Aging Tarzans & Janes Discover Why Americans Loves Costa Rica

It was that day in Tortuguero, Costa Rica when, from our small flat-bottomed boat we saw spider and white-throated capuchin monkeys, three species of toucans, iridescent iguanas, walk-on-water Jesus Christ lizards, Day-Glo butterflies with wingspans wide as your head, several large caiman, frogs and birds of every hue, that out of the mist suddenly I heard Jake.

I shivered. The hair on the back of my neck stood, ancient horrors revived.

Jake the Doberman had been my nemesis as a kid. Now I heard his growl, only louder
and more werewolfian.

Our guide, Ray Hooker, assured me that what I heard, then saw, were simply howler
monkeys leaping from tree to tree high above us.

It’s a jungle out there! Wet with rain and smelling faintly of sweet decay, we
were privileged to be in this fecund country with 5 percent of all known species
of life on earth occupying less than 0.003 percent of earth’s land area. The
place is supremely beautiful.

Hooker, who has spent all his life in this remote area whispering its secrets
to tourists like me, then pointed to a small green heron that catches insects
only to drop them into the black water, fishing for bigger game. What a show-off!

Like so much of this country, the Costa Rican government protects Tortuguero Park.
Tourism has enriched the region reachable only by riverboat or small plane. Population
has increased five-fold, to well over 1,000.

That morning, I explored the Caribbean beach behind our casitas and found the tracks of a loggerhead turtle who, just hours before, fulfilled a 30-year
prophesy by returning to the place of her birth, struggling ashore to dig a hole
in which to lay 100 or so eggs, one of which may be lucky enough to live to return
here in another 30 years, keeping this 160 million-year cycle of life continuing.

Such sightings are uncommon at this point in June, but from the middle of August
until mid September, you have a 99% chance of seeing this miracle when Atlantic
green sea turtles return here each year. Even the rare Costa Rican jaguar is sometimes seen swimming across the river for a breakfast omelet.

Our Caravan Tour actually began two days before at the luxurious San José Palacio, an “all-inclusive” hotel where drinks, meals, tips and extra
towels are all included.

Since then, we had toured the capital city, visited the cloud forest with it’s steam-belching mile-wide Poás Volcano crater, one of seven active
in the country, seen the cascading waterfalls of Braulio Carrillo Park, taken
a guided hike through yet another rainforest, and slipped through a forest canopy
on an aerial tram.

There are 43 of us on this tour. Mostly professionals – doctors, engineers, some
retirees – we’re aged 15 to 82, all are interested in ecology, travel, and nature.

And in a good bargain. At $999 for 10 days, everything, even tips included, this
must be the travel deal of a lifetime.

For Carolyn and me, this is our first group tour. And I can tell you we weren’t
looking forward to getting “herded from place to place.”

But it wasn’t like that. Our tour guide, Patricia Alfaro, surely one of the most
knowledgeable in the world about all things Costa Rican, kept us moving, learning
and laughing without ever feeling “grouped.” As it turned out, when
I asked folks at the end of the tour what they liked best, most answered, “The
fascinating new friends I made.”

Where Else in the World…?

Besides 4-milllion Ticos, as the friendly Costa Ricans call themselves, this is
home to over 240 mammal, 180 amphibian, 230 reptile, and 850 bird species – twice
the number of bird species in the entire US. Its democracy is almost as old as
our own. It has no army, a relatively high standard of living, and with its huge
middle class, this small Central American country is arguably the most equalitarian
in Latin America.

Early one morning in La Fortuna, I asked a fellow traveler why he and his wife
decided to come on this tour.

“We looked around,” he answered. “Europe’s too expensive and unfriendly.
Caribbean islands are boring. Africa is too far away. Hawaii’s a rip-off. Costa
Rica is a safe democracy. People like us here. They’re eco-minded. And where
else in the world could you have a day like this?”

He pointed directly in front of our casita’s railed front porch where dozens of
ruby-throated humming birds danced from flower to flower in the lush gardens.
Beyond, as the mist cleared, the elegant, active Arenal Volcano rumbled and puffed
into view.

During free time that morning, he and his wife were horseback riding to a hidden
waterfall while others dressed for white-water rafting, bird watching, mountain
biking, or just walking into town.

That afternoon, we would all “take the thermo mineral waters” in the
shadow of the volcano where we would choose between 10 large pools with temperatures
ranging from 187 degrees down to 104. It was truly “Cocoon,” magically
relieving aches and pains as we sat chest-deep at a bar sipping Pepsi’s.

