when in Costa Rica...

Some things you should do while visiting this amazing country:

Visit the tourist spots.
This means plan a trip to a well known destination like Arenal Volcano, Manuel Antonio, San Jose (the capital) and Puerto Viejo. These places a are famous for a reason! They are part of why CR is so well known for it's mystical natural beauty. You will want to be able to say you saw an active volcano, visited a pristine beach, saw the mix of Caribbean and Spanish cultures, and you will have some memorable photos.
Climb Chirripo!
Visit Rio Celeste!
Check out the Osa Peninsula!
Relax on Playa Conchal!

Visit a national park.
25% of this country is protected...thinking about how much biodiversity you can find in a country the size of West Virginia, it makes sense that so much of it is reserves and national parks! Taking care of the environment helps to ensure that what makes this country so unique, beautiful, wonderful is being preserved. It also reflects the Tico's love of nature. See a spider walking across your patio? Let it be. Ecotourism is also HUGE here, so preserving the natural environment is also making sure that the economy stays strong. Tourism provides a lot of jobs (tour guides, hotels, transportation, restaurants, etc.). Why does everyone want to come visit Costa Rica? Because it is a tropical paradise. And we want to keep it that way. Go look for a quetzal!

Try gallo pinto.
The diet here is rice and beans and...well, rice and beans. Being the staples you can find them at almost every meal in some shape or form...you have to be sure to try this typical plate! "Gallo pinto" literally means "painted rooster." It is a dish made from rice (typically leftover from the previous day), beans, sweet red pepper, onion, cilantro, and salsa lizano.
How to make this dish:
-Finely chop onion, red pepper, cilantro
-Sautee onion and red pepper in skillet
-Add beans to sautee'd onion and pepper (don't be afraid to put a little bit of the bean liquid in...it makes it moist and not so dry!)
-Once beans are good and hot, begin to add rice. Mix the rice in well.
-When rice is well mixed and hot, add salsa lizano to taste.
-Remove from heat and mix in cilantro.
Note that if you don't have salsa lizano at home, you can add cummin.
I LOVE gallo pinto, to the point that I would make it at home my senior year of college. Just ask my roomies about "not disturbing the beans," haha!
Be sure to give it a try : )

Eat some fresh fruit.
Everything tastes different! It is fresh, and it is good. You can taste the sunshine in every pineapple (maybe that sounds corny) and the sweetness of every papaya. Fruit is abundant, cheap, and seriously delicious.

Drink coffee.
Costa Rica is one of the most famous in the world for producing quality coffee. Try it and let your taste buds decide! (I have grown to love cafe con leche...)I wasn't a coffee drinker before I came here!

Take a public bus.
Its cheap and it gives you a new cultural perspective. Everyone takes the bus, from cleaning ladies to lawyers. It's a little slice of life that will only cost you 200 colones.

Stop and smell the hibiscus.
Pura vida...it sums up the lifestyle here, 100%. You see people on their front porches, relaxing in hammocks, just chilling out. It's a combination of Tico time and the more relaxed way of living. Ticos are some of the happiest people in the world. Why do you think that is?

Take a shot.
Imperial and guaro...typical, traditional. If a bar here has nothing else, it will have one of these two.

Play some soccer.
A soccer field is an essential part of any town or city here. There are local teams that play, kids after school, neighborhood folks. Don't be afraid to go kick the ball around! You might catch the fever that spread worldwide during the World Cup, and the Copa de Oro (going on right now! I watched Costa Rica v. Honduras with Elliott last weekend!). It's the national game, no contest, and I admit that even a five year old Tico here has more soccer skills than me.

Get a t-shirt.
Even the Ticos wear souvenir type t-shirts with "pura vida" or "Imperial" prints.

Learn some "pachuco."
Slang! It's what you hear on the streets, or in conversation with regular folks. Old folks too. Even if you arrive with zero Spanish, I can guarantee you leave with these words in your basic vocabulary: Pura vida. Tuanis. Mae. I am still learning slang all the time. It helps to make you not seem like such a ... tourist, haha!

Open your eyes!
This is a travel basic. Look around and notice the differences in the culture, ask questions, participate, engage in conversation. Be culturally sensitive. Remember, it's not better or worse...just different!

Pura Vida : )