CRCosta Rica

Costa Rica
Copyright © 2009 National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C.

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Tips

Etiquette

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Bon appetit, Costa Rican style

When dining with locals in Costa Rica, you will frequently hear the phrase, "buen provecho," equivalent to "bon appetit." To fit right in with the impeccably gracious Costa Ricans, declare ... read more

by Janelle Little

02 Aug 2009
Health

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How to get healthcare when your country doesn't provide it for you

After living our entire lives in a country that doesn't provide adequate healthcare for all citizens, and where the healthcare system is devised to profit by rejecting sick people ... read more

by Matthew Amaral

30 Sep 2009
Etiquette

flagCosta Rica

Careful with your compliments in Costa Rica

Invading the lives of our (not well-off) host families, my friends and I were overflowing with gratitude and friendliness. Trying to be nice, I complimented my host mom's shoes ... read more

by Jessica Goldkind

19 Nov 2009

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Blog Posts

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Running in the City

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Evan Katz

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Soccer

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Evan Katz

Costa RicaCosta Rica

New Kid at School: Article 3

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Evan Katz

Costa RicaCosta Rica

First Impressions: Article 2

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Evan Katz

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Getting Ready to Jump: Article 1

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Evan Katz

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Why a 19-Year-Old Needs a Lifejacket to Snorkel

(middleMARCH2009)I thought after learning to surf in the 6-foot, highly aggressive waves of the Ecuadorian coast would cure my fear of water forever. In some ways it did, but in others.. not a chance. We were off the coast of Costa Rica, ready to snorkel around Isla Tortuga. I decided, ... read more

Michelle Saltis

Costa RicaCosta Rica

My highlights of the Costa Rica Wildlife Sanctuary

(middle/endMARCH2009) For three weeks in March, my travel companion and I went to Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the very tip of the northern peninsula in Costa Rica. While there, I met a people from various places in the USA, Europe, and New Zealand, as well as a variety of ... read more

Michelle Saltis

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Accion de Gracias; Bringing Thanksgiving to Costa Rica

by Hannah Nevitt, Greenheart Travel Volunteer Abroad Participant Regardless of being far from home, the “rush” of the holiday season is still among us. The turkey is in the oven basted with olive oil and herbs. The potatoes have been mashed, and the “stuffing” has been stuffed. I can hear ... read more

Greenheart Travel

BelizeBelize

CanadaCanada

Costa RicaCosta Rica

EcuadorEcuador

FranceFrance

GermanyGermany

MexicoMexico

PeruPeru

Where I have been thus far!

I started my travels abroad in April 2008, and so far I have been to eight countries: France, Germany, Canada, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Belize, and Mexico. (I have also lived in California, New York State, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. I have been to Florida, Utah, Nevada(VEGAS baby!), Vermont, Connecticut, ... read more

Michelle Saltis

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Pura Vida – Easier Said than Done

by Hannah Nevitt, Greenheart Travel volunteer abroad participant Every day, multiple times, I remind myself to have patience…the patience to adapt to this new and different world I now live in. There have been many moments, in many days, where I have been frustrated…frustrated that I could not understand the ... read more

Greenheart Travel

Costa RicaCosta Rica

“Learn, Serve and Share in Harmony with Nature” in Costa Rica

by Hannah Nevitt, Greenheart Travel Volunteer Abroad Participant Every morning I awake to the sounds of crowing roosters, chirping birds, and the melodic croaking of grasshoppers and frogs. The beaming sun floods my room at nearly 5:30 am. The intricate white lace of my window curtain provides little privacy from ... read more

Greenheart Travel

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Livin' the Pura Vida

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Greenheart Travel

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Costa Rica’s Simple Life

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Greenheart Travel

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Speeding My Way Through Costa Rican Spanish

On the first day of Spanish class in Zapote, Costa Rica, Alisa and I were supposed to arrive a half hour early. So even though we are on vacation, we got up at 6:30 to adequately prepare for our first day. Alisa spent an hour and a half putting on ... read more

Matthew Amaral

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Hella Stealing from our Roommate's Ghost

Getting off the plane Alisa and I couldn’t have been more relieved; we had 5 months of language learning to look forward to in the lush green land of the Ticos: Costa Rica. As bleary as our eyes were after Traveling Day, we were still able to flash grateful smiles ... read more

