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Getting Lost Hiking in a Jungle in Costa Rica

A small town up in central Costa Rica famed for its active volcano of the same name, caving, lake, hot springs, and gigantic waterfall. It was a stop on everyone’s itinerary, a place to embrace that Pura Vida lifestyle. During the day, smoke rose from the volcano as lava oozed out of it casting a dusty appearance to the mountain.

 At night, flashes of red let you know lava is oozing down its side:

It was our second day there and I wanted to hike some of the (safe) trails around the hill and catch the sunset over the lake. Hiking in Costa Rica is one of the top things to do in the country and I wanted to do as much of it as possible. We told the cab driver we’d be back at the park entrance at six and started off on our adventure to watch the sunset over the lake. We headed into the jungle, which often quickly thinned out to rocky trails spreading out like spider veins from the side of the mountains. These were remnants of eruptions long past. Dead earth that was slowly coming back to life. We wandered off the train and down these gravel paths, finding where they led. This was an adventure. I felt like Indiana Jones. I jumped over rocks and climbed boulders, getting Gloria and Lena to take photos of me. I followed unknown local animals around.

Returning to the official trail, we walked towards the lake. On the way, we consulted the vague trail map our hotel had given us.

“I think we’re at this cross-section, ” I said pointing to a spot on the map. “We passed these lava fields a bit ago so I think if we keep going a little more down that way, we’ll get to the lake. ” Gloria leaned over. “Yeah, I think so too. We have a few hours until sunset so let’s keep hiking. We can loop around these side trails and then get back to the main trail. ” As the sun began to set, we turned back towards the lake. Consulting our map again, Gloria said: “Hmm, I think we’re now here. ” We weren’t a 100% sure what cross trail we were on. The map was vague and had little reference to distance. “Maybe we walk back two junctions and we’ll hit the main trail. There’s this other trail but I dunno if we are close. ” As we consulting this map, a few hikers passed us. “Excuse, can you tell us where we are? Which way to the lake?, ” I asked. “Just go back and take a left at the sign, ” said one of the guys as he passed, gesturing vaguely as he pointed. “Ok, thanks! ” As they continued on, we looked at the map. “If he said that way, then we must be at this crossroads, ” I said pointing to a junction closer to the main path. “That left must be this other path we were just looking at. ”

We proceeded in the direction he told us and took a left.

But, instead, our trail instead kept going and we soon found ourselves deeper into the forest. There was no junction, no turn-off. Our guess at the junction was wrong. As the sun set overhead and sky turned a deep pink, we became more and more lost. We went down trails that ended abruptly. We doubled back again, found new trails but kept going around in circles. Day turned into night. Mosquitoes came out to hunt their confused prey (us), and animals came out to frolic, no longer scared off by a thousand hiking tourists. Twilight set in and our flashlights batteries died. All we had to guide us was the light from our cameras. We had no food or water. This trip was only supposed to last a couple of hours. We were unprepared. “We need to find a point that we recognize and then work from there. We’re going around in circles, ” Lena said. She was right. We were making no progress. The thought of spending a night in the jungle was making us edgy. Our tour group would be feasting on a huge dinner while we found our way out of this mess. Would we have to spend the night here? When would they start to worry about us? Would it be too late by then? The park wasn’t that big but we were essentially wandering in the dark. We came to a fork in the road. “I remember this place, ” I said. “I think we go…. that way, ” I said pointing to another path. “The chart shows a dirt road at the end. Roads mean cars. Cars mean people. People means back in time for dinner. ” “Let’s hope, ” replied Gloria. Following the trail, we eventually came to a dirt road. It was on the map and had a science station marked on it. One way led to it, the other to the main road. Figuring we were at least in the right direction, all of us turned left into the darkness. We’d picked the wrong way though. In front of us was the gate to the science station. Conversing in Spanish with the guard, Gloria and Lena told him our situation. He informed us we couldn’t call a cab from there and we’d have to walk twenty minutes back to the main road, try to catch the ride there, or walk back to town. The road had been empty when we got there. Tired and hungry, we all began our long walk home in silence. Eventually, a car picked us up. Once inside, we became animated again, talking and laughing about the whole experience. “Ya know, in retrospect, we have a good story to tell the actual group, ” Gloria said. She had gone silent within anger during the walk. “Haha! Yeah but first I need to eat, ” replied Lena. “I’m starving. ” Back at the hotel, our tour group was on dessert. Everyone looked at us in our dirty clothes and asked, “Where were you guys? Why did you miss dinner? ” We looked at each. “It’s an interesting story but first we need some food. We’re starving, ” we said with a smile.

