Its natural beauty is.
If this paradise of a nation can be summed up in one word, it is “green” — but with one caveat. That green comes in as many shades as there are species of plants in the rain forest, from the lightest mint to the darkest forest.
Costa Rica, quite simply, is perhaps as close to the Garden of Eden as one can get on this planet. The rain forests and abundance of wildlife make it one of the most beautiful places this well-traveled writer has visited.
Topographically speaking, Costa Rica can be compared to Israel in that it offers so many different landscapes within a small space. Only 23,000 square miles, Costa Rica is a mere 185 miles at its widest point. Yet it offers everything from the jungle to the beach to the rain forest to volcanoes. The government recognizes the value of this ecosystem: A full 30 percent of the country’s land is parceled off into national parks and wildlife preserves. Although at the same time, deforestation and other practices by big corporations continue to threaten the country’s natural resources.
While Costa Rica has long been a favored destination for backpackers, it is only recently marketing itself as a more upscale destination.
Its luxury hotels and resorts rival those anywhere in the world. In the capital, San Jose, a few of the hotels, like the stunning Marriott, even have kosher facilities. Many local Jews hold their weddings there, and since the community is traditional, their weddings are strictly kosher.
The manager of the Tortuga Lodge & Gardens discussed how he accommodated the culinary needs of an Orthodox family who had come to Tortuguero National Park — bringing much of their own food with them — to see the turtles nesting on the beach. (He thought giving the man whole fruit showed his staff’s laziness, not realizing that slicing it open in the lodge’s kitchen rendered it unkosher.)
Visitors come to Tortuguero year-round, even when the turtles aren’t nesting. And that is for a close-hand look at the wildlife. Costa Rica in general offers thousands of species of various birds, reptiles and such, and while this is apparent throughout the country, Tortuguero is one of the best places to see them. Tourists can take a boat ride up the canals and see at least 10 different kinds of birds, the Jesus lizard — named so because it walks on water — bats, turtles, alligators and several kinds of monkeys.
While adventure travelers make up a lot of tourists in Costa Rica, there is plenty to do for those who don’t need to Bungee jump or battle giant rapids to have a good time.
Nevertheless, the SkyTrek — www.skywalk.co.cr — is one of the most amazing experiences this writer has ever had. While it is not in the same fear-inducing category as Bungee jumping, some members in my group got properly suited up and made it to the first platform, only to look down and opt for the pedestrian choice.
There are quite a few such treks throughout the country, but I did the one in Monteverde, a mountainous community that was founded by American Quakers. One knowledgeable source about Costa Rica said this particular trek is the best in the country.
The SkyTrek consists of platforms linked by long cables that allowed me to zip through the treetops. I stepped onto the platform. The guide hooked a metal mechanism onto the cable. I grasped it firmly, and then he gave me a push, and off I went, breezing through the trees, vines and moss, much like all the monkeys I’d been seeing.
Many go to Costa Rica for its five-star resorts and golf courses. Of course those are good reasons to visit, too. But it is the unique opportunities to experience nature in ways we never could back home that is the true draw.
One local source of information on Costa Rica is Lisa Brooks. A former Jewish educator, who still works occasionally in the field, the Oakland resident runs Costa Rican Adventures with her brother Stephen, who lives on a farm in Costa Rica most of the year. They organize various group trips, including those for Jewish solo travelers, and will customize tours according to the participants’ interests. For information, go to www.costaricanadventures.com or call (510) 601-0412.
Another tour operator with Jewish tours to Costa Rica is Jewish Routes, which can be found at www.jewishroutes.com/categories/exotictours