|
The Seven
Costa Rica Provinces
Costa Rica has seven provinces. These Costa
Rica Provinces are: Alajuela, Cartago,
Guanacaste, Heredia,
Limón, Puntarenas
and San José. From
the golden savannahs of Guanacaste, on the northern Pacific Coast,
to the fertile volcanic soils of the central valley to the coastal
rain forests of the southern Caribbean, each of Costa Rica’s
provinces contains its own unique natural beauty, history and
cultural identity. Learn about the climate, history, national
parks and points of interest of each.
San
Jose Province
General Information:
Climate:
The province of San Jose includes areas representative of practically
every climatic regime possible in Costa Rica since its territory
extends from almost sea level at several points near the central
Pacific coast up to the country's highest peak, Mt. Chirripó,
at an elevation of 3,820 m. Additionally, a small portion of the
province protrudes down the very wet eastern slopes of the Central
Volcanic Cordillera in a section of Braulio Carrillo National
Park. Thus, the entire range of temperatures and rainfall patterns
that affect Costa Rica can be experienced somewhere in the province.
Nonetheless, the majority of the province of San Jose is blessed
by a moderate climate where nothing more than a sweater or lightweight
jacket and an umbrella are all the protection from the elements
you'll ever need. This mild climatic region lies in an altitudinal
band between 700 and 1300 meters above sea level and is under
the influence of a distinct dry season from mid-November through
mid-May and a corresponding wet season during the remaining half
of the year -- the characteristic weather pattern for essentially
all of the nation's territory on the western side of the continental
divide.
|
- FREE SERVICE
-
If your looking for rental
property in Costa Rica
We can help! We are rental specialists!
Try our PROPERTY
LOCATOR SERVICE. It's FREE!
Villas, Houses, Condos, Apartments
vacation rentals or relocation
|
History:
The province of San José is the most populated of Costa
Rica's seven provinces and is the seat of the nation's capital,
the city of San José. In the early years of the Central
Valley's colonization (1560's), families began spreading west
from the village of Cartago, and one of the first places settled
was the valley of Aserrí (to the south of what is now the
city of San José). Some 170 years later, in 1736, the authorities
ordered the inhabitants of the valley of Aserrí to move
to a site known as "Boca del Monte" and to this end
erected a church dedicated to Saint Joseph, which was finished
in 1738 -- on a site which is across the street from the east
side of what is now the Central Bank. The parish became known
as "San José de la Boca del Monte en el Valle de Aserrí".
Due to problems with lack of water in the immediate area around
the church, however, the inhabitants of Aserrí refused
to move to the new site. In 1751, water was finally piped to the
area, also known as Villa Nueva, but the residents of Aserrí
still had to be almost forced to at last move to the new town.By
1824, the population of San José had grown to more than
15,000 and a year earlier the city had become the capital of the
newly independent country -- this came after a brief civil war
over whether to remain independent (a view backed by residents
of San José and Alajuela) or become a part of the Mexican
empire (supported by the citizens of Cartago and Heredia). Following
the victory of those favoring independence, the capital was moved
from Cartago to San José.
National
Parks:
1) Braulio
Carrillo National Park
2)
Chirripó National Park
3) Carara
Biological Reserve
Other
Points of Interest:
1) Cerro de la Muerte: Along this approximately 50-kilometer stretch
of the PanAmerican Highway, one can see practically all of the
country's highland flora and fauna, thus making a drive across
Cerro de la Muerte like visiting Mount Chirripó, but without
all the strenuous effort.To the North American who is familiar
with the vegetation back home, many plants along the Cerro will
look familiar. There are alders, blueberries (not a very juicy
variety), gooseberries, lady's slippers, Indian paintbrush, giant
thistles, and St. John's worts. Nonetheless, botanical surveys
of the area show an even stronger affinity with Andean flora.However,
as a result of geographic isolation from their ancestral species,
a high percentage of the life forms in these highlands have evolved
into distinct, albeit closely related, species.In the case of
birds, nearly fifty percent of the species recorded from Cerro
de la Muerte are endemic, that is, species found in the mountains
of Costa Rica and adjacent western Panama and nowhere else. Examples
of these endemics include: Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Timberline
Wren, Sooty Robin, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, and Volcano
Junco.Characteristic elements of the forest understory along the
roadside are tree ferns, poor man's umbrella (Gunnera spp.), and
scandent bamboo (Chusquea sp.). This bamboo is the dominant understory
vegetation in many forested areas and becomes the most conspicuous
plant once the tree line is reached between kilometers 88 and
90. A gravel road heading off to the right leads up to the summit
of the highest peak in this part of the range at over 3,300 meters
above sea level. Numerous local television and radio stations
have populated the summit with repeaters.Beyond this point the
highway begins to drop down into the Valle del General and the
county seat of San Isidro at a mere 700 meters above sea level.
From San José it takes about two hours (nonstop driving)
to reach kilometer 90, and another hour or so to San Isidro.You
can walk down any of the side roads going off from the highway
and be sure of seeing interesting plants and birds (though, don't
leave valuables in an unguarded vehicle). In the last several
years a few local landowners have opened their properties to tourists
and charge between $5 and $10 a person for guided tours in their
forests. The advantage of visiting one of these farms, in addition
to helping the local economy, is that your chances of seeing a
Resplendent Quetzal at any time of year are exceptionally good.
Getting there:
Take Avenida Central out of town, heading towards Cartago. Upon
nearing Cartago, stay on the PanAmerican Highway and follow the
signs for Panama. By bus, take the San Isidro del General bus
that leaves from near the Coca-Cola bus station. An early start
is highly recommended since the mornings are usually sunny and
the afternoons are often rainy.One recommended stop en route,
either coming or going, or both, is a local version of a greasy
spoon truck stop known as "Los Chesperitos." Located
near kilometer 76, the newly expanded cafeteria area offers travelers
a variety of taste treats, and their hot chocolate is guaranteed
to take the edge off of the worst weather conditions one might
encounter on the mountain.
Climate:
Sunny mornings can be very pleasant, but overnight temperatures
can dip to near freezing, especially from November to January.
Bring layers of clothes for being comfortable when out walking
around in the varied climate conditions during the course of a
day. Take along sun block because if it is sunny the thinner air
and cooler temperatures in the highlands can cause you to burn
without your even knowing it until it is too late.
History:
The name Cerro de la Muerte, which translates as "Mountain
of Death", predates the construction of the PanAmerican Highway
and refers to the tragic consequences suffered by many who attempted
the arduous crossing from the Central Valley to the Valley of
San Isidro del General. This entailed a three or four day journey,
on foot or on horseback, and meant spending at least two nights
in the cold and often rainy highlands. Many were ill-prepared
for the inclement weather and, if they did not succumb to hypothermia
on the spot, perished from complications such as pneumonia later
on. 2) Los Cusingos Neotropical Bird
Sanctuary (Dr. Skutch's farm): This small forest reserve has been
the private home of Dr. Alexander F. Skutch since 1941. When Dr.
