Author: 2CRVR

Costa Rica is one of the world’s best January destinations

Travel & Leisure, the prestigious US-based magazine highlights the country’s wonderful summer weather, and wide array of potential activities.

Costa Rica is a fabulous destination basically year-round, but it’s no surprise that the country’s high-season begins around the months of November and December, up until April. The reason is twofold, as this is where the country’s summer season begins, offering fresh breezes in December, and wonderful sunny days throughout the next months. The feared tropical rains only start popping up around May, so your outdoor activities should be safer if you decide to visit Costa Rica during this stretch.

Coincidentally, Costa Rica’s high tourist season is in great part due to the winter months in the Northern hemisphere. As the great cities of Europe and North America begin their descent towards freezing temperatures and layers and layers of clothing, people in the tropics are still rocking shorts and a tank top. Such a contrast makes a nice escapade towards warmer latitudes a common vacation plan for many

Taking all these into account, it makes perfect sense that Costa Rica appears as one Travel & Leisure magazine’s 11 best destinations in the world for January 2023. Travel & Leisure magazine is one of the globe’s leading travel publications, based in New York but read in most parts of the anglophone world as an important reference.

The magazine’s rationale behind Costa Rica’s placing comes in great part due to this small Central American nation’s renowned natural diversity. From adventurous mountain experiences, to paradisiacal beaches and ecological resorts, there’s basically something for all kinds of tourists. Naturally, the magazine also highlights the perks of the dry season in Costa Rica, a time of warm and sunny weather that’s best experienced through the Pura Vida lifestyle of the country’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

The rest of Travel & Leisure magazine’s picks for January are some charming winter destinations like Park City, Utah, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Vienna, Austria, as well as the warmer beach options of Bahamas, Jamaica and Mazatlán in Mexico. Charleston, South Carolina, Las Vegas, Nevada, Queensland, Australia, and Fox Worth Texas round off the remaining selections of the publication.

If you’re looking to escape from the icy landscapes and cold temperature of the northern hemisphere, and favor a country with delicious summer weather and a myriad of potential activities, the experts seem to concur that Costa Rica shines as one of the world’s best options.

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Costa Rica is Wanderlust’s Best International Destination of 2022!

The renowned UK magazine gives the gold position to this small Central American nation due to its biodiversity and authenticity.

For many decades Costa Rica has made an active effort to grow its tourism infrastructure and develop its conservation initiatives as a way to cement its place as perhaps the quintessential tropical destination. Many Caribbean countries might equal some of Costa Rica’s pristine and secluded beaches, but what this small Central American nation offers is a truly immersive, ecological experience that goes beyond luxury resorts and high-end hotels (despite also having those).

Visiting Costa Rica is both a time for relaxation in a tropical oasis, as well as an opportunity for adventure. Within its small area, the country offers visitors magical volcano trips, involving jungle hikes, magnificent natural spectacles and exorbitant flora and fauna. Most of the tico’s policy is built around sustainability, and safekeeping their blessed corner of the globe, and this commitment has rapidly drawn many to its unparalleled environments.

One of the most recent accolades has come in the form of Wanderlust Magazine’s 2022 Travel Awards. This UK publication is the country’s leading travel magazine, ever since it was established in 1993. For the English speaking world, Wanderlust is one of the most trustworthy and serious publications around, alway maintaining a particular focus on conscious and sustainable travel. It should come as no surprise then, that Costa Rica was highlighted by its readership.

The tico country was chosen as the magazine Gold winner for the “Rest of the World” Category, beating Silver and Bronze medalists Canada and Australia. Wanderlust readership’s rationale highlights Costa Rica’s role as a pioneer in eco-tourism, its extraordinary rainforest and coastal environments, and its vast biodiversity, including 500,000 species ranging all the way from sloths and toucans to sea turtles and howler monkeys. The rest of the top 10 is rounded off by the USA, Japan, Peru, South Korea, South Africa and Jordan, in that order.

Given Costa Rica’s post-pandemic blow-up as one of the world’s premiere destinations, recognitions like this only help strengthen the country’s appeal to UK tourists, who already compose the second largest visitor market after the US. Let’s hope more people get to experience the magical setting that is this tropical paradise!

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Travelbook calls Costa Rica the world’s best long travel destination.

