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About Costa Rica

By on July 2, 2011 in World Travel
Poás Volcano Crater is one of the country's ma...

More than 2 million visitors will visit one of Costa Rica each year. What makes so many people to this lightly advertised destination? The natural beauty and diversity are the answers. Costa Rica covers only 0.03% of the external surface of the planet, however, is about 6% of terrestrial biodiversity. Visitors encounter seas, beaches, rivers, waterfalls, mountains, and the adequacy of flora and fauna. Twelve areas of life are important habitat for more than ten thousands maturation, 853,000 species of butterflies and 209 species of mammals. Volcanoes, rainforests, cloud forests, lowland jungles, the Pacific and Caribbean beaches, tranquil stretches over seven counties. 30 March to guard the land and personal reserves, the port is more than 5 percent of Earth’s plant and animal species. Costa Rica is the jewel of Central America.

Costa Rica boasts twenty countrywide parks, eight biological reserves, and a cornucopia of other protected areas to entrance those who marvel at the thrills of nature. It draws ecotourists from all over the world. Activities include horse-back riding, hiking mountainous trails in the cloud forests, steered bird-watching tours, volcanoes, scuba swimming, snorkeling, sailing, cover tours, golfing and plenty more. Ticos, as the people of Costa Rica are known, are renowned for being hospitable, and are quite thrilled to measure up to their reputation.

They appear to be completely aware that their country is a special place, and they are going out of the way to accommodate their guests, explaining things that might appear foreign to a foreigner, and helping make their stay as delightful as feasible. Northwest Costa Rica, the Guanacaste province is for the active soul, drawing visitors with its beaches, streams, waterfalls and natural attractions. Forming the eastern border is a grouping of volcanoes that form the Cordillera de Guanacaste and Cordillera de Tilarn.

From the mountains flow numerous streams that roll down and form an alluvial plain drained by the Rio Tempisque, which empties into the Gulf de Nicoya. The name Guanacaste comes from quahnacaztlan, a local word for the guanacaste tree, which is Costa Rica’s countrywide tree. With a new airfield at Liberia, tourism to Guanacaste has boomed. Costa Rica is a tropical country with 2 seasons dry and wet. The Guanacaste Province is the driest area of the country with less than fifty five inches of rain in the tidal areas. Costa Rica occupies a territory of about twenty thousand square miles in the southern part of Central America, and includes a few tiny islands mostly on the Pacific side. It is rather like the state of Florida with two long shores.

The country is only about two hundred miles long and seventy miles wide at the narrowest part. Costa Rica is sometimes compared against Switzerland and Hawaii due to its mountains and forests. Unlike many areas of Mexico, Central and South America, Costa Rica remains pretty year-long. This is partially as it borders the Pacific Sea on the west, the Atlantic Sea on the east, and has a chain of soaring volcanoes on the Central Plateau. Mix all this and you’ve got a unique tropical heaven with eleven climate sectors. The high season in Costa Rica, December thru Apr, is the dry season. The green season, which lasts from May to November, usually sees bright mornings, with rain showers in late afternoon and evening. Overall, the climate is tropical, with a median temperature of 72F ( 22C ). It can be much warmer along the tidal areas of the country, and much cooler in the mountains. During the past, rural exports, like bananas and coffee, have been the staple of the Costa Rican economy.

Nonetheless tourism has always played a fast-increasing role, and now it is the dominant commercial force.

Ecotourism travel is the most preferred for expansion as it will supply a sustainable resource for tourism for generations of Costa Ricans to come.

Costa Ricans love to display their country, and sincerely welcome all travelers and tourists. San Jose, population over 1,000,000, is the capital and cultural heart of Costa Rica. Other major towns ( by population ) are : Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Liberia, Limn and Puntarenas. To go into the country you must now have a legit passport. Some states now need your passport to be valid for no less than six more months so as to leave your country to come here.