Skutch first purchased the land, the cleared area around the house
was one of the few clearings in the entire valley of San Isidro
del General. By the close of the 20th century, his property has
become one of the last remaining forested patches in this now
agricultural landscape, where he and his wife live much as they
did when they first settled the land -- without motor vehicles,
electricity, or telephones.Visitors to the farm may walk the trail
into the forest or along the Peñas Blancas River to personally
view some of the many plants and animals, especially birds, that
Dr. Skutch has written about over the years. The author of more
than twenty books and contributor of countless articles published
in the scientific literature, Dr. Skutch is undeniably the foremost
naturalist living in Costa Rica.A highlight of any visit to Los
Cusingos is sitting on the porch and watching the birds that come
to the feeding tray across the yard. Among the most frequent species
at the feeder are Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Green Honeycreeper,
Buff-throated Saltator, Bananaquit, and Speckled Tanager. Most
every afternoon (and sometimes in the morning) a male Turquoise
Cotinga -- a stunningly plumaged bird -- can be found sitting
in the big mayo tree visible from the porch.Admission policy:
In 1993, the Tropical Science Center (the same private organization
that owns and operates the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve) entered
into an agreement with Dr. Skutch to take over the management
of Los Cusingos. They now handle reservations for interested visitors
through their San José office (tel: 253-3267 / fax: 253-4963).
An entrance fee of $8 per person is charged (as of March 1995),
and visitation is limited to 15 persons per day.
Getting there:
Solicit directions from the Tropical Science Center when making
your reservations.
Climate:
Expect mornings to be hot all year long. Thundershowers are a
possibility in the afternoon, even during the dry season (December
- April). Insect repellent is recommended since there are frequently
small black flies that can be bothersome.
History:
Dr. Skutch bought this piece of land in 1941 for the purpose of
being able to study the life histories of the many neotropical
bird species that inhabited it. The name Los Cusingos comes from
the local common name for the Fiery-billed Araçari, a slender
member of the toucan family. Dr. Skutch chose this name because
of all the numerous native bird species on the farm this was one
that was well known to neighboring residents and also is a species
unique to the southern Pacific portion of Costa Rica and western
Panama. It has also persisted over the years while other large
species have disappeared due to the amount of deforestation in
the region. 3) El Rodeo Forest Reserve:
Almost 400 hectares of forest still remain on this large cattle
ranch in the southwestern corner of the Central Valley. The forest
is not all in one block, however, but scattered about the property
in patches of varied sizes. Some of the larger sections are across
from the old hacienda building and beyond the United Nations University
for Peace (the Costa Rican campus of this prestigious institution
is also located within El Rodeo land). You have to cross some
pasture to get to these forests. Another alternative is taking
the gravel road to the right just before reaching the University
for Peace and following it down towards the community of Piedras
Negras, stopping whenever you come to some forested portions.This
area is known by butterfly enthusiasts for having a number of
rather handsome species that are not easily found elsewhere in
the country. Birdwatchers will find a mixture of middle-elevation
and dry forest species inhabiting the different ecosystems in
this premontane moist forest, some examples are: Blue-crowned
Motmot, Rufous-and-white Wren, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Fiery-billed
Araçari, and Red-crowned Ant-Tanager.Getting there: From
San José, take the Santa Ana highway west (picked up on
the south side of the Sabana Metropolitan Park) to the town of
Ciudad Colón, about 17 km. Follow one-way traffic uphill
through the town and turn off to the right just before the road
resumes two-way traffic. It's about another 6 km. to El Rodeo.
Climate:
At an elevation of approximately 600 meters, this area stays warm
throughout the year. The dry season has a pronounced effect from
December through April. 4) Simón
Bolivar National Zoological Park: This small zoo is operated by
the National Park Service, and although it is not on a par with
modern zoos in more developed countries, it does provide an opportunity
to view numerous species of native wildlife that are not all that
easily seen in the wild, even after a week or two of walking trails
through different national parks.Admission Policy: The zoo is
open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., and on
weekends and holidays from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Getting there:
From the Morazán Park, take calle 7 north for three blocks
and turn right on avenida 11. Bear right at the T-intersection
and you'll come to the entrance gate.
The National Theater: San José's foremost architectural
showpiece, the National Theater is a source of pride to Costa
Ricans everywhere. Inaugurated on October 19, 1897 with a performance
of "Faust" by the Paris Opera Company, the building's
origins date to 1890 when the Italian opera singer, Angela Pelati,
gave a number of performances in Guatemala but refused to come
to Costa Rica due to the lack of a proper theater. The members
of the country's coffee elite proposed that a theater be built
in San José to correct this situation and agreed to contribute
five centavos per exported sack of coffee to finance the construction.Some
parts of the theater were crafted in Europe and shipped to Costa
Rica for assembly, such as the metal framework which was cast
in Belgium and many of the statues, murals, and ceiling frescos
which are the work of Italian artists that never saw Costa Rica.
The stunning baroque design features ample use of 221/2 karat
gold overlay and Carrara marble.The National Symphonic Orchestra
season runs from March to November with performances on Thursday
and Friday evenings and again on Sunday mornings. Periodically,
other activities ranging from the Moscow ballet and Chinese acrobats
to state dinners and Costa Rican theatrical presentations are
also scheduled. The coffee shop adjoining the main lobby is a
wonderful place to sit and watch the world go by. During the day
the building is open to the public for viewing from 9:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Phone: 221-1329.
6) Various museums in San José:National
Museum: Best known for the variety of pre-Columbian artifacts
on permanent display, the National Museum also has exhibits dedicated
to Costa Rican religious art and the history of the country since
the Spanish conquest. The building itself has historic significance
since it was once a military fortress and after the abolishment
of the army, following the Revolution of 1948, was converted into
the museum. The museum is located on calle 17, between avenidas
central and 2, hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday
through Sunday. Phone: 257-1433.Gold Museum: Operated by the Central
Bank of Costa Rica, this museum houses an extensive collection
of pre-Columbian gold in which the level of artistry achieved
by native craftsman working with this precious metal is easily
appreciated.The entrance to the museum is on calle 5, beneath
the Plaza de la Cultura, hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Tuesday through Sunday. Phone: 233-4233.Jade Museum: Although
the numerous pre-Columbian jade pieces on display are among the
most impressive anywhere, the museum also features excellent examples
of indigenous craftsmanship in stone, ceramics, and gold. Housed
on the 11th floor of the National Insurance Company (INS) building,
the view of the city and surrounding mountains is an added attraction
to a visit to this museum.Located on avenida 7, between calles
9 and 11, hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday. Phone: 223-5800, ext. 2581.Costa Rican Art Museum: Rotating
selections from the permanent collection together with temporary
exhibitions showcase the artwork of Costa Rican painters and sculptors
in a building that was once an airport terminal. The Sabana Metropolitan
Park which stretches west behind the museum was formerly the international
airport landing strip in the days prior to jet planes.Located
at the western end of Paseo Colón (avenida central), hours
are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Phone:
222-7155.Children's Museum: Many hands-on exhibits designed to
make learning fun are a highlight of this museum which brings
science, culture and history to life (or at least nearly so through
the use of robotized Costa Rican personalities). One of the country's
newest museums (inaugurated in 1994), it occupies what was once
a prison.Located at the northern end of calle 4, hours are from
9:00 a.m. to noon and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through
Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Phone: 223-7003.Museum of Entomology: If bugs are your thing,
or you're just looking for a different way to spend a rainy afternoon
in the city, then you'll enjoy trying to find this museum. Located
on the University of Costa Rica campus in San Pedro, this vast
collection of insects is on display in the basement of the Musical
Arts Department (Escuela de Música) -- of all places! Hours
are from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Phone:
207-5647
| top
|
|
- FREE SERVICE
-
If your looking for rental
property in Costa Rica
We can help! We are rental specialists!
