on one of the best tours for nature lovers that Costa Rica can offer. On it you and your couple will go to the Manuel Antonio National Park where naturalist guide will take you on a three mile tranquil hike on easy trails. As if that wasn't enough you will get to choose you activity for the next day: an Atv Tour along the forest or a Jet Ski tour with Snorkeling. Either one you choose at night you will go on a Mangrove Kayaking Tour.
Towards the end of your Costa Rican Adventure you will be taken back to the international airport in a private transfer.
Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, has been living in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. Traveling with her family to all parts of Costa Rica and Guatemala, she now loves organizing vacations for people and offers first hand experience. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!
Apr/100
Matapalo Beach On The Osa Peninsula – The Secret Hideaway Of Costa Rica
We had the great opportunity to visit my friends who live in Puerto Jimenez, a cute town on the Osa Peninsula. It's full of expats and I fell in love with it to the point that we were considering moving there for a while. Puerto Jimenez itself is a fairly big town with a population reaching well into the thousand, maybe even 2.
During the trip, our friends took us another one hour south to visit a teeny coastline village. Just the drive over there will give you an experience of a life time. The road was so bad, that were told that during the rainy season the residents (which is about 90% foreigners) have to either stock up for 3 months, or fly into Puerto Jimenez due to floods and total washouts.
Thankfully my friends drive a big bad 4x4 so we were able to tackle some of the rough terrain. That was because at some points cows blocked the roads we also saw sleepy iguanas chewed leaves from the surrounding trees.
When we finally arrived we saw that there is not actual town per say, it's just a bunch of hidden houses and eco lodges all along the rocky coastline with virgin rain forest as the back drop. There is also little foot paths allow you to experience the place way better than driving a car.
We headed to explore since my friend's son and my son in the water all day and my husband helping out by hanging out in the water with them. We snuck onto a few properties under construction with unbelievable views.
The funny part is that we got lost on one of the hiking trails that is supposed to hug the coast, but instead was so rocky that we almost fell to our deaths. However, the beach where we ended up hanging out was deserted, with plenty of shade and perfect for a homemade BBQ.
All the eco lodges offer plenty of tours to the surrounding jungle and take you on tours to Corcovado National Park, quoted by National Geographic as the most biologically intense place on Earth!
Marina K. Villatoro, lives in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She has traveled all over these areas with her family and now she loves to organize vacations to Costa Rica and Guatemala. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!