Hmmm. You think it’s a coincidence? Costa Rica is one of the very few countries to have abolished its army, and it’s also arguably the happiest nation on earth.

There are several ways of measuring happiness in countries, all inexact, but this pearl of Central America does stunningly well by whatever system is used. For example, the World Database of Happiness, compiled by a Dutch sociologist on the basis of answers to surveys by Gallup and others, lists Costa Rica in the top spot out of 148 nations.

That’s because Costa Ricans, asked to rate their own happiness on a 10-point scale, average 8.5. Denmark is next at 8.3, the United States ranks 20th at 7.4 and Togo and Tanzania bring up the caboose at 2.6.

Scholars also calculate happiness by determining “happy life years.” This figure results from merging average self-reported happiness, as above, with life expectancy. Using this system, Costa Rica again easily tops the list. The United States is 19th, and Zimbabwe comes in last.

A third approach is the “happy planet index,” devised by the New Economics Foundation, a liberal think tank. This combines happiness and longevity but adjusts for environmental impact — such as the carbon that countries spew.

Here again, Costa Rica wins the day, for achieving contentment and longevity in an environmentally sustainable way. The Dominican Republic ranks second, the United States 114th (because of its huge ecological footprint) and Zimbabwe is last.

Maybe Costa Rican contentment has something to do with the chance to explore dazzling beaches on both sides of the country, when one isn’t admiring the sloths in the jungle (sloths truly are slothful, I discovered; they are the tortoises of the trees). Costa Rica has done an unusually good job preserving nature, and it’s surely easier to be happy while basking in sunshine and greenery than while shivering up north and suffering “nature deficit disorder.”

After dragging my 12-year-old daughter through Honduran slums and Nicaraguan villages on this trip, she was delighted to see a Costa Rican beach and stroll through a national park. Among her favorite animals now: iguanas and sloths.

(Note to boss: Maybe we should have a columnist based in Costa Rica?)

What sets Costa Rica apart is its remarkable decision in 1949 to dissolve its armed forces and invest instead in education. Increased schooling created a more stable society, less prone to the conflicts that have raged elsewhere in Central America. Education also boosted the economy, enabling the country to become a major exporter of computer chips and improving English-language skills so as to attract American eco-tourists.

I’m not antimilitary. But the evidence is strong that education is often a far better investment than artillery.

In Costa Rica, rising education levels also fostered impressive gender equality so that it ranks higher than the United States in the World Economic Forum gender gap index. This allows Costa Rica to use its female population more productively than is true in most of the region. Likewise, education nurtured improvements in health care, with life expectancy now about the same as in the United States — a bit longer in some data sets, a bit shorter in others.

Rising education levels also led the country to preserve its lush environment as an economic asset. Costa Rica is an ecological pioneer, introducing a carbon tax in 1997. The Environmental Performance Index, a collaboration of Yale and Columbia Universities, ranks Costa Rica at No. 5 in the world, the best outside Europe.

This emphasis on the environment hasn’t sabotaged Costa Rica’s economy but has bolstered it. Indeed, Costa Rica is one of the few countries that is seeing migration from the United States: Yankees are moving here to enjoy a low-cost retirement. My hunch is that in 25 years, we’ll see large numbers of English-speaking retirement communities along the Costa Rican coast.

Latin countries generally do well in happiness surveys. Mexico and Colombia rank higher than the United States in self-reported contentment. Perhaps one reason is a cultural emphasis on family and friends, on social capital over financial capital — but then again, Mexicans sometimes slip into the United States, presumably in pursuit of both happiness and assets.

Cross-country comparisons of happiness are controversial and uncertain. But what does seem quite clear is that Costa Rica’s national decision to invest in education rather than arms has paid rich dividends. Maybe the lesson for the United States is that we should devote fewer resources to shoring up foreign armies and more to bolstering schools both at home and abroad.

In the meantime, I encourage you to conduct your own research in Costa Rica, exploring those magnificent beaches or admiring those slothful sloths. It’ll surely make you happy.

** Article taken form New York Times Jan 06, 2010

Coco Island is definitely on many people’s list of places to visit… Nominated for the Seven Wonders of the World, Coco Island sadly was not chosen for the final seven, but never the less it is still a place you must visit to fully appreciate.

Not having been satisfied with the voter’s decision to eliminate Coco Island, Costa Rica has chosen its own, local Siete Maravillas (Seven Wonders).

