The Many Sights and Sounds of Santa Cruz Guanacaste
There are many reasons to be excited about a trip to Costa Rica. This is one of the most beautiful and exotic destinations in all of Central America, if not the world. While the entire country is worthy of your visit, you may want to focus your time in the region Guanacaste. To be more specific, Santa Cruz has become one of the more popular destinations in the country owing to its unique culture and electric atmosphere.
You will find a great mix of traditional food, regional music and dancing, and numerous attractions to keep you as busy as you want to be. When you visit Santa Cruz, you will want to consider staying at the Hotel Diria. This will put you right in the center of the action, and you will be only half an hour away from of most beautiful beaches that you have ever laid your eyes on.
The History of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Guanacaste has a long and illustrious history. It is a city made of mostly of farmers and fishermen. It has been that way for a long time. The city actually traces its roots all the way back to 1522 when a group of Spaniards led by Gil Gonzalez Davila discovered it. It would be about 250 years later when the first settlement was founded in 1760. The name of the city was originally Delicias. That would change to Santa Cruz, which means Holy Cross.
Gastronomy and Traditional Food of the Region
One of the reasons for visiting a new place is to experience its culture. There is perhaps no better way to do that than by eating local food. In Guanacaste, you will find several dishes that are unique to this part of the world. Corn forms the basis for many of the dishes. With that in mind, you will want to try Arroz de Maiz. This is basically corn rice. You will find that it is served at many traditional celebrations that take place throughout Guanacaste. Another popular dish that you really must try is Tamal de Cerdo. These are pork tamales that are made out of potato