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Costa
Rica: No artificial ingredients-year 'round
Costa Rica is a land
teeming with the paradoxes of its geographical location, bridging North and
South America and the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The resulting climate
makes it ideal for year-round travel. The forces of nature are at their
spectacular best here, churning out rainforest and volcanoes, great beaches
and vistas. The animals and plants of the region are of two great
continents. The diversity of flora and fauna, of geography and terrain all
come together here in a mere 50,895 square kilometers.
The elevation of much of the country's
landmass offsets the tropical setting of its location only 8 degrees north
of the equator. Like Hawaii in the Pacific, Costa Rica hosts 10 of the 13
recognized climatic zones as well as local microclimates.
The equatorial position of the country
means that throughout the year there is a fairly constant twelve hours of
light between sunrise and sunset from 6:00 am each day to 6:00 pm. The
county's location also maintains a fairly constant temperature, never
varying more than a few degrees on a seasonal basis. If you are traveling
from the Northern Hemisphere, you are used to giving due consideration to
terms like "summer" and "winter". However, in Costa
Rica, the seasons revolve around a dry season, December through April and a
wet season May through November. Costa Rica promotes their "wet
season" as the "Green
Season." This is not just clever marketing. The
year-round nature of Costa Rica's travel opportunities has made it the
Caribbean destination with the highest tourism growth. The Green Season is
an excellent time to travel to Costa Rica. This is when the warm, wet
climate brings the plant life into full bloom, and the country's verdant
flora explodes wi th the vibrant life characteristic of Costa Rica. As we
will discuss below, the green season means more wildlife, better visibility
and rates that are easier on the pocketbook!
December, January, and February tend to
be cooler as winds from the north lower temperatures. In the coastal
regions, the average temperature at sea level is 82 degrees Fahrenheit on
the eastern Caribbean side of the country and 89 degrees on the Pacific
side. As you climb in elevation, temperatures begin to drop approximately
one degree for every 100 yards. Thus, in the mountains, jackets, sweaters
and coats in the highest elevations are definitely in order. Temperatures
at night tend to be warmer in the wet season
Costa Rica's mountain ranges, situated
between two oceanic climatic and moisture zones mean that rainfall is a
part of Costa Rica's ecology. Annual rainfall averages approximately 100
inches in the plains and 150 inches in the mountains occurring in the early
afternoons in the highest elevations and late afternoon or night in the
plains. While mornings during the wet season are often bright and sunny, by
afternoon the rains typically fall.
There are real benefits to traveling to
Costa Rica during the Green Season. Perhaps the best reason is the
abundance of wildlife. The greener foliage and plant life offer a wider
range of feeding grounds for the animals. Likewise, because the green
season in general means fewer tourists, the animals are more relaxed in
their habitat. If one of your reasons for visiting Costa Rica includes
paddling sports and time on its rivers, the green season means banks that
are consistently filled with fast moving water. The mountains tend to be
more clearly visible as the rains carry the fog and haze away making
volcano viewing particularly enjoyable.
The Green Season also means fewer
travelers in the hotels, shops and dining establishments. As a result,
general prices for accommodations and practically every aspect of tourism
are less than in peak travel season. Packages in Green Season can be as much as 30% less than in peak,
and the local population and shop keepers have more time to spend with
travelers on an individual basis.
As a bridge between North and South
America, Costa Rica's biodiversity is astonishing. Monkeys, sloths, tapirs
and wildcats as well as an unrivaled collection of bird species numbering
more than 800 make their home in the rainforest. With more than 25% of the
country in national parks, there is great opportunity to leave the beaten
path and to see the wide variety of plant and animal life year round.
The Costa Rican rainforests are vast, but
accessible. The road infrastructure tends to be unpredictable outside of
the major cities, and caution when driving is highly advisable, especially
during rain storms. Many roads are unpaved and bridges are often
single-vehicle width. The best advice in any weather is to plan ahead, take
your time and enjoy the scenery.
Any experienced visitor to Costa Rica
will tell you that there is no end to the amazing array of things to do.
Costa Rica is a nature lover's paradise. Better yet, ecotourism is a way of
life in Costa Rica. The country plays host to a wide variety of adventure
sports and favorites of travelers include mountain biking, river rafting
and scuba diving. Hikes through the rainforests include trips to active
volcanoes, boat trips on rivers snaking through the rain forests and
opportunities to ride a zip line through the forest canopy. You can watch
live lava flows on Arenal Volcano, bird watch (some of the best and most
diverse in the world), stand on mountaintops where both the Atlantic and
the Pacific are visible, watch the marine turtles at Tortuguero or any one
of a hundred other terrific outdoor opportunities.
This year, any time this year, give some
consideration to placing Costa Rica on your list of "places to
visit." You will be glad you did.
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