Travel Around Planet

Archive for May, 2011

Top Costa Rica Tourist Attractions

The Caribbean island of Costa Rica is a popular tourist destination. Along with the many resorts hotels and beaches tourists have opportunities to enjoy beautiful scenery and exquisite shopping. However there are many natural and manmade Costa Rica tourist attractions that you should have on your itinerary when you visit this island.

1. Arenal Volcano National park and Observatory. This is an active volcano located in the San Jose area of Costa Rica. The tours usually start in the afternoon and involve about an hour’s walk through lava rocks before reaching the place where you can view the volcanic eruption. The sight of the eruption and the lava flow from the observatory is spectacular and is a sight that will remain in your memory for years to come. The best time to see the eruption is after dark when the glowing lava lights up the sky. If you visit on a cloudy day you may not see anything.

2. Our Lady of Los Angeles Church. This is the most famous church in the Cartago Region if not in all of Costa Rica. The focal point of the church is the statue of the Virgin Mary called La Negrita. As legend has it this statue was discovered at the site of the present church in 1635 and reappeared miraculously after it was removed. This is a destination for thousands of pilgrims each year especially on August 2.

3. The Rainmaker. This is a series of suspension bridges on the Pacific Coast of the island. It was the first aerial walkway in Central America and reaches 25 stories tall at its highest point. The area around the bridges is spectacular with rainforest trails that wind along streams and to glorious waterfalls.

4. Rainforest Aerial Tram. This is a train that moves along the canopy of the rainforest. There are 22 cars in the train each of which can carry five passengers. A naturalist guide points out sights of interest and explains the workings of the rainforest as well as the names of the birds and animals that you may be able to see.

5. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. This type of forest is usually cloudy and humid because of its high altitude. There are eight different ecological zones within this reserve with over 400 species of birds 110 species of amphibians and lizards 100 species of mammals and over 2500 species of plants. Some of the hiking trails could be a bit muddy so visitors are advised to wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

6. Santa Rosa National Park. This is one of the oldest parks in Costa Rica. It covers almost 100000 acres of land on the Santa Elena Peninsula. The numerous hiking trails offer breathtaking scenic views and the possibility of seeing many type of native wildlife. It is the largest dry tropical rainforest in Central America and is one of the best camping places in Costa Rica. It is the home of a sea turtle sanctuary as well as fabulous beaches for swimming and surfing.

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Hiking Vacation Idea

There are great places to hike all over the world. My personal preference is in cooler wetter climates; I am not a big fan of deserts or super hot and humid climates. I find it easier to get warm than it is to get cool to each their own. Anyways earlier this year I took a hiking vacation in Iceland. I am not sure how aware most Americans are of this tiny island nation. But the bottom line is if you havent been there you should go. It really is a hikers paradise.

First a little about Iceland. I recommend going there in late spring through the summer months for the best chance of decent weather. I was there in early May and the weather was surprisingly good with little rain and warmish weather. Even in the warmer months though you want to bring lots of layers and good waterproof clothes and equipment.

I found a tour company online that offered a good selection of multiday hiking and trekking tours. I chose a four day backpacking tour that started in one of Icelands national parks called Skaftafell. This is a real gem of a location and it is situated near the bottom of a beautiful glacier. Our hike began in a place nearby called Nupsstadarskgar valley. This is a beautiful location with lots of arctic birch. That first day we hiked along this valley passing waterfalls and lovely sculpted canyons some as high as 200 meters. That first night we made camp near a lava field.

The second day included more hill climbing through glacial valleys. About midway through the second day we ascended the Eggjar hill which has stunning views of a glacier lagoon with clear bluegreen water and floating icebergs. We mad camp later at the north end of this large lagoon. Our campsite had views of the huge glacier that enters into this lagoon. That night was quite magical with the sounds of the glacier and soft winds.

Day three we got a chance to hike on the Skeidararjkull glacier from Graenafjall Mountain to the Nordurdalur valley an area surrounded by ice and high mountain ridges. It took us almost an entire day to cross about 9 miles of ice. By the time we crossed this glacier we were officially on the farthest outskirts of the national parks boundary. That night we camped in another beautiful spot with views over several glacier lakes with floating icebergs and a background of colored rhyolite mountains.

