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Category: Wordpress

Costa Rica: “Pura Vida” is more than just a slang

If you are planning to take an adventure to Tropical Latin America, Costa Rica might be your best option. From its vibrant culture to its mesmerizing sceneries, this central American country has something new to explore in every corner, making it the perfect destinations for those traveler souls. Gaining its independence from Spain during the first half of the 19th Century, and with a relatively peaceful history, Costa Rica is one of the most economically and politically stable countries of Latin America today.

To convince you into joining us for our next Tican (Costa Rican) adventure, today we bring you some reasons why you would love this country as much as we do.

Two oceans to enjoy

Costa Rica is lucky to be just between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. This makes up more than 700 miles of coastal shore in which you can enjoy different environments. You can find deserted beaches that extend for miles, as well as places crowded with activities. If you want to get the perfect sunbath, go snorkeling, or surfing, traveling here between December and April, the dry season, is your best option.

Happy people

According to the Happy Planet Index, Costa Rica is the happiest country in the world. And we all know happiness makes people beautiful. Since 1949, the nation forbids having a standing army and instead directs those funds to education and health, creating one of the countries with highest literacy and life expectancy in the world. No wonder why the most common Tican salutation is “Pura Vida”, meaning literally pure life, to celebrate their wellbeing.

Nature-loving

Costa Rica contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity and some of the most variate microclimates in Central America. Just by going to the Manuel Antonio National Park, for example, you can tour the coral reefs, the beach, and the rainforest all together in only one day. For the animal lovers, Costa Rica is one of the top places in the world to spot howler monkeys, sloths, sea turtles, and over 50 species of hummingbirds.

Adventure paradise

With a quarter of its territory turned into national parks, Costa Rica is known for its strong environmental and sustainability laws, making it the perfect country for ecotourism. Some all-time favorite activities for travellers are hiking on the Arenal Volcano, wildlife watching in Corcovado National Park, and shopping locally in the Costa Rica Central Market.

Delectable experiences

Due to the country’s heritage and location, Costa Rica offers a rich variety of different foods. Its climate is perfect to grow tropical fruits that are hard to find outside Central America, like soursop, guava, and passion fruit. Its Spanish, Native American, and Afro-Caribbean background bring a mixture of beans, corn, rice, fish, and hundreds of vegetables to the table.  Costa Rica is also one of the best places to try some fresh coffee and cacao fresh from the harvest.

Are you ready to travel to a land full of natural wonders and live unforgettable adventures?

 

By Mariana Arámburu

Twitter & Instagram: @m_buru
Born and raised in Mexico City, Mariana graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana with a degree in Communication and Film. Later, she moved to Vancouver, BC, where she currently resides, and studied Creative Writing at Capilano University. Mariana loves photography and to visit new places. She also loves animals and aims to one day focus her work on conservation issues.

What does TROPICAL mean?

What do you imagine when you plan a tropical vacation?

When hearing the word “tropical,” most people have three concepts in mind: white sand, turquoise ocean, and palm trees. It’s not bad at all to find these luxuries in your vacation, but if they are the only three things that come to your mind when you’re going on a tropical destination, you are missing a lot of other enriching experiences you might not get in any other part of the world.

In Hamaca Tropical Tours we want to show you all of what the tropics have to offer. Don’t worry, we are still taking you to your dreamy beach in the Caribbean, but we also want to expand your mind and show you that when traveling with us, you are in for a treat!

What does TROPICAL mean?

The tropical zone of the world encompasses every place south of the Tropic of Cancer and north to the Tropic of Capricorn. Because this region surrounds the Equator, it is also the zone of the globe that gets more sunlight throughout the year. Despite this last fact, the tropics have different sub-climates that vary according to the location’s altitude. This creates ecosystems that you might not be aware existed in these regions. So, when you are going on a tropical vacation, you might find yourself sun tanning in a sandy beach of Costa Rica, hiking in the alpine tundra in the Ecuadorian Andes, or sandboarding in the San Pedro de Atacama desert of Chile.

San Pedro de Atacama desert, Chile

What makes this zone unique?

The tropics represent 36% of the global landmass and contain roughly 40% of the world’s population, making it home to hundreds of different traditions, towns, and cities. Just by walking through the border of one country to another, you might be speaking in a different language, eating dishes made of unfamiliar food, and making friends that can trace their heritage to the opposite side of the world.

Because of the Earth’s position towards the Sun, the Equator receives the most substantial amount of sunlight throughout the whole year, and there’s never a season of complete darkness or full daylight. As a result, the soil is more fertile in the tropical zone, making it the holder of 70% of Earth’s biodiversity.
Tropical islands are the best places to find unique animals and plants, as their isolation has made it impossible to interbreed with species from the continents. The Galapagos alone holds 600 plant types and more than 100 animal species endemic to the islands.

Pelican, Galapagos island

What’s in Tropical Latin America?

Contrary to the common belief, not all Latin American countries speak Spanish. Other Latin-derived languages you can find in this region are Portuguese and French, not to mention the dozens of native tongues unique to each country.

In the Americas, the Tropic of Cancer passes through Mexico, the Bahamas, and Hawaii, while the Tropic of Capricorn passes by Paraguay, Brazil, and the north of Argentina and Chile. See it for yourself: open up a map and see if you can name the more than 30 countries that extend north and south the Equator!

 

By Mariana Arámburu

Twitter & Instagram: @m_buru
Born and raised in Mexico City, Mariana graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana with a degree in Communication and Film. Later, she moved to Vancouver, BC, where she currently resides, and studied Creative Writing at Capilano University. Mariana loves photography and to visit new places. She also loves animals and aims to one day focus her work on conservation issues.