Costa Rica has thousands of hotels, villas, hostels, b&b’s, guest houses, rooms for rent, and camping grounds all around the country catering to travelers that want to see what Costa Rica is all about. Many times these hotels don’t have everything you would expect to find in a hotel like hot water, tv’s, or a/c. We travel around Costa Rica to bring you the most up to date information that we can find. During our travels we stay at different hotels so you can inform you on what it’s really like to stay there. Staying in the Malpais/Santa Teresa area? Are you on a budget? Find out from the Costa Rica Travel Channel’s very own DAngelo and michael alan if Casa Cloina is worth the effort. Formore helpful travel information on Costa Rica make sure you check out our website and our blog. Our Travel Tip Website- www.TravelCostaRicaNow.com michael alan’s blog – http Our pictures from around Costa Rica – www.flickr.com Our Gay Travel Tip Webpage – travelcostaricanow.com michael alan’s gay blog – www.DoinGayCostaRica.blogspot.com Lots more travel tips on video by us – http .
One of the most often asked questions from travelers about Costa Rica besides “How much does it rain in the rainy season?” is: “Do we really need a rental car?”. The answer depends very much on you, but by describing a bit more the conditions I can make the decision easier for you!
Driving in Costa Rica is not as difficult as it seems in some frightening reports. Nevertheless it is true that the Costa Ricans that are known for a laid-back and calm attitude seem to get into a hurry as soon as they sit behind the wheel of a vehicle. They are not alone on the planet with this particularity, the only difference is that in many other places the people seem to be always in a hurry.
The roads in Costa Rica are famous for their potholes and some destinations can only be reached on a gravel road. If you plan only to visit San Jose and Jaco you may be fine with a sedan, but it is highly recommendable to . In the rainy season you will even have to cross some rivers. Even some of the main attractions for tourists in Costa Rica are only accessible with an all-terrain vehicle. The road to Monteverde is not paved and there are no plans for doing so. The local community wants to protect this unique place and does not want that to make their place accessible for huge tourist buses.
The big advantage of is, that you are independent and can make a stop whenever you want. Fruits and crafts are sold along the roads, this is always a good opportunity to have some small talk with the locals.
You better get up early in Costa Rica, because the sun goes down around 6 pm. Driving at night in Costa Rica can be dangerous and is not recommendable. Most of the roads don’t have lights and road marking mostly exists on the main roads.
The alternative to renting a car is to travel with the extensive bus system. This is a good way to see the country and meet the Ticos. There are buses going almost everywhere in Costa Rica, connections between outlying areas are limited. The capital San Jose is the major transportation hub of Costa Rica, sometimes it is necessary to return and switch the bus here. Before you buy a ticket for the bus ask precisely if this bus really goes to the destination where you plan to go. There are several towns in Costa Rica which share the same name! You can assure going to the right Playa Hermosa by mentioning the Province where you plan to travel. There is a Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste and a Playa Hermosa in Puntarenas. There are several other examples like Naranjo and San Isidro.
Traveling by bus is certainly cheaper than renting a car, but is most often slower. There are several hundred bus companies operating in Costa Rica and unfortunately they don’t always work together. This can result in an unplanned overnight stay at a place where you missed your connecting bus.