Try our PROPERTY
LOCATOR SERVICE. It's FREE!
Villas, Houses, Condos, Apartments
vacation rentals or relocation
|
Do you want to know more
about San Jose Costa Rica? Try our online bookstore.
We are affiliated with one of the best booksellers available 
Barnes
& Noble.com
|
General Information:
Climate:
This interior province consists primarily of the Reventazón
River valley and the surrounding high mountains to the north (Irazú
and Turrialba Volcanoes) and south (Cerro de la Muerte and Mount
Chirripó) and is situated practically entirely on the Atlantic
side of the continental divide. Therefore, the moisture brought
in by the trade winds directly affects most of the province, although
the city of Cartago itself is in the rain shadow of the 3,432
meter high Irazú Volcano and as a result is one of the
driest parts of Costa Rica, after the lower portions of Guanacaste
province. The overall high elevation of Cartago province and frequent
cloud cover combine to impart relatively cool temperatures throughout
the year.
History:
The city of Cartago was first established in 1563 by the Spanish
conquistador Juan Vásquez de Coronado. The original village
was situated between the Coris and Purires Rivers, several kilometers
to the southwest of the present day city. This location proved
to be poorly chosen, however, since the settlement was flooded
so often that it came to be known as the "City of Mud,"
and in 1572 was transferred to another site closer to what is
now San José.
About two years later, the population was
again transferred back to the current site of the city of Cartago,
which remained the capital of the province of Costa Rica throughout
the colonial period. In 1823, two years after independence from
Spain, the country's governmental seat was moved to San José
and Cartago was left to develop as a provincial capital of the
new republic.
When Vásquez de Coronado first explored
the eastern end of the Central Valley he found an area populated
by numerous indigenous groups, and thus the Spaniards set about
the mission of christianizing the native peoples. The first church
built in Costa Rica was constructed during the 1560's in the Valley
of Ujarrás near the Reventazón River. The settlement
was eventually abandoned, however, due to recurring floods and
episodes of pestilence. The ruins of the church are still visible
on the site and have been declared a national monument.
The fate of the church in the Cartago parish
has not been much better. Construction began in 1574, but between
then and 1910 the building had to be rebuilt five times because
of earthquake damage. Following the massive destruction caused
by the Cartago quake of 1910, the church was abandoned and the
ruins now form the centerpiece of a park in the middle of town.
Three blocks to the east of the parish
ruins stands the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, an impressive
Byzantine style church which is the national religious shrine
of Costa Rica. Every year thousands of devotees from across the
country make a pilgrimage on foot to honor the Virgin Mary and
to render homage for favors conceded. This pilgrimage coincides
with the feast day of the Virgin of the Angels held on August
2nd to commemorate the miraculous appearance (and subsequent reappearance)
of a small carved image of the virgin mother to a young native
girl in 1635. The church was erected on the actual site and the
rock on which the statue appeared can be seen in a crypt entered
from the left-hand side of the church's altar.
National Parks:
1)
Irazú
Volcano National Park
2)
Tapantí
National Park
3)
Guayabo National Monument
4)
Chirripó
National Park
5)
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Other
Points of Interest:
1) Cerro de la Muerte: Along this approximately
50-kilometer stretch of the PanAmerican Highway, one can see practically
all of the country's highland flora and fauna, thus making a drive
across Cerro de la Muerte like visiting Mount Chirripó,
but without all the strenuous effort.
To the North American who is familiar with
the vegetation back home, many plants along the Cerro will look
familiar. There are alders, blueberries (not a very juicy variety),
gooseberries, lady's slippers, Indian paintbrush, giant thistles,
and St. John's worts. Nonetheless, botanical surveys of the area
show an even stronger affinity with Andean flora.
However, as a result of geographic isolation
from their ancestral species, a high percentage of the life forms
in these highlands have evolved into distinct, albeit closely
related, species.
In the case of birds, nearly fifty percent
of the species recorded from Cerro de la Muerte are endemic, that
is, species found in the mountains of Costa Rica and adjacent
western Panama and nowhere else. Examples of these endemics include:
Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Timberline Wren, Sooty Robin, Black-billed
Nightingale-Thrush, and Volcano Junco.
Characteristic elements of the forest understory
along the roadside are tree ferns, poor man's umbrella (Gunnera
spp.), and scandent bamboo (Chusquea sp.). This bamboo is the
dominant understory vegetation in many forested areas and becomes
the most conspicuous plant once the tree line is reached between
kilometers 88 and 90. A gravel road heading off to the right leads
up to the summit of the highest peak in this part of the range
at over 3,300 meters above sea level. Numerous local television
and radio stations have populated the summit with repeaters.
Beyond this point the highway begins to
drop down into the Valle del General and the county seat of San
Isidro at a mere 700 meters above sea level. From San José
it takes about two hours (nonstop driving) to reach kilometer
90, and another hour or so to San Isidro.
You can walk down any of the side roads
going off from the highway and be sure of seeing interesting plants
and birds (though, don't leave valuables in an unguarded vehicle).
In the last several years a few local landowners
have opened their properties to tourists and charge between $5
and $10 a person for guided tours in their forests. The advantage
of visiting one of these farms, in addition to helping the local
economy, is that your chances of seeing a Resplendent Quetzal
at any time of year are exceptionally good.
Getting
there:
Take Avenida Central out of town, heading towards Cartago. Upon
nearing Cartago, stay on the PanAmerican Highway and follow the
signs for Panama. By bus, take the San Isidro del General bus
that leaves from near the Coca-Cola bus station. An early start
is highly recommended since the mornings are usually sunny and
the afternoons are often rainy.
One recommended stop en route, either coming
or going, or both, is a local version of a greasy spoon truck
stop known as "Los Chesperitos." Located near kilometer
76, the newly expanded cafeteria area offers travelers a variety
of taste treats, and their hot chocolate is guaranteed to take
the edge off of the worst weather conditions one might encounter
on the mountain.
|
- FREE SERVICE
-
If your looking for rental
property in Cartago
We can help! We are rental specialists!
Try our PROPERTY
LOCATOR SERVICE. It's FREE!
Villas, Houses, Condos, Apartments
vacation rentals or relocation
|
Climate:
Sunny mornings can be very pleasant, but overnight temperatures
can dip to near freezing, especially from November to January.
Bring layers of clothes for being comfortable when out walking
around in the varied climate conditions during the course of a
day. Take along sun block because if it is sunny the thinner air
and cooler temperatures in the highlands can cause you to burn
without your even knowing it until it is too late.
History:
The name Cerro de la Muerte, which translates as "Mountain
of Death", predates the construction of the PanAmerican Highway
and refers to the tragic consequences suffered by many who attempted
the arduous crossing from the Central Valley to the Valley of
San Isidro del General. This entailed a three or four day journey,
on foot or on horseback, and meant spending at least two nights
in the cold and often rainy highlands. Many were ill-prepared
for the inclement weather and, if they did not succumb to hypothermia
on the spot, perished from complications such as pneumonia later
on.