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The Best Places to visit in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is one of the most visited countries in Central America. American tourists have been flocking to the country for years, and it’s become a hot spot for retirees and expats due to its cheap living, great weather, amazing beaches, and friendly locals.I’ve been back to visit Costa Rica many times since then, falling in love with it over and over again. But, because it’s not as cheap to visit as its neighbors, many budget travelers skip over Costa Rica.

And, while that’s true (but there are many ways to save money in Costa Rica), in my opinion, the beauty of the destinations below is worth the extra price.

Here are some of my favorite destinations in Costa Rica:

1. Puerto Viejo:

Located on the Caribbean coast near Panama, Puerto Viejo is popular with young people and backpackers because of its great beaches, surfing, and party atmosphere. The town is very lively and you’ll find something going on every night. It’s probably the most popular destination on the Caribbean coast. There are also many quiet beach hotels around for those who are looking for some peace and quiet. There is also a jaguar rescue center nearby that rehabilitates all sorts of local wildlife and releases them back into the wild.

2. Cahuita:

Cahuita, a tiny town situated right next to a stunning national park with the same name, is about an hour north of Puerto Viejo. Cahuita is a place to relax. There’s one bar in town that gets lively (sometimes it’s half full! ), but for the most part, after a day associated with hiking, animal spotting, swimming, or surfing, most people just sit around and read. The region is known for its Afro-Caribbean influences, which you might notice in the food and local culture as you chill out with some dessert crepes or grilled chicken.

3. Tortuguero:

Tortuguero (which means ‘Land of Turtles’) is the Costa Rican version of the Amazon rainforest. It dominates the northern coast, with Tortuguero National Park spanning over 77, 000 acres. This massive area is a series of rivers and canals that crisscross the jungle. The biggest draws to this area are the large numbers of turtles (hence the name) that come to nest along the shoreline. The best time to see them nesting is in April and May, but if you’re visiting during the off-season, you’ll still be able to go hiking as well as participate in canal cruises. However, there’s lots of wildlife to see year-round.

4. Corcovado:

Corcovado National Park is on the remote Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica. Established in 1975, the park covers an area of 424 square kilometers, making it the largest park in the country. Though more popular than it used to be, it’s still a very rugged, quiet, and also off-the-beaten-path destination in a country where almost everything is within the beaten path. The peninsula is not easy to get to (which helps keep tourists away), but your efforts will be greatly rewarded with deserted beaches, tons of wildlife, great hiking, camping, and lots of marine life. It’s one of the best places in the country. To me, this is probably one of the best places in the entire country. Try not to miss it!

5. Arenal:

Sitting at an elevation of 1, 670m, Arenal is one of Costa Rica’s many volcanoes. It still erupts from time to time, and if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see lava flowing down the volcano. (Though, it’s less likely to happen as the volcano has been dormant for the last seven years). Fun fact: I got lost in the jungle around here. The area has tons of wonderful activities: there’s awesome waterfall (La Fortuna), the national park with great hiking, sunset views over the lake, caving, rafting options, and famous hot springs. With so much to do, it’s no wonder it’s one of the most visited places in the country.

6. Manuel Antonio:

A popular beach destination on the Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio’s wide, white-sand beaches and warm blue waters aren’t the only attractions people come for. The nearby national park, which opened in 1972, sees over 150, 000 visitors annually and is home to great hiking trails, a number of secluded beaches, and offers up the chance to view three different kinds of native monkeys. It’s become a lot more crowded along with developed over the years. It’s definitely not the park I first visited in 2006. That said, you’ll still see a lot of animals and the beaches in the area have been kept surprisingly pristine! Admission to the park is $16 USD per person, though kids under 12 enter for free.

7. Monteverde:

The nation’s premier cloud forest is the home to the elusive quetzal birds. Most people come to Monteverde for a glimpse of this rare bird. The area is one of the largest eco-tourism hubs in the country, and over 250, 000 people visit every year. Monteverde, which rests right on the continental divide, experiences high winds in addition to unusual weather patterns. The entire area is very green plus wet. Witness it all on a zip-line adventure through the tree canopy or explore some of the sky bridges in the area. Expect to pay around $50 USD per person for zip-lining.

