Are you in a wintertime funk, Bucko? Are your better days behind you? Don’t let the world pass you by, get out of your funk! A Costa Rica vacation may be the only thing between you and wintertime blues. Consider:

1. Airfares have not been this reasonable in years. The world economic downturn has come to Costa Rica. Tourism in Costa Rica is off by at least fifteen percent this year, presenting terrific travel deals to an informed and frugal traveler . Want luxury at an affordable price? The Hilton Papagayo Resort is offering accomodations around $160.00 a night. Seniors can get an extra discount. More budget-conscious folks who travel Costa Rica can stay at very nice Costa Rica hostels (some with private rooms) for about $12.00. Travel Tip: For the finest deals, visit between May and mid-November and avoid the holiday periods. Bonus Tip: always ask the hotel, resort, or hostel if there is a discount for cash (“effectivo” in Spanish).

2. With nearly 800 miles of coast visit some of the exquisite Costa Rica beaches. Hike off of Drake Bay, named after Sir Francis Drake, who visited the southern Costa Rica Pacific coast a decade before destroying the mighty Spanish Armada and saving England in 1588. You can even explore the same Caribbean beach where Columbus landed six centuries ago. Black, brown, and white sand beaches, sea shell beaches, rugged rock-strewn beaches are everywhere.

3. Frolic on the same Costa Rica beaches as Britney Spears or Mel Gibson (you need to bring your own Russian model). Or, bring your surfboard because some of the best surfing in the world is found here. Most beaches are completely free but if you prefer to visit a very popular national beach park called Manuel Antonio, there will be a small entry fee.

4. Tour Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast, the world’s largest green sea turtle preserve. Or, check out Ostional National Preserve on the fabulous Gold Coast, where thousands of olive ridley sea turtles come ashore in massive nestings, called “arribadas”, perhaps the largest remaining on the planet. Arribadas happen every month but the biggest (sometimes involving hundreds of thousands of turtles) typically are when the moon is in its last quarter during the months of July to November. And, keep in mind that Costa Rica ecotourism is helping to preserve endangered sea turtles, exotic macaws, and many other species.

5. Think Green. Imagine a tiny little country with nearly as many different species of birds as in the entire continental U.S., more than 900. It is a place with more species of butterflies than Africa—all of Africa. 10% of the species of butterflies on earth live in a place comprising just 1/10,000 of the earth’s surface.

6. If you are fit and adventurous, visit magnificent Corcovado National Park on the southern Pacific Coast, a place National Geographic describes as “the most biologically intense place on earth.” Though small, it is true wilderness that hosts the largest remaining population of scarlet macaws in Latin America, including sloths, tapirs, monkeys, and six kinds of wild cat, including the spectacular jaguar, all living in some of the tallest primary forest remaining in this region of the world. Bring your camera, bandaids for blisters, and mosquito repellant.

About the writer: Victor Krumm lives in sunny Escazu. Be sure to go to his popularwebsite about Costa Rica Vacationsand if you are an adult be sure to check out Costa Rica Nightlife.

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