Costa Rica

By Crystal Chanel

Whitewater Kayak in Costa Rica

Our completely organized and all-inclusive kayaking packages allow you to have the most hassle free experience possible while maximizing your time spent on the river. Our highly skilled guides are able to accommodate all skill levels as we have the daily option of dividing into two paddling groups: Class II/III and Class III/IV. By being able to personalize your trip specifically to your kayaking abilities and paddling aspirations, we can ensure you get the most out of your boating adventure in Costa Rica. Our guides work hard to both guarantee your safety at all times as well as provide you with kayaking tips and tricks that they have learned over their many years in the whitewater industry.  

• Most canopy tours in Costa Rica feature eight to twenty lines, zipping you along anywhere from hundreds to thousands of feet. As the landscape features a number of canopies, finding a zip lining adventure is pretty simple. Below are some of the most popular canopy tours in Costa RicaPopular Costa Rica Canopy Tours An exciting adventure that can be enjoyed by all ages. Fly for an entire mile voer the jungle canopy, with 16 stops for sightseeing along the way.

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Once an army barracks, the bullet-riddled national museum uncovers Costa Rica's political, cultural and ecological history. The Museo Nacional de Costa Rica is the national museum of Costa Rica, located in the capital of San José. It is located at Calle 17, between Central and Second Avenue, Cuesta de Moras, in the Bellavista Fortress, a crenallated, ochre colored building opposite the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica. The fortress was built in 1917 and was originally a military barracks: the exterior walls still have many bullets lodged in them from the country's 1948 civil war. It became the site of the museum in 1950. 

 You would not want to miss the parade of comparsas (street dancers) and the colorfulmascaradas (giants with smiling painted heads). Other events include cultural activities such as art exhibitions and fishing tournaments sprouting up throughout the week.  

Annually, thousands of tourist and visitors from around the country of Costa Rica flock in the coastal town of Puntarenas, as wild pachanga music and Latin beats fills the air every February for the 11 days Puntarenas Carnival.  

Carnaval de Puntarenas #festival 

Costa Rica's official and predominant language is Spanish; the variety spoken there, Costa Rican Spanish, is a form of Central American Spanish. However, Costa Rica is also home to at least 5 local indigenous languages (Maléku, Cabécar, Bribri, Guaymí, and Bocotá), as well as LESCO or Costa Rican sign language. An English Creole language called Mekatelyu is spoken to varying degrees in the province of Limón of Costa Rica.  

Costa Rica is situated in Central America and like most of the other countries in the surrounding area; its history is deeply tied with that of Spain which used to rule Costa Rica as a colony. However, Costa Rica still has its own identity when it comes to clothing and this can be seen especially in the traditional clothing of Costa Rica. Although today the vast majority of Costa Ricans wear the same modern style clothes that everyone else in the world does, traditional clothing is still worn in Costa Rica on special occasions.  

Costa Rica National Museum (Museo Nacional de Costa Rica)The Costa Rica National Museum is located in the old Buena Vista Fort, of great importance during the Costa Rican revolution of 1948. Some of the exhibits of the San Jose, Costa Rica National Museum are Costa Rica history, a recreation of the atmosphere of a typical colonial home, Costa Rica Pre-Columbian History and an exhibit of some gold pieces with explanations of the spiritual importance for the Costa Rica indigenous peoples that made them. The Museum also features a collection of stone spheres, a butterfly garden and temporal exhibits.

Web Page: www.museocostarica.go.crTel. (506)  2257 - 1433Address: 17th Street, Between Central and 2nd avenue. San Jose.Admission fees: Foreigners $7.00 (foreign students with valid ID $4.00).Opening hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Sundays 9:00am to 4:30pm.  Closed on Mondays 

Restaurante Grano de OroRestaurante Grano de Oro merges Costa Rican tropical with European cuisine under the expertise of our French chef Francis Canal. Once a simple cafe, this restaurant has evolved into one of San Jose’s finest dining establishments, frequented by locals and tourists alike.Specialty cocktails, beautifully presented dishes using fresh ingredients and delicious desserts are served in the charming ambiance of a magnificent period home with an elegant inner courtyard. The bilingual wait staff provides professional and friendly service. Service is offered throughout the day from 7 am to 10 pm. By law, no smoking is permitted on the restaurant premises.

Real Intercontinental Hotel and Club Tower Costa Rica is simply among the best hotels in San Jose, providing travelers with a sophisticated hotel near Multiplex. Guests also get to have fun in the hotel’s 372 rooms, each with soundproofing, air conditioning, and lots of entertainment options. Guests enjoy the wireless high speed internet access, cable TVs, and clock radios in the rooms. The safes are also great for storing valuables so guests can have peace-of-mind as they enjoy the city’s attractions. This 4 ½ star hotel invites guests to enjoy the sauna, spa tubs, and outdoor pool.