 

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Traveling South America

By on July 1, 2011 in World Travel
devil's island 2

Travel to South America and is in all its natural splendor. The fourth largest among the continents, South America occupies about 12% of the earth’s land surface. Due to its tropical climate, there is a package of cap or hat when traveling in South America. A pair of shoes is also necessary, as there will be a lot of hiking and nature shooting to participate.

Among the nations that are part of the South American tour travelers are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Guyana, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Suriname and French Guiana.

Famous for its natural land and water resources, travelers in South America will surely fall in love with its mountain ranges, falls and lakes.

One of the most famous falls in the region is the Angel Falls, reputed to be the highest in the world. Located in the southeaster part of Venezuela, the falls drops at 3212 feet from the mesa of Auyántepuí, which is found in the Guiana Highlands. Named after its discoverer James C. Angel, the waterfall holds a magic that few travelers in South America can resist.

Another famous travel site in South America is the Iguacu Falls, sometimes called the Iguazu Falls, which is located in between Argentina and Brazil. Rising at 200 feet, it is separated by a rocky cliff and island. One of its fascinating features is the way the water merges into one fall during the wet season and separates into two during the dry season.

Lake Titaca in Peru and Bolivia is another travel site in South America that should be in the must-see list of any tourist. Considered to be the largest lake in South America with its width of 56 kilometers and depth of 174 feet. It is also the world’s highest navigable lake, becoming a major transportation route between Peru and Bolivia. Other lakes that travelers in South America should note down are the Lake Poopo in Bolivia Argentino and Nahuel Huapi in Argentina and the Valencia in Venezuela.

Another body of water that is famous in South America is the Orinoco River Delta, which can be found in Venezuela near the Atlantic Ocean. It is longest river in the region stretching to about 2560 kilometers.

Sturdy shoes are needed if travelers intend to visit the Andes mountain ranges in South America. Spreading at about 7200 kilometers, it is one of the longest mountain ranges in the world. South American travelers should also not miss the Aconcagua peak, which lies in Argentina. The Aconcagua peak is the highest mountain in the western hemisphere, rising at a sheer height of 22,834 feet.

In addition to land and water resources, South America also offers travelers a peak into some of the most unique creatures in the world. Llamas, for instance, can be found in packs at plateaus called antiplano that stretches from Bolivia to Peru. This animal provides meat, milk and wool.

The tapir, which can be found in the forests and grassy places in South and Central America as well as in Asia, are nocturnal animals with short legs and flexible snout, which they use to roll up leaves and other vegetations. However, the species found in the Andes and Panama has been said to be nearly extinct.

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Retired in Paradise

By on July 1, 2011 in World Travel
St. John's Cathedral, Belize City

I know what you think. Do you think that just because you’re the average pension, you can not live a decent life in retirement in the tropics of the Caribbean right? So, you can simply skimp on things that satisfy you, and sometimes simply abandoned paradise imagined and only choose to stay where you are.

The fact is that this is all just a misunderstanding. You can be the life you really want at a reasonable price! You do not believe me? Well, listen. It is a country in Central America, which is gaining popularity these days, and you know what they say? Belize houses half as much as you would pay at home, but twice as big, and have never been true.

Belize is in Central America and is a third world country, though their currency is pegged to the dollar as 2:1. Meaning only two Belizean dollars is equivalent to US$1. Living there is quite an experience and there are a lot of expatriates and retirees who have left their old lives so they can start anew in this new place of pure paradise.

It’s not just the beautiful surroundings and breathtaking adventures Belize has that attracts people. Here, there is a program called the Qualified Retirement Program that gives retired people extra convenience and other perks. One can even qualify for the program at the age of 45! Isn’t that just wonderful? You don’t even have to be above fifty to take advantage of the program.

Homes here are decent and one can get developers who really do the fine work with only a fraction of what you would normally pay back home. Otherwise, you can always buy houses that are already built and you will find them decent and comfortable enough for a comfortable life.