2) Orosi Valley, Cachí Reservoir
& Dam: About an hour's drive southeast of San José,
just beyond the town of Paraíso, lies this splendorously
scenic valley. Taking the road towards Orosi will bring you to
a lookout point on the valley rim that is well worth a stop for
the panoramic view of the valley below and Irazú Volcano
to the north. The town of Orosi is known as the home of the country's
oldest church that is still in use. The building dates back to
the 1700's. Several natural thermal springs in the area have been
made into bathing facilities.
The Orosi River flows out of the Talamanca
mountains and Tapantí National Park, and alongside the
town before emptying into the reservoir formed by the Cachí
Dam. Following the road around the south side of this manmade
lake will take you through the village of Cachí and to
the dam. One interesting and curious structure between the village
and the dam is La Casa del Soñador (The House of the Dreamer),
a small house made of coffee trunks--each one sculpted into unique
forms and figures.
From the dam, water is piped several kilometers
downriver to the actual power generating station (capable of producing
64,000 kW), which can be reached by taking the road to Tucurrique
(the turn off is just before the dam, if coming from Cachí).
This road provides breathtaking views of the Reventazón
River canyon.
Continuing across the dam, you will come
to the village of Ujarrás, the site of the ruins of a church
built in the 1560's. Although most of the valley is dedicated
to coffee production, this particular area produces large quantities
of chayote, a pear-sized green squash grown on trellises.
Climbing up out of the valley you will
pass another scenic overlook offering a view from a different
angle. Nearby is a fairly spectacular waterfall.
3) Reventazón & Pacuare Rivers
(white water rafting): Both the Reventazón and the Pacuare
Rivers originate high in the Talamanca mountains on the upper
slopes of Cerro Cuerici and empty into the Caribbean Sea after
having dropped some 3,000 meters. For much of their length, the
two rivers parallel each other. The other feature that they have
in common is their excellence as rivers for white water rafting
and kayaking.
The Reventazón is undoubtedly visited
for this purpose by more people each year than any other Costa
Rican river. It has an exciting and challenging 14-kilometer stretch
of Class III water between Tucurrique and Turrialba. Above and
below this section are even more difficult, yet still raftable
portions for those with previous experience.
The Pacuare River has been declared the
equivalent of a Wild and Scenic River, and it is indeed both.
Local white water companies take rafting enthusiasts down a 30-kilometer
run from near Tres Equis to Siquirres, often with at least one
night of camping on the river banks. Since 1986, the Costa Rican
Electric Company (I.C.E.) has been considering putting a dam on
this nearly pristine river; however, for the time being, the river
still flows wild and free.
4) Lankester Gardens: Some 600 of the country's
1,400 native orchid species are kept in this 11 ha. garden administered
by the University of Costa Rica. This was one of three orchid
collections amassed during the early part of the 20th century
by Charles Lankester, a British coffee plantation supervisor who
was duly impressed by the tremendous variety of orchids he found
on the trunks and branches of forest trees that were being felled
to make way for more coffee plantations throughout the interior
valleys and slopes. Although he did nothing to protect the forests
(nor did anybody else in those days), his orchid collections formed
a basis for the study and appreciation of these beautiful plants.
The varied landscaping of the grounds creates
a number of microhabitats ranging from rain forest to almost desert,
and each area showcases orchids, bromeliads, and other plants
adapted to the specific conditions of light and humidity. If you
can get permission to enter any of the several greenhouses, then
you are in for a real treat (bring a hand lens to be able to adequately
admire the many stunning miniature species).
The Lankester Gardens are reached by taking
the road to Paraiso out of Cartago. Look for a large cube balanced
on one corner (by the entrance to Campo Ayala) and turn right;
follow the gravel road back about 300 m. to the gardens. The gardens
are open to the public everyday from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Phone: 551-9877.
| top
|
|
General Information:
Climate:
Limón conjures up images of Costa Rica's coconut-fringed
Caribbean coast. Although the province does indeed extend the
length of this coast -- from the mouth of the San Juan River in
the north, to the mouth of the Sixaola River on the Panamanian
border -- the southern sector includes a large area of mountainous
terrain that stretches up to the country's highest peak, Mt. Chirripó,
in the Talamanca Cordillera. Likewise, the provincial boundaries
also climb to over 2,000 m. elevation on the northeastern flank
of Turrialba Volcano.
Despite the rise in elevation from sea
level to 3,820 meters, Limón is the only one of Costa Rica's
seven provinces to be entirely on the Caribbean side of the Continental
Divide, and thus its weather is directly affected by the flow
of warm, moist air brought in off this body of water by the northeast
trade winds. The result is a climate with no pronounced dry season,
even though it does tend to be less rainy in the months of March,
April, September, and October, and typically rains the most in
June, July, August, November, and December. The lowland regions
remain warm and humid year-round, while the higher portions are
both cooler and wetter.
History:
Christopher Columbus, or Cristobal Colón as he is known
in Spanish, and his crew were the first Europeans to lay eyes
on the shores and forest-covered mountains of Costa Rica. On the
great Admiral's fourth and final voyage to the Americas, in 1502,
he anchored near what is now the port city and provincial capital
of Limón. His brief dealings with the native people he
met on the mainland were apparently good-natured, yet this benevolent
interaction was not to be the norm during the centuries to come.
Spanish settlement of Costa Rica came not
from the Atlantic but from the Pacific side of the country. Given
the mountainous barrier between the Central Valley and the Caribbean
lowlands, as well as the dense forests and high rainfall characteristic
of the latter region, would-be colonists were faced with a real
challenge. The periodic expeditions organized with, at least in
part, the purpose of establishing permanent settlements in the
Caribbean region inevitably met with failure. Their cruel treatment
of the indigenous people did not help the Spaniards in their objective
either, since the natives in the area wholeheartedly resisted
colonization.
|
- FREE SERVICE
-
If your looking for rental
property in Limon
We can help! We are rental specialists!
Try our PROPERTY
LOCATOR SERVICE. It's FREE!
Villas, Houses, Condos, Apartments
vacation rentals or relocation
|
Thus, throughout the three centuries of
the colonial period, while the Central Valley and northern Pacific
portions of Costa Rica were being progressively dominated by settlers
from Spain, the Atlantic wilderness continued to be an untamed
frontier.
The one small exception was the Valley
of Matina where a number of farms existed for the purpose of growing
cacao -- the source of cocoa and chocolate, which are produced
from the seeds. Although it was a long and difficult journey from
the Central Valley to Matina, near the Caribbean coast, the merchants
from Cartago who invested in the cacao farms considered it a worthy
enterprise given the otherwise limited opportunities for commercial
trade with other colonies.
Originally, the farms were worked by native
people who had been captured and put into slavery. This system
met with problems, including legal ones because the authorities
officially forbid such treatment of the native population. The
solution was the purchase of African slaves from elsewhere in
the region. Each worker was given a certain number of plants to
tend, and often, after several years service, was given his freedom.
This agricultural activity persisted for
about 150 years, but never really contributed significantly to
the country's economic progress, and by the time of independence
from Spain in 1821 had been all but abandoned. It is interesting
to note that owing to the scarcity of coinage in colonial times,
cacao beans were sometimes used in lieu of currency, or as a basis
for bartering.
