San Jose Night Life

By Tyler Budke and Javier Alba

San José is the largest city of Costa Rica with a population just shy of 300,000 and also happens to be the capital city. It was founded in 1738 by the Cabildo de León. During colonial times the economy was mainly fueled by tobacco exports only to be replaced by coffee plantations during the middle of the 19th century.

San José today is a modern city complete with an international airport, parks, restaurants, cafes, hotels, and tall buildings. Along with this modernization comes a very interesting and diverse night life.

There are many districts with a night life but the three main ones are El Pueblo, San Pedro, and Barrio La California.

If you are taking a taxi to any of these locations do not give the driver an address or you will get lost. It is widely accepted that you give them some landmarks that are nearby where you want to go and you will arrive on time.


El Pueblo is a shopping center during the day and becomes a clubbing district at night. There are several bars and nightclubs cluttered in the tiny little alleyways.

Selvatura Adventure Park at Monteverde

By Kelly Kneival and Lacey Merica

Monteverde did not always start out as one of Costa Rica’s top three tourist destinations. In its early beginnings Monteverde was a milk producing community that was settled by Quakers who were in search of a better future for their family. The Quakers settled Monteverde in a humble fashion for the single purpose of providing sustenance for their families. This value was one shared by both Costa Ricans and the Quakers.

During the initial settling of Monteverde families were primarily concerned with planting and growing crops and milk cattle. Families would take their goods to local markets in the area such as Guacimal, Chomes and Puntareanas. At this time the Quakers practiced controlled deforestation. The practice of controlled deforestation is cleaning the farm land of trees and other plants to make room for planting and areas for cattle to graze.

Costa Rican Traditional Foods

By Ngoc Nguyen and Lolita Schumacher

Costa Rica is a small Caribbean country located on the Isthmus Peninsula, boasting 1,290km of coastline, between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The country supports tropical and subtropical climates. Beautiful coastal plains are separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones. Nestled in this warm tropical climate, you will find 4.5 million Ticos (Costa Ricans) enjoying a colorful, bountiful table filled with local fruits and vegetables. The cuisine of Costa Rica is rich in color and texture, yet the dishes do not carry the spicy hot taste traditionally found in Mexican food. Costa Rican dishes are famous for more subtle flavors. Regarding drinks, coffee is the favorite- Ticos drink theirs strong and black.

Costa Rica attracts many tourists because of the breathtaking sightseeing and delicious food. Most traditional dishes incorporate rice and beans (frequently black beans) accompanied with beef, chicken, or fish. A traditional Tico breakfast includes ‘gallo pinto’ (pinto rooster) which is a dish that sauteés cooked rice, black beans, onions, red pepper, cilantro, and special spices. The dish will be served with eggs, natilla (sour cream), and bread. Gallo Pinto is a household stable and many cooks and chefs will tell you the secret ingredient is a sauce known as Lizano. This greenish brown sauce is packed with flavors that release a slightly sweet taste. Lizano is made from puréeing cilantro, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and countless other spices. Lizano is a Tico favorite and used on everything, much like Americans use ketchup.

Historic Role of Coffee in Costa Rica

By Cynthia Bryant and Ahmed Saleh

Coffee production in Costa Rica began in 1779 in the Meseta Central. The blend that was first introduced to Costa Rica was first cultivated in Saudi Arabia known as Arabica Coffee. In Costa Rica coffee soon began to be a way of life, it transformed their nation’s culture, economy and diet. Coffee became Costa Rica’s number one export in 1829 quickly surpassing, cacao, sugar, and tobacco. Exports to Panama began in the 1820s and around 1832 Chile became a major customer. Chile began to rebrand the coffee and exported to England under the name "Café Chileno de Valparaíso."

In 1843 William Le Lacheur Lyon, the captain of the Monarch sent a shipment of Costa Rican coffee directly to England. The British grew fond of coffee and developed an interest in the country. They invested heavily into the country and became the principal customer of coffee exports till World War II. Costa Rica was then known around the world for coffee. It started to become more modernized and Costa Rican children went to study abroad in Europe to get a good education. They would then return as entrepreneurs, doctors, and engineers, and would contribute to Costa Rica’s growth. In 1890, Costa Rica was the first country to build a railroad to the Atlantic Coast named "Ferrocarril al Atlántico." Also coffee farmers built the national theater in Costa Rica in 1897.

Eco-Tourism: Intro and Costa Rica Examples

Snakes of Costa Rica

By: Kara Galle and Laura Manley



Dinosaurs and snakes roamed the world together 67 million years ago. We as humans have said to have been around for about 160,000 years. That is an enormous difference.


Legless, armless, scaly and slithery are all reasons people tend to be afraid of snakes. There are close to 3000 different varieties of snakes in the world. Snakes belong in the reptile family along with lizards. The life expectancy of a snake is a range from 12 to 40 years. Snakes don’t see, smell, or hear. Snakes use heat sensors behind their eye sockets to sense heat or prey.
Costa Rica accounts for about 135 different varieties of snakes. 17 of which are venomous. The snakes of Costa Rica have 9 different families. Some include Coral snakes, Boas, Vipers and tropical snakes.


The snakes of Costa Rica tend to mind their own business. Snakes are nocturnal keeping them from being out hunting during the day. One may be relieved to hear that most tourists don’t see any snakes during their visit to Costa Rica.