8. Poas Volcano:

A great day trip from San José, Poas Volcano is an active stratovolcano with twin calderas filled with sulfur lakes. The lakes are so still, you will look at your picture and think you painted the color on. The volcanos last erupted in 2017, and have actually erupted 40 times since 1828! There are some small trails around the area too. Arrive early in the morning to avoid the clouds closing in and ruining the view.

9. Santa Teresa:

At the bottom of the Nicoya coast is the hippie backpacker town of Santa Teresa. This “town” is really nothing more than a beach with a road lined with eateries, yoga centers, surf shops, and hostels. Everyone gets up early to hit the waves, so the overall atmosphere in town is pretty relaxed. You won’t find a lot of crazy parties here. Santa Teresa is a good place to lie around the beach, hang out with people, and relax. Because of the “chill” vibe, many people end up staying in Santa Teresa for weeks, and even months, on end.While everything in Costa Rica is a bit touristy and a wee bit crowded, I think the actual diversity of wildlife, natural beauty, white-sand beaches, amazing sunsets, and warm, clear water make it worth the price. There’s still so many unexplored and unvisited part of the country. Plus, the locals here are super nice and welcoming.

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The Perfect Vacation: The Caribbean and Central America Together!

Part of the fun of going on vacations is the planning stage: Where shall I travel? What do I want to do? Will I be safe there? Searching for the perfect destination is fun, and putting the strings together for a unique vacation is even more fun. However, finding a destination that offers several different settings close by is not always easy, and most of the time, you have to compromise part of your dreamed up experience because it simply is not compatible with the other part of your dream destination.

I recently traveled to the beautiful island of Roatan in the Caribbean. Until recently, most people had never heard of this island. Heck, most people have actually never heard of it despite the fact that it has become an important port of call for many different cruise ship lines.  Roatan is actually part of a small, little-known archipelago (set of islands) in the northwestern Caribbean known as the Bay Islands of Honduras. They belong to the Central American country associated with Honduras and are only 20 miles off the Coast regarding Best cheap vacation Central America. Getting to Roatan is very easy: American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Avianca all offer non stop air service from the USA to Roatan. Located within two and a half hours flight of Miami, Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta, flying to Roatan will be both easy, quick and affordable. Best of all, although the official language in Honduras is Spanish, everybody speaks English in Roatan! Roatan is a small , long island, with a total of about 40 miles long, it is only 4 miles wide at its widest! There are still many small seaside communities that retain their authentic Caribbean architecture. In addition , beautiful as well as pristine white sand beaches, small island resorts, and outstanding diving in the barrier reefs that surround the island provide an idyllic setting to relax, enjoy, get scuba certified and have fine food and ice cold beer at the beach.

Nearby Roatan you will find mainland Central America:

The port city of La Ceiba, once home to the Dole Fruit headquarters in Honduras, offers a truly unique setting in the nearby Cangrejal River Valley. Travel time there from Roatan is a short two-hour trip, beginning with the modern water jet catamaran ferry: Galaxy Wave that will bring you in full comfort from Roatan to La Ceiba in an hour and a half, and then a short 30-minute taxi drive the Cangrejal River Valley.

The Cangrejal River Valley offers access to two different national parks:

Outstanding hiking trails into some of the best preserved tropical rain forests in Central America, the best whitewater rafting in the Caribbean and Main America and the best spot for bird watching in Honduras. The Cangrejal River Valley is one of the highlights of the Atlantida, the unique Honduras destination that offers the access to the best of Central America and the Caribbean. There you will find a variety of different lodges and inns that will make your stay absolutely perfect. The perfect vacation can be had in Honduras by visiting both Roatan and the Cangrejal River Valley in La Ceiba. Roatan is the perfect alternative for a laid-back Caribbean Experience, La Ceiba is the ideal destination for adventure and nature vacation! Yes, you can have two totally different experiences in one trip by combining these two destinations. Truly the ideal combination for an ideal vacation!

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Advice For Tourists Who Want to Travel Central America

After talking to several individuals over the years both inside U. S. and abroad, there seem to be numerous misunderstandings when it comes time to travel to Central America. Most men and women are familiar with Costa Rica and Panama, although a lot of will erroneously say South America when referring for the location on the map of these nations. The other nations which might be not so well identified for instance Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize all have their own wonderful mysteries and alluring destinations being discovered plus the wise traveler trying to find an adventure that's affordable and off the beaten path will need to think about these nations.

You can find many critical points 1 must take note of just before they travel Central America:

 Persons, in general, will recognize previous to they travel that these nations are near the equator and so are hot year round, but until they really get off the air-conditioned plane do they recognize just how hot and humid these nations can get. Persons with extreme asthma or other medical issues will need to consult with their doctors very first ahead of they travel to Central America.