Organized by Costa Rica’s largest and most prestigious newspaper, La Nacion, nearly 30,000 Costa Ricans demonstrated their love for nature and voted for the seven wonders in Costa Rica.

The natural wonder that received the most votes (23,331) happened to be a place that few Costa Ricans have actually been to in person: Isla del Coco (Coco’s Island). The tiny, protected, and prehistoric-looking island sits about 600 kilometers (373 miles) off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It has captured the attention of the likes of author Michael Crichton, who is said to have been inspired by this place for his novel Jurassic Park, and Jacques Cousteau, who reportedly called it “the most beautiful island in the world.”

It is not that Costa Ricans don’t want to go firsthand to see the island, but it is because it is an expensive, 36-hour boat trip and rare camping permits have kept most from ever visiting Isla del Coco. Scuba Dive Costa Rica offers live aboard tours to Coco Island, but there is a large waiting list.
Second place is a more accessible location and a famous vacation hot spot (literally), Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano National Park. Perhaps the only active volcano in Costa Rica that can constantly be seen spewing molten lava, Arenal Volcano destroyed a mountainside village in 1968, killing 87 people, but has since kept erupting constantly, but at a less lethal degree. Its beauty and power draw tourists from Costa Rica and around the world. Be sure to visit the hot springs in the area and spend the day. Plan ahead, since the word got out, the last time I check they we’re already booked for weeks, and we couldn’t get a reservation.
Costa Rica’s tallest peak, at 3,820 meters (12,530 feet), is Cerro Chirripo—and it is the third pick on the Costa Rican Seven Wonders list. Rising from the Talamanca mountain range in the middle of the country, it offers views of both the Pacific and the Caribbean oceans on a clear day. It is a quite the hike so you better be in shape!

Another high peak, the Tenorio Volcano, with a unique river that pours down its side, has also captured the nation’s affection. The Rio Celeste (Baby-Blue River) gets its name from the unusual color of its water—a milky light blue created by a mix of volcano minerals and sulfur deposits.

On the northern Caribbean coast, the remote and wild Tortugero National Park, a maze of mangroves, canals, lush tropical jungle, birds, and wild animals—was the only wonder from the Caribbean coast.

Close to Costa Rica’s Central Valley is the Poas Volcano National Park—Costa Rica’s most-visited national park. The world renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest, a secluded haven of high-elevation forest flora and fauna where the sought-after Costa Rica bird, the Quetzal as well as the golden toad, can be found. These two Costa Rica National Parks finished off the list of Costa Rica’s very own Seven Wonders.

Multiple locations scattered throughout Costa Rica’s pacific coast serve as departure points for half-day, full-day, overnight, and multi-day fishing trips such as Ocotal or Coco Beach, Golfito, Quepos, Papagayo, Flamingo Beach, Tamarindo, Drake Bay and Manuel Antonio. On the Caribbean coast you will find excellent fishing spots such as world famous Barra del Colorado and Tortuguero which are great for light tackle enthusiast. These are great places for snook and tarpon fishing in Costa Rica.

North Pacific Coast Fishing in Costa Rica

The pacific coast of costa Rica offers unparralelled fishing posibilities in many different locations where you can expect sailfish, marlin, tuna, wahoo, roosterfish, mackerel and snapper being caught regularly. Sail fish and marlin are found in great numbers making beaches in northern Guanacaste such as Flamingo, Tamarindo, Coco and Ocotalexcellent departure points. Also make sure to visit Cabo Blanco and Mal Pais as well as the Papagayo Gulf, several boats also charter from there and the action is spectacular.  A bit more to the south you will find great spots in Puntarenas such as Tambor, Jaco, Manuel Antonio - Quepos and Punta Leona. And all the way down south you have spots such as Dominical, Zancudo, Drake Bay and Golfito.

Fish species in Pacific Guanacaste and best times of year to fish in Costa Rica

Marlin: Caught all year long. Most abundant months are from November to early March and August and September.
Sailfish: May through August the best months.
Tuna: Peaking between August and October.
In addition to these, there are plenty of dorado, wahoo and roosterfish.

Central Pacific Coast Fishing in Costa Rica

Costa Rica ’s central pacific sport fishing spots start at Morales,  north of the main town of Puntarenas  and extends throughout a winy pacific coast down to Dominical Beach.