Matthew Amaral

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Patience is a Virtue

  Every day, multiple times, I remind myself to have patience…the patience to adapt to this new and different world I now live in. There have been many moments, in many days, where I have been frustrated…frustrated that I could not understand the language, frustrated with the heat, humidity, and ... read more

Hannah Nevitt

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Sharing in Harmony with Nature

  Every morning I awake to the sounds of crowing roosters, chirping birds, and the melodic croaking of grasshoppers and frogs. The beaming sun floods my room at nearly 5:30 am. The intricate white lace of my window curtain provides little privacy from the exotic world outside. Looking out my ... read more

Hannah Nevitt

Costa RicaCosta Rica

The Simple Life

Surrounded by a tropical rainforest in San Carlos, Costa Rica, I am once again reminded of how people can enjoy more of life...with less. I am currently living with a host family of five and working on an eco reserve with student volunteers in a rural town called Javillos, near ... read more

Hannah Nevitt

Costa RicaCosta Rica

A few things Costa Ricans do better

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Kelsey Cardwell

Costa RicaCosta Rica

Wanker

 I am writing from the Arenal Backpacker's Hostel in La Fortuna, Costa Rica.It is a rainy Sunday, so I will catch up on my writing.    Before I went out for a walk through town I got talking to three Americans who are here in Costa Rica from Arizona State ... read more

Richard Sitler

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Books

Lonely Planet

Michelle Saltis

30 Nov 2009

Costa Rica

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Michelle Saltis

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I planned an entire backpacking trip for nine weeks through South and Central America with Lonely Planet. I definitely recommend them for any trip, because they were nearly always accurate about prices, and broadened my opportunities to find great little eateries and places to go.

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Getting Around

Budgeting in Costa Rica

Sara Greenfest

11 Feb 2010

Costa Rica

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Sara Greenfest

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This may have been obvious to some, but it's something I had not expected: Costa Rica is NOT CHEAP! But don't fret, after being there for three weeks, I have come up with a few quick tips on saving cash in Costa. 1. Eat local: The country is pretty overrun with overpriced restaurants aimed at tourists. When you first get to a town, head for the local soda, small diners with great food and great service. 2. Ask for a discount: No matter what type of hostel you are staying at, many won't mind lowering the price if you pay for a few nights at once, or if you just ask. 3. Don't pay for surf lessons: Lessons are available all over but your best bet is to rent a board for $10, take it to the beach and make some friends.

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Etiquette

Careful with your compliments in Costa Rica

Jessica Goldkind

19 Nov 2009

Costa Rica

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Jessica Goldkind

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Invading the lives of our (not well-off) host families, my friends and I were overflowing with gratitude and friendliness. Trying to be nice, I complimented my host mom's shoes, and she asked me which color I wanted them in. "I don't want them for myself," I stammered in Spanish, "I just think they look nice on you." "Do you like them in blue better or white?" she pressed on. "Same thing happened with us!" my friends reported when I told them the story. "We complimented our host cousin's necklace and she took it off right then and there and gave it to us. We felt so bad." Only then did our program leader explain that when you compliment something in Costa Rica, the person feels obligated to give it to you. So find other ways to be nice!

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Food

Bring your own spices

Michelle Saltis

12 Dec 2009

Costa Rica

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Michelle Saltis

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Perhaps the most important thing I learned while backpacking was to bring my own spices along with me. I had never heard of this before, and quickly regretted not thinking of this idea myself, when I realized how useful some spices from home would be while cooking abroad. Most of the time, we could only afford to cook very simple meals with rice, beans, and potatoes in our hostels or over campfires, and a little pepper or garlic or curry could have gone a long way in adding more variety and flavor to our dishes! I was always jealous of the prepared backpacker who had thought to bring his own array of spices.

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Health

How to get healthcare when your country doesn't provide it for you

Matthew Amaral

30 Sep 2009

Costa Rica

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Matthew Amaral

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After living our entire lives in a country that doesn't provide adequate healthcare for all citizens, and where the healthcare system is devised to profit by rejecting sick people, my wife and I are moving to a country that provides great healthcare to ALL of its people. We're Americans moving to Costa Rica. We bought travel insurance, for around 500 bucks, which covers many accidents and the cost of travel back home (up to $500,000). We also bought the cheapest Blue Shield we could for about $100 a month total (nine months) for the two of us. Between these two measures, we are hoping to have some peace of mind for $1400 -- if something terrible happens, we know we won't go bankrupt when we return home.

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