Would you prefer vacationing in a dense jungle or a scorching hot desert? Thankfully, I have had the privilege to do both. Over the past year, I have traveled to the beautiful rainforests of Costa Rica and the barren wilderness of Bonaire. By studying the parallels and differences of both destinations, one has the ability to understand the travel expectations, habitats, and activities of Costa Rica and Bonaire. Traveling to a new country can be nerve-racking. Once arriving in Costa Rica, I immediately was amazed by the airport. It was clean and set up just like American airports. Even though the airport was modern, the more common forms of transportation were not. Unfortunately, most of the vehicles did not have air-conditioning. One of the …show more content…
Costa Rica is covered in huge jungles. Reminding me of the movie Tarzan, the jungles are full of monkeys, macaws, and many other curious creatures. Another interesting thing about Costa Rica was the beach. On the pacific side of the country, the sand is muddy and black. Even though the dark sand made the ocean look dirty, it made the white sea shells shine exceedingly bright. One of the scariest parts about Costa Rica was the reptiles. It seems that every river was full of enormous crocodiles. Although the lush, green jungle was a beautiful sight to see, Bonaire had even prettier views. Since it is located in the Caribbean, the island of Bonaire is surrounded by the most gorgeous turquoise water. The ocean was definitely the prettiest part of the island. The main terrain of Bonaire is desert. Unlike Costa Rica, there are hardly any trees. The island is covered in rocks and cactus. Because of the lack of vegetation, there were very few animals that thrive. For example, donkeys and finches were some of the only animals I saw on the island. Just like Costa Rica, Bonaire has a reptile problem. Thankfully, the reptiles in Bonaire were much nicer. Iguanas ruled the island. They were everywhere. After vacationing in Costa Rica and Bonaire, I realized that both have extraordinary …show more content…
Although Costa Rica did not have the prettiest water, it was still great for paddle-boarding. After getting away from the shore, the water was much clearer. It was actually a beautiful dark blue. This made for the best deep sea fishing. Another amazing thing to do in Costa Rica is a jungle tour. Whether it be by walking or ziplining, seeing all the different types of animals and plants was truly amazing. Unfortunately, Bonaire did not have the exotic jungles, but it did have many other interesting things to do. Because it is surrounded by the most gorgeous water, Bonaire is a scuba diver’s paradise. It is also a great place to snorkel. Below the water’s surface is a whole other world of beautiful sea creatures. Under water is the best place to be in Bonaire. Disappointingly, the landscape of Bonaire is not as marvelous as Costa Rica. Of course, any view with the turquoise water is exquisite, but the island itself is just a enormous desert. Driving around the island was one of the only things to do. The eastern coast is lined with rocks, which causes giant waves. Another thing that you will see on your drive around the island is the salt farms. Bonaire creates its own sea salt. The areas where the salt is made looks like enormous pink lakes. Although Bonaire did not have the most beautiful landscape like Costa Rica, it did have an amazing ocean
miles off the coast of Costa Rica and turns it into Jurassic Park, 'the most
Anyone who possesses a cursory understanding of the Costa Rican case has no doubt heard of the so-called Costa Rican Exceptionalism. It has been the term used to both summarize and explain the dissonances and divergences between the formation of the state in Costa Rica and the rest of Central America. The purpose of this essay is to attempt to explain this Exceptionalism through a detailed account of the path towards the consolidation of a state in Costa Rica. It is the guiding proposition of this paper that the aforementioned Exceptionalism is due to a combination of visionary state building efforts on the part of local political actors, and a series of fortuitous circumstances present in the early stages of the process. The paper has been divided into SEVEN sections, each with subtitle in the form of a name of an important figure from Costa Rica’s collective historical memory.
Like most Disney material, nature themes were incorporated into the earliest parks, including Adventureland, Frontierland, Nature’s Wonderland, and the newest, Animal Kingdom. Disney carefully edited these “natural” settings that show the less wild side of the wilderness. However, how does the tourist comprehend the illusions? How are the plants and animals adapting to reflect the illusion, and how are they accented by the interactions with both human nature and Disney’s technological nature? These questions and more will be answered within the following sections: Definitions, Technological Nature, Kilamanjaro Safari, and The Final Answer.
Human habitation can be traced back more than 10,000 years but it appears Costa Rica was sparsely populated and a relative backwater in the pre-Columbian era. There is little sign of major communities and none of the impressive stone architecture that characterized the more advanced civilizations of Mesoamerica to the north and the Andes to the south. When Columbus arrived near Lim¢¢n on September 18, 1502 on his third and last voyage to the Americas, there were probably no more than 20,000 indigenous inhabitants They lived in several autonomous tribes, all with distinct cultures and customs. Costa Rica's only major archaeological site is at Guayabo, 30 miles east of San Jos‚‚, where an ancient city, dating back to 1000 B.C. and though to have contained 10,000 people at its peak, is currently being excavated. Many interesting gold, jade and pottery artefacts have been found throughout the region and are on display in several museums in San Jose.
I learned more than I ever imagined on my summer study abroad trip to Costa Rica. I learned that Costa Rica is a country like no other. The country is much different than what the United States of America is like. The lifestyles, customs, and practices of Costa Rica are very different than those that I am accustomed to. As an outsider looking into the country, I saw a country that is very poor financially but very rich in spirit. They do not appreciate wealth as United States citizens do, but instead appreciate love and gratitude. I noticed that Costa Ricans have very strong family values and cultural roots.
