About Costa Rica:
Known for its natural geographic attractions of beaches, volcanoes and jungles, Costa Rica is a popular tourist destination. With Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, Costa Rica has coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. There are 132 miles of coastline on the Caribbean side and 631 miles of coastline on the Pacific side.
In geographic size, Costa Rica is about 19,00 square miles….roughly the size of West Virginia or the country of Denmark. Costa Rica may be a small country, but it actually has 14 different main regions, each with its own geography and culture. Almost 75% of the land is protected jungle, with natural parks offering visitors glimpses of a variety of wildlife including spider monkeys, sloths, macaws and quetzal birds. In addition, the beaches offer popular tourist spots and views of sea turtles among the beautiful scenery.
It is also a stable democracy in an area not always the case in central America.
Catholic places of interest in Costa Rica:
Catholicism arrived here in the 16th century through the Spanish explorers, and you can see the architecture of that time everywhere. As a result of the Spanish explorers, Catholicism is the dominant religion in the country.
Cartago: Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels housing the Black Madonna (La Negrita)
San Jose: Capital city with magnificent Churches
Tamarindo: Saint Mary’s Catholic Church (Iglesia de Santa María)
Traveling to Costa Rica:
Entry notes: Citizens of the U.S., Canada, most European countries, and many others can enter for tourism without a visa for stays typically up to 90–180 days (subject to immigration discretion). A passport valid for the duration of the stay is required, along with proof of onward or return travel in most cases. A departure tax (around $29) is usually included in airline tickets.
By plane: Direct or connecting flights arrive from many U.S. cities (Miami, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Orlando, and others), Canada, Europe (e.g., Madrid, Amsterdam, Frankfurt), and other parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. Major carriers include American Airlines, United, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Air Canada, Iberia, KLM, Avianca, and others. Many travelers choose an open-jaw ticket (fly into one airport and out of the other) to reduce ground travel time when visiting multiple regions.
There are two international airports in Costa Rica: the capital city of San Jose (SJO) as well as Liberia (LIR) in northern Costa Rica. Most major airlines offer direct flights from many countries to either of these airports.
By ship: As you might expect, Costa Rica is a popular cruise port of call for many cruise lines, with three major cruise ship ports: Puntarenas (Pacific), Puerto Caldera (Pacific) and Puerto Limón (Caribbean).
By land: Land travelers already in Central America often cross by bus or private vehicle. From Nicaragua, the main official crossing is at Peñas Blancas (near Sapoá). International bus companies such as Tica Bus and TransNica run services from Managua and other points to Liberia or San José. The process involves exiting Nicaragua and entering Costa Rica with passport formalities. From Panama, common crossings include Paso Canoas (on the Pan-American Highway, Pacific side) and Sixaola (Caribbean side). Buses operate between major cities; some companies offer through services to San José.
Border crossings require a valid passport and typically proof of onward travel. Rental cars from Costa Rica or neighboring countries usually cannot be driven across borders. Expect processing time that can vary from under an hour to several hours depending on traffic and season.
Sun lovers may wish to avoid Costa Rica during the rainy season (September, October and November), when it rains almost every day…..well, you don’t get those lush jungles without some rain!