travdis

We see so many postings about Costa Rica from fellow Fodorites, and wonder what the buzz is all about. I wonder if my husband and I would really enjoy it. I picture the weather as being nice and warm, the scenery being wonderful and the people being nice BUT I suspect the country is really lacking in historical, cultural or intellectual attractions.

Am I wrong?

faithie

It does not have the ruins that other C.A. countries have , nor a lot of early spanish arch. , is this what you are thinking about ?

dfarmer

There are those that love Costa Rica and fortunately there are those that do not.

For those of us that love the country, it is a feeling. Unable to describe, just that once you arrive, you have the feeling.

Personally, we do not go there for great architecture, although we have seen beautiful architecture and look forward to more. We do not go there for museums and art, although that is there also, and leaving for our 4th trip we have yet to see the museums and art. We do not go there to visit great ruins, we can find that elsewhere.

You will need to enjoy nature and all its glory, as well as adventure and simplicity to truly enjoy what Costa Rica offers.

I am sure there are others that are much more capable of answering your question. But that is my response.

I would be interested in hearing your thoughts after you have experienced CR for yourselves.

faithie

I believe you said it very well , Costa Rica is a feeling . It is the same for me . I absolutely love it , the only place we have returned to , we have been 3 x now , and I am dreaming of our next trip ! Faith

Jessie_

Very well said d.

There are a lot of very well educated people from all over the world living and doing research there. Even more come to research for just a short time. They find Costa Rica quite intellectually stimulating. Many are trying to preserve what little natural reserves and beauty our planet has. Education does not always come out of a book or a brick building. Sometimes it is just out there in the backyard.

There is a ton of history there if you look for it. Granted it is not nearly as exciting as the Mayans playing ball with peoples heads. Costa Rica is a very important part of an amazing land bridge that has led to a huge increase in the diversity of life in both North and South America. It is also a place that could affect that diversity negatively if it isn't studied and protected as a result what is learned.

There are plenty of intellectual attractions but not necessarily ones that will appeal to everyone.

shillmac

travdis:
Pura Vida!

Surely you would find the very state of the art Museo de Oro in San Jose interesting; or the beautiful Teatro Nacional where there are regular perfomances by a variety of art forms. You might enjoy the Pre-Columbian ruins near Turrialba--Guayabo Monumento Nacional.

As said, perhaps there is not as much as in other countries of Central America--it is true that Costa Rica doesn't have a strong cultural and historical identity--but it has its cultural and historical contributions! Although we've enjoyed visiting all of the above, they haven't necessarily taken my breath away! Looking out over the Orosi Valley did!

All of the posters who love Costa Rica could mention this and that to impress you with the wonders of the country, but you wouldn't be impressed. It needs to be experienced! Only after you've been there and savored each little experience will you understand what the Ticos mean when they say "Pura Vida"! I'm glad it doesn't appeal to EVERYONE--paradise would be overrun!

RufusTFirefly

travdis--no, you aren't wrong. But for nature buffs (more than just scenery), CR is a paradise. If you aren't a nature buff, I'd go elsewhere.

crazyb1

The people are genuine, friendly, patient and very family oriented. Depends on what you find stimulating, while ruins are interesting, a troop of howler monkies passing through camp at 5:00 a.m is an experience one should have at least once in a lifetime!..the flight of a quetzal or macaws are a work of art as far as I'm concerned! Where else can you find rain forest, cloud forest, beaches, volcanoes and mountains...all fairly accessible with one day travel!! Pura Vida it is!! but do go quickly, we've been several times and each time it gets more touristy...our grandchildren will not get to see this wonder!

faithie

I agree ! Costa Rica is a work of art ! And do get there quickly , the changes from my first trip 13 yrs. ago are amazing . But do not worry , it is STILL amazing ! Faith

Melissa5

Wherever there are PEOPLE there is CULTURE, as long as you are observant enough to look for it. It also helps to be open-minded and open to new ways of thinking.

travdis

So the historical and cultural attractions in Costa Rica are fine but not as interesting as nearby Mexico.

So the main attactions are scenery.

I was told by someone who recently visited Costa Rica that the countries forests are going fast. A combination of clearcut logging and converting forested areas to crops.

Is there any woods left outside a few small National Parks?

faithie

Ya , there are some forests left outside the few , small , national parks . Change is happening , which is inevitable . Happens everywhere . It is intensely beautiful , teeming with wildlife , incredible flora and fauna , wonderful people , and for a small country , a multitude of activities to choose from . I get the feeling it might not be for you .... Faith .

shillmac

Costa Rica has set aside 25% (slightly more) of its land in national parks and preserves. It is one of the leading countries of the world in its efforts to protect what is so valuable. With so much of its income depending now on tourism, there are going to be some tough decisions to make (as there have been in recent years) as to where to draw the line between accomodating tourists and protecting what tourists come to see and enjoy. Quite a tightrope. I don't even the leadership of the country in that task.

travdis

My point is that the clearcuting of forests in the non protected areas may be limiting the tourist attraction of going to Costa Rica.

I understand there is some incredibly ugly places with clearcut hillsides all over Costa Rica that you will see on the way to a National Park.

What if the only trees left in America where in state and national parks?!

Diana

NO. I'd say your point is to just gripe about Costa Rica and denigrate the people who like to go there by asserting your underinformed opinion of what it must be like - beginning with your patronizing and presumptuous thread headline and ending with a totally-unrelated and hypothetical scenario which does not exist.

Bored Saturday night alone at home with nothing to do?

faithie

Yahoo Diana !!!! We were all too polite were we not ? Once again , Thank-You ! ! Faith AKA Faithie AKA Willem !

Jessie_

There are quite a few large areas around Costa Rica that are being allowed to grow back. The government pays the owners to not cut it. Costa Rica is mountainous. Landslides do occur naturally which can cause a hillside to be bare.

There are loggers illegaly ripping up whole rainforest areas but there are a lot of people trying to fight that. We tried to buy 300 acres ourselves to protect it but after talking to a lawyer knew that it wouldn't be possible in that area unless we could actually live there at the time. Even at that we would not have had clear title.

Most Costa Ricans are very aware of the importance of their country in relation to keeping important natural corridors and many people are working hard to reconstruct the areas that have been logged. Much more so than our government is at the moment. There is logging being allowed IN our parks! 4 more years and we might not even have our national parks. At the very least they will be choked with fumes from ATV's and snowmobiles.

Many Costa Ricans are avid recyclers. They respect what they have. There will always have to be a balance between survival and protection. There are areas with no trees because they need to eat plain and simple. It would be horribly expensive for them to import all their food.

The north american owned fruit companies have had a huge part in the destruction of huge areas of the country. Areas that are probably dangerous to live in because of the pesticides that we have banned here in the states but are still in use down there. The Costa Ricans are catching on to that now too.

When was your friend there? At times Costa Rica can look pretty barren just because it is the height of the dry season. I was quite disappointed myself when I got my first look out the window of the airplane and saw brown everywhere. Once the rains start again it is like a green emerald.

Jessie_

Excuse me, I was in a hurry to get dinner started and wrote Nat'l Parks for the logging instead of Nat'l forests. The fumes are still the Nat'l parks.

mikemo

Costa Rica's committment to her unique position in the biodiversity of North and South America is astounding.
Go, enjoy, hike the wet and dry tropical forests, seek out the amazing flora and fauna, and know that the rest of the world is destroying what you see every day.
M

blearynet

I think you would prefer Mexico if you are seeking historical and cultural attractions. For one thing, it is far larger, and has a huge number of ruins.