Costa Rica Vacation on a Budget - Pura Vida!

Costa Rica is a terrific travel destination and hundredsHow much? About $16.
of thousands of visitors from the United States,Like the Puntarenas ferry, most tourists don't know
Canada, Europe, and other countries come for itsabout the Tico Train. For reservations (you need
great beaches, mountains, weather, and activities.them) call American Travel at telephone number
It does not have to cost you a arm and leg to22-33-33-00 once you are in Costa Rica.
experience Costa Rica, just a little creativity, coupledWith two coasts to choose from, nearly 800 miles of
with knowledge..tropical beaches can be explored, hiked, surfed,
Adventurers and explorers have marveled about thisswum (but be careful about rip tides at some places),
country for centuries.and even fished for almost nothing. All you have to
Christopher Columbus was the first to discover it,do is get there.
doing so in 1503. He was so enthralled he gave it itsAll the beaches in this country are public, open to
name, Costa Rica--the rich coast.everybody, and getting there is very cheap because
About seven decades later, an English captain andpublic and private buses are ubiquitous and cheap in
seafarer named Sir Francis Drake rounded theCosta Rica.
southernmost point of South America and traveledFor example, lots of vacationers visit the lovely
north until he landed at what is now called Drake BayPacific town of Jaco to surf, enjoy dozens of
off the southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Youactivities and party at night (think about a cold beer
may have heard of this fellow: he is famous forfor about a buck and a half.
destroying the Spanish Armada and saving England inFrom San Jose, a large, comfortable, air-conditioned
1588.bus ride will take you there in about two hours and
But, unlike these guys, you do not need a boatloadcost less than a Happy Meal! That's less than $5!
of people to help you get around and it will not costFinally, I have one more budgetary secret to share.
you the Queen's treasure, either.There are very nice Costa Rica hostels throughout
Want a boat ride? Think about a nice cruise along thethe country.
tropical waters off the central Pacific coast of CostaSure, most folks associate hostels with college kids
Rica.crammed into a dorm but the truth is that many of
For about the price of a bottle of water or can ofthe hostels in Costa Rica offer private rooms for just
soda---and less than a beer---you can travel betweena little more per person than a dorm. You don't need
the Pacific port of Puntarenas and the southern tip ofto spend $50-70+ per person to have a nice room.
the beautiful Nicoya Peninsula on a fun ferry.Try a dorm for $12 or a private room for about
How much? Less than $1.50 for an hour and half longtwice that per person.
cruise. A penny a minute. Is this value or what?So, think about it. Can you afford $1.50 for a ferry
Trains are fun, too, particularly when they go tocruise? $16 for a train ride through the tropical
great places at unimaginably low prices.forests to a magnificent beach? $5.00 to travel
From downtown San Jose, take a four hour ride onhalfway across Costa Rica to a great Pacific town
the Tico Train to Puntarenas. You'll see spectacularwhere you can stay for $12?
mountains and cross deep chasms over tall bridges.And the Pura Vida that comes from all this? Free, of
The train will be packed and filled with happy Costacourse.
Rican families. And be sure to bring your bathing suitPriceless.
because the train stops at a tropical beach!