Sport fishing waters inside the Nicoya Gulf are usually calm because they are protected from wind and tides.  Several acres of mangrove estuaries with little fishing pressure yield awesome results for amateur and experienced anglers alike departing from Puntarenas.

Herradura - Jaco hosts one of the premier marinas in Costa Rica, Los Sueños Hotel & Marina, a dream destination and starting point of many offshore big-game fishing adventures in Costa Rica. Abundant sail fish, marlin and tunas await you in this fishing paradise.

Fish species in Central Pacific and best times of year to fish in Costa Rica

Marlin: Caught 12 months a year.
Sailfish: The middle of December to the end of April is best rated.
Tuna: Peak months are June through September, but tuna is available 12 months a year.
Snook: Best is always during the rainy season.

South Pacific coast fishing

Golfito is the biggest town in Costa Rica’s south pacific coast. Other large towns are Puerto Jimenez  located on Osa Peninsula and Zancudo beach. There are a couple of new marinas in Golfito, both have fishing charters.

Light tackle fishing inside Dulce Gulf, with these provision of small caves and rocky islets and shoreline, is also good for small barracuda and snaper, corvina and occasional snook to over 40 pounds. There is also excellent snook fishing inside the Zancudo Penisula and further north, at the mouth of the Esquínas river.

Fish species in South Pacific and best times of year to fish in Costa Rica

Marlin: August through December is peak.
Sailfish: December to the end of March is best, then again in August and September.
Tuna: August through March is the best time for the 100 pounders.
Snook: The rainy season seems to be best.

Caribbean Coast Fishing in Costa Rica

Over six fishing lodges are situated in Barra del Colorado, Tortuguero and Parismina, all on the canals. The canals and rivers of the northern Caribbean coast boast some of the best snook and tarpon fishing in the world.

The months of November and December see the highest volume of fish in the waters, as small snooks begin their journeys into the rivers.

Fish species in Caribbean and best times of year to fish in Costa Rica

Tarpon: December through May.
Snook: catches generally peak March through May, September and November.
Fat snook (Calba): become plentiful November through January.
Billfish: Most are caught between February and September.
Also caught in great numbers here are wahoo, dorado, tripletail, kingfish, Spanish and cero mackerel, jack crevalle and barracuda.

Reccommended Fishing hotels in Costa Rica:

Northern Pacific

Flamingo Beach Resort
Allegro Papagayo
Capitan Suizo
Ocotal Resort

Central Pacific

Best Western Jaco Beach
Punta Leona
Aguila de Osa Lodge

South Pacific: Golfito and Playa Zancudo

Drake Bay Resort

Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Caribbean

Pachira Lodge

Mawamba Lodge

Fishing Packages

For reservations or more information, contact us at: info@costaricaexotictravel.com

If you are a young, fun loving, party craving, Spring Break enthusiast, tired of the same old story, then your prayers have been answered. Forget about whatever plans you might have for this upcoming Spring Break vacation, there is a new option to consider that will make you change your plans in a heartbeat. So pack your bags and gather you friends cause you’re going to Costa Rica, and no one does spring break packages like Costa Rica Spring Break Vacations.

The highlight for any college student every first semester is the spring break vacation he or she has planned. Nothing else in the world matters as much or motivates a student to get through the day as much as the thought of the upcoming spring break trip. Many things come to mind when you think of spring break, ie: spring break parties, spring break beaches, friends, crazy fun, but also destinations come to mind such as Cancun, Panama City Beach, and other sun filled destinations. But there is a new, recently discovered destination which is blowing the rest out of the water, and this new spring break destination is the Central American country of Costa Rica.

Only a short two and a half hour flight from Miami, this small country might be small in size but huge in natural beauty. Known to many as the “Switzerland of Central America,” Costa Rica boasts a 95% literacy rate and has no standing army. No other country in Central or South America, provides a safer, more healthy, and enjoyable traveling environment than Costa Rica. Home to over twice the number of bird species in the entire US, plus warm weather all year round, it is no surprise why Costa Rica is a preferred destination by all age groups.