The real opening of Costa Rica's eastern
frontier did not come until the second half of the 19th century.
In 1867, the site for a Caribbean port was chosen, and it is said
that growing on the spot was an old lemon tree, or limón.
To make the port accessible from the interior
of the country, the government decided to construct a railroad
and contracted the services of the North American entrepreneur,
Minor Keith, in exchange for 300,000 hectares of land in the Caribbean
lowlands, plus other benefits.
Keith established banana plantations on
the land and brought in Afro-American workers from Jamaica to
tend the plantations and build the railroad, thus changing not
only the physical environment -- which for thousands of years
had been rain forest -- but also the cultural milieu of the region.
National Parks:
1) Barra
del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge
2) Tortuguero
National Park
3)
Braulio Carrillo National Park
4) Cahuita
National Park
5) Gandoca
- Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge
6) La
Amistad International Park
7) Hitoy
- Cerere Biological Reserve
8) Chirripó
National Park
Other Points of Interest:
1) Canals
north of Limón: The so-called Canales de Tortuguero
are the result of a dredging operation carried out in the 1960's
to link a series of naturally occurring lagoons and river courses,
thus permitting inland navigation between the city of Limón
and the northeastern coastal villages. Prior to the opening of
the canal in 1969, transportation of people and products to and
from these villages was in dugout vessels that ventured out the
river mouths to the open sea and then up or down the coast. The
risk inherent in this method of transportation was greatly reduced
once the canal system became functional.
With the growing numbers of tourists interested
in visiting Tortuguero National Park, this route has become increasingly
more transited, yet it still retains much of its scenic quality.
Shortly after leaving the dock at Moín, you pass through
one of the few mangrove areas to be found on the Caribbean side
of the country. The red mangroves here are impressive with their
prop roots dropping sometimes from five meters or more above the
water level and the overall heights of the trees reaching to over
15 meters. Both here and along the length of the waterway system
you can observe a variety of birds that live in association with
riverine habitats, including herons, egrets, kingfishers, ospreys,
jacanas, cormorants, and anhingas.
Between the mangrove section and the start
of the national park, nearly 50 km. further north, there is not
much intact forest left along the canal. However, you can observe
the lifestyle of the inhabitants along the way and try to spot
sloths and iguanas in any places where there are still trees.
2) KéköLdi
Indigenous Reserve: Costa Rica's indigenous population
is relatively small and disperse. The Talamanca mountains provided
the last refuge for the native people from the relentless advances
of western colonization and it is here that the greatest number
of reservations have been established. Most of the reserves are
still not readily accessible or set up to attend to tourists.
However, with prior permission obtained at the ATEC (Talamanca
Association for Ecotourism and Conservation) office in Puerto
Viejo, a guided visit can be arranged to the KéköLdi
Reserve.
A morning walk through a portion of this
small reserve is an enlightening experience as you learn about
native lifestyles, customs, and beliefs. The two indigenous groups,
Bribri and Cabecar, that live in the reserve are descendants of
people who have lived in this rain forest region for thousands
of years and have developed an environmentally sound approach
to life in such conditions. Their way of life in harmony with
nature provides a sharp contrast to the bulldozer and chainsaw
mentality so evident outside
| top
|
|
General Information:
Climate:
Like the province of Alajuela, Heredia includes a portion of the
Central Valley and the Central Volcanic Cordillera, but the majority
of its territory lies in the northern lowlands, south of Nicaragua.
The geographical variation contained within this province (the
smallest of Costa Rica's seven) gives it as wide a range of climatic
conditions as any of the provinces, from warm and humid lowlands,
to cool and damp highlands, to the mild but seasonally wet and
dry Central Valley.
History:
Within less than a decade after the founding of the Spanish settlement
in the Valley of Cartago, other areas in the Central Valley also
began to be colonized. Among the first of these areas was the
village of Barva -- less than three kilometers north of what is
now the city of Heredia.
The construction of churches so that the
populace could comply with its religious obligations and ceremonies
including weddings, baptisms, and funerals was an important criteria
in the development of communities during colonial times (in modern
times, soccer fields seem to have replaced this function). In
1706, the first parish church in this region was erected in Lagunilla,
near the village of El Barreal, but in 1717 was moved several
kilometers to the north to the site that would become the city
of Heredia. It is reported that houses in outlying areas were
even burned so that their occupants would move closer to the center
of the developing town. Variously known throughout the colonial
period as Villa Vieja or Cubujuquí, the name Heredia comes
from the man who managed to obtain the title of "villa"
for the newly formed settlement, don Gonzalo Fernández
de Heredia. The present day church in the center of Heredia is
one of the oldest in Costa Rica, dating back to 1797.
|
- FREE SERVICE
-
If your looking for rental
property in Heredia
We can help! We are rental specialists!
Try our PROPERTY
LOCATOR SERVICE. It's FREE!
Villas, Houses, Condos, Apartments
vacation rentals or relocation
|
With the introduction of coffee to Costa
Rica, the fertile southern slopes of Barva Volcano became populated
with plantations of this crop. The steep and very rainy northern
slope did not become populated until much more recently. The Sarapiquí
River, which is navigable upstream from the San Juan River (which
flows into the Caribbean) as far inland as Puerto Viejo (Old Port)
de Sarapiquí at the volcano's base on the northern side,
was an important transportation route for those few hardy settlers
who first moved into this region. Although as recently as 1953,
a mere three thatched-roof houses were all that comprised the
village of Puerto Viejo.
National Parks:
1) Braulio
Carrillo National Park (Barva Volcano sector)
2) Barra
Colorado National Wildlife Refuge
Other
Points of Interest:
1) Sarapiquí
River: This scenic tropical river has its origins high
on the northern slopes of Barva and Poás Volcanoes, but
by the time it reaches the San Juan River on the border with Nicaragua,
it has received water from as far away as Irazú Volcano
via the Sucio River. With so much water flowing into it, the Sarapiquí
is navigable downstream from the town of Puerto Viejo, where a
number of passenger and local cargo vessels can now be found at
the village dock. Wildlife viewing trips for tourists can be arranged
using these boats (if you're staying in one of the area hotels,
it's easiest to let them set things up). These excursions take
you slowly downstream to the confluence of the Sucio River (about
10 km.), before turning around. The trip normally takes between
two and three hours (depending on water levels and how much you're
seeing). Commonly observed wildlife includes: both Three-toed
and Two-toed Sloths, Mantled Howler Monkeys, Southern River Otters,
Black River Turtles, American Crocodiles, and a wide variety of
birds.
Continuing upstream from Puerto Viejo,
the river picks up gradient and becomes one of the country's finest
rivers for kayaking and whitewater rafting. The further upstream
you go, the more challenging the rapids become. Above the town
of San Miguel it becomes suicidal to attempt to run, but from
there down to La Virgen it makes an intense Class IV-V run in
a kayak. Downstream from the bridge at La Virgen, the river is
suitable for inflatable rafts and provides an exciting Class III-IV
paddle with plenty of lush tropical scenery to about the village
of Chilamate.
2) La Selva Biological
Station: One of the premier neotropical sites for biological
studies, La Selva is a Mecca not only for scientists, but also
hard-core birders and serious naturalists. The state-of-the-art
laboratory facilities on the edge of the rain forest have allowed
researchers at La Selva the opportunity to make many exciting
new discoveries about the workings of this most incredibly complex
and biologically diverse of all the planet's ecosystems. The more
than 60 kilometers of well-maintained trails that crisscross the
1,536 hectare property allow excellent access to the forest.