Cuba is populated with exotic wildlife because of its location. The Caribbean is in a tropical area; therefore, it is normal for one to see flamingos and other tropical animals in Cuba. Bee hummingbirds and the beautiful Cuban Parakeet are some other exotic animal life in the country. Lik...
Where is Honduras located? What are some main landforms? What food do Hondurans eat? What language do Hondurans speak? How did Honduras become Honduras? These are all questions you might have, and in this paper all will be answered. You will learn more about the geography, society, people, their lifestyles, and the history of Honduras.
There’s no denying that Costa Rica’s best highlights are best enjoyed during the day; between the incredible National Parks, sublime beaches and endless myriad of adrenalin-pumping activities, most visitors are usually not left with much energy at the end of the day. Or so one would think. But in reality, being on vacation, away from the pressures of everyday life, and in the midst of one of the world’s most spectacular countries, has a way of re-energizing even the most exhausted adventurer.
Costa Rica is a small, democratic country, located in Central America. Nicaragua is to the north of Costa Rica and Panama to the south and it is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The country is very small, only about 32,000 square miles and is slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia (CIA, para. 2 2013). This beautiful country only covers about 0.03% of the earth’s surface, yet contains about 5% of the biodiversity in the world (Visit Costa Rica, para. 2). The climate is tropical and subtropical and has four volcanoes, two of which are still active (CIA, 2013, para. 2).
Costa Rica lies in the tropics and originated as a land of peaceful people and lush ecosystems. The Costa Rica of today is much different than a simple ideal tourist location. It is a country that ranks among the world’s highest in biodiversity. In addition, there is no separation between church and state. It is a country with a woman president and no army. The economy of Costa Rica is challenged on a daily basis and the education of its residents is recognizable. The purpose of this paper is to introduce readers to the many unique facets of the small Spanish speaking country of Costa Rica. My intent is to present information about the country’s geographical facts, biodiversity and ecotourism, religion, education, government and economical status.
Ecotourism is defined according to Higgins (2006) as travel that preserves the environment and promotes the welfare of local people. Costa Rica is often viewed as the epicenter of ecotourism; in brief it has become the leading destination for ecotourism in Latin America (Horton, 2009). Although ecotourism has been an integral part of the Costa Rican economy over the past decades, there is a significant need to look into the neoliberal policies that drive the sector as there is research that illustrates the detriment it can cause a local community. Furthermore, Costa Rica’s ecotourism boom occurred as a result of the government’s rapid expansion of protected areas in the 1970s and 1980s to cast one fourth of the national territory (Horton, 2009). In terms of environmental efficiency, a report by the CIA (2014) highlights that Costa Rica is effectively managing its overall Carbon emission from consumption of energy at a modest 6.806 million Mt, which is measured in metric tons. Ranking Costa Rica 116th in terms of consumption, whereas Ecuador a country with similar characteristics, ranks 76th out of all countries in the world. There is also strong signals that highlight the economic role that ecotourism has formed, by the late 1990s, employing 12 percent of Costa Rica’s labor force (Horton, 2006). The forces at play, construct the system that originally initiated the ecotourism boom and has led it to this point. Thus, the implications of ecotourism in Costa Rica have widely varied from preserving forest, reducing the carbon emission from consumption of energy and incorporating ecotourism as an effective sector of the economy. However I will point out there needs to be a more broad emphasis on the counter narratives that ecotourism ...
Nature Tourism and Enterprise Development in Ecuador. (1988, November). World Leisure & Recreation, 29(1), 22-27. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10261133.1988.10558980#.UtrAZ9jTksY
In this hemisphere alone there are so many travel destinations that it is enough to boggle the mind. It only takes some simple research before you will see that travel to third world countries is not only possible but affordable, safe, and practical. There are many people who have already found the pleasure that is experienced when visiting any one of the many natural wonders or urban settings of the world’s vast geographical locations.
Do you like to just sit back and relax while on vacation? Well in Costa Rica, the people there just like to spend time outside or go to the beach. Many Costa Ricans also like to take part in religious holidays and very colorful festivals, where they even have fireworks , bullfights, and have
Walking along the nature trail on the island that is surrounded by beautiful green plants and palm trees I came across stingray cove, a place where you can swim with the stingrays. Enjoying the sights of the stingrays I spot a colossal starfish by a rock in the water. I came across the lagoon that I could have ridden jet skis in or kayaked, but couldn’t get to close due to the plants and rocks. Making my way back towards the beach I watch as people ride horses in the water. Starting to smell something great I realized that it was time for a bohemian meal. While enjoying a delicious meal, a band was playing some relaxing reggae. Quickly my time at Half Moon Cay came to an end, I was not ready to leave the tropical paradise. I cannot wait to take another cruise just to come back and relax. Half Moon Cay also known as Little San Salvador Island with only 2 percent of the island begin developed, is an international bird sanctuary and natural preserve. With that being said the only way to visit is by cruise ship. Whether just wanting to relax on the beautiful beach, explore the island, or do excursions like snorkeling Half Moon Cay, Bahamas is a place I look forward to visiting