Destination Focus - Costa Rica

The jewel of Central America, Costa Rica’s environment is world-renowned as one of nature’s most diverse, vibrant and healthy and is an eco-tourism destination like no other. Costa Rica is well and truly a tropical paradise and it wont take long for you to fall in love with this beautiful country, its spectacular beaches, abundant jungles, flora, fauna and its friendly people.. You will quickly understand why the Ticos (as the locals are called) refer to their country as Pura Vida, Spanish for Pure Life!

Full Name: Costa Rica
Capital City: San Jose
Area: 51,100 km2 / 19,730 sq miles
Population: 4,327,000
Time Zone: GMT -6

GEOGRAPHY: Costa Rica is located in Central America and the country borders both the Caribbean Sea (to the east) and the Pacific Ocean (to the west), with a total of 1,290 kilometers (802 mi) of coastline. Costa Rica’s land borders include Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south-southeast. In total, Costa Rica comprises 51,100 square kilometers (19,730sq mi) and has seven provinces.

The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripo, at 3,820 metres (12,532 ft), and is the fifth highest peak in Central America. The highest volcano in the country is the Irazu Volcano (3,431 m / 11,257 ft) and the largest lake in Costa Rica is Lake Arenal.

Costa Rica protects 23% of its national territory within the Protected Area System and it also possesses the greatest density of species in the world.

CLIMATE: There are two distinct seasons in Costa Rica. The dry season is from December through to April and the wet (or green season as it’s now referred to) runs from May to November. Even during the “green season” it is typically sunny during the day and clouding over in the late afternoons with rain in the evenings.

Wildlife enthusiasts may wish to plan their trip around the following: Turtle season on the Caribbean coast is from late-February to October, with the peak season for leatherbacks in April and May and for green turtles in August and September. On the Caribbean coast, the season for leatherbacks is from October to March.

LANGUAGES: Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica however English is widely spoken in most major tourist destinations. We always recommend that you learn a few key words or phrases to help you along the way - it’s a great ice breaker!

RELIGION: Costa Rica is predominantly Roman Catholic (88%) with Protestant accounting for 8% of the population. You will see beautiful colonial churches throughout this fascinating country.

GAY COSTA RICA: Homosexuality is not illegal according to the law and the age of consent for both sexes is 18. A law enacted in 1999 makes it illegal to discriminate against sexual and other minorities punishable by law. Same sex couples can jointly apply for health and insurance benefits along with housing credits. Cost Rica is a safe country for the gay tourist and has become one of the most popular gay travel destinations in Central America.

COSTA RICA GAY TRAVEL MUSTS: Key gay highlights include the capital city of San Jose and the beach area of Manuel Antonio. Costa Rica really does have it all for the gay traveler: vibrant city life with bars, restaurants, cafes and gay friendly accommodation to the tranquil beauty of the jungle and fabulous beach stays.

SAN JOSE: San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica is situated in the middle of the country and is most likely your entry point into the country. Flights operate into Costa Rica from the US, Canada and some parts of Europe. This Spanish colonial city has many memorable sights and is easily seen on foot. Costa Rica is a safe country however just as anywhere caution is always advised. There are numerous gay bars and the locals will likely speak English. Nevertheless, learn a few key words and phrases and you’ll get a long way with the Ticos.

MANUEL ANTONIO: Manuel Antonio near the coastal town of Quepos is a must visit for the gay traveller. It’s a mini Puerto Vallarta and even has it’s own stunning, secluded gay beach called La Playita (the little beach) and gay bars such as the Bar Tutu with a fantastic roof deck and amazing panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Almost every hotel in the area is gay friendly, and most feature views of the ocean or rainforest. If you’re looking for more than a relaxing beach stay then some of the surrounding activities include trekking through the preserve of Manuel Antonio, white-water rafting, or why not try a canopy safaris. Get hooked into a harness (not that kind of harness) and zoom from tree top to tree top over and through the jungle below. Truly amazing!

COSTA RICA WITH OUT ADVENTURES: If you’re short on time but want a taste of this country’s unique sights then jump onboard this OUT Comfort trip through San Jose’s colonial streets, La Fortuna’s emerald green countryside, Monteverde’s lush cloud forests and Manuel Antonio’s turquoise seas. With abundant wildlife, intense volcanic landscapes and superb Pacific beaches, this comfortable adventure is sure to be a trip to remember.

Featured Trips:

A Taste of Costa Rica
Begins and ends in San Jose
Departs: November 21, 2009
Trip Style:Comfort (what does this mean?)
Duration: 9 Days
Price: $1065USD plus local payment USD3400 What is a local payment?
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What is a local payment? Most of our trips require a compulsory local payment, which is part of the contract with you (the customer) and OUT Adventures. This amount is the final payment for your trip and is to be paid in the specified currency, in cash to your leader upon arrival. The local payment is non-refundable, and is considered part of the total trip payment.

Why do we have local payments? It is expensive to transfer funds to many countries - so by making a Local Payment you help us keep your costs low.

What is the Local Payment used for? The Local Payment is used for paying for local services such as hotels and transport.

Can I pay the Local Payment before I leave? No, as the money is used to pay for local services these cannot be paid elsewhere.