La Cangreja National Park

La Cangreja National Park is located in the Cangreja Puriscal Canton, in the Province of San Jose. The area is known as Mastatal located inside the mountain and whose only form of access is through the use of wheel-drive vehicle; the road is, for the most part, weights and muddy due to the large amount of rain that falls in that area.

To reach this National Park people must take the road towards Puriscal; then take the road passing through villages like Parrita Puriscal, Saltpetre, and Mastatal among other smaller blowgun Santa Marta, San Martin and Santa Rosa. Among the interesting elements of this pathway is the Church of Puriscal, closed because of its location on a large seismic fault. Gradually, this church is sinking and it is at risk of falling because of a strong earthquake. La Cangreja National Park is the last patch of forest declared by the Government of Costa Rica as a National Park on June 5, 2002, Decree 30479-MINAE.

Travel from Costa Rica to Colombia by road: Is it possible?

Many people have come to ask me as a travel agent, how they can go from Costa Rica to Colombia by car or bus. All Central America is connected by a road call Panamerican Highway. It pass through all countries in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. It stops in Panama when it gets closer to the frontier with Colombia. The so called "Tapon de Darien" is a very dense jungle with an immense value in biodiversity. Although some Colombian President such as Alvaro Uribe, have mentioned the necessity of creating a road that communicates Panama with Colombia, but many sectors of the population are opposed to that ideas because of many reasons. Some of those reasons are the environmental damage that the construction of a road in that area may have, and the increased risk of having non wanted immigration to Panama, among others.

The first and more comfortable option is to flight from Panama or Costa Rica to Colombia (the available airlines are Avianca and Copa). The flights range between $300 and $450 per person depending on the season.

The second option is to get a Boat Tour: there are some boats transporting goods from Colon (Panama) to Cartagena, or from Panama to Buenaventura, but there´s no regular service. There is also sailboat transportation to Colombia, which offers top quality service at a high price that will make the distance an intense and beautiful trip to the Colombian coasts.

If you really want to go by car, there must be a ship that moves your car from Panama (Colon) to Cartagena (Colombia). The price tag could be very high, and I think it won’t be worthy.

In any case, you should plane your vacation carefully or at least have a lot of time to spare since the ship or car option will require of special arrangements and information hunting.

I hope this information is useful for you travelers.

Ballena National Marine Park

Ballena National Marine Park is located in the Puntarenas Province, on the Pacific Coast, about 190 kilometers southwest of San Jose. It is a favorite Park for locals and tourist alike. The park includes the area from Playa Hermosa to Playa Piñuela, including Playa Ballena and Playa Uvita, covering around 15 kilometers of seaward. Ballena National Marine Park was created as a way to protect the many marine biological communities of the Pacific Coast, maintaining its productivity and preserve critical marine reproductive habitats such as coral reefs (the largest of the Pacific Coast of Central America), marine turtles such as Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtles, and humpback whales. The landscape of the park includes beautiful forests, beaches, mangroves, rocky shoals and Las Tres Hermanas, which are small islands located in front of the shores of the park; Ballena Island is the name of the middle one. Its name comes from the many Humpback whales that visit the park each year when they migrate to the cold waters of the North part of the world, from December to April to mate. Among the activities that can be enjoyed in the park are hiking to Punta Uvita Tombolo, snorkeling (especially at low tide), beach combing, scuba diving, and turtle nesting (between May and November). Because this are was designated as a Marine Park 25 years ago, there is an abundance of marine life. The northernmost beach in the park is known as Playa Hermosa, and it is a favorite location for both surfers.

Ballena National Marine Park does not have a wide effective protection by park rangers; however, people are advice to enter the park and be conscious about the importance of maintaining this area trash free and to respect the presence of the nesting marine turtles.

Palo Verde National Park

Palo Verde National Park is one of the most amazing places for bird watching in Costa Rica. It is located in the northern province of Guanacaste. It is home of over one half million birds which migrate during the months of December through March, escaping the extreme cold weather of North America. They feed on the shallow swamps rich in small fish and flora. Some of the species that could be found in the area are egrets, storks, spoonbills, herons, ibis, and ducks among many other. Within the park lies the Tempisque River, with a small island called Isla de Pajaros. The Park protects tropical dry forest, brackish, freshwater marshlands, and mangrove swamps.

¿How to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua by bus?

Costa Rica is very well known as a top touristic destination for people who like nature and adventure. It is ideal for family vacations, and adventure lovers. If you are planning to come to Costa Rica and are wondering if it is worthy to visit our neighbor country Nicaragua during your visit, you will find your answer here. 

Costa Rica is a small country, and the distance from Capital San Jose to the Nicaragua´s frontier is of 7 to 8 hours by car. National public bus may take a little longer, and other public transportation such as TicaBus or Nica bus will probide with all the basic commodities to make your trip a little less tiring. Normal costarican public bus will take you to Peñas Blancas and the you will continue your trip on your own. TicaBus will leave you either in Managua or Granada. If you are going to Nicaragua by bus, buy your ticket in the main bus stop at San Jose, or in the main office of TicaBus:

200 mts North y 100 mts West from Torre Mercedes, Paseo Colón, in front of Funeraria del Magisterio Nacional.
 

