Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Country of Costa Rica-the Great Vacation Destination



Costa Rica is regarded by many tourists to be an incredible place for a vacation. Mainly because of the fact that it is found in the center of the Western Hemisphere, it is unquestionably a prime piece of property. Most folks who have stayed in Costa Rica say it is the best country for a getaway to never forget.

Thinking about its assorted terrain and climates, there has got to be an area of Costa Rica to please them. Costa Rica ,has for many years, been a haven of tranquility. Holding the oldest political system in all of Central America, the country hasn’t had a military in years.

Costa Rica has transformed into a great country for trade; it has a market that has continually grown in the past 10 years. A short while ago Costa Rica signed the C.A.F.T.A. with a few other Spanish-speaking countries, including the U.S.. Costa Rica has become the best place for business-men and tourists alike. You can find 2 international airports in the country, with one in San Jose and a secondary airport in Liberia, this makes this country reachable for lots of tourists.

It doesn’t matter if you get pleasure from hiking volcanoes, surfing the best breaks, snorkeling, kayaking or just a relaxing getaway in the mountains, the country of Costa Rica has some draw for many different people. You will find tons of Costa Rican hotel rooms and even beach hotels all over Costa Rica and many discounts are available to make your Costa Rica trip worthwhile.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Several Ideas to Consider before searching for your Costa Rica Real Estate



Hunting for some nice land in Costa Rica, can sometimes be an overwhelming task. A smart shopper will as a rule want to take numerous aspects of where to obtain this Costa Rica property into deliberation. A few of these factors could be: the average temperature, job availability, shopping centers, hospital conditions etc.

One of the most important features that draw people to look for properties in Costa Rica is the theory that just about anyone can discover a climate in Costa Rica that is perfect for them. If you keen on the balmy, arid weather, you probably want to think about the province of Guanacaste. If the cooler and wetter climate is more what you are seeking, then the Central Valley in Costa Rica could be the best area to commence your Costa Rica property search.

Guanacaste has become a section of Costa Rica overflowing with real estate possibilities. This region of Costa Rica is excellent for people searching for coastal or beach real estate. The availability of local airline flights to this province is also a huge pull to acquire a Costa Rica coastal real estate property. This is a rather new hotspot in Costa Rica and the region unquestionably has its own fair share of real estate businesses.

If you are thinking about travelling to Costa Rica to hunt for your dream property, it is a good idea to take your time and search out all Costa Rica has to offer. Something that may assist you on your next expedition to Costa Rica is making your Costa Rica hotel accommodations ready before arriving. Reserving a room in Costa Rica to make your home away from home will certainly be something you will not regret.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Costa Rica's Favorite Volcano



Positioned just about 90 kms. northwest of San Jose, Costa Rica, you can view the breathtaking Arenal Volcano. The Arenal Volcano is in the province of Alajuela in the town of La Fortuna. Arenal Volcano is known as the most active volcano in the country of Costa Rica. Scientists consider the Arenal Volcano as the newest as well as the most active mountains in the country of Costa Rica.
Arenal has been named a volcano since the 1800’s, although in those times it had other names such as Costa Rica Volcano and Rio Frio. Some experts say that the volcano is more than 4000 years old. This region of Costa Rica was unexplored up to 1937, when a group of explorers climbed to the summit that same year.

The largest eruption of the Arenal Volcano occurred in 1968 following around 400 years of no activity. That explosion destroyed the whole town of Arenal, and ended the lives of 87 people. It destroyed about 232 square kilometers and continued for a number of days. The eruption was so strong that it created three additional craters. Ever since this massive eruption, the Arenal Volcano has continued to be active and people are able to see tiny eruptions very frequently, especially at night.

Arenal has become a very well-visited tourist spot, the majority of them enjoying the nightly volcanic activity not to mention the wonderful hot springs. The most well-known hot spring in Arenal is Tabacon. Arenal is one of the seven

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Costa Rica Whale-Watching-A New Idea for your next Vacation



Have you been considering taking a trip to Costa Rica for your next vacation? If the answer to this question is “yes”, then you might want to add whale watching to your list of activities. This new adventure may seem a little unusual compared to the typical beach trips and volcano tours, but it is rapidly becoming one of the top activities to do in Costa Rica.

The best time to see these majestic beasts is from August to October in the Southern Hemisphere, and December to April in the Northern Hemisphere. The most common whale that is seen in Costa Rica is the humpback whale. They are accustomed to spend the summer months in the colder waters and retreat to the tropical waters during their mating periods.

There are now over 50 Costa Rican tour companies that provide day trips to see the humpback whales. Some estimates say that Costa Rica received over 100,000 visitors in 2007, specifically to see these whales. Over the last 10 years Costa Rican whale-watching has increased over 70%, one of the largest growth spurts in all Latin America.