All in all, our new Mercedes big-glassed bus took us 800 miles exploring this
most beautiful of countries, meeting kind, warm-hearted people all along the way.

On Day Seven, shortly after departing the Americanized Jaco driving along the
Pacific Coast toward the fishing village of Quepos, we passed through a earthquake
zone and over the several temporary “Catholic Bridges” each narrower
than the last. First there was the “Oh My God” bridge, followed by the
“Help Us, Jesus” bridge and finally the “We Must be Driving on
Water” bridge. Someone yelled, “We must be in heaven!”

That’s Costa Rica. Heavenly. So much so that 40,000 Americans have chosen it
for their permanent retirement homes.

But more about that next time.

THE FACTS:

Tour Costs: After deciding that we didn’t have time to tour – hit-and-miss – on
our own, several Suddenly Senior readers recommended Caravan Tours (1-800.227.2826)
at $995 for 10 days, all meals, activities, hotels transfers, transportation,
excursions, even tips included. (While some other tour companies featured smaller
groups, they were more expensive and often offered less.) Plus air.

Getting There: Our airfare on US Air was about $500 for the two of us from
Tampa via Charlotte to San José. Currently, the roundtrip airfare on American
Airlines Miami/ San José is $115 plus tax.

What to Wear: Climate varies from the temperate central highlands of San
José to the much warmer Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Remember, you’re only
about 10 degrees from the Equator here. Caravan recommends a sweater or light
jacket. Carolyn and I each chose to take a lightweight hooded poncho-style raincoat.
Plus shorts and loose shirts. A pair of jeans. Casual. Washable. Comfortable water-resistant
shoes also are a must. Although the pacing of the tour is excellent and never
rushed or strenuous, there is a lot of walking, often in the rain(forests). Laundry
service is available at all hotels. And don’t forget your swimwear.

Currency: As of June, 2005, the exchange rate is 475 colones to the dollar.
Conveniently, the once almighty greenback is still powerful in Costa Rica, accepted
almost everywhere, as are most credit cards. ATMs are found in major cities.

Eating & Drinking: Caravan provides purified water at all meals and
free bottled water on the motorcoach. Water is safe to drink in most touristy
areas. Breakfasts are usually buffet-style featuring many fresh fruits and eggs
cooked to taste. Lunches and dinners generally provide the choice of beef, fish
and chicken with local side dishes.

Toilets: Never a problem.

E-mail: All hotels, except those in the rainforests and La Fortuna (where
there are five Internet cafés in town), have high-speed Internet connections,
often free.

Language: Spanish is the official language, but we found that English is
spoken in all the stores in which we shopped.

Proof of Citizenship: US citizens need only a current US passport valid
for six months after your date of entry.

Fishing: Costa Rica is a fisherman’s dream, with snook (averaging 14 pounds),
tarpon (averaging 80 pounds), red snapper, king mackerel, amberjack, yellow tail,
deep-water tuna, Dorado, even sailfish and marlin. Fly fishermen will enjoy catching
blue gill and drum fish. There’s good bone fishing as well.

Staying Longer: We planned an extra four days after the tour in case there
were areas we still wanted to see. It turned out that we spent those extra days
taking it easy around the capital of San José, interviewing American retirees,
getting massages, shopping, and generally just enjoying our little gem, the quaint,
charming, artistic and historic downtown Hotel Don Carlos. $70 – $80 double room
including breakfast. (1-866.675.9259) Ask Steve Constantine for Room 29.

Resources: Costa Rica Tourism Board (1-866.267.8274). Toyota Rent A Car,
San José and Liberia airports. Approximately $400 a week for a 4×4, automatic
or manual. (011-506.258.5797) Holbrook Travel. Located in Gainesville, FL, these
folks are the official operators of Elderhostel; they own Selva Verde Lodge in
the rain forest and are leading authorities on all things Costa Rican. Explore
Costa Rica. These folks are excellent in-country tour operators. They can arrange
airport transfers, dinners on top of the mountains overlooking San Jose (with
accompanying Flamenco dancers!) and customized tours and transportation all over
Costa Rica.

Our thanks to Frank Kaiser of Suddenly
Senior for this wonderful article. Suddenly
Senior is for everyone over 50 who feels way too young to be old.

[custom_script adID=97]

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.