Costa Rica, Ticos y Nicas

Hola de nuevo desde Costa Rica, rica, rica. La Suiza de Centro America. Es probablemente el pais mas desarrolado de Centro America. Entre otras cosas porque es el unico pais del mundo sin ejercito. Su defensa en caso de conflicto depende de EEUU gracias a un convenio de colaboracion firmado con ellos. Gran parte del dinero que se ahorran del ejercito va destinado a educacion y de ahi su mayor desarrollo. De hecho los costarricenses no se consideran centro americanos sino meso americanos, para diferenciarse del resto de paises pobres de Centro America. Es este desarrollo la causa de que halla mas de 2 millones de nicaraguenses (nicas) por estas tierras, siendo el numero de costarricenses (ticas) de 4 millones. Quien dice que la inmigracion en Europa es un problema?. Tras esta pequeña introduccion, al grano. Tras dejar las paradisiacas islas caribeñas de Boca, nos dirigimos hacia Puerto Viejo, un pueblo de Costa Rica en la costa caribeña. Nos gusto, aunque despues de las islal de Boca, no nos sorprendio tanto y nos parecio demasiado turistico. De Puerto Viejo nos fuimos unos dias a la capital, San Jose, comparada con el resto de capitales en Centro America, nos sorprendio gratamente, muy segura, limpia y bastante bonita. Asi que tras unos dias de relax en San Jose nos dirigimos a una de las maravillas naturales de Costa Rica, el volcan Arenal, como la mayoria de los volcanes en Centro America esta en activo pero a diferencia de otros, el Arenal esta constantemente expulsando lava y por la noche es todo un espectaculo. Tras evitar la casi inevitable ruta turistica, y tras tomar un bus, hacer dedo y caminar por una carretera de tierra varios Km, llegamos a una zona de acampada en frente del volcan, donde pusimos la tienda, las hamacas en unos arboles y a disfrutar del espectaculo del volcan por la noche, algo increible. Tras esta preciosas experiencia, al dia siguiente nos fuimos a hacer rafting al rio Sarapiquì, pero que guapo...no solo por el rafting, tambien por todos los animales que ibamos viendo por el camino (tucanes, perezosos, garzas...) muy, muy guapo. Tras nuestra experiencia acuatica acabamos nuestros dias en este increible pais con una visita al parque nacional Rincon de la Vieja, donde vimos una cascada preciosa (con baño incluido) y una zona volcanica bien interesante. Y asi acabaron nuestros dias en Costa Rica para seguir nuestra ruta hacia Nicaragua. Besos y abrazos.



Hi everbody again from Costa Rica. The Central america Switzerland. One of the most developed countries in Central America. Among other things this development is due to its lack of professional army. In the case of an armed conflict they would get US military protection thanks to an agreement signed some years ago. A big chunk of the money they save on military expenses goes towards education, which explain partly this higher developement. In fact, in Costa Rica don't think of themselves as Centro Americans, but instead as Meso Americans. Is this higher developemnt the cause of the heavy inmigration from neighbouring Nicaraguans into Costa Rica. There are currently 2 million nicaraguans (Nicas) leaving in Costa Rica, which has a 4 million population of Costa Ricans (Ticos). Who said we have a problem with inmigration in Europe.
After this introduction, lets get on with our trip. We left the beautifull caribbean islands of Panama and we headed towards Puerto Viejo, a small caribbean costa rican village. Very nice indeed. However, after the incredible experience in the caribbean in Panama, we really weren´t that impressed. Besides the fact that Puerto Viejo is too turistic. So we decided to head towards Panama´s capital San Jose. An interesting place since it is quite different to the rest of Centro American capitals. Quite clean, safe and nice. So after two relaxing days in San Jose, we headed towards one of Costa Rica´s most amazing natural wonders. The Arenal volcano. As most of the volcanos in CA it is an active one, but what makes it different from the rest is the fact that it is always expelling lava and at night it becomes an awsome show. So after avoiding the almost unavoidable touristic route, taking a bus, asking for ride and walking for a few km we reached a nice campsite in front of the volcano, where we put up our tents and our hammocs in between some trees and we stayed awake all night enjoying the volcano. Something incredible. After this awsome experience, on the following day we went to do some rafting down the Sarapiqui river, how nice, and not only for the rafting, also because of the great amount of animals that we saw on our way down the river. Really, really nice. After our water experience we ended up our day in this beautifull country spending a day in the Rincon de la Vieja national park, where we visited an amazing waterfall (where we took a very nice bath) and some volcano formations which were really interesting. An in this way we ended up our days in this incredible country. We are now heading towards Nicaragua. Hugs and kisses.

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