But let’s get real, you want to know why Costa Rica is making other destinations seem like a pile of homework. Well, where else can you include erupting volcanoes, zip-lines, ATVs, rappelling down waterfalls, white water rafting, rainforests, world class surfing and scuba diving, and of course fantastic night life all in one week. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to know all the activities and tours available, sites like Costa Rica Exotic Travel can be very helpful. This company has partnered with Costa Rica Spring Break Vacations to provide spring break travelers with the ultimate vacation packages

Many spring break destinations really only offer parties and drinking till you pass out. By the time the week is over you can only remember half of it. Costa Rica’s natural beauty, abundance of eco/adventure tours, pristine white sand beaches and virgin rainforests will allow you to fill your day up with activities while still having the optional night life and beach parties. Why limit your day activities to only booze? Instead, take advantage of this beautiful world we live in, discover the amazing life beneath the ocean, learning to scuba dive takes a couple of hours, and places like Scuba Dive Costa Rica can take you for the diving tours of your life.

So forget the same old itinerary. Fortunately companies like Costa Rica Spring Break Vacations  can set you up with spring break deals and group discounts in case you are on a budget. Their packages offer all sorts of available itineraries which you can customize to meet your groups needs.  There are no excuses not to visit this recently discovered all inclusive destination.  You’re spring break stories will be the envy of those who took the same old route down south, guaranteed.

Costa Rica’s micro climates vary from the barren cold volcanic tundra to the exotic cloud forest, from the deep dense jungle of Talamanca to the tropical dry forests of Guanacaste, from quiet gold-hued beaches where the Baulas Tortoises build their nests to the winding Tortuguero Canals where the crocodile is king. Even so, Costa Rica’s overall climate can be best described as mild.

Being located within the tropics, seasonal changes in Costa Rica are not as dramatic as they are in countries on other latitudes. There is a ‘dry” season (equivalent to summer and spring) during which temperatures hover pleasantly in the high 60s to low 70s (20 -23 degrees C), which goes from December to May, and a “wet” season from June to November during which mornings are usually sunny and showers might be expected in the afternoon.

On areas near the coasts, temperatures may be as much as ten degrees higher, where as at Chirripo Peak, the highest mountain in Costa Rica (3800 meters), temperatures may drop down to the freezing point. Tourists should bring light clothes: a jacket and a raincoat is all the protection you’ll need unless you plan to go hiking in the higher mountains.

Following you will find a brief summary of the requirements and explanation of the procedure for getting married in Costa Rica:
• Valid passport for each traveler. Some nationalities may also need a visa.
• Original and copies of Birth Certificates of Bride and Groom.
• The copies we keep but we need to see the originals, so we as Notaries Public, can certify them. It is not necessary to certify these through the Costa Rican Consulate in your country.
• If Bride and Groom are divorced or widowed, we need as well originals and copies of Divorce decree or death certificate, Also we’ll keep the copies but need to see originals in order to certify them. Embassy or Consulate certification is unnecessary.
• Criminal Records are not necessary at all.
• We’ll need some basic information about Bride and Groom and both witnesses, such as:
1. Full name
2. Exact address in Country of origin
3. Occupation
4. Parent’s names (with mother’s maiden name), of Bride and Groom
5. Marital status
6. Age, date and place of birth of Bride and Groom
7. Passport number

With the above information, we will create the following documents to process your marriage certificate once the ceremony has taken place:
• Act of Marriage, which will be signed by the Groom and Bride, both witnesses and Lawyer on the day of the ceremony.
• Two Affidavits, where Bride and Groom make a sworn statement about their general information, such as place of birth, marital status, parent’s names, etc. These can be signed at any time before the ceremony itself.
• Certification and translation as Notary Public of all copies of passports.
• Certification and translations as Notary Public of Birth Certificates or Divorce Decrees or Death Certificates.

Be aware that here in Costa Rica all registration procedures, such as
marriages take approximately 2 1/2 to 3 months. Once we receive your marriage certificate we will proceed to do the following:
• Obtain the certificate itself.
• Obtain the authentication of the Secretary of Civil Registry on the Certificate.
• Have it translated from Spanish to English through an Official.
Translator, who will be duly appointed by The Department of Foreign Affairs here in Costa Rica.
• Then both signature of Secretary and Translator have to be certified by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
• Finally, we need to get the Certification from Notaries at the Embassy of your country here in Costa Rica.
• We’ll then mail you your Marriage Certificate so you can proceed to register your marriage in your country.
Courier services such as DHL, UPS or FedEx are available and can be paid in advance in order to receive documents quickly and securely.
Charges apply for one Marriage certificate only. Copies are charged separately.
We work with various lawyers: all very professional and responsible, they are able to help you with any legal need you may have either for married license or any other business when in Costa Rica.