The second major airport in Costa Rica is Juan Santamaria International Airport. This airport serves San Jose, the capital of the country. The airport receives direct flights from major airline companies from South America and North America. All of the airline companies provide year round trips to San Jose so the airfare prices will depend heavily on the season.

To get the best deals to Costa Rica, you should try depart from North American airports that serve as hubs for airlines that offer direct service to Liberia or San Jose. There is really no need to make transfers when flying to Costa Rica from Canada or the United States.

Below are a few tips to keep you from bumbling through the country like an ordinary tourist:

- Do some research. There are plenty of travel books on the country. If reading isn’t your thing, find an internet site or a TV program. If you have Cable TV, there should be plenty of travel shows and information out there to help you get started.

- Learn some of the language. The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish. You don’t need to necessarily be fluent in the tongue to have a good time, but it would certainly help if you knew how to find the hotel or call a ride.

- Understand the territory. Just because you are American doesn’t make you untouchable. Prepare accordingly. Pull up a site and find out what the political climate is like in the area. Invest in a money belt, too.

Following these tips won’t automatically guarantee your enjoyment. However, knowing about Costa Rica can help put a lot of things into perspective and make the experience all the more fulfilling.

Costa Rica has two seasons. The dry season begans in mid November and last until April. Most Americans tour the area during this season. The green season is the rainiest season. It begans in May and ends the first two weeks of November. This is also called the wet season because it rains daily, usually in mid-afternoon. The mornings are sunny. The showers normally last about three hours, then the suns returns and shines the rest of the day.

Costa Rica has a diverse topography. The temperature is different in each area. In the North, Pacific and Caribbean coasts, the daytime temperatures may range from 38 – 118 degrees, depending upon the season. In the Central Valley and it’s surrounding area, the daytime temperature usually range from 32-86 degrees, again depending upon the season. The sea, however, always has a pleasant temperature averaging 80 degrees all year.

Since the main tourist attractions of Costa Rica are enjoying its magnificent beaches, one must bring with them a bathing suit that can be worn. If they plan on being in the water on daily basis, they should bring with them more than just one bathing suit in case of damaging the first one.

Since they will be exposed to the harsh elements of the sun, some sort of sunscreen is recommended to be worn. Just one severe sunburn can ruin the whole trip and require the individual to stay indoors during the hours of the sun.

Being in a new land may cause the individual to become sick. This is due to different a bacterium that is found in local food that may not be found in the individual’s hometown; therefore their body has not formed immunity to it. Bringing along medication will help relieve any possible symptoms that may ruin the trip.

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Take extra care when crossing streets in Costa Rica as pedestrians usually do not have the right of way. Also be careful when driving as there may be potholes in the smaller streets. This makes driving at night particularly hazardous.

Tourists may experience muggings including armed robberies at knife point. Travelers are targets for theft for their personal items, passports and travel documents; it is even possible for gang muggings to happen in the day time. Didn’t catch that? This explains it. You can avoid becoming a victim by not wearing jewelry nor carrying large quantities of cash, and by concealing your personal items.

Theft can also occur in hotel rooms, buses, taxis and beaches. You can avoid problems by locking valuables away, keeping an eye on your items at all times and by only using official transportation.

A common robbery technique is slashing of car tires. A couple of locals stop to help the victim and steal valuables they find in the car. If this happens to you, do not accept help.

The Ticos love music and love to dance. You may find any Costa Rican community you visit to be enjoying some type of celebration. They immerse themselves in their many national holidays and coffee and traditional foods are a big part of their culture. This helps explain it more. Despite their love of celebration, the Costa Ricans are also very well educated. The country boasts a literacy rate of 93%.

Most of the Costa Rican people are what is known as “mestizo,” which is a mix of European blood – mainly Spanish – and that of the Indigenous people. This Spanish heritage began with the explorations of Christopher Columbus in the early 16th century, as well as the Spanish conquests. There are still some Native Indians living in Costa Rica but most were wiped out during these conquests.

The official language in Costa Rica and the one that is the most prevalent is Spanish. The variety spoken there is a form of Spanish from Central America.

Some of the landmarks of Costa Rica inspire mystery among historians. Though the number of hotels and rental agencies has been growing to accommodate the tourist population, Costa Rica has managed to remain mostly unpolluted by modern developments.

The Cartago Ruins are on the must see list for visitors. They are the ruins of a church built in the 1700s. The structure was destroyed twice by earthquakes before it could reach completion.

The Guayabo park is also a must see. It houses the mound cemetery of the native Costa Rican people. It is a unique look into the history of the indigenous people’s rituals and culture.

These are only a couple reasons to visit Costa Rica. Make a list of sites to visit, and plan your trip accordingly. Take your time and enjoy all that Costa Rica has to offer.