If your travel takes you to a remote jungle or beachfront location:

 which are prevalent in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Belize and Panama then you will need for being mindful of insects and other nasty creatures, for instance, large spiders and specially scorpions. The native scorpion in the region is small and brownish red. This animal will hide in clothing and fall from ceilings and their sting is painful but not lethal. Some swelling might occur and partial paralysis or numbness for a temporary period of time. Tourists are warned to shake out their clothing and shoes ahead of putting them on since this is exactly where these critters like to hide. Pack some Benadryl and take an individual if bitten and also the effects on the sting will most most likely go away much quicker, unless a single is allergic towards the sting and then you will need to seek healthcare assist instantly.

You'll find also snakes that you'll need to become aware:

 They're far more rare than one particular would think. In Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, residents would complain of deadly coral snakes coming into their homes for a bit of shade. In Costa Rica, several beach front resorts were plagued by one of the most aggressive serpents, the Ferre de Lance, or Terciopelos as the natives call them. One bite from one of these reptiles and it might be all over if health-related support isn't reached fairly quickly.

When bathing within the waters off the coast you'll need for being mindful of riptides:

There is an region in northern Nicaragua known as Poneloya exactly where the waves are so fierce along with the riptides so abundant that every Holy Week a number of hundred individuals get sucked in and are never seen again. If you're drinking, old or really young, you may need to avoid these kinds of turbulent waters whenever you journey Central America. When men and women swim from the ocean they may be lulled into a false sense of security, especially if they swim each and every day. They forget that the ocean is teeming with life and not all of it friendly. You will find sharks, of course, and other nasty fish like barracuda, but attacks from these animals are rare. Much more probably is obtaining stung by jellyfish which will invade particular areas at several times in the year. You'll need to get great data from other swimmers just before venturing out into the ocean. These are just a few tips to take into account whenever you travel Central America. Use your common sense and ask lots of questions just before embarking and you'll be alright and have a wonderful time on your vacation.

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Eleven Cheapest Travel Destinations You NEED TO VISIT NOW

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Travelling Costa Rica Infographic

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Web Optimization - What Is SEO?

Web Optimization Is Essential To Your Success

SEO (Web Optimization) is working with your website and online marketing to make sure you have the best results from search engine searches. Knowing what terms people type in when they search for a product/ service helps you decide what words to use on your website. If you offer any type services, a quick search for SEO Words will tell you that you shouldn't use any random keyword' as a primary keyword as most people search for the specific/ targeted word not random. If someone searches for something specific, you want to make sure your website comes up in the results. The more you do with SEO, the higher your site will come up in search results.

Long-tail web optimization is a more direct SEO term:

 Let's see, if you going to sell children's clothes, you would want to know for a fact that when somebody looks for something very targeted, like a "boy's blue denim jacket size 7" your website, with that same item shows up in the search engine results. Long-tail web optimization is a little more descriptive and detailed.

SEO is bigger than just getting better search engine rankings:

after going through this website, you won't need to question "What is SEO". Professional online marketing campaigns take a five-point path: Pay Per Click, SEO, Link Building, Conversion Rate Optimization, and Social Media. While it would be impossible to teach the full technique of SEO Marketing strategies in just one article, you should be able to get a rough overview by learning about the five main pillars which I will go over in the future. Web Optimization revolves around several factors that all pertain to search engine's mysterious algorithms. Organic web optimization is the goal of all online marketing campaigns. I will provide a list of a few of the major future-proof SEO strategies, that will definitively help the overall performance of your website.

Web optimization is a wide approach used to rank websites higher in search engines:

It focuses around optimizing your website for building links to your website, conversions, and making sure that your website is friendly to search engines, running a pay per click ad campaign and even establishing a social media presence. Web optimization is one of the most treasured marketing techniques, it is a long-term solution that will provide a non-stop supply of conversions.

When your website isn't found by the search engines:

Business is lost which also means money is lost as well. Professional web optimization services can help you speed up your site's relevance and, in return, elevate it higher in the rankings putting your business closer to more potential customers. With its ability to generate more targeted traffic to your website at a relatively cheap cost, SEO is a necessary component of your online marketing technique. Your views on the search engines can also be gained by using automatic search engine submitting tools, that can automatically submit your website URL to local and national search engines/directories. By using these types of tools in alliance with web optimization can dramatically impact the amount of traffic to your website.