The third week of our south-of-the-border adventure immersed us in the beauty of central Costa Rica. We flew Volaris Airlines from Cancun, Mexico to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. Centrally located in the beauty of central Costa Rica, San Jose lies in a valley surrounded by dense green mountains shrouded in the mornings by white puffy clouds.
Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica was completed in 2011. It was financed totaly by the Chinese government, along with its furnishing, and assumed all other costs.
At first, San Jose did not make a good first impression. City streets are packed with pedestrians, motorcycles, and vehicles of every size and description. The major artery, the Pan American Highway, is also busy and during rush hours is at a complete stand-still.
However, once you’ve adjusted to the traffic, it’s a lot easier to appreciate the culture and importance of the city. San Jose is a flourishing fusion of native ticoan traditions interwoven with an international presence. It’s a major financial and political hub for the country.
We were surprised at the number of American companies with a presence in Costa Rica. Just to name a few, Chevron, Bristol Myers Squibb, Coca Cola, UnitedHealthcare, Cisco, DHL, and Oracle all have offices somewhere in this small country.
Where to Stay in the Capital City of San Jose
For the first several days we were in Costa Rica, we stayed at the stylish Barcelo Hotel which turned out to be a really great place to rest and relax after our two weeks in Mexico. This regional hotel chain offers all the amenities of a world-class hotel, is conveniently located only about five miles from the airport, and we got a really good rate.
The front entrance and drive at the Barcelo Hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica
As we drove up the driveway, the sweeping grounds and tropical landscape seem to capture the elegance of this capital city. Tall palm trees line the curved driveway, and orange bird-of-paradise and bright fuchsia bougainvillea gave the appearance of a relaxing oasis. Although only a short distance from the freeway, the setting seemed a world away from the clamor of the city as bright and colorful toucans and butterflies flit about.
Waterfall in the front of The Barcelo Hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica
The Barcelo Hotel also has an all-you-can-eat complimentary breakfast, and it is as beautiful as it is delicious! Tico specialties of orange-infused plantains, black beans, and rice, a chef-staffed omlette bar, specialty waffles and pancakes, huge trays of locally grown pineapple, mango, papaya, watermelon, and cantaloupe, coconut-infused oatmeal, and a large assortment of muffins, croissants, and delicate pastries. It was impressive.
Driving Through the Lush Inner-Country of Costa Rica
After leaving San Jose, we rented a car and headed to the cooler elevations of the surrounding hillsides. As we drove away from the city, the highway became much narrower and hillier. Although we were on one of the main connections out of the city, our navigation routed us through a maze of villages and towns in the central part of the country.
The two-lane highway is winding, and there were few (if any) pedestrian lanes, sidewalks, or shoulders along the road unless we were driving through a town. That means the highway is the main thoroughfare for pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and vehicles.
Markets line the streets in Costa Rican towns and villages
Travel is slow because it’s like driving the roads in a national park. Yellowstone, for example, has straight sections of highway, but it has mostly curvy and narrow roads. The same is true in the inner country of Costa Rica.
However, in Costa Rica you might get behind a dusty old tractor or a big rig truck, and there might be cattle and horses who’ve wandered away from nearby farms.
There are also people walking along the busy roadway. It was especially strange to see workers walking along carrying their machetes which they use for landscaping and sugar cane harvesting. And there were lots of uniformed children walking to school, seemingly oblivious of the cars and trucks whizzing past.
Sugar Cane harvest is a difficult and dangerous job for the workers in Costa Rica
The further outside of the capital city we drove, the more rural the landscape became and the beauty of central Costa Rica was revealed. Small farms perched on hillsides where neighboring pastures are scattered with white and beige-colored brahmas. We were amazed how these beautiful beasts are contained by rudimentary barbed wire and tree stake fencing that could easily have been pushed over by the strong animals.
The highway contained other surprises, too. Such as narrow, one-lane bridges with very little warning or notice. We’d be driving along and all of a sudden there would be a single-lane bridge ahead of us and we needed to be prepared to stop in case of oncoming traffic coming.
One of the many one-way bridges on the road from San Jose to Lake Arenal in Costa Rica.
Although the region of Arenal is only about 190 miles from San Jose, it literally took us most of the day to get there. We were glad that we reached our destination before dark.
Arenal
A bit unusual to see the top of the Arenal Volcano in north-central Costa Rica
Arenal is an area known as being the adventure capital of Costa Rica. It’s a natural wonderland because of the lush, tropical rainforest, waterfalls, hot springs, its large lake, and the Arenal Volcano. This area is a hub for outdoor activities, a calming paradise for spa-goers, and a mecca for adrenaline junkies. It’s a natural geothermal area, so also attracts birdwatchers, photographers, and artists due to its variety of plants, animals, and birds.
Here, beautiful hot springs and resorts offer herbal treatments and mud baths. You can go white water rafting or horseback riding. Or, take the more subtle approach and ride a gondola through the rainforest or take a nature hike. If you’re adventurous, take one of the rugged Arenal Volcano trails, rappel the waterfalls, or go bungee jumping.
Lush lake setting in the Lake Arenal area of Costa Rica
Fortuna is the largest town in the region and a hub for area tours because its geographic location. Located at the foot of the steaming volcano, it’s one of the places that puts Costa Rica on everyone’s bucket list. Fortuna is also accommodating because it has something for everyone. Types of lodging range from student hostels to luxury resorts, and dining establishments range from inexpensive outdoor tico vendors to pricey restaurants.
Next stop for us will be several beach destinations along the coast. Although we’re not really “beach people,” our kids and our grandkids are. And, we’re enjoying doing the research!
Our First Impressions
This little out of the way place at Lake Arenal was amazing.
As in any country, many things are different than what we have in the US. Part of the experience when travelling is learning about other cultures, customs, and traditions. And, it always makes me appreciate what we oftentimes take for granted when we’re at home.
What we found is that ticos are open-minded, friendly, and live a more relaxed pace of life. Costa Ricans place an importance on family, traditions, and saving the environment. In many ways, they are progressive because they live a slower pace.
This worker is transporting sand in the traditional manner, by ox cart
Costa Rica is a country that purposefully maintains much of the processes, even though some would say outdated, in order to protect jobs of its native peoples and the rich environment. They harvest without machinery, construct buildings and roadways with minimal impact to the landscape, and produce their own wind-turbine power.
Alternative energy is a key ingredient in the “Pura Vida” life in Costa Rica
An ecological forerunner, this country boasts of clean water and sanitation in every home and is continually looking for additional ways to recycle. A land of misty rainforests, white sand beaches, and steaming volcanos. A major fruit, chocolate, and coffee exporter. A country that places an importance on education and especially language studies.
Who wouldn’t love Costa Rica??
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain
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