La Selva is one of three biological stations
in Costa Rica owned and operated by the Organization for Tropical
Studies (O.T.S.), a consortium of some 50 U.S. and Costa Rican
universities dedicated to furthering tropical research endeavors.
Christmas Bird Counts have been conducted
annually at La Selva since 1985 and have produced a total of more
than 420 species within a 14.5-kilometer radius that includes
the lower portion of the Braulio Carrillo National Park extension
as well as lowland areas surrounding the station property. Additionally,
within the boundaries of the station, 25 species of lizards, 44
species of frogs and toads, 56 species of snakes, and 114 species
of mammals (in large part, bats) have been reported, not to mention
a staggering variety of plant and insect life. Some of the more
commonly seen organisms include: Poison-dart Frogs, Green Iguanas,
Giant Tropical Ants, Central American Agoutis, and the highly
venomous Fer-de-lance.
Admission policy: Both day visits and overnight
stays are possible, however, prior authorization is required.
For overnight stays, contact the O.T.S. office in Moravia at 240-6696.
Day visits can be arranged directly with the station at 766-6565.
All daily visitors are accompanied by a local naturalist, whose
fee is not included in the individual entrance fee.
Getting
there:
From San José, take the Limón highway through Braulio
Carrillo National Park and upon reaching the lowlands take the
first left turn, towards Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí. About
28 km. down this road, look for a covered bus stop on the left
with the OET logo (Spanish for O.T.S.) around the sides of the
roof. Turn left on the gravel road beside the bus stop and follow
the road for about half a kilometer to the La Selva gate. (If
you come to the bridge over the Sarapiquí River, you've
gone too far.)
Public buses to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí
from San José will let you off by the bus stop, but make
sure the bus goes via the new highway and not the old route through
Heredia and Vara Blanca.
Climate:
Very warm year-round, the temperatures are tempered by the amount
of cloud cover that affects the area and also brings an average
four meters of rainfall. The rains are spread throughout the year,
but the rainiest periods are June - August and November - January.
History:
The original 587 hectares that comprised La Selva were purchased
in 1968 from tropical forester Dr. Leslie Holdridge, who had owned
the property since 1953 and used it for experimentation with timber
trees and crops such as cacao and peach palm. Even in 1968 access
was an adventure consisting of a tortuous 4-hour drive through
the mountains followed by a 4-kilometer ride in a dugout canoe
to reach the site of the main building that had minimal creature
comforts (but lots of creatures!) and no electricity or phone.
The importance of the site as a place for
conducting tropical research inside a rain forest, combined with
the urgency to understand these ecosystems caused by their greatly
accelerated destruction during the 1970's and '80's, led to the
transformation from those rustic beginnings to the modern facility
that La Selva Biological Station is today.
The size of the property has tripled since
1968 with the acquisition of eight adjoining parcels throughout
the years. Additionally, the creation of the Braulio Carrillo
National Park extension in 1986 effectively connects La Selva
with a forested elevational transect that stretches right to the
top of Barva Volcano. Nevertheless, with rapid colonization of
the Sarapiquí lowlands since the 1970's, conversion of
rain forests to agricultural land has turned La Selva into a forested
peninsula when not long ago it was part of a vast forested region.
| top
|
|
General Information:
Climate:
The weather throughout the province of Guanacaste is characterized
by being hot with well-defined wet and dry seasons. The one exception
is the highland portion of the province which consists of the
upper Pacific-facing slopes of the volcanoes in the Guanacaste
Cordillera and the northern half of the Tilarán Cordillera.
The cool, moist conditions along these ridges support luxuriant
cloud forests. Elsewhere, the natural vegetation type originally
found in Guanacaste is (was) tropical dry forest.
This kind of forest extends from parts
of Mexico down the western side of Central America to Costa Rica,
where it reaches its southern limit in the general area of the
Carara
Biological Reserve. Due to the pronounced dry season
that affects this habitat type for at least six months out of
every year, fire works very well as a land clearing tool, and
hence, most of the original forests have long since been removed
for agricultural activities, principally cattle ranching. Thus,
the noted tropical biologist, Dr. Daniel Janzen has described
the Mesoamerican dry forests as "an endangered habitat."
The parks and reserves in Guanacaste protect much of the remaining
examples of tropical dry forest in the entire region.
The annual dry season is caused by the
effects of the northeast trade winds that blow in off the Caribbean
from November through March. This humid air loses its moisture
as it crosses the Caribbean lowlands and the cordilleras. Given
that the Guanacaste Cordillera is both the lowest and narrowest
in the country, there is little to block the passage of the arid
air that comes gusting down the western slopes drying out everything
in its path, as well as preventing any breezes from bringing in
moist air from the Pacific Ocean during these months.
When the trade winds shift northward, air
currents once again bring humidity and life-giving rains in from
the Pacific Ocean. It is remarkable to observe how quickly the
parched and brown countryside regains its verdant appearance after
the first showers of each new rainy season. In Guanacaste, these
afternoon showers usually return by mid-May and continue until
about mid-November.
|
- FREE SERVICE
-
If your looking for rental
property in Guanacaste
We can help! We are rental specialists!
Try our PROPERTY
LOCATOR SERVICE. It's FREE!
Villas, Houses, Condos, Apartments
vacation rentals or relocation
|
History:
The pre-Columbian inhabitants of Guanacaste are noted for the
fine quality pottery that they produced. The variety of ceramic
vessels found at archeological sites has led investigators to
theorize the existence of a well-developed system of agriculture,
and specifically grain production. The fact that as yet no evidence
of hunter-gather societies has been unearthed in the region, has
been a motive for speculating that the first humans to settle
here already possessed a working knowledge of agriculture.
Indeed, the native peoples living in the
area at the time of the Spaniards' arrival in 1519, the Chorotega
tribe, were a group whose ancestors had emigrated south from Mexico.
When Hernán Ponce de León and Juan de Castañeda
sailed into what is now known as the Gulf of Nicoya on the last
leg of their exploratory voyage from Panama, the name of the regional
chieftan was Nicoya. Thus, the origin of the name of both the
gulf and the peninsula.
During the first two decades of the Spanish
Conquest in this region, the invaders established a lucrative
trade: the sale of human slaves to Panama and Peru. This activity,
together with untold deaths resulting from disease, decimated
the local population.
Spanish settlement of Guanacaste was slow
since most of the colonization from 1563 onwards was concentrated
in the Central Valley and there was very little native labor force
left in the lowlands to be employed in farming activities. The
Spaniards brought in zambos, a mixed race of escaped black slaves
and indigenous people from eastern Nicaragua and Honduras, to
help work the haciendas in Guanacaste, but even so the population
was too low to sustain much agricultural production. And so, cattle
ranching developed as the most common activity in the region due
to the low manpower requirements.
In the 1500's and 1600's, the primary revenue
from cattle ranching was the sale of leather and fat to merchants
in Panama. By the 18th century, a market for beef existed in Guatemala,
but this meant a long and difficult cattle drive from the faraway
ranches in Costa Rica. Nevertheless, ranching has persisted to
the present day and was given a real economic boost in the 1950's
and '60's with the development of the "hamburger connection"
and North America's increased demand for cheap beef.