So the decision is still up to you, but it should be easier for you take it now
.Beautiful city of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia (a Spain’s province), is situated on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and bordered at either end by 2 river deltas. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after its capital city Madrid. Barcelona has a population of 1.5 million, over 4 million including suburbs. The varied, eventful history of the city dates back 4,000 years to the first settlements by ancient farmers. Later it became a Roman colony, the Visigoth’s capital city, and then it came under Moorish rule. It went through sieges, destructions and occupations, finally to become an autonomous democracy 1975. The city has always played an important role in political and cultural life of Spain and it is well reflected in the variety and quality of historical buildings, museums, many other tourist attractions. Today Barcelona is one of the most diverse European cities with unique culture and rich traditions. You can find here a formidable balance of the traditional things and the avant-garde. A cosmopolitan metropolis, Barcelona affords visitors a warm and sincere welcome, being acknowledged worldwide as one of the best tourist-friendly cities in Europe. Barcelona’s organization of the 1992 Olympics provided regeneration of this dynamic city, gave a fresh start to its infrastructure development. WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE: POINTS OF INTEREST – La Ramble is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buckers, living statues, mimes and itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jeweler. Pavement cafes and stands selling craftwork, street performers surrounded by curious onlookers, a noisy bird market, Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, the Gran Teeter del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house- these are all colorful parts of La Rambla’s mosaic. La Rambla ends at the lofty Monument a Colom (Monument to Columbus) and the harbour. Barri Gotic – also known as Gothic Quarter, it is the old part of the city. Picasso lived and worked in Barri Gotic from 1895 to 1904 and Joan Miro was born and lived here during his youth. Gothic Quarter is situated on the right hand side of the La Rambla, it contains a concentration of medieval tall Gothic buildings (14-15th century) on narrow cobbled streets and now is home to much of the city’s nightlife. La Sagrada Familia – La Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous and magnificent among Barcelona’s landmarks. The life’s work of Barcelona’s famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, the magnificent spires of the unfinished cathedral imprint themselves boldly against the sky with swelling outlines inspired by the holy mountain Montserrat. Above each facade there are four towers, 12 in total, which are dedicated to the Apostles. The tower in the center, the tallest of all at 170 m., is dedicated to Jesus Christ. Around these there are the towers of the four Evangelists, and the tower over the apse is dedicated to the Virgin. They are encrusted with a tangle of sculptures that seem to breathe life into the stone. Gaudi died in 1926 before his masterwork was completed, and since then, controversy has continually dogged the building program. Nevertheless, the southwestern (Passion) facade, is almost done, and the nave, begun in 1978, is progressing. La Pedrera – Casa Mila (Mila House) is an apartment building, the last example of Gaudi’s civil architecture.It is one of his finest and most ambitious creations, extraordinarily innovative in its functional, constructive, and ornamental aspects. Visitors can tour the building and go up to the roof, where they can see spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor below the roof is a modest museum dedicated to Gaudi’s work. Montjuic – the largest open space in the city, its main attractions are the Olympic installations, the Spanish Village and the hilltop fortress. Montjuic, the hill overlooking the city centre from the southwest, is home to some fine art galleries, leisure attractions, soothing parks and the main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Montjuic is covered in ornamental gardens with water features and is the most popular destination in Barcelona on Sundays. Tibidabo – is the highest hill in the wooded range that forms the backdrop to Barcelona. It has amazing views of the whole of Barcelona, a stunning cathedral, and a family fun park Parc d’Atraccions with old-style rides offering breathtaking views. A glass lift at the park goes 115m (383 ft) up to a visitors’ observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower. Modernisme – spectacular modernista architectural creations dotted around the city by famous Antoni Gaudi and his contemporaries. Camp Nou – home of F.C. Barcelona, one of Europe’s leading soccer teams, with capacity of almost 100,000 spectators. The Seu Cathedral – Built in medieval times on the site of a Roman temple, La Seu is one of the great Gothic buildings in Spain. Parc de la Ciutadella – Barcelona’s favorite park and a Sunday afternoon rendezvous for families, friends and ducks The Sardana – traditional Catalan dance, performed outside the cathedral and at national festivals, with everyone encouraged to join in.
MUSEUMS – The Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art -the only museum in Europe devoted exclusively to Pre-Columbian cultures. Housed in a gothic palace, its collection is one of the finest of its kind and gives visitors an insight into the rich world of the earliest cultures on the American continent. This tiny museum contains one hundred pieces, including wood and stone sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, jade, often found in international exhibitions and prestige publications. The exhibits represented the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Chavin, Mochica and Inca civilisations. Palau de la Musica Catalana – one of the world’s most extraordinary music halls, it is a Barcelona landmark. From its polychrome ceramic ticket windows on the Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt side to its overhead busts of Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner, the Palau is the flagship of Barcelona’s Moderniste architecture. Museu Picasso – is Barcelona’s most visited museum. 3,500 exhibits make up the permanent collection. Picasso spent several years (1901-06) in Barcelona, and this collection, is particularly strong on his early work. Displays include childhood sketches, pictures from the beautiful Rose and Blue periods, and the famous 1950s Cubist variations on Velazquez’s Las Meninas (Ladies-in-Waiting). Gaudi Casa-Museu – Gaudi lived in this pink, Alice-in-Wonderland house from 1906 to 1926, which now houses a museum of Gaudi-designed furniture, decorations, drawings, and portraits and busts of the architect. Fundacio Miro – it was a gift from the famous artist Joan Miro to his native city. The museum opened in 1975, and now it is one of Barcelona’s most exciting showcases of contemporary art.
