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Clínica Bíblica - San José, Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica
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San José, Costa Rica
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Travel Guides  Tiny Costa Rica sits squarely between the two American continents, and in its character can be found the best elements of both. The fiery and colourful Latin American culture is tempered with the sophistication of US standards of service and hospitality and there's a healthy dose of Caribbean attitude that brings the laid back easy nature of the islands to the mainland.
Volcanos are part of the striking landscape. It's not difficult to see what draws visitors here. Take your pick from the pristine beaches (either Pacific or Caribbean), misty mountain cloud forests, wildlife rich river deltas or the spectacular volcanoes that are sprinkled across the country. And year round the tropical climate means that this is one holiday the weather has little chance of spoiling.
Visit in the wet season from May through November and you're treated to a natural spectacle as the forests of the river deltas and the slopes of the misty mountains become thick jungle, thrumming with thousands of species of animal, bird and insect life, including big cats, crocodiles and lizards. The coastal waters are home to manatees and turtles, which you can see nesting on the protected beaches. Literally the whole country becomes a nature lover's delight. In the dry season, the beaches are the place to head as they bake under the hot sun and the pace of life slows down.
Climb the volcanoes of smouldering Arenal with its constant sulphurous plume of smoke, or quieter Irazu from where you can see both Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from the summit. Surrounded by thick forest at their base their sparse black slopes are a reminder that you're in the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where nature rules unchecked by Man.
There aren't the historic relics that you find elsewhere in Central and Latin America, but the Diquis Spheres, housed in the National Museum, are a reminder that there were sophisticated cultures here as enigmatic than their more famous neighbours of the Aztecs or the Incas. The colonial influence was never as strong here either, and the culture is refreshingly egalitarian, as the country moulded the few settlers who struggled to make a living here, rather than the other way round.
In the beating heart of Latin America there are few places better to sample the unique culture of this part of the world.
San José
The older parts of San José contain some remarkable attractions, most notably the lovely 19th-century National Theatre, built in the European style, from where many parts (including the fantastic sculpted friezes) were shipped over.
Pueblo Antiguo is a replicated colonial town, complete with costumed inhabitants who explain how the unique culture of Costa Rica was developed by integration between Europeans and the indigenous population. You should also take the time to check out the National Museum on Calle 17, itself once a military fort. Contained within the galleries are relics from the ancient sites of Costa Rica, hinting at the enigmatic culture that once inhabited the region. The mysterious Diquis Spheres, perfectly spherical balls of stone, are the undoubted highlight.
Of the city's other museums the Gold Museum is probably of most interest. Some items on display date to over a thousand years before the coming of the Europeans, and you can see how those early settlers were fooled into calling this the "Rich Coast".
You'll also find some of the country's top restaurants and cultural entertainment in the city.
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