Costa Rica boasts some of the world’s most scenic views, exciting coastal activities and beautiful venues that capture the culture and traditions of this Central American country. Staying in a luxury hotel or resort gives you the chance to take in all that the region has to offer while staying in spacious accommodations outfitted with deluxe amenities and exclusive relaxation spots. Whether you’re looking for an exotic escape to the lush countryside or searching for a beachfront location to enjoy the ocean views, here are some of the best luxury hotels and resorts for your trip to Costa Rica:

Gaia Hotel & Reserve: You’ll find this luxury hotel in Manuel Antonio, a boutique 5-star hotel that sits right on the sandy beaches of the region. The hotel is surrounded by rain forests and natural trails, making it an idyllic getaway for any nature lover. The suites, villas and studios are equipped with deluxe amenities including LCD flat screen TVs, Jacuzzis and central air conditioning.

La Mansion Inn: Also located in Manuel Antonio, this exclusive inn offers breathtaking views of the mountainside and is surrounded by beautiful forests. The hotel is decorated in Mediterranean decor and features original paintings from local artists. It’s a stylish and romantic venue for both business and leisure travelers.

Punta Islita Resort and Spa: Considered to be the ultimate getaway destination for many, this 5-star venue offers easy access to the beach and beautiful views of the Pacific. The resort features deluxe bedrooms, suites, casitas, rental units and villas. Guests can take advantage of several on-site amenities and activities or visit the neighborhoods around Punta Islita to learn about the local culture and lifestyle.

Real Intercontinental Hotel: Located in the suburbs of Escazu and minutes from several key attractions and tourist sites, this luxury hotel offers deluxe amenities and personalized services for travelers looking for a modern, sophisticated venue. The hotel is home to tropical gardens, a beauty salon, state of the art fitness center and offers spa services to all guests.

Rancho Pacifico: famous for its beautiful views of the area’s waterfalls and rainforests, this venue offers a private getaway with personalized services for all guests. The venue features just 11 rooms, and each one is outfitted with deluxe furnishings and amenities for a comfortable, luxurious stay. Visitors also have easy access to the Cuatro Ranchos nature preserve and can take in the breathtaking views of the mountains from the balcony.

Ross writes travel articles and is big on budget travel. The best website to find cheap flights for budget travelers is Low Fares.

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A Costa Rica Caribbean travel offers you active volcano exploration, wild animals, lush rainforests, and great beaches. On one of the ultimate paradises left untouched on this planet, there are no military, no nuclear power plants, lots of culture to offer, and no winter. A democratic society, Costa Rica is known as one of the most peaceful in the world. The last civil war was in 1948, and since then, armed forces have been abolished and the country has been able to avoid such dangers as despotic dictatorships, military coups, terrorism, and all other forms of internal strife.

Not only that, a Costa Rica Caribbean travel guarantees you a friendly atmosphere wherever part of the country you choose to visit.

The name literally means “rich coast” but Costa Rica is rich for far more than its coast. The country is replete with incredible natural beauties and many species of animals, some of them extremely rare and can only be seen if you go on a Costa Rica Caribbean travel.

The flora biodiversity alone is made up of well over 10,000 species of vascular plants and beautiful flowers. And as for tree species, almost 2,000 have been recorded in this small country in Latin America. This makes a Costa Rica Caribbean travel even more exciting, with such fascinating and endless number of natural habitat for various flora and fauna.

Besides land mammals and birds that would make any sane eco-tourism enthusiast go ga-ga over, Costa Rica is also home to 835 species of fish, of which 700 are saltwater fish. Anglers and fishers are going to have an awesome time dipping their poles in Costa Rica’s clear, azure waters to hook any one of these tropical fish species.

But if we focus a minute on the northwest region of Costa Rica, called Guanacaste, where most of the Costa Rica Caribbean travelers go nowadays because of the wide variety of scenery and activities offered, you will realize that there are so many more types of tours you can take. If you want to get really close to Costa Rica and actually see all these wonderful trees, plants, flowers, animals, and fish, then a Costa Rica Caribbean travel is all you need.

There is a wide range of activities to choose from on your Costa Rica Caribbean travel. Most of these depend on the part of the country in which you are vacationing. In the rainforest and you like birds, then bird watching walks with well-informed English-speaking guides or horseback riding are the type of Costa Rica Caribbean travel tours you should take.

You can also take one of those canopy tours, which are popular all over Costa Rica. But if you want the richest and best experience in Costa Rica’s rainforests, then avoid those that go through areas which are north towards the west. Here, the climates are dryer so naturally the vegetation lacks some of its beautiful richness in both density and color.

About the Author: Burt Cotton
http://www.caribbean-travel-news.com

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When traveling it is essential to plan ahead, so when you arrive at your destination, you lessen the chances of being at a loss of what to do. Knowledge gained from other’s travels can be invaluable, especially when planning to travel to somewhere you have never been before. The advice on this page is helpful to everyone planning a trip to Costa Rica.

Money

The money used in Costa Rica is called colons. You can change dollars into colons at the airports in San Jose and local banks. The exchange rates can be from the low 200s to 400s colons for each US dollar. (Now everywhere in Costa Rica you can buy or pay in US dollars, but I think things are cheaper if you pay in colons.) Other ways you might get colons is if you pay for something in US dollars, you will receive change in colons. During my stay at Costa Rica, I once paid a cab driver in US money, and I received change in the local currency. You should also make sure your dollars are not torn. Local banks and businesses do not accept torn US dollars. I tried to exchange a torn $50 bill, and the bank would not accept it!

-Bringing Money

On my trip I brought my money half in dollars and the other half in American Express cheques. When a traveler cheque is used there will be a commission fee.