The German-based travel magazine rewarded the country for its natural beauty and commitment towards ecological sustainability.

Costa Rica’s series of international acknowledgements keeps on growing as global traveling keeps skyrocketing after the Covid-19 pandemic. The country has always been a favorite destination in Latin America due to its unparalleled biodiversity, paradisiacal beaches, and laid-back atmosphere, but in recent years this small Central American nation has shined beyond the realm of the region.

Just recently, German travel magazine Travelbook deemed Costa Rica the “Best Long Travel Destination”. The rationale behind this decision came from an interlocking series of factors, including the ticos’ commitment towards sustainability and preservation, its healthy service industry and tourist amenities, and the overall cost-quality relation.

The jury chose Costa Rica over countries like Australia, South Africa, United States and Indonesia, and highlighted the country’s groundbreaking efforts towards an ecologically minded tourist industry. Other factors that the 9-people jury took into consideration were social sustainability, human rights, security, cleanliness, water quality, accessibility, diversity of activities and quality of public transportation. 

The fact that a German magazine rewards Costa Rica should come as no surprise, since this nation is the first European country in yearly number of tourists in Costa Rica. ICT numbers show that around 44 thousand Germans visited between January and August. The hope is that these accolades will only grow those numbers, as more and more tourists get to know the innate wonders of this beautiful tropical gem.

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Costa Rica works towards tourism inclusivity.

A growing initiative looks to expand the accessibility of the country’s many tourist attractions.

Costa Rica’s main draw as a destination comes from the cohesive experience it offers visitors worldwide. True, this Central American oasis boasts a wide variety of ecosystems and kinds of experiences, but they’re all framed within the same nationwide commitment towards innovation and sustainability. 

It’s no secret that the country profits from its reputation as one of the best places to be in the whole world, a fact that comes not only from its lush tropical marvels, but also its forward-thinking planning and robust social security network. Every year, this small nation shares the top spots of green development, eco-sustainability and overall happiness, solidifying its place as a dream destination for those seeking a change of pace in modern life. 

One of the latest developments in Costa Rica’s never-ending search for optimization in the tourism industry is an initiative to make the country’s natural allure more accessible. Costa Rica’s Accessible Tourism Network has the objective of providing alternatives so anyone can enjoy the stunning beaches, waterfalls and forest trails, no matter their condition. 

Through a multi-axis project that intertwines education, information and revision, this network has rapidly positioned Costa Rica as an international leader in the area. Just recently the country was awarded a recognition in the Sustainable Social Tourism Summit. 

The project works as a main directory where accessibility is the main focus, highlighting tours, destinations and providers that offer a more inclusive experience. The network also works towards an strategic alliance with the UNED to specialize young professionals in accessible tourism. Additionally, one of the most visible efforts so far has been the accessible beach project, in which 10 national beaches have been granted the infrastructure to host people with disabilities. 

In the near future, Costa Rica’s Accessible Tourism Network looks to reform Law 7600 (the constitution’s main axis for inclusivity) and create a proper Law for Accessible tourism, as well as working hand-in-hand with Airbnb and hotel owners to create accessibility filters and improvements that grant everyone the opportunity to enjoy the country’s many highlights. 

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New Atlanta-Costa Rica connections! The Central American nation expands its link with the United State’s most important airport

As global travel continues to compensate for its down years during the Covid-19 pandemic, Costa Rica remains in the spotlight as one of the most sought after destinations. After all, who wouldn’t want to relax in tropical paradise after a couple of tense years? 

With Covid restrictions giving way to the new normal, and airlines returning to full strength, Costa Rica has seen an important growth in terms of daily and weekly flights. The latest announcement comes from Frontier airlines.

This low-cost airline announced that it’ll start operations on a San Jose-Atlanta connection as soon as November 17, 2022, and an Atlanta-Liberia flight from December 17 of the same year. 

Atlanta is one of the United State’s main flight harbors, widely considered to be one of the busiest airports in the world. It serves 150 U.S. destinations an more than 75 destinations in 50 countries all around the world. Data shows the airport handles around 2,500 flights and 275,000 passengers a day, making it a strategic location for furthering the link between U.S. tourists (by far Costa Rica’s main source of visitors) and Costa Rica. 

