Last week I took a trip to Costa Rica with my host family, who kindly invited me to join their vacation. Since this Central American country has numerous attractions, and the temptation to escape Boston’s winter was almost irresistible, I excitedly accepted the generous offer. The trip took one week and all of us found it enjoyable, so I want to share my experience with anyone who plans to travel during the coming spring break and hasn’t yet decided on a destination. For most international students, you can use the F1 visa to enter Costa Rica for a month, which saves the trouble of applying for a travel visa of this country. But remember to get a travel signature before departure. If you already got this not long ago (e.g. if you go back home for winter break), you don’t have to get another one as the signature is good for one year.
We used Frommer’s as our guide and followed it to a hiking route, restaurant, hotel, and other tourist attractions. I’ll briefly introduce the amazing places that I recommend, emphasizing what’s special about this trip to me and my second family, so that I don’t appear like a travel agent. If you are looking for specific information, make sure to check out the professional travel books and websites for more accurate and comprehensive introductions.
Usually tourists fly to Atlanta and take another 3.5-hour flight to San José (Costa Rica, not California). Tickets can be bought at Studentuniverse, Kayak, etc. Then we took a three-hour ride to the Arenal Volcano – the most active volcano in Costa Rica. Usually it is surrounded by clouds, but during the three days of our stay, we had two full, bright days to view the whole volcano. How lucky for us. We stayed in Montana De Fuego Inn that has a villa layout, and the room had a Jacuzzi tub. At night, the volcano’s rumbling is clear. On clear nights, the sky full of stars. As a city dweller for more than 20 years, I’m enchanted by such natural beauty.
During the day, we rode horses, hiked, and visited a hot spring. Costa Rica is famous for its natural beauty and wild life, so hiking is a very enjoyable way to meet the cute animals. The whole country itself is like a big zoo with lots lots of colorful and amazing animals that you don’t really have to visit a national park to watch. Most important of all, they are extremely friendly and intrepid with human beings. The sloth is unquestionably one of the most popular mammals in Costa Rica.
Horseback riding was the highlight of the trip for me. We chose a route that has a full view of the volcano and a gorgeous prairie. Passing through brooks, hills and roads, finally we came to an incredible waterfall hidden behind the mountain. Before heading back, many people changed into their swimming suits and played under the waterfall for a while.
In the evening, we went to a little downtown area for some local food. There are so many nice restaurants around, such as Lava Lounge, and a pizza place near Vienna Café. Delicious. A main course may cost around $10, which is 5,500 colones. Yes, 550 colones equals 1 U.S.D., so when you see a bill of 50 thousands, don’t panic… it’s a hundred dollars. Using a VISA card can withdraw local currency from an ATM, but American dollars are accepted almost everywhere.
The local people were so friendly and hospitable. Everyone seems so proud of their country and eager and ready to introduce everything they know about Costa Rica to visitors. All those who work in the tourism industry have an undeniable quality of being self-motivated and service-oriented. You cannot help but appreciate them.
There are many European tourists hanging around downtown. Many more than you can see near the beach, where almost everyone you bump into comes from either Canada or the States. We headed to the Pacific coast to stay near famous beaches for surfers. After a three hour drive, we arrived at Hotel Club Del Mar, which I personally have to highly recommend. It’s just by the beach and the houses are very nicely decorated. At night, the sound of waves put me to sleep like a lullaby. So I spent the rest of the vacation lying under the sun, reading and indulging myself in some luxurious BIG THOUGHTS about life. Yes, getting so used to daily trivial matters and hectic life, I almost never have time to look back or forward, taking care of the present is all I’m driven to. It’s really nice to take a break like that when you leave the worries behind, enjoy nature and the time with friends and family.
Taken as a whole, if you love nature, enjoy hiking, surfing, and watching animals, Costa Rica is a place you should not miss.
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