However, if luxury is what you really want at a decent price range, then take a look at the new community to hit Belizean shores. Sanctuary Belize is a safe environment that gives its residence more than what paradise can offer. One does not even have to leave the community since everything has already been provided. If you’re worried about where to drop the anchor for your yacht, then Sanctuary Belize’s Sapodilla Lagoon would be a great place for this. Enjoy their Marina and Yacht club by dining, shopping and even fly fishing. Aside from that, they have private resorts and spas for the residents and their guests. There, you can experience world-class resort amenities and services you can’t find anywhere else. Residents sure are in for a lot of marvelous things in this community.

Houses here are built with decadence and superb craftsmanship, so you would definitely get more your money’s worth when living here. Surprisingly, they know very well what’s happening in our global economy, therefore they have devised options for people to avail of these wonderful offers. By giving them financial options, such as 0% down payment or 0% interest, asking about what else they have wouldn’t hurt.

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Coffee of Central America

By on June 30, 2011 in World Travel
Jorge Umana,

Although only grown in the Tropics coffee is a global industry. Here we take a look at the coffee growing regions of Central America

Mexican Coffee
Mexico is the seventh largest coffee producer in the world, most of which is of the arabica variety from the southern part of the country, where it is grown by smallholders and sold on to the National co-operative.
Vera Cruz State, on the gulf side of the central mountain range, produces mostly lowland coffees, but coffees called Altura (High) Coatepec, from a mountainous region near the city of that name, have an excellent reputation.
Chiapas and Tapachula coffee is grown in the mountains of the southeastern most corner of Mexico near the border with Guatemala and has a delicate light flavour similar to the well-known Oaxaca.

Primo Lavado (prime washed) is a grade of Mexico coffee that includes most of its’ finest.

Mexico is also the worlds’ main source of maragogype beans, which are extra large and some experts consider produce the very best coffee.

Guatemalan Coffee
As the second largest producer in Central America (and 8th in the world) Guatemala is another main source of the maragogype bean.

The best Guatemalan coffees have a very distinct, spicy, and (when dark roasted), display a unique smoky flavour that sets them apart from all other coffees. They are very acidy, with the spiciness or smokiness coming across as within the acidy tones, and are medium to full in body and rich in flavour.

High grown beans (Strictly Hard Bean) grade coffees(such as Antigua) from the central highlands tend to have a rich, spicy or floral acidity with excellent body characteristic. Coffees from mountainous areas exposed to either Pacific or Caribbean weather, display a bit less acidity and more fruit.

Honduran Coffee
Honduran arabica coffee is ninth of world’s leading coffee producers, yet most of it is fairly undistinguished and is mainly used as a blending coffee. Excellent coffees are grown here, but most are blended before export. Beans are named after the growing regions, including Santa Barbara, as well as Copan, Ocotepeque, Lempira, La Paz and El Paraiso.

Costa Rican Coffee
Costa Rica only produces high quality arabica coffee that display a full body and clean, robust acidity that makes it among the most revered of all Central American coffee. It is grown primarily in the countryside surrounding the capital, San Jose, on rich, well-drained volcanic soil above 3000 feet.
The most famous coffees are San Marcos de Tarrazu, Tres Rios, Heredia, and Alajuela. La Minita is a well-publicized estate in the Tarrazu district of Costa Rica that produces an excellent coffee – reputed to be the most meticulously prepared in the world.

Nicaraguan Coffee
Situated between Honduras and Costa Rica, the coffees of Nicaragua display a characteristic more of the former than of the latter. They are coffees in the classic Central-American style but usually undistinguished – being medium-bodied, straightforwardly acidy, with reasonable flavour.

El Salvadorian Coffee
Despite being the smallest country on the American continent, El Salvador ranks 15th in world coffee production. This hasn’t always been the case, as political problems have regularly beset this densely populated country.
Arabica coffees from El Salvador are generally less acidic and softer than other coffees from the Central American region. The best high-grown coffees are from trees of the Bourbon and Pacamara varieties and the taste can be fragrant and complex.

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