With a direct link to the United State’s main hub for connection flights, Costa Rica seeks to expand on the more than 800,000 US tourists that have visited the country during the first seven months of 2022. The Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT) considers the news as a big positive for the nation’s economic reactivation, while the National Chamber of Tourism (CONATUR) sees this as a great opportunity to continue moving forward with more connections and market penetration in the United States. 

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British readers name Costa Rica the world’s best emerging destination

The annual Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards poll all the newspapers’ readership to select their favorite vacation settings.

From all of the world’s destinations, 270,000 people agree that Costa Rica is the best the planet has to offer. At least these were the results of the ninth edition of the Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards, where the small Central American nation was selected as the best emerging destination.

The 270,000 votes received were all from readers of the iconic British newspaper, and it included 12 categories and 120 different destinations. The rationale behind Costa Rica’s placing was the country’s well-documented commitment to sustainability, its myriad of potential outdoor activities, and the evergreen allure of the “pura vida” lifestyle. From its impressive collection of volcanoes and expansive rainforest ranges, to the most stunning tropical beaches and bustling biodiversity, Costa Rica really is its own world of wonders. The sheer diversity within the country’s relatively small area offers tourists a compact gateway towards unlimited adventure and relaxation.

The magazine readers also recommended some of the country’s best destinations, where national parks like Manuel Antonio, Corcovado and Tortuguero were all featured, as well as the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife refuge and the impressive setting that is Playa Conchal.

It comes as no surprise that so many British people favor Costa Rica’s enthralling natural beauty, since the United Kingdom is the country that sends most tourists to Costa Rica from all of those beyond the Atlantic, a number that will surely increase after such glowing recommendations

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There’s no better time to visit Costa Rica than during the World Cup!

The ticos’ qualification means an extra enticement for those who arrive in the country during november and december of 2022. 

As the final whistle blew to finalize the game between Costa Rica’s football national team and New Zealand’s, the whole Central American nation felt a powerful roar of happiness and excitement. Once again, the ticos will be a part of soccer’s biggest tournament, qualifying to the edition of the World Cup that’ll be played in Qatar from November 21st to December 18th. 

Naturally, this fills the hearts of most Costa Rican citizens with joy and pride, as their soccer team has steadily become a constant fixture in the tournament ever since the early 2000s. But qualifying to a World Cup also means a huge boost for a country’s economy and social life. Restaurants see important rises in attendance while the games are on, usually promoting thematic offerings linked with the tournament, while retailers see a huge increase in TV and audio equipment sales; everybody wants to experience the thrills of the World Cup in the best way possible! 

As in most Latin American countries, soccer in Costa Rica is lived intensely, and in recent years the ticos’ celebrations have been well-documented internationally. Since the national team’s improbable success at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they advanced to the quarter finals until eventually losing in penalties to the Netherlands, congregations around San Pedro’s La Fuente de la Hispanidad have been a given whenever the Costa Rican squad reaches an important landmark. 

If you’re thinking of traveling to Costa Rica during winter in the northern hemisphere, you might also get the unforgivable experience of seeing a country fully synced to a sporting event, and the moving displays of passion that come from it. 

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The US Travel Alert for Costa Rica goes back to a pre-pandemic level

The country’s stabilization in terms of Covid-19 means more tourism is soon to be expected from the country’s biggest market. 

The initial waves of the Covid-19 pandemic shook by storm the tourism and services industry. In the blink of an eye, staying inside and avoiding travel became a sanitary need, and the whole world was put on hold for a couple of months. With a better grasp of how the virus behaves, and the widespread accessibility of tools for its detection and avoidance, most industries have slowly come back to where they once were, and in some cases, the new trends that came with the pandemic actually helped establish a more effervescent growth. 

Such is the case for travel in Costa Rica, which with the advent of digital nomads and the newfound excitement for international travel has come back with historic numbers. Just recently, The U.S. Department of State has brought even more good news for the service industry. 

During the worst part of the Covid-19 pandemic, this governmental organ instated a travel advisory of level 4 alert for most countries where the virus was running rampant. That meant the highest degree of caution was recommended, and travel was not encouraged. For many years, the United States has represented the most important market for tourism in Costa Rica, and even if things were stabilizing in recent months, that level of prevention meant a hiccup for an economy seeking reactivation after some harsh years. But things are changing for the better. 