Once you are in the frontier: Peñas Blancas, you will be asked to do costums and migration. Make sure you have your passport, all your legal documents and a returned ticket to enter to Costa Rica on your way back (it is one of the requisit to reenter Costa Rica). If you are lucky you will go throught in no time, but normally the authorities make you make a line to check all your packages and bags both ways. Depending on your nationality you may have to pay a entry visa to get to Nicaragua, and later a $2 Nicaraguan tax.

From Peñas Blancas to Granada, the colonial city of Nicaragua, the distance is very short, taking approximately 45 minutes. To Managua, the main city, it is around 1 hour 30 minutes.

If you are coming to Costa Rica and rent a car, you will not be allowed to cross the frontier with the car. All vehicles that cross the frontiers of Costa Rica have to have a special permit from the government. 

Hope this info is useful!

Costa Rica Information

COSTA RICA GENERAL INFORMATION


Capital of Costa Rica: San José
Official Language: Spanish
Government: Democratic
Population: 4,233,432 (2007)
Currency: Costa Rican Colón


Costa Rica is located, according to the Ecuador, in the Northern Hemisphere, and according to the Greenwich meridian, in the Occidental Hemisphere. Its geographic coordinates are 10 north, 84 west. Costa Rica is part of what is called Central or Middle America, main land. Because of its geographic location, Costa Rica has a strategic value in communication and commercial relationships, climate, and in productive and politic activities. The country is 2.5 times larger than wider with a total area of 51,100sq km, out of which 50,660sq km are land. From these, 6% is arable land, 5% permanent crops, 46% permanent pastures, 31% forest and woodland, and 12% of others, including Coco Island, and 440sq km of water, (1,200sq km are irrigated land).

The area of the country can be compared with the area of West Virginia. Costa Rica’s borderline is about 639 km and it borders Nicaragua in the north (309 km) and Panama in the south (330 km). Its coastline is approximately 1,290 km, and it has the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Its climate is mostly tropical with two marked seasons: dry season from December to April and rainy season from May to November. Christopher Columbus arrived to Costa Rica on his 4th journey in 1502. When he arrived he saw a wonderful rich land full of lush vegetation and diverse wildlife, that he called “Rich Coast” or Costa Rica.

Costa Rica small country of 51.0000 square Km., is a complex and perhaps more diverse than any place of its size on earth, divided into several distinct regions, each of them looks like an entirely separate place, where you will find a large number of rivers, plains, mountains, valleys, flora, fauna, volcanoes, beaches, protected areas, and biological reserves. Its many and varied attractions that make this country a great destinations for any visitor.

It was the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army, by former president José Figueres Ferrer in 1948, consolidating the country as one of the oldest democracies in the Americas. Among Latin American Human Development Index. It has around 4 million people with a wide variety of religions and cultures, and a 95% of literacy among its population. The country is ranked 5th in the world, and 1st among the Americas, in terms of the 2008 Environmental Performance Index. countries, Costa Rica ranks 4th in terms of the 2007.

Costa Rica is located in the tropical zone, and its geographical coordinates provide it with a unique diversity of flora and fauna. Its privileged location in the isthmus enable Costa Rica to become a biological bridge for the gathering of fauna and forest species, and also a cultural link for the cultures form the south and north areas of the continent. Costa Rica is the world's most popular destination for rainforest tourism thanks to its spectacular biodiversity, relative ease-of-access and safety, and many natural attractions. In 2007 nearly 2 million tourists visited the country, generating almost 2 billion in revenue - more than the combined income from bananas and coffee.

Costa Rica has a population of 4.000.000 people, and the native language iof the country si Spanish. However is not difficult for our foreigners to communicate using other language that are usually spoken here, such as, French, English, Italian or German.

Catholicism is the official religion, freedom of religion to all is guaranteed.It is a democratic republic, and the system is based in the balance of the three powers: Executive-, Legislative-, and Judiciary, established by the Political Constitution of Costa Rica. San Jose is the Capital city of the country ansd it is located in the central valley, and represents the centre of the metropolitan area.

The population of the metropolitan area goes around one million inhabitants, including the floating population. There are some historical sites and museums, where to explore the architectural, archaeological, artistic and scientific patrimony. Costa Rica nickname TICOS are proud to be famous for being hospitable, educated and working people, they love to smile and shake your hand, they try to explain something that may look rather weird to the visitor. The idea is the visitor feel comfortable and in home.



CLIMATE
Costa Rica is a tropical country and does not have well defined seasons and the climates is stable in every region year around. We have light climatic changes according to the time of the year, for example summer time called -dry season- from December to April or winter – rainy season- from May to November.