The other agricultural products of relative
importance in the province are sugar cane and cotton, and since
the late 1980's, with the creation of a large-scale irrigation
program (the water comes from Lake Arenal after passing through
several power generating stations), rice has become a prominent
crop. Tourism, of course, is currently the region's most lucrative
activity since Guanacaste is blessed by having many of the country's
most beautiful beaches and its sun-drenched dry season coincides
with the winter months in northern latitudes.
During colonial times, Guanacaste did not
actually form part of the province of Costa Rica, but instead
pertained to Nicaragua. Shortly after the nations in the region
gained their independence from Spain in 1821, the residents of
the communities of Nicoya, Santa Cruz, and Cañas decided
that they preferred to become part of Costa Rica and announced
their annexation on July 25, 1825. This date is commemorated by
a government holiday, even though it was not until 1858 that the
change in boundary lines was officially recognized and agreed
upon by the two countries involved.
National
Parks:
1)
Isla Bolaños Biological Reserve
2)
Santa Rosa National Park
3)
Guanacaste National Park
4) Rincón
de la Vieja National Park
5)
Barra Honda National Park
6) Palo
Verde National Park
7)
Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve
8) Las
Baulas Marine National Park
9) Tamarindo
National Wildlife Refuge
10) Ostional
National Wildlife Refuge
Other
Points of Interest:
1) Lake Arenal: This natural
depression caused by local geological faults formerly contained
a small lake that emptied into the Arenal River which flowed into
the Caribbean via the San Carlos and San Juan Rivers. However,
in the 1970's, the Costa Rican Electric Company (I.C.E.) began
construction of what is currently the country's largest hydroelectric
generating project.
An earthen dam was built only seven kilometers
to the west of Arenal Volcano--that had erupted violently just
a few years earlier. As the waters filled up behind the dam a
thirty-kilometer long lake was formed. Water from the lake is
tunneled to the Pacific side of the country, passing through three
turbine-driven generating stations, before being channeled into
a system of irrigation canals that have substantially increased
the agricultural productivity of the lower Tempisque basin in
Guanacaste.
As well as its importance for energy and
agriculture, Lake Arenal provides excellent recreational opportunities,
especially for windsurfing and freshwater fishing. The northwestern
end of the lake is buffeted by strong winds, particularly from
December through March, that make for ideal windsurfing conditions.
Fishing for guapote (Cichlasoma dovii),
often referred to as "rainbow bass" even though it is
not related to bass, is another popular sport on the lake. The
season is open year-round (on this lake only) and there is a limit
of 10 fish per day.
Daytime temperatures around the lake are
pleasant all year long and evenings tend to be cool. The driest
months are March and April. Lake Arenal is reached via the same
roads that lead to Arenal
National Park.
2) Geothermal Power Plant (Miravalles Volcano)
3) Eco-museum (Las Juntas): In the early
part of the 20th century, gold mining was an important activity
along the Pacific foothills of the Tilarán Mountains. Discovered
in 1884, the mines near Las Juntas de Abangares were eventually
sold to the North American entrepreneur, Minor C. Keith, the same
person who built the railroad between San José and Limón.
In their heyday, the mines employed nearly a thousand workers,
but were also the scene of a violent labor dispute in 1911.
The Eco-museum was developed around the
ruins of one of the oldest gold mines in the region where some
of the old machinery, hand tools, and infrastructure can still
be seen. The surrounding area is forested to a large extent and
provides good opportunities for birdwatching and other nature
observation.
The town of Las Juntas de Abangares is
located 6 km. northeast of the PanAmerican Highway (the turnoff
is 24 km south of Cañas). Drive through the town and follow
the signs for the "Eco-museo", about 2 km. farther on.
The museum is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through
Sunday. Phone: 662-0129 (in the Municipal Offices of Las Juntas).
4) Indigenous crafts manufacturing in the
town of Guaitil: Continuing a tradition that predates the Spanish
settlement of Guanacaste, the descendants of the Chorotega tribe
living in the village of Guaitil still produce fine quality pottery.
Having changed with the times, much the way the oxcart manufacturers
of Sarchí have, the ceramic ware made in Guaitil is now
destined mostly for the souvenir trade and is not so much a matter
of creating vessels for daily usage. Nonetheless, it is still
interesting to observe the process of making and decorating the
variety of earthenware products.
To reach the village of Guaitil, take the
road out of Santa Cruz to the east past the town of Santa Barbara
(about 10 km.).
5) Cowboy Museum (Liberia): Known in Spanish
as El Museo del Sabanero, the Cowboy Museum is a tribute to the
hard-working plainsmen of yesteryear that are such an important
part of Guanacaste's past and tradition. The museum showcases
all sorts of memorabilia from old photographs to chaps and branding
irons, and gives an insight into what life was like on the haciendas
in times gone by.
Located 3 blocks south and one block east
of the Municipal Building in Liberia, the museum shares space
with the Liberia Cultural Center in a restored adobe house that
was originally built more than 100 years ago. Hours are from 8:00
a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through
Saturday. Phone: 666-1606.
| top
|
|
Alajuela
Province
General
Information:
Climate:
Many associate Alajuela with the warm and sunny climate that characterizes
the city of the same name and the various towns in the western
end of the Central Valley that also belong to this large and populous
province. However, the vast majority of the provincial territory
lies on the other side of the volcanic cordilleras, extending
north to the Nicaraguan border. This sprawling area in the northern
lowlands is under the influence of weather conditions coming in
off the Caribbean Sea and was formerly covered in extensive tracts
of majestic rain forest. Recent agricultural colonization of the
northern frontier has severely altered the natural landscape (witness
the paucity of national parks in the region), and very likely
has affected the climate to some degree, resulting in hotter and
slightly drier conditions, even though this is still an area of
high annual rainfall (local inhabitants claim it rains 13 months
out of the year). Even wetter, and much cooler, conditions exist
along the Caribbean-facing slopes of the cordilleras, which reach
a height of 2,704 meters above sea level on the summit of Poás
Volcano.
|
- FREE SERVICE
-
If your looking for rental
property in Alajuela
We can help! We are rental specialists!
Try our PROPERTY
LOCATOR SERVICE. It's FREE!
Villas, Houses, Condos, Apartments
vacation rentals or relocation
|
History:
Following the establishment of the city of Cartago in the latter
part of the 16th century, the incipient population began expanding
westward. By the beginning of the 18th century, the population
of Heredia had grown such that it became a second base of expansion,
again to the west.
To the Catholic colonists one drawback
to founding new settlements was the inherent difficulty in attending
mass when living far from the established towns. For this reason,
in 1782, a new parish that included several small settlements
scattered to the west of Heredia was formed in a site known as
La Lajuela. Over time this place name evolved into Alajuela, which
was also known as Villa Hermosa, "beautiful village."