The U.S. Department of State has just reinstated Costa Rica’s level to 2 out of 4, meaning it’s now back to the level the country was before the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to data for the first quarter of the year that was disclosed by the tourism sector, in which nearly 80% of the visitation numbers from pre-pandemic times were achieved, things look encouraging for Costa Rica’s main economic activity. 

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Experience the highlights of nature documentaries in real life

For many years now, Costa Rica has been one of the preferred locations for scientists, filmmakers and TV producers that focus on biodiversity and natural history. 

Be it the legendary voice of British natural historian and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, or the iconic baritone of former United States President Barack Obama, Costa Rica’s natural wonders have been praised and examined in an almost immeasurable amount of ways over the years, and perhaps the most engrossing of all of these have been nature documentaries. 

From a vast back catalog of Natural Geographic specials fully devoted to some of Costa Rica’s most impressive biodiversity hotspots, to the new advent of the format via streaming services, this Central American nation has fully cemented itself as one of the most visually and aurally enthralling corners of the globe for some time now. And as technology in video recording advances, the country’s wide array of motions and textures have never been better depicted. 

In the BBC-Netflix joint production of Life in Color, cameras with revolutionary color-capturing technology were created specifically for the project, in order to depict some of the colors invisible to the human eye and how they play a vital part in rich ecosystems such as Costa Rica’s rainforest. 

Netflix’s Our Great National Parks plays with slow motion and breathtaking drone shots to contrast the beautiful and vast landscapes of the natural world with some of its stunning inner secrets, such as the infamous habitat that is the Costa Rican sloth’s fur. 

The locations and species featured on these works have become so popular that many of the country’s tourist offers have incorporated them into their repertory. From night tours to live first hand the miraculous turtle nesting, to fun trips to sloth reserves, the great thing is that Costa Rica’s natural attractions are so vast and varied that there’ll always be something new to discover. 

So if you’re a fan of nature documentaries, there’s no better time to create your bucket list, search for a comfortable rental option, and see for yourself what has enamored scientists, filmmakers and TV producers for decades. 

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Costa Rica reclaims its throne as Central America’s concert hotspot

During the 2010s Costa Rica became Central America’s hotspot for international shows. Its well-recorded sociopolitical stability, cultural affinity to US culture, and status as one of the globe’s main sustainability ambassadors, made the country the best suited destination to represent the region in the biggest pop stars’ world tours. It all started with hard rock luminaries Iron Maiden and Metallica, but soon Gen-X favorites like Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and Green Day followed suit, and by the mid-decade classic rock legends like Elton John, Paul McCartney and Roger Waters,  and young effervescent stars like Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande and Ed Sheeran, where all part of Costa Rica’s healthy roster of year-long mega-spectacles. 

Naturally, all that stopped in 2020 with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and its heavy toll on the concert industry. Slowly but steadily, local venues began to open again, and by March the concert agenda finally started to get crowded once again. Just in these first couple weeks of 2022 big name artists like Bad Bunny, Coldplay, Ex-One Direction Louis Tomlinson and Karol G have all confirmed dates, and the expectation is for many more to be announced in the coming months.

Costa Rica’s modern Estadio Nacional is one of Central America’s best concert venues.

One of the main advantages Costa Rica has in the booking department is how easy the pitch is to lure international stars. Coldplay, the band that’ll kickstart the country’s comeback as Central America’s concert hotspot, decided to open their tour here, and that gave them extra time to relax and explore many of the nation’s breathtaking natural attractions. The reason that this iconic British band decided on such a small nation to start off their world tour isn’t just a random occurrence either, as the country’s renewable electric network and 99% clean renewable energy percentage mirrored Coldplay’s well-documented environmental activism. 

It was reported that lead singer Chris Martin arrived a whopping full two-weeks before the concert dates, giving himself plenty of time to immerse himself in Costa Rica’s many allures, and that has been the case before with other world-class stars who take the opportunity to sneak for a quick beach getaway or mountain adventure. Some, like Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Enrique Iglesias (who have both played multiple times in the country) even go a step further, and end up buying property for their tropical hideaway after a long tour. 

If you’re a passionate music lover who also has a penchant for tropical lifestyle, you might want to follow the steps of the artists and begin planning your concert escapade around a nice, relaxing vacation. 

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