San Jose (Costa Rica)
According to SIMPLYYELLOWPAGES, San Jose is the most important transportation hub, so every tourist spends at least a day here. The city became the capital of Costa Rica in 1837, although it was founded 100 years earlier. The architecture of the city shows the influence of several styles. Most of the buildings are built in colonial and neoclassical styles, their height does not exceed 5 floors. However, there are also modern buildings of 10 or more floors, they are concentrated in the central and business parts of the city. On the outskirts of the city there are many mansions and private houses surrounded by greenery.
There are few attractions in the city. In the center of the capital, next to the central square, is the National Theater, built in 1890, the building of which is considered one of the most beautiful theater buildings in Latin America. In this area, underground is a museum of gold items from the Indian period found in Costa Rica. The most interesting museum is the National Museum, which contains archaeological finds, costumes, religious art, items from the colonial era. You can also visit the Art Museum, which contains works by Costa Rican artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Entomological Museum, and the Museum of Natural Sciences.
Puntarenas, Pacific Coast (Costa Rica)
The city of Puntarenas is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica in its northern part on the shores of the Bay of Nicoya. Once it was one of the largest ports in the country, and now only cruise liners moor in the city port.
A seaside boulevard adjoins the beach area of the city. It is surrounded by trees and lined with numerous bars, restaurants and discos. The beaches within the city are not very
clean, and the coastal waters are muddy, but the beaches of the nearby island of San Lucas are very beautiful.
The city has a small old church and the Palace of Culture, where concerts are periodically held. Tour boats depart daily from Puntarenas Harbor to Turtle Island.
Puntarenas is located in the province of the same name, which covers the territory from the border with Panama to the Nicoya Peninsula. The coastline here is 1,000 km long and there are beaches such as Playa Tambor, Playa Naranjo, Playa Herradura and Playa Manzanillo. There is also the Kourou Reserve, the Baia Ballena Whale Cove, the rocky coves and waterfalls near Montezuma, the Wilson Botanical Gardens, the country’s first wildlife sanctuary, Cabo Blanco, and the Baia Draque Bay, an area of the Ballen Marine National Reserve. Surfers will love this area, they should relax in Playa Jaco, Playa Carillo, Playa Hermosa, Playa Esterrillos Oeste and Playa Dominical, as well as diving enthusiasts who can explore the underwater world of the Ballen Marine National Reserve in the bay Baya Drake.
Puerto Limon, Caribbean coast (Costa Rica)
Puerto Limon is the center of the Caribbean coast. It was founded in 1870 as a port from which bananas and coffee were exported. Since 1970, it began to develop rapidly, and is considered by Costa Ricans to be one of the best places to settle. The city has two magnificent beaches. To the south of the city are the richest coral reefs. The Limona area is the center of Caribbean, especially Jamaican, culture in Costa Rica.
History in Costa Rica
Since ancient times, the territory of Costa Rica has been inhabited by Indian tribes. The first settlements appeared about 5 thousand years ago, but statehood as such did not develop here. The Indians lived by fishing and hunting, and in the mountainous regions they were engaged in agriculture, pottery and knew how to smelt gold and copper. In 1502, Christopher Columbus landed on these shores. He was so impressed by the numerous gold jewelry of the Indians that he named the area “Rich Coast” (Costa Rica). In 1509, the first Spaniards sailed here in search of gold, and by the middle of the 16th century, the territory became a colony of Spain. The weakening of Spain in the 19th century led to the rise of the national liberation movement. In 1821 Costa Rica became independent. In 1856, the United States attempted to take over the country, but were defeated, however, they subordinated its economy to their own interests and dragged Costa Rica into a war with Panama. Between 1917 and 1919, dictatorial rule was established in Costa Rica. In 1948, a civil war broke out, which was the last military conflict.
