by Kathleen Hesketh

Created on: February 17, 2009   Last Updated: February 21, 2009

With over 9,000 species of vascular plants and 200 species of mammals, Costa Rica beckons nature lovers from all over the globe. Though still largely in its growing stages, I found much to recommend it to the nature inspired leisure traveler, but others fear the growing tourism trade may be its undoing.

Costa Rica is located in the middle of Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. The capital city of San Jose is rated by National Geographic as having some of the best weather in the world. San Jose, at an altitude of 3,772 feet, sees temperatures ranging from 57 to 75 degrees in December and 63 to 81 degrees in May. The slight difference in temperature is due to seasonal variation, though Costa Rica does not experience typical seasons. Instead, it has only two seasons, dry and wet. The dry season begins in December and ends in March or April. During the rainy season, the sun can shine for much of the day, but Costa Rica receives much of its rainfall during this time.

All of that rain has played a vital part in establishing Costa Rica. The country ranks at the top of the list of green countries and has plans to be carbon neutral by 2021. To achieve this, 80% of their electricity comes from hydropower. Though the effects on the environment are minimal, the country is vulnerable to naturally occurring shifts in weather patterns. Due to a delay in the start of the rainy season in 2007, Costa Rica experienced rolling blackouts. To conserve energy, the government began rationing power daily for two five hour increments on a rotating basis. As we discovered, even the airport was not immune. Arriving around 3:00 on a Thursday afternoon, we found darkened hallways lit only by the dim light filtering in from the windows.

Despite these growing pains, it is easy to find transportation in Costa Rica. Many hotels will provide shuttle service to and from the airport or arrange it for you. There are many private held companies and taxi drivers available curbside as well. Upon our arrival, our driver was waiting outside baggage claim. My husband began by communicating in Spanish, but quickly discovered it was unnecessary. Our driver was from Brooklyn and had moved to Costa Rica a few years earlier seeking a better way of life. As we came to discover, there are many ex-Americans in Costa Rica looking for the same thing. In fleeing America, they are not running from our poverty rate that averages around 6%, but rather the effects of an affluent

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