On the final day of our tour we got to climb up a narrow mountain ridge. From the top we stopped to admire the panoramic view over the yellowish rhyolite valley. We also had a spectacular view of Hvannadalshnukur Icelands highest mountain. As we descended into the next valley the vegetation became progressively more abundant with more arctic birch and other foliage that I cant name. By days end our group was back at the Skaftafell national park where we spent one more night before heading back to Reykjavik.

Words cannot express the experience of this journey. It was physically demanding but each night I slept well and awoke ready for more exploration. The views were stunning and I could see for miles because theres so little pollution in Iceland.

I have been on other hiking vacations but this one topped them all. Next time I think I will look into some Iceland mountain hiking tours or maybe some Icelandic pony trekking. David Brooks

About the writer:  David Brooks is a San Diegobased freelance SEO consultant.

What To See On Your Holidays To Bulgaria

The country of Bulgaria has been nestled deep in the Eastern Europe situated in the neighbourhood of Romania Turkey and Greece. Summer vacations in Bulgaria will enable you to enjoy the variation of sun sand and sea.

Winter vacations in the country will allow you to have fun in the snowcapped mountains that are perfect for snow boarding and skiing. If you are the person who likes to enjoy the mixture of food and fine weather with wonderful culture history and architecture then Bulgaria is a mustvisit place for you.

The country is loaded with a large number of historical remains fortresses monasteries and roman theatres. When you travel through Bulgaria you will feel as if you are having a walk in the Garden of Eden as on each turn you will find beautiful landscapes full of open plains secret waterfalls and wonderful mountains.

Arbanassi is an architectural museum reserve and is four kilometres away from the Veliko Turnovo. The village of Arbanassi features the unique architecture of Arbanassi houses drinking yore fountains old narrow streets moving mural paintings original iconostases churches and monasteries.

Konstantsalievs House is a veritable fortress that is evident of exquisite art sense and high skills of the master builders of Bulgaria. The Hadzhiilievs House has a ceremonial entrance a wide staircase a spacious kitchen and guestrooms. The Church of Nativity is the oldest church of Arbanassi decorated with mural paintings.

The acting museum of Etura is a recreation of lifestyle handicrafts and architecture that existed in the National Revival Period. It features markets shops water mills little bridges drinking fountains cozy houses clock tower and workshops. The fragrance of home made rolls and loaves of bread can be smelled and the Stranopriemnitsa Hotel has been constructed completely keeping in the mind the spirit of Etura.

Pirin National Park is a national park of world heritage encompassing a large part of the Pirin Mountains situated in the southwest of the country. Bayuvi Dupki Dzhindzhiritsa and Yulen are the two nature reserves located in the park boundaries. This national park accommodates 18 local endemic species and 60 preserved species including Edelweiss. The fauna includes 2090 species of invertebrate among which 300 are rate species 214 are endemic and 175 are relicts.

The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari is a 3rd century tomb and was discovered in the year 1982 in a mound. The tomb reflects the basic structural principles of the Thracian cult buildings. Its decor is unique with half human and half plant murals. According to the georgraphers the Thracian people were in contact with the Hyperborean and Hellenistic worlds and this tomb is an amazing reminder of these Getae people culture.

The Boyana Church is situated on the outskirts of Sofia in the Boyana quarter. It is mainly popular for its frescoes forming a 2nd layer over the paintings. There are 89 scenes depicted on the church walls by an anonymous painter. The church was added in the UNESCO World Heritage List in the year 1979.

Many holiday makers now come to Bulgaria and stay in holiday villas self catering holiday apartments ski chalets or holiday cottages which they rent as holiday accommodation direct from their holiday home owners.

About the writer:  Andrew Gibson is MD of Direct Holiday Bookings. It has holiday villas and self catering holiday apartments to rent on line as a holiday home rental. To see an example of a Holiday Villa in Bulgaria have a look at Holiday Villas in Bulgaria