When to visit/weather

Costa Rica has two seasons – the dry season and the green season (or rainy season). The dry season is from December to March. The dry season is the busiest time in Costa Rica. Prices are much higher and it is harder to find a place to stay. Now in the green season you will find much cheaper prices. The green season is from April to November. During the rainy season it generally rains for a few hours and then clears up.

Traveling within Costa Rica

Bus – You can catch one to most parts of the country. There are a few places where the bus comes only once a day though…

Cab – There are red cabs throughout the country. If the cab driver tells you the meter is broker, just get out. First it is illegal for a cab driver to drive with a broken meter in Costa Rica; secondly he might just be trying to rip you off.

Renting a Car – You can rent a car, but to me personally I would find driving in Costa Rica difficult, since I’m not from the country and it seems there are a lack of street signs. Also the prices for a car rental can be pretty expensive.

Local airlines – You can catch local flights to places throughout Costa Rica. They are regularly scheduled and reasonably inexpensive.

Cities and Towns

Cities in Costa Rica are San jose (The Capital) Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Jaco, Liberia, Manuel Antonio, park, Pochote, Puerto Limon, Puntarenas, Parismina, and Tamarindo.

About the Author: An experienced traveler to Costa Rica, the author of this article, Terrell, is the webmaster and owner of the website http://www.costa-ricatravel.com

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Costa Rica’s famed Gold Coast is becoming an international hot spot and with a number of upscale hoteliers moving into the area, it won’t be long before this up and coming location is out of sight. There are plans for 3,500 high-end hotel rooms to be added locally, and the Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott and St. Regis are among the many famous names that will join the area’s already established Hilton and Four Seasons.

For those of us who have lived in this area for years, the suddenly explosion comes as no surprise. It was only a matter of time before others caught on to the beauty of this part of the world. Originally part of Nicaragua, the Nicoya region voted for annexation and became part of Costa Rican in 1846. Encompassing beaches, volcanoes, rain forests and national parks, Guanacaste province is one of the most stunning areas in the world and deserves its reputation as a tropical paradise. The coastal region offers amazing opportunities for surfing, snorkeling, horseback riding, bird watching and diving, to say nothing of its famous turtle migrations.

With a steady hot season lasting from November to April, this area is ideal for escaping North American and European winters. With almost no rainfall, the coast takes on a golden hue, giving it the nickname “the Gold Coast”. With an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit), the green season is still a great time to be in Costa Rica. Mornings are typically sunny, with later afternoon showers restoring the foliage to its finery, bringing out the luscious colors and tropical scents.

Reaching this hot spot has gotten so much easier since the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia opened – most of the beaches are accessible in under an hour. In fact, this may be one of the reasons tourism in Guanacaste province has been taking off so rapidly – this airport saw an almost 400 per cent increase in passenger arrivals in the first half of the decade.

And with the increase in visitors came the increase in luxury developments in the area. Currently, there are many projects being built to US standards, with exquisite details such as exotic woodwork, featuring top-notch amenities and services and a choice of ocean or mountain views. These new beach communities range in size and price, with several exclusive, gated options. This is a great time to invest in a vacation property or, if you’re looking for something a little bigger, a hotel/resort, as this area quickly becomes the new Hawaii. Tourism is a priority with the government in Costa Rica, so investors can have confidence that any areas currently lacking in infrastructure will be developed soon enough. The time to get in is now.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/think-luxury-think-costa-rica-345161.html

About the Author:

This article was written on behalf of the team at Century 21 Coastal Estates. Nicholas Viale, a professional broker specializing in Costa Rica real estate, can help you make your dreams a reality. To view luxury homes in Costa Rica or to find out more about gated communities, visit Nicholas online at CostaRica1RealEstate.com.

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This Luxury Hotel in Costa Rica known as the Hotel Punta Islita is quite isolated and positioned on a high bluff between two mountainous ridges overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the northwest Guanacaster Province. You will certainly have a luxurious Costa Rica Vacation here, and it would be an ideal spot for your honeymoon hotel, because of the stunning setting and the isolation

Every room has a king sized bed, and a private patio complete with a hammock. There is a well stocked bar and excellent en-suite facilities. The Punta Islita Suites are worth paying extra for, with a sitting room and a private Jacuzzi. Whatever room or suite you choose, they are all large and the type of luxury you expect from a quality hotel.

The Punta Islita is not on the beach, in fact it is about a ten minute walk, but there are shuttle buses. The hotel beach is in a small crescent shaped cove, and quite calm and protected, but the beach itself is long and almost always deserted. There is also a bar at the beach club, serving drinks and snacks, with a freshwater pool and a swim up bar. There is plenty of room here to relax in the landscaped gardens .

As you would expect from a luxury hotel the food is a feature. Because of the isolated nature of the hotel, after all you need a 4 x 4 vehicle to get you there, there aren’t really many alternatives when it comes to eating. The emphasis at the Punta Islita is on fresh seafood, and a touch of nouvelle cuisine. The meals are served in the Palapa restaurant. The views of the sunset are incredible.

The Luxury Hotel Punta Islita sits at the edge of the tropical rain forest, so the environment is very much an untouched by civilization and the hotel works at keeping it that way. It must be one of the most unspoilt beautiful spots occupied by any hotel.

The staff here are particularly good and helpful, and the canopy tour in the rainforest is a must.

What a lovely luxury hotel in Costa Rica is the Punta Islita. Take a vacation package, or just a holiday, perhaps even your honeymoon.

About the Author: Peter Stewart writes about in Kenya Safaris as well as authoring several articles about Worldwide Vacation Spots.

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