Costa Rica has recently invested money in the Ballena National Park, which has the task of protecting these creatures and providing them a safe area for reproducing. It is located on the southern Pacific Coast, near Punta Uvita in Puntarenas. This protected area includes areas of Costa Rican land and sea. The humpback whale has been a protected species since 1967, and there are an estimated 10,000 whales in the world.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

North America’s economic troubles not affecting Costa Rica’s real estate


One might suspect with the economic crisis that the U.S. is experiencing recently, Costa Rica’s beach properties would be negatively affected. According to some knowledgeable real estate agents, this could be a misconception. During the past five years or so, the real estate market in Costa Rica has been booming. The majority of this is due in part to North Americans travelling to Costa Rica with lots of cash, ready to purchase anything on the market from lots to condos or even beach properties.

Lately, things seemed to have changed; due in part to decreasing stock markets and elevated interest rates from lending banks. The Costa Rican real estate circumstances, one might think, could be taking a turn for the worse. Not so, say some very knowledgeable real estate agents. One negative factor of the big real estate “boom” was the fact that many green agents were selling costly properties, now things are starting to level off. What will happen with an high priced property is, it will sit on the market for a long while, the seller will have to decrease the price, and then it will finally sell when the property owner becomes more realistic.

Another concern, potential property purchasers, are faced with is the growing cost of construction materials. The costs of raw materials are definitely climbing, but this is true in all countries not just in Costa Rica. Even with these growing costs, Costa Rican land continues to have a very inexpensive price-per-square foot to build and is a big draw for baby boomers and other people looking for a more laid-back lifestyle. Loads of real estate experts claim that the real estate market in Costa Rica will start to increase once again, when the price of construction materials reduces or stops rising. Potential real estate buyers, property owners, and real estate agents really have nothing to worry about. Things have just made a full circle and are back the way they used to be, before the big real estate “boom”.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Playing poker in Costa Rica

Poker is a very popular game among the people of Costa Rica, and finding a place to play is relatively easy. The Costa Rica’s Casinos are scattered all over the country, but the biggest concentration can be found in the capital San Jose. Some casinos in Costa Rica feature live action and tournaments in local card rooms as well as a series of variations including 3 card poker and Omaha, but most of the poker rooms offer No Limit Texas Hold'em which is the most popular game in the country. There are several good casinos located on the beaches of Costa Rica, Jaco for example, features several card rooms and at least two big poker tournaments every year. Jazz Casino in Jaco Beach is only a few hours away from San Jose. It is currently the only beach town with poker games, though some ex-pats run home games, mainly seven Stud, in near beaches including Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

The Hotel Radisson Europa is by far the most popular poker rooms in Costa Rica. Located down ton San Jose, the casino is famous for holding several poker tournaments including several stages of the WPT. The Colonial Casino in downtown San Jose also offers Hold’em Poker and the Friday night tournaments. And if you’re on your way back to the airport, you can also visit the Fiesta Casino and Card Room, which is located only a few blocks away from the Juan Santamaria Airport in Alajuela. The Tara ResortiIn Escazu, is about as far from downtown as the Fiesta, but the place has a different vibe and atmosphere that reminds a cotton plantation in the southern U.S.

You don’t have to speak Spanish to play in the Costa Rica casinos; most dealers speak English or at list known the poker lingo in English. Costa Rica’s poker scene may not be as sensational as Las Vegas or Atlantic City, but at list the ambiance of each casino has its own flavor that make gambling in Costa Rica a truly unique experience.

Playin poker in Costa Rica

Poker is a very popular game among the people of Costa Rica, and finding a place to play is relatively easy. The Costa Rica’s Casinos are scattered all over the country, but the biggest concentration can be found in the capital San Jose. Some casinos in Costa Rica feature live action and tournaments in local card rooms as well as a series of variations including 3 card poker and Omaha, but most of the poker rooms offer No Limit Texas Hold'em which is the most popular game in the country. There are several good casinos located on the beaches of Costa Rica, Jaco for example, features several card rooms and at least two big poker tournaments every year. Jazz Casino in Jaco Beach is only a few hours away from San Jose. It is currently the only beach town with poker games, though some ex-pats run home games, mainly seven Stud, in near beaches including Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

The Hotel Radisson Europa is by far the most popular poker rooms in Costa Rica. Located down ton San Jose, the casino is famous for holding several poker tournaments including several stages of the WPT. The Colonial Casino in downtown San Jose also offers Hold’em Poker and the Friday night tournaments. And if you’re on your way back to the airport, you can also visit the Fiesta Casino and Card Room, which is located only a few blocks away from the Juan Santamaria Airport in Alajuela. The Tara ResortiIn Escazu, is about as far from downtown as the Fiesta, but the place has a different vibe and atmosphere that reminds a cotton plantation in the southern U.S.

You don’t have to speak Spanish to play in the Costa Rica casinos; most dealers speak English or at list known the poker lingo in English. Costa Rica’s poker scene may not be as sensational as Las Vegas or Atlantic City, but at list the ambiance of each casino has its own flavor that make gambling in Costa Rica a truly unique experience.