Costa Rica has one of the biggest diversities in the world, and is privileged country for being home of many diverse organisms, considered to be one of twenty countries on the world with the highest diversity in species, estimated in 12-14 million species of all kind of organisms in the world, of which only 1.75 million has been described.With such diversity, Costa Rica is also home of 850 species of birds, from which 600 are resident and the remaining are migratory during the winter, the former flying out to South America. Costa Rica is a country that has given a great deal of attention to the conservation and preservation of its national parks, forests and jungles.

COSTA RICA FLORA AND FAUNA

Costa Rica is one of the countries where an unusual amount and variety of fauna and flora are found. Its rich and abundant fauna included more than 200 species of mammals, more than 850 species of birds, 200 species of amphibians and 220 species of reptiles. The wonders of Costa Rica nature has allow the country to develop a crescent touristic activity based on ecotourism and rural tourism, all in harmony with nature. Hummingbirds, doves, sloths, butterflies, snakes, giant lizards, sea turtles, among many others, can be found in many places in Costa Rica.

In such a small country, there are many different habitats, such as dry forest, rain forest, cloud forest, and mangroves, among many others. There are more than 9.000 species of higher plants, more than 800 species of ferns, including the unique blue fern, 2000 species of bromeliads, and 30 species of heliconians, among many others.

THE TICOS AND TICAS

Living in a country with a salubrious climate with sweet and soft winds, beautiful countryside, active and smoking volcanoes, occasional rainbows and fluffy white cumulus, Costa Ricans are very friendly, dignified and indenpendent. Tico and Ticas are peaceful, friendly and proud to have a beautiful country to share with visitors from all over the world. Passing through Costa Rican countryside, it is impressive to look people living in houses on plots of land that they themselves own and farm.

Chirripo National Park

Chirripo National Park is located around 151 km away from San Jose, close to the city of Perez Zeledon (San Isidro del General). It has an extension of 50.150 hectares and it is better to visit the park during the dry season, which is December through March.

It is truly an unique National Park in the country, due to its mist and cold weather, and the flora of the Paramo life zone. Besides the Paramo, it also contains extensive areas of lower montane and montane rain forest. Chirripo National Park was declared a "Biosphere Reserve" by the UNESCO in 1982, and a year later (1983) was declared a "World Heritage Site".

Among its main attractions are mountain hiking, wildlife observation and technical rock climbing. The park has its name because of the Chirripó Peak, which is the tallest mountain in the country (3.819 meters high). Visitors should be prepared for great temperature variations (from 24º C to below 0º temperatures).

Visitors should call the National Park and arrange their stay in the shelter up in the Park. Due to its great altitude it is advice for visitors to stay in the park at least 2 days. From the entrance to the park to the top of the mountain where the shelter is, there are 15 kilometers, which is around a 10 hours hike.

Link: 10 Wonders of Costa Rica

Come and enjoy Costa Rica

 

http://www.bananaadventuretours.com

How to get to Costa Rica

Costa Rica is located north of Panama in Central America, and for its location, the country has many different ways of getting here. Numerous international flights arrive to Costa Rica everyday from all over the world, and from many different airlines (America Airline, Taca, Copa, US Airways, Continental Airlines, Cubana, Delta, Iberia and Mexicana, among others). It is 2.5 hours by air from Miami, 7 hours from Los Angeles, and 11 hours from London (depending on the flight stops). Costa Rica is a welcoming country, Americans and Canadians have a free visa (with valid passport) for up to 90 days, while other countries have up to 30 days. Only Western Europeans and Nicaraguans need visa to enter the country.

International Airports

The country has two international airports fully functional. The first and most important one is the Juan Santamaria International Airport, located in the province of Alajuela, around 25 minutes from San Jose downtown. There are very hotels close by the international airport; however, the airport is not too far away from the capital. The second international airport is called Daniel Odubert International Airport, located in the city of Liberia, in the province of Guanacaste. It is a great airport to arrive to if you plans to stay in the beaches of Guanacaste. The price range varies according to the season, however, an average goes from $400 to $800 for Americans, and from $800 to $1000 for Europeans.

There is also a main national airport in the Capital city named Tobias Bolaños Airport, which connects domestic flights to most places in Costa Rica and their local airports. Among the domestic flights companies are Sansa, Nature Air, Paradise Air, and Aero Bell.

The Exit Taxes, right now is $26 per person, and it could be bought directly in the International Airport just before checking in on your airline counter.

International Cruises and Ports

Costa Rica is also a cruise port for both, Caribbean Cruises (Limon) and Pacific Ocean Cruises (Puntarenas). Many tourist visit the country through the many cruises that dock in Costa Rica, and have even time to visit the most touristic places located close by.

Roads and Highways

The size of the country allows tourist to visit other destinies by land, such as Nicaragua and Panama. The island of San Andrés (Colombia) could be visited through a short flight from the Juan Santamaria International Airport. Even though the roads are not in perfect condition, Costa Rica could be access from everywhere. Visitors could include in their vacations a quick trip to Bocas del Toro (Panama), to David and Boquete (Panama), and to Granada-Managua (Nicaragua).

There are many rent-a-car companies in the country, including Adobe Rent a Car, Dollar Rent a Car, and Avis Rent a Car, among others.