UK Tel: 01209 211 800
Intl Tel: +44 1209 211 800
CESA House
Pennance Road
Lanner
Cornwall
TR16 5TQ
Great Britain
t: 01209 211 800
Intl t: +44 1209 211 800
f: 01209 211 830
Founder member of the Year Out Group and the International Association of Language Travel Agents.
About Costa Rica
Spanish is an important world language, some 350 million people speak the language, only 41 million of whom live in Spain. There are approximately 3 1/2 million Spanish speakers in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican people speak clear Spanish, which makes Costa Rica the ideal place for a Spanish course.
Costa Rica is best known for its eco tourism and is certainly one of the best places to experience the tropics, in addition it has acres of coast line and is home to great surfing, beaches galore and a fabulous climate. Spectacular waterfalls, rain forests, cloud forests, mountain streams, and high mountain paths invite you to hike, mountain bike, fish, or go river rafting.
Over 1200 kilometers of beaches ensure there are always opportunities for you to swim, surf, scuba dive, and relax. The cool, high Cordilleran mountain region is easily accessible. You can go all the way to the rim of active volcanoes such as Irazú or Poás, or visit Arenal, one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
Costa Rica's main industries are tourism, electronics, coffee, bananas and sugar, but it is tourism that dominates. People from around the world are drawn; by the mountains, volcanoes, Atlantic and Pacific shorelines and the "eternal spring" feel to the Costa Rican climate.
Local Speciality:
Coffee! Costa Ricans grind their coffee very finely and frequently add plenty of sugar to the mix. The coffee is thick, and dark but not bitter and is traditionally served in a tall glass mixed with milk. There is a rich variety to sample and most visitors buy bags of coffee beans to take with them when they leave. We recommend you hunt around the markets for good value and good quality varieties. Associated products worth trying include “Café Rica” (a coffee liqueur) and “Salicsa” (a crème liqueur). “Tico” food is based on rice, beans, corn vegetables, meat and fish, generally served with corn tortillas. A traditional breakfast dish, “gallo pinto” (rice and black beans) is served with eggs, tortillas and sour cream. Fruit are readily available, chose from Papaya, Watermelon, Pineapple, Banana and Mango. Fruit smoothies have long been popular, “refrescos naturales”, can be made from any fruit blended with ice, water or milk and a little honey or sugar. For those with a sweet tooth try one of the typical caramel or coconut flans.
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