Travel

Why Everyone is Travelling to Costa Rica Right Now

Published

8 months ago

October 18, 2022

Strung between Nicaragua and Panama like a pendant on Central America’s isthmus chain of countries, Costa R ica has long been the region’s most popular destination for travelers from the USA. But if you’ve noticed your Instagram feed increasingly full of friends geo-tagging Costa Rica and returning home with tales of its tropical climate, endless coastlines, extraordinary encounters with wildlife, and epic adventures, you’re not alone. With its abundant biodiversity, vast protected areas, and emphasis on education as a damage prevention tool, it’s not just a pioneer of ecotourism but an industry leader. Here’s why it’s become the perfect antidote to pandemic-induced ennui.

1. Doing its bit for the planet

Costa Rica works hard to protect its environment: not least because it’s why so many bird-watchers, adventure-seekers, and whale-spotters visit in the first place. In 2019, the country launched plans to decarbonize its economy (with tourism alone representing 13.5 percent of GDP) by 2050. In 2021, the protected marine reserve of Cocos Island National Park grew 27 times in size. And in 2022, the suburb of Curridabat gave citizenship to bees, trees, and plants. Around 98 percent of Costa Rica’s energy has come from renewable sources since 2014, and its well-rounded approach to protecting the environment has attracted tourists who want to have a positive impact as well as a positive experience.

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2. We’re craving a sense of adventure

Getting out of your comfort zone doesn’t have to mean taking the longest zip line in Latin America (although you can, at Monteverde’s Aventura Canopy Tour). Post-pandemic, our comfort zones shrunk to the size of our living rooms – so it could just involve talking to a stranger or practicing your Spanish. With many dirt tracks and some tricky terrain, even driving a car can feel like an adventure here, but there’s also a phenomenal range of landscapes that offer up opportunities for hiking, active volcanoes in La Fortuna (we recommend the Arenal 1968 Trail), surfing the country’s best breaks in Santa Teresa (beginners should head to Playa Hermosa) and scuba diving on the Caribbean coast (join Diving with a Purpose for a truly eye-opening underwater experience).

3. You can get up close with locals

It’s increasingly clear how much we can learn from indigenous cultures and communities that live in harmony with the land, and travel itineraries reflect that growing curiosity. From Cielo Lodge’s craft workshops, where you can learn to make a traditional Boruca mask, to restaurant Sikwa’s kitchen, which sources its ingredients from Bribri farmers, there are plenty of ways to connect with native communities.

4. It’s made for longer, slower trips

The most intuitive way to travel in 2022 is longer, slower, and smarter. Post-Covid, people are prioritizing authentic experiences over instant gratification: from beach clean-ups with the local community in Puerto Viejo to volunteering on a permaculture farm in Puntarenas, many experiences in Costa Rica allow you to aid conservation, connect with nature and meet locals lifting their community. Restrictions on our movement during the pandemic have also inspired ‘revenge travel’, whereby we want to make the most of our annual leave and the ability to work remotely. Time your trip so that you can minimize flights – British Airways operates direct flights between November and May – and make the most of public transport when you arrive.

5. Remote working is the new normal

Ever wanted to run your business from the beach? Last year, Costa Rica launched a new digital nomad visa that allows remote workers, business owners, and freelancers to spend longer time in the country than a standard tourist visa. The longer a traveler stays in one place, the better their spending is distributed throughout the community. Hostel-hotel hybrids offer networking nights, co-working spaces, and social events for digital nomads. Meanwhile, a handful of new spaces that are angled towards remote workers who want a residential community are springing up, such as Resonance in Playa Lagarto– which aims to help inspire balance between productivity and wellbeing.

Resonance Costa Rica — Shifting Reality
For those who have experienced shifts in consciousness and know that more peace, joy, and love awaits in a better living environment. A bold shared vision. A living community and hub for innovation. A sustainable ecosystem for living and working. A model for the new future.

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Travel

Costa Ricans Will NoLonger Need a Visa for Traveling to Canada ⋆

Published

2 days ago

June 8, 2023

costarica

As of this Tuesday, January 6^th, the Government of Canada has eliminated the visa requirement for Costa Rican citizens who wish to travel to Canadian soil. In its place, a new, simpler and cheaper requirement known as Electronic Travel Authorization has been established, according to a press release sent by the Canadian government to airlines.