BEACHES – One of Barcelona’s greatest draws is undeniably its beautiful beaches. Beside world-famous Costa Brava and Costa Dorada which are within 1-hr drive time from Barcelona, there are also several nice beaches over 4 km long within the city boundaries, we will list just several of them here: Nova Icaria- Closest to the Olympic marina, always crowded, this wide swathe of rough golden sand is great for food goers. There are three perfect beach bars and two very popular restaurants on the promenade (Mango and Chiringuito de Moncho) and countless bars and restaurants are just a short stroll away. Bogatell- This beach is twice the length of adjoining Nova Icaria and fringed by a stretch of stone walkway perfect for jogging, roller blading and cycling. Three large informal restaurants on the promenade. Mar Bella (Metro Ciutadella Vila Olimpica, plus 20-minute walk)- Barcelona’s only naturist beach close to a peaceful park – good for a picnic or siesta under the trees. Barceloneta- wide and long, a traditional and popular stretch with locals, crowded, noisy and very jolly.
WHEN TO GO, WEATHER: The best times to visit Barcelona are late spring and early autumn, when the weather is still comfortably warm, around 21-25°C. Summers are usually hot and humid, with temperatures averaging +30 (+ 86 Fahrenheit). Especially avoid the “dead” month of August, when many shops, bars and restaurants close for the month as many local inhabitants head out of the city. Winters are cool with average daytime temperatures around +12 C (+59 Fahrenheit), occasionally rainy.
GETTING THERE AND AROUND: By a direct flight to Barcelona, or through Madrid or via another large European city from almost any major airports in the world. The highest fares are from May to September, the lowest in March-April, October-November and December to February (excluding Christmas and New Year when prices are hiked up). Note also that flying on weekends may increase your ticket cost. If traveling to Barcelona from within Europe you can also chose train, bus or car, though these take much longer than a plane and often work out no cheaper. Many Mediterranean cruises include Barcelona as a port of call.
ACCOMODATIONS: We can offer you a range of choices. You can choose vacation rentals in Barcelona starting from $ 125 USD for a double room in a 4-star apartment hotel. Or you can opt for hotels from $ 65 USD for a double room in a 3-star hotel. Accomodation prices do not change much throughout the year due to the steady all-season flow of visitors to this extremely popular tourist city and surrounding resorts.
DINING: Besides restaurants you can eat at bars where you would have a succession of tapas (small snacks- three or four chunks of fish, meat or vegetables, or salad, which traditionally used to be served up free with a drink) or raciones (larger ones). The bar option can be a lot more interesting, allowing you to do the rounds and sample local specialities. Generally, the average cost for a meal consisting of two dishes and dessert would come to about 25 Euros. Travellers on an extremely limited budget can do well for themselves by using the excellent markets, bakeries and delis and filling up on sandwiches and snacks. Decent restaurants and cafes are easily found all over the city, though you’ll probably do most of your eating where you do most of your sightseeing, in the old town, particularly around La Rambla and in the Barri Gotic. Look for the best and most authentic seafood restaurants in Barceloneta, a seaside neighbourhood. Gothic Quarter neighbourhood is home to some of the oldest and most traditional restaurants in the city. Gracia is a very popular area among young people during the weekend, it leads the way in terms of exotic restaurants (Lebanese, Egyptian, Thai etc.).
TRANSPORT: Barcelona has excellent transport system comprising the metro (subway), buses, trains and a network of funiculars and cable cars. You can find a link to transport maps at the end of our guide. On all the city’s public transport you can buy a single ticket every time you ride, but even over only a couple of days it’s cheaper to buy a targeta – a discount ticket strip. The T-10 targeta is valid for ten separate journeys on the metro, buses and trains. These tickets can be used by more than one person at a time. The metro is the quickest way of getting around Barcelona. For black-and-yellow taxis there is a minimum charge of $ 2 euro. You’ll obviously have a great deal more freedom if you rent a car . Major roads throughout the city are generally good, and traffic is generally well behaved, though Spain does have one of the highest incidences of traffic accidents in Europe. It also has some of the lowest fuel prices on the continent.
