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Undiscovered Paradise...
"Until a year ago, I wouldn't even have considered Costa Rica as a holiday destination. Basically, like probably the vast majority of people, I knew very little about it. I knew it was in Central America, and could have had a stab at pointing it out on a map, but that was it. However, just about a year ago, a friend of mine moved out there. Fairly soon, the invitation came to go and spend a couple of weeks with her. We decided to take the plunge and go, and I can honestly say it was one of the best holidays I've ever had. We went in September, which isn't actually the best time to go. It's in the rainy season, which usually means torrential downpours for much of the time. However, we must have been in favour, because we had very little rain, and lots of sunshine. For good weather guaranteed, aim for January / February. We stayed in the capital, San Jose, but I wouldn't recommend making this the basis of your holiday. A day, or two at most, is plenty of time to explore the capital - for the real delights of Costa Rica, you need to get out into the rest of the country.
The coastline of Costa Rica is amazing - miles of sandy, often deserted, beaches, and beautiful clear seas. There's also a number of stunning volcanoes, which are well worth visiting. My personal favourite was the hot springs - all good guide books should tell you about the hot springs which run down the side of one of the volcanoes. They have been formed into lots of pools that you can bathe in, ranging from very hot and invigorating, down to the cooler, refreshing pools. Add to that the heated swimming pool (heated naturally, of course, by the volcano!), complete with in-pool bar, and the various volcanic mud treatments and massages available, and you won't want to leave. This really is one of the 'must-see' places in Costa Rica.
I would definitely recommend Costa Rica as the ideal holiday destination. San Jose is worth a look (mind out for the pick-pockets, though, theft is common in the capital, and the driving is hair-raising!!), but for the 'real' Costa Rica, get out and explore the rest of the country - it's well worth it!
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