US Airways - December 2013 - (Page 60)

i t started as a means of transportation for grad students who needed to move easily from tree to towering tree as they researched the rich ecology of the canopy. Today, Costa Rica boasts the world's first zip-line tour, the longest tour, and more than 80 options for rides through its jungle, over its beaches, and down its mountains. Exhibits B through G for Costa Rica's adventure credentials: surfing Playa Jaco (or watching the experts surf nearby Playa Hermosa); rafting the class-V rapids of Rio Pacuare; kayaking in the open ocean off the Nicoya Peninsula; diving the teeming reefs of Isla del Caño; hiking the steep, steaming Rincón de la Vieja volcano; and bungee jumping from the Old Colorado River Bridge, 265 feet above the rushing river below. Last year, more than 2.3 million people visited this small country, whose population is only about twice that number. Costa Rica's tourism board estimates that a full 70 percent of them came for relaxation spiked with a hefty dose of action. But, no, I'm not going zip-lining. Or whitewater rafting. Or bungee jumping. I'm in the other 30 percent. ★ 60 december 2013 usairwaysmag.com yoga mats. Others have fishing poles over their shoulders. And there are couples with binoculars and matching bird-embroidered chambray shirts. Their leisure-inclined packing choices are evidence that the country's tourist base has broadened beyond the adrenaline seekers. You don't necessarily need to go looking for thrills in a country where so much is already wild. Here, miniature frogs aren't a dull brownishgreen; their colors are crimson, royal blue, and neon green. Talkative toucans are as bright as a Froot Loops box. Monkey calls echo for half a mile. Little leaf-cutter ants are superheroes, carrying ten times their own weight. Bullet ants are villains, armed with a neurotoxin that's said to mimic the pain of being shot. Costa Rica is home to lizards that can run on water, snakes that tussle with small mammals, vines that grow from the sky to the earth, and trees that can walk. (The "walking palm" is said to possess the ability to move three or more feet in search of sunlight.) Still need a rush? The country's renowned coffee beans are notably high in caffeine. Instead of squishing through the mud that's inevitable in a country with a six-month rainy season, I'm walking through the jungle on a wide boardwalk eight feet above the forest floor. ★ photos (clockwise from left) by Alison wright (4) And Al ArguetA There's only one drawback to adventure destinations: Their reputation can be intimidating to visitors who are just a little less, well, adventurous. So while the surfboard-carrying, sea-kayaking backpacker has been exploring Costa Rica since the 1990s, the arrival of the "ecotourist" interested in peaceful observation of canopy and coastline is newer. This growing group of visitors has found appreciation for Costa Rica's diverse flora and fauna without the need for cliff jumping. Just one look at the tourists at Juan Santamaría airport in San José confirms the evolution of Costa Rican attractions. Some people clutch http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - December 2013

Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Vacation Memories
Hub Crawl: Miami International Airport
Wine & Dine: Holiday Fizz
Diversions: Going Whole Hog
Diversions: Time Travel
Style Spotlight: Holiday Bling
Adventure: North Carolina's High Country
Adventure: Arizona Story
Adventure: Sled Dog Racing
Gear Up: Stocking Stuffers
Great Escapes: Charleston Place Hotel
Great Escapes: Hotel Palomar in Washington, DC
Travel Feature: Costa Rica
US Airways: Tower Talk
Celebrate Tucson, AZ
Health Matters: Miami Foot and Ankle Surgery
Charlotte, USA
Must Read: I Got Schooled
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - December 2013