Costa Rica - San Jose and Tamarindo
Over the last ten years, the reputation of Costa Rica as a
travel destination has grown leaps and bounds. Good places to
visit include San Jose and Tamarindo.
Costa Rica
Located in Central America, Costa Rica is a country with a lot
to offer. The country is unique because the costal areas present
some of the nicest beaches in the world, while a few hours
inland you can find towering mountains with volcanoes, pristine
rivers for white knuckle rafting and a rain forest par
excellence. Costa Rica is a hot bed of ecosystems and I won't
even try to describe it. Just pull up some pictures on the net
and you'll get the idea.
The people of the country, Ticos, are exceedingly friendly and
you'll find more than a few ex-pats populating the country. With
no military, Costa Rica has invested heavily in education and
has the highest literacy rate in the Americas. Yes, the rate is
higher than the United States.
San Jose
San Jose is really the only big city in Costa Rica. Located in
the center of the country, the city has taken a beating over the
years from the occasional earthquake. You'll understand when you
visit. The city is surrounded by mountain ranges populated with
a number of volcanoes. Every so often, this combination of
geography leads a good shaking.
For a city in Central America, San Jose is surprisingly
organized and lively. You can spend an evening in the cafes or
just walking about. Crime isn't much of a problem. There isn't
much to see per se, but this is where most of the international
flights land. In traversing the country, you can expect to pass
through San Jose a few times, so enjoy yourself.
Tamarindo
Not long ago, Tamarindo was a quiet little beach community on
the western coast of Costa Rica. Over the last 15 years, the
town has become a hot spot for ex-pats with accompanying
development not far behind. Although some of the luster is gone,
Tamarindo is still worth a visit if for no other reason than to
compare it to the rest of Costa Rica.
Tamarindo is as good a place as any to experience Costa Rica
beaches if you need a little civilization. The beaches are clean
and tranquil, but lined with cafes, restaurants and hotels. The
water is warm and good surfing can be found in certain
locations. To the north, one can occasionally see rare sea
turtles laying eggs on the beaches late at night. Unfortunately,
turtle watching has become such a rage that you may be standing
with a lot of people. There is definitely a voyeuristic feel to
it and one can help but feeling sorry for the turtles.
If you've never been to Tamarindo, you'll love it. If you've
visited in the past, you might be disappointed with the
development.