SHOPPING: Barcelona, one of the most stylish cities in Europe offers great shopping, from designer clothes and accessories to household items. You will find the city to be quite cheap for a lot of items, especially if you coincide with the annual sales ( rebaixes in Spanish) lasting from mid-January until the end of February, and throughout July and August. The best shopping areas in Barcelona are the old streets off the upper part of the Ramblas. Souvenirs include ceramics, which are widely sold in the streets around the cathedral; leather goods; city’s delicatessens, particularly cooked Catalan meats and sausages; a porron (the long-spouted glass drinking jar); CDs and tapes of Catalan rock and pop, sardana music, Spanish rock or flamenco. If you’re looking for original gift ideas, some of the best hunting can be found in the shops of any of the city’s museums, where you’ll find reasonably priced and unique examples of Catalan disseny (graphic), and other original items ranging from postcards to replica works of art. We wish you a nice and safe trip!
Every year, there are about two million people boarding Caribbean cruises. Why? Simply because Caribbean cruises offers unlimited benefits of luxury travel, spectacular destinations, preserved islands, harbors, historic places, local cultures and so much more. With no doubt, more and more people are looking for cruising nowadays and definitely will not left out Caribbean cruises in their main options.
When you search for on the net, you will end up with hundreds of exciting choices. You can choose based on the destinations, prices, family or couples, the length of the stay or the type of cruises. For Caribbean cruises, the options are such as the Princess, Cunard, Ocean Village, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, P&O and Costa Cruises. The most common cruise that most people choose are either Eastern Caribbean or Western Caribbean cruises. Both offer seven days cruising. The Eastern Caribbean leave from Florida and you will spend more time on the land. This is suitable to those like shopping. There are also ports to be visited like the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. John, St. Thomas and St. Martin. Whereas the Western Caribbean leave either from Florida, Texas or New Orleans and you will spend more time at sea. This is suitable to those like natural beauty, beaches or water activities. Ports of call are such as Mexico, Costa Rico, Dominican Republic, Belize and Jamaica.
The Caribbean areas covers so many beautiful islands and each island is unique in so many ways. Furthermore, each port of calls offers unique culture and hospitality of the locals. Therefore you’ll have hard time to came out with the shortlisted Caribbean cruises list and of course, there are so many routes too to chose from. How long can you spend time with a Caribbean cruise? You can choose from one to two days to over two weeks.
Each specific cruise tailor to a particular needs. For example, if you are taking children along, you might consider Disney Caribbean, as package comes with so many entertainment activities on the board. If you go with couple, you might want to consider Princess Caribbean, as the cruise offers nice, quite, romantic cruise package and itinerary. If you are looking for luxurious vacation on cruise, you should list high class cruises like Silversea, Crystal or the new Queen Mary II.
The bottom line is, whatever Caribbean cruises that you want to choose, you are advised to do advance booking, as discounted tickets are sold early and do not forget to choose the trusted and authorized cruise agent. For more convenience, you can do your bookings online. If you are concern about the budget, you may want to consider last minutes deals where you might get a discount. Spending time searching the deals online may save you a few bucks. So good luck in looking the best Caribbean cruises for your holidays!
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Sailfish are probably the most abundant fish in the waters off Costa Rica. They are generally bluish grey in color and are easily recognized by the large dorsal fin that runs the entire length of its back. Sailfish grow very fast often up to four or five feet in one year, reaching full growth at around 10 feet. They are also one of the fastest of ocean fish and can travel up to nearly 70 miles per hour. They can get to be as large as 200 pounds but are usually somewhat smaller than this. Their size and speed are what makes them a great sport fishing challenge. They can be caught year round on the Pacific coast of the country, but peak season is generally May through August.
Marlin
This is probably the sport fish that most are familiar with. It is prized because it is harder to find and hook than almost any other sport fish. Their enormous size and fighting abilities are what attracts anglers from all over the world. The world record for a non commercial catch is something like 1400 pounds. November to March is the best time to land one of these monsters in Costa Rica.
