Did you know that there are approximately 2000 species of butterflies in Costa Rica? Or that of all of the eggs laid, only about 2% complete metamorphosis to become butterflies? Did you know that some butterflies copulate for four hours at a time? Or that all butterflies lay their eggs at mid-day? How many of you know that the Blue Morpho's brilliant color is not a pigment, but actually a … [Read more...]
General Traveling Tips to Costa Rica
08/23/2010 by 4 Comments
We get emails all the time about traveling in Costa Rica, so we thought it might be a good ideal to point out some of our top 20 tips about a vacation and/or maybe retiring in Costa Rica. One thing you must understand is the culture and society; manners and respect play an important role and sometimes a simple misunderstanding can become a big deal. Costa Ricans by nature do not like … [Read more...]
Costa Rica’s Crocodile Threatened – Global Warming or Pollution?
08/10/2010 by 3 Comments
Costa Rica is nature’s theater where the crocodile is just one of many where one-day tourism loves its production of jagged, snaring teeth and prehistoric features. And crocodile attacks are considered one of the most gruesome. With that said, crocodiles annually attract thousands of tourists on the river Tárcoles where they come out of the bridges or board boats or display their shows as Costa … [Read more...]
Police, Medical Emergencies, and Hospitals in Costa Rica
07/27/2010 by 7 Comments
General Medical and Police Services Medical care in San Jose is adequate at the public hospitals, but super at the private hospital. Areas outside of San Jose have more limited medical services, and road conditions increase driving times to hospitals for routine or critical medical care. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash or credit card payment for medical services. Local … [Read more...]
Golfito, Banana Republic and Ecotourism of Golfo Duce, Costa Rica
07/11/2010 by 3 Comments
These days, the words Banana Republic are more likely to conjure up an image of neatly stacked chinos and v-neck sweaters than they are a place like Golfito. But when United Fruit built this town on the southwest coast of Costa Rica in 1939, there was nothing here but wilderness and Boruca, the region's indigenous tribe. Fleeing a rash of banana disease. like what happened to Quepos, that … [Read more...]
San Jose, Costa Rica’s Mercado Central, or Central Flea Market
05/24/2010 by 4 Comments
Central Market (Mercado Central) Flea and Street market. Bordered by Avdas. Central and 1 and Cs. 6 and 8 Barrió La Merced San José, Costa Rica San Jose, Costa Rica's Mercado Central, or Central Market, is the largest marketplace in San Jose. The Central Market is more than a common sale place. It is a congregation place, which city life passes day by day. It is a maze of shops and … [Read more...]
Hurricanes and Costa Rica – Cesar and Tropical Storm Alma Are About It
04/04/2010 by Leave a Comment
We get asked this all the time, "We are going to Costa Rica in 'some-month' ... are we going to get hit with a hurricane?" Fact remains, hurricanes rarely hit Costa Rica, the last one was Hurricane Cesár which came ashore on July 27, 1996 and killed 41 people and trashed the Pacific southwest in Costa Rica's worst national disaster in a decades. And then there was Tropical Storm Alma on May … [Read more...]
Costa Rica’s New Traffic Laws – Loopholes and Problems
03/19/2010 by 3 Comments
It has been a hell of month with the new traffic laws that took place March 1st to local drivers and the Costa Rican newspapers have been filled with it. The changes were to lighten penalties and lower fines, but in reality due to the numerous loopholes, the Transit Police are applying their own version of the law that has amounted to higher fines in some cases. Or, as one 'chatter in a … [Read more...]
Wellness Vacations In Costa Rica
03/10/2010 by 4 Comments
During the last several years, a new generation of vacationers has been demanding more from hotels than ever before, and a new type of travel is rising in popularity. This new group of travelers desires more than before from their vacation, and so the tourism sector is providing many options, such as hotels and resorts with Yoga and focus on health at their core. Yoga, Wellness Centers and … [Read more...]
Buying A New or Used Car in Costa Rica
02/25/2010 by 22 Comments
When someone moves to Costa Rica, one major decision they will have to make whether to buy a car and/or just use the excellent public transportation system. If they plan on living in San Jose, it is a wise choice to use the public transportation until one gets the feel of things. A common misconception among foreigners coming to Costa Rica is that you will save money by bringing a car here … [Read more...]
Costa Ricas Black Sand Beaches – Jaco, Tamarindo, Coco
02/03/2010 by 3 Comments
Costa Rica’s awesome and calendared coast offers something for everyone. Golden sand beaches, gray sand beaches, black sand beaches, and pink sand beaches can be found dotted all along Costa Rica’s lush coastal plains, making it a truly spectacular beach destination. Costa Rica boasts some of the top beaches in the world. Although black sand beaches are generally less known than their white … [Read more...]
Taking Your Dog, Cat or Small Pet to Costa Rica
01/28/2010 by 1 Comment
Okay want to take your pet to Costa Rica? In reality it is fairly simple and Costa Rica does not require a quarantine period as many countries do. For dogs and cats and other small pets, all you need to prove to both the airlines and Costa Rican customs officers that your animal is healthy. First, your dog or cat must be taken to a local veterinarian for a complete examination. This should … [Read more...]
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