Costa
Rica – San Jose and Tamarindo
by: Rick Chapo
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. |