Roosterfish
Another good fighter among Costa Rica fish is the roosterfish, so named for its rather odd appearance, which is identified by their 7 large spines that sit above the dorsal fin. They are caught mainly from June through October and average about 20 pounds, but 100 pounders over four feet in length have been recorded. They are a good fighting fish as well.
Dorado
The Dorado is more commonly known as dolphin fish or mahi-mahi. These names have been adopted by most of the fishing industry so as to keep these fish separate from the more commonly recognized dolphin, which is actually a mammal. Like the sailfish, dorados also have dorsal fins running the length of their backs. They are smaller than sailfish, seldom getting to more than 25 pounds. Dorados are easily recognized by their brilliant colors. They can be green blue and golden on their backs and sides. One of the most interesting things to watch when you catch one is how it changes colors upon coming out of the water. They are popular game fish because of their fighting ability, but they are also favoured for eating in many restaurants in the area.
Wahoo
Some folks say the name for this fish comes from fishermen hollering “yahoo” when they land one of these very fast running ocean fish. They can grow up to 8 feet in length and can weigh up to 180 pounds. They can swim up to almost 50 miles per hour which puts the sport into sport fishing when you’re after them! The Wahoo has razor sharp teeth so all fishing is done with steel leaders only. Wahoo is a good eating fish as well and prized for its white flesh and delicate flavour.
So, find the best fighting fish to round out your sport fishing trip to Costa Rica.
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Whether you’re a seasoned birder seeking the world’s top birding locations, an eco-friendly nature lover, or trying to find a way to entertain the kids, birdwatching in Costa Rica is an obvious choice. With over 890 species recorded to date, the neotropical environment boasts the greatest density of bird species of any continental American country. The jungles, rainforests, mountains, mangrove swamps, and coastlines of the country offer a rich birding experience unlike any other. You can book a guided tour or take your sweet time ambling among the vegetation to discover the birds of Costa Rica.
Resplendent Quetzal
Touted as one of the most beautiful birds in the world, the quetzal has a shimmering emerald green body, red belly, and blue back, along with a long blue and green tail, nearly twice as long as its 15-inch body. Representing freedom and wealth, the bird was the Aztecs’ and Mayas’ most sacred symbol, and the tribes often traded the quetzal’s feathers.
Quetzals call the mountainous cloud forests of Costa Rica their home, spending most of the year alone, until they mate between March and June and produce two blue eggs. They feed on fruit, especially avocados, insects and even lizards and frogs. Because the quetzal’s existence is threatened by the destruction of its habitat, Costa Rica’s protected land preserves provide habitat for the birds and give ecotourists and birdwatchers the opportunity to marvel at its magnificence.
Scarlet Macaw
The macaw is a sheer explosion of color: the plumage is mainly scarlet, with light blue tail feathers, yellow and darker blue on the wings, and dark red with metallic gold iridescence on the wing and tail flight feathers.
These birds prefer to live in the humid, evergreen forests of the tropical regions, and can live between 30 and 50 years in the wild. They eat mostly fruits and seeds and generally travel alone or in pairs. Very vocal, you will hear the distinctive loud, low-pitched, throaty squawks, squeaks, and screams of the macaw overhead.
Toucans
Costa Rica has six different toucan species found in the lowlands and tropical rainforests. Each has the hallmark bright-billed beak that it uses to forage into holes within trees and to pick fruit. The color and size of the toucan vary among the species, but all toucans like to eat fleshy fruits such as papaya, berries, and palm.
Toucans are very playful birds and provide hours of entertainment for birdwatchers as they use their bills to tussle with each other in the trees. They nest in tree holes and lay two to four eggs up to three times a year.
Hummingbirds
Currently, there are 51 species of hummingbirds in Costa Rica. These birds are often described as tiny high-speed machines. The hum they are named for is made by the beat of their wings, which move so rapidly that the human eye cannot detect it. And they can even fly backwards!
In the tropical lowlands and cool cloud forests, you can find them hovering around flowers, where they extract nectar and insects with their long, hollow tongues. Their vibrant, shimmering colors and ability to magically hover in mid-air for long periods of time, makes the hummingbird a crowd favorite.
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