The settlement of the northern portion
of this province only began in earnest in the later half of the
19th century, and even so did not reach great proportions until
the second half of the 20th century owing largely to the difficult
access. In fact, much of the original colonization (apart from
that of the Botos tribes who had inhabited the region for centuries
prior to the coming of the Spaniards) came not from Costa Rica,
but from Nicaragua since numerous navigable rivers flow north
from their origins in the cordilleras and empty into either Lake
Nicaragua or the San Juan River. This natural geographic connection
was used (and to some extent still is today) by people coming
from Nicaragua in search of new land or for exploiting forest
products (e.g., hunting, rubber tapping, and extracting ipecac
root).
In the last few decades, with an extensive
network of all-weather roads constructed in this once isolated
region, cattle and crop production have come to dominate the countryside
and a thriving agricultural economy now exists which supplies
much of the nation's corn, beans, and fruit and vegetable produce.
National
Parks:
1) Caño
Negro National Wildlife Refuge
2) Arenal
National Park
3)
Poás Volcano National Park
4) Juan
Castro Blanco National Park
5) Guanacaste
National Park
6) Rincón
de la Vieja National Park
Other
Points of Interest:
1) Topiary in
town park of Zarcero: This picturesque mountain town
lies 67 kilometers northwest of San José. At an elevation
of 1700 meters, the air temperature is pleasantly refreshing.
The principal attraction is the town square in front of the church
with its amusing variety of forms and figures (elephants, monkeys
riding bicycles, helicopters, etc.) that have been shaped out
of ciprés, a common type of conifer planted at higher elevations
around the country. For admirers of religious architecture, the
church is well worth taking a look at.
Taking the PanAmerican highway (Rt. 1)
west out of San José, take the Naranjo exit and follow
signs (or ask) for Ciudad Quesada. Zarcero is perched on the rim
of the Central Valley (17 km. north of Naranjo) before you start
to drop down to the northern plains of the San Carlos region.
2) Wood-working
and painting in Sarchí: Around the turn of the
20th century, an artistic-minded person working for the La Luisa
coffee mill, near the village of Sarchí, had the notion
to paint colorful designs on the sides and wooden wheels of an
oxcart. The idea caught on and eventually most Costa Rican oxcarts
sported gay geometric designs.
Nowadays, this veritable national symbol
is becoming a vanishing species due to the greater speed and versatility
of pick-up trucks and 4X4 vehicles. However, the production of
hand-painted oxcarts is as prolific as ever--only now they come
in miniaturized versions destined for the souvenir trade. The
village of Sarchí has evolved into the center of this production
and numerous shops dot the main road through town. Several of
these souvenir outlets have back rooms where the visitor is welcome
to enter and watch the local craftspeople at work as they paint
the decorative patterns.
The church in the center of town is also
noteworthy. Painted in pastel shades of green and pink, it somehow
looks more like a wedding cake than a church.
The town is located 53 km. northwest of
San José. Driving westbound on the PanAmerican highway
(Rt. 1), take either the Grecia or Naranjo exits and follow signs
(or ask) for Sarchí. The distance from the highway is less
if you take the Naranjo exit, although this means driving a bit
farther west and doubling back.
3) La Virgen del
Socorro: This is an area at about 700 meters in elevation
along the forested canyon of the Sarapiquí River that has
been a favorite with birdwatchers and butterfly enthusiasts for
many years. Prior to the opening of the road through Braulio Carrillo
National Park, this was one of the most accessible mid-elevation
Caribbean slope sites for those coming from the Central Valley.
Many of the butterfly species found in this altitudinal belt have
very limited geographic distributions. Among the birds, hummingbirds
and tanagers are particularly plentiful and include the Black-crested
Coquette, Green Thorntail, Coppery-headed Emerald (known only
from Costa Rica), Crimson-collared Tanager, Emerald Tanager, and
Silver-throated Tanager.
The place name actually refers to an agricultural
community that a gravel road and an old rusting iron bridge over
the rushing Sarapiquí River link with the rest of the world.
For the purposes of a natural history outing, all that you need
do is park your car just off the paved road and stroll down the
gravel road until you feel like turning around and hiking back
up. The bridge makes a good goal if you need one, and in addition
to being just an incredibly pleasant place to sit and watch the
mountain stream, it's also a good place to find American Dippers
and Torrent Tyrannulets, two bird species that favor this habitat.
To get there, drive to Vara Blanca -- in
the saddle between Poás Volcano and Barva Volcano -- and
follow Rt. 9 north. About two kilometers beyond Isla Bonita, look
for a sign welcoming you to La Virgen del Socorro and a sharp
right-hand turn onto the gravel road (if you come to Cariblanco,
you've gone too far).
On the way down from Vara Blanca there
are two magnificent waterfalls. The first comes thundering down
right beside the road and can't be missed. This is known as Catarata
de La Paz, since it is on the Río La Paz (Peace River),
which originates near the summit of Poás Volcano. The second
falls is farther from the road, but unless it is very cloudy,
is not easily missed. Be looking down across the river gorge on
your right as you come into the village of Cinchona, and you'll
see this impressively high waterfall as it spills into the Sarapiquí
River. A small roadside (former) restaurant nearby has a great
view of the falls and also has put out several hummingbird feeders,
so you can get some terrific close-up views of these swift creatures.
4) Fraijanes Recreational
Park: This 18-hectare recreational park, located en
route to Poás Volcano, was created by the Tourism Board
(I.C.T.) in the early 1980's. It is a popular picnic area among
the local populace, especially when the weather is less than ideal
at the summit of the volcano.
A small man-made lake forms the centerpiece
of the park and a series of trails wind through the partly forested
grounds. If the park is not too crowded, the birdwatching here
can be productive with such species as White-eared Ground-Sparrow,
Yellow-throated Brush-Finch, White-throated Spadebill, Steely-vented
Hummingbird, and Greyish Saltator in residence.
The park is located 15 km. north of Alajuela,
on the road to Poás Volcano National Park, and is open
from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. There is
a small entrance fee and charge for using the parking lot.
5)
Juan Santamaria Museum:
Located one block north of Alajuela's Central
Park (across the street from the Credomatic office), this museum
is dedicated to the historic events that occurred in the mid-1850's
when William Walker attempted to gain control of much of Central
America. Hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday through
Sunday. Admission is free. Phone: 441-4775.
| top
|
|
Puntarenas
Province
General
Information:
Climate:
Being Costa Rica's largest province (11,277 sq. km.), Puntarenas
includes practically all of the climate regimes found in this
small, but tremendously varied, country. From tropical dry forest
to rain forest, and from mangrove swamp to cloud forest to subalpine
paramo, this sprawling province contains at least a little bit
of everything.
Although the entire province lies on the
Pacific side of the continental divide, much of its land area
is not as severely affected by the annual dry season as is most
of Guanacaste province (just to the north on the same side of
the country). This is due to the topography's effect on the prevailing
winds. The northeast trade winds that come in off the Caribbean
Sea are to some extent blocked by the higher mountains of the
Central Volcanic and Talamanca Cordilleras before they reach much
of the province (from the Carara Biological Reserve south); and
once on the Pacific side, the turbulence formed in the passage
results in a vortex, or reverse flow of air currents, that actually
can draw in moist air from the Pacific Ocean and produce scattered
rain showers even during the dry season. These occasional rains
and associated high humidity keep the forested portions of the
southern coastal areas (e.g., Manuel Antonio and Corcovado National
Parks) green throughout the year, though some species of trees
do briefly drop their leaves in response to the drier conditions
from January through April.
In the interior sections of the province
that r | |