Previously, Costa Ricans had to apply for a Canadian visa, which cost $100, that is, around 54,000 colones. However, with the implementation of this new measure, the Electronic Travel Authorization has a cost of $5.5 dollars, approximately 3 thousand colones.

How to apply

The Electronic Travel Authorization is valid for up to five years or until the expiration date of the passport, whichever comes first.In order to apply for this Electronic Travel Authorization, Costa Rican citizens must meet the following requirements established by the Department of Refugees and Citizenship of Canada:

First, they must travel to Canada by air using a current and valid passport.
Second, at the time of applying for the Electronic Travel Authorization, the traveler must have had a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) in the last 10 years or hold a valid non-immigrant visa for the United States.

Third, the visit to Canada must be of short duration, with stays of no more than six months, intended for tourism or business purposes.

Other countries

Other countries that will benefit from this Canadian measure are: Panama, Uruguay, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Thailand, the Philippines, Seychelles and Morocco.

With this new provision, the Government of Canada seeks to streamline the entry process for Costa Ricans and strengthen tourism and trade ties between the two nations.

Relocate to beach work remote — RESONANCE – Shifting Reality
For those who have experienced shifts in consciousness and know that more peace, joy, and love awaits in a better living environment. A bold shared vision. A living community and hub for innovation. A sustainable ecosystem for living and working. A model for the new future.

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Travel

Guanacaste Airport Registered Visitation Records during March 2023

Published

4 weeks ago

May 15, 2023

costarica

During March 2023, Guanacaste Airport had the largest number of passengers transiting through the terminal, reaching 553,991; that is, 29% above the number registered in 2022 during the same period. The number of passengers also set a record that month, registering 184,617, more than those recorded on January 2023.

Additionally, on March 11th was the busiest day in the history of the airport, with 9,922 tourists. “We have witnessed the growth in tourist visits, which fills us with joy, since the recovery has been faster than projected after the so-called ‘zero season’ in 2020″, said Rebeca Álvarez, director of the Chamber Guanacaste Tourism.

Prioritizing the quality of the destination and services

The Daniel Oduber reached, on average, 89% of seats occupied during the first quarter of the year, with the main tourist source markets being Toronto, Houston and Miami. For César Jaramillo, general manager of the airport, these figures are the result of the airline attraction plans that they promoted, as well as the consolidation of the province where it is located, as an attractive and aspirational destination. “Guanacaste Airport provides positive mobility, attracting visitors who value our offer more, who prioritize the quality of the destination and our services”, said Jaramillo.

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Travel

How to make reservations for Cerro Chirripó National Park 2021-2022

Published

2 months ago

April 15, 2023

costarica

Updated: October 2021

Cerro Chirripó in Costa Rica is the highest mountain with an altitude of 3,820 meters (12,533 feet) with a protected extension area of 50 thousand hectares (123,552.69 acres) of land.

This makes this place to be visited by many local and foreign travelers.

However, the difference between this and other national parks, is that this summit cannot be reached just for the day (Well, there are some exceptions, and some people have done it in one day and maybe Alex Honnold will do it as well LOL) but I think is essential to be fit for that!

Now if you are considering visiting Cerro Chirripo National Park and expect to stay at the base camp for a least one night.

Here is where the reservations process comes across, so we will share with you the steps that you need to follow.

Note: The all reservation process is component by two different entities that need to be contacted:

SINAC: This is an institution from the government and the permits are bought through them. They manage the offline/online permits for the national parks in Costa Rica.

CRC Chirripó: This is a local organization created by neighbors from San Gerardo de Rivas and surrounding communities. They managed things like lodging at Crestones Base Camp, food, supplies and horses haul gear up the mountain.

IMPORTANT:

We (Ligia and Rodrigo) DON’T work directly with SINAC or CRC Chirripó. For this reason, we are NOT able to assist you with reservations at the last minute.

For example, Some readers have contacted us to book their permits for Cerro Chirripó and they contact us around 1 month before their arrival to the country which makes it too difficult to find space.

However, you can HIRE OUR Travel Planning Service and we can help you with reservations that want to be done with enough time ahead (Especially during the high season months). We will explain more about it at the end of this post!

