About Costa Rica (Costa Rica)

Member Name: dominicbacon

Product:	Costa Rica
Date:	23/10/00 (112 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap

Disadvantages: Expensive to get there.

Costa Rica is one of the most unspoilt countries in the world, the government quickly came to realize after the collapse of the banana trade that Costa Rica had huge potential for the ever growing eco-tourism (i.e. that 'I want to see it before it dissapears' scenario), people across the world come to experience Costa Rica but the majority of these are from North America.
Costa Rica is a country of about the same size as Wales yet has 6 different climatic zones. The land mass of Costa Rica is less than 0.1% of the earth's land mass but it has over 1% of the world's biodiversity, these sort of figures are truly amazing. In response to growing tourism Costa Rica has turned at least half of it's land into national parks.
When one thinks about Costa Rica one automatically starts to think in terms of 3rd world or developing country, a lot of the signs in Costa Rica go against this. The populace is exceptionally healthy having the third longest life expectancy in the world after the Japanese and the French. Also it was one of the first countries in the world to have electricity, and not just having it, five years ago 100% of the electricity produced was hydro power, at the present day this has dropped to 97%. There are not many countries in the world which can boast such figures.
The thing which strikes you the most is at the end of the day the country is at least developing, and for a developing country to have a compulsory school system as good as it is, and for the children to be as enthusiastic as they are about it is incredible.
As far as trying to decide whether the natural splendors are worth the trip I personally feel that there is no other country in the world which offers such magnificent beauty at the right compromise between comfort and money.
Still can't decide whether to go or not consider this; Costa Rica is the ONLY country in the world without a national army (they're peace lovers), and the locals are the f
riendliest people I have ever met.
My experience of Costa Rica has definately influenced me for the rest of my life, I fail to see how it wouldn't on anyone who spends more than 3 weeks there.

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