1. Book your Cerro Chirripó Permit

SINAC changed the methodology for booking the permit. So, please be aware of this:

Since COVID-19 has affected the travel industry, Cerro Chirripó is not the exception. Now, SINAC asks visitors to book their permits in groups of 4 people. Mainly, because each room at the Crestones base camp has 2 bunk beds. So, they want to guarantee that each room has a social bubble.
If you are a group of 2 or 3, that will need to be explained to SINAC and they only have a couple of rooms available for the night that are for this amount of people. However, these rooms get full easily, so it could be that you won’t find availability.
Reservations are NOT longer online and you need to call their number. If you are calling from outside of the country. Please dial the number +506 2742 5348.
The reservations for January, February, and March will be open on different waves. You can see the following image from SINAC. Basically, the reservations for February 2022 will start to be accepted from November 15th, 2021, and March 2022 will start to be accepted from December 6th, 2021.
When you are making your reservation, you’ll need to have the complete name and ID or passport number of every person who is going on your group.
Finally, but not least be patient when you need to call their number. Recently, we did reservations for January 2022 and we had to dial their number over 100 times because it was so busy!

- Costa Rica Digital News — SINAC information

After your Cerro Chirripó permits are booked. You will receive an email from SINAC ([email protected]) like this. With your reservation number and the bank accounts where you need to deposit the total amount of the permits within the next 24 hours.

Otherwise, SINAC will cancel your reservation.

The amount canceled to SINAC for the right of admission covers only the right of daily income for each person to the Chirripó National Park established on the current decree of entrance fees.

2. Paying for lodging, food, and supplies

After you pay the permits with SINAC.

You will be getting an email like this, from CRC Chirripó.

In this email, you will get a link for their Ecommerce page where you can access only with your reservation number and a specific password that will be provided on that email.

Over there you MUST pay for the lodging with the next 5 days. Otherwise, the reservation will be canceled by CRC Chirripo and SINAC.

After that, you can pay for the food and any other supplies at any time before your entry day to the park.

Cancellations and Policies

SINAC says: If for any reason you cannot attend, the user or users, will not have the right to change members on the reservation and will be entitled to a refund of the amount paid, as long as they manage at least 15 days in advance, a situation that can change according to the Decree of entrance fees to enter protected areas that are valid.
CRC Chirripó says: We only process cancellations of reservations that have already been canceled by SINAC, for this it is necessary that they send us the official note, where they are told that it has been processed. a) If you request cancellation of reservation (as) between 90 or more and 60 days before the date of entry; We will reimburse you 80% of the amount deposited for accommodation and / or food. b) If you request cancellation of reservation (as) between 59 and 30 days before the date of entry, we will reimburse you 60% of the amount deposited for accommodation and / or food. c) f you request cancellation of reservation (as) between 29 and 15 days before your date of entry; We will reimburse you 30% of the amount deposited for accommodation and food. d) If you request cancellation of reservation (as) 14 days or less in advance, we will not be able to make the refund.
Tourists entering by San Gerardo Sector, must register their entrance personally without exception in the Administration of the Chirripó National Park, located in San Gerardo de Rivas de Pérez Zeledón before entering.
For those wishing to enter at dawn or in the early hours of the morning of the day of entry, you must register the day before from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon.
Tourists must only enter the park by the sector authorized in the reservation process and on the specified date.
The Administration of the Chirripó national Park will establish control devices which they consider appropriate to ensure the access to the protected area once the corresponding rights of admission have been canceled.

Main contacts at SINAC and CRC Chirripó

506: is the country code of Costa Rica*

CRC Chirripó phone: (506) 2742-5200.

Email: [email protected]

CRC Chirripó: https://www.chirripo.org/

SINAC email: [email protected]

SINAC’s website: https://serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr/

The schedule to the public at the administrative offices of the Chirripó National Park, will be from Monday to Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 m.d. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

By following these steps for doing your reservation successfully plus the tips in our post about Hiking Cerro Chirripo, anyone will be able to do this great trip.

Do you need help?

We love to answer the questions from our readers through their comments and emails.

However, our time is limited and normally, we can not get into detail as much as we would like to.

For this reason, as we mentioned above, we provide a Travel Planning Service.

Our service has a cost of $50US per day of travel from 1 up 5 days. You can select only 1 day of Planning Service or 2 up to 5 days.

Or a total amount of $300 US from 1 up 15 days of travel.

With this service, we can provide you assistance for your Cerro Chirripo reservation and also, can assist you in planning the rest of your trip around Costa Rica.

If you want detailed information about CLICK HERE OR Contact Us if you have any other question about our service. (Don’t forget to check your Spam email after 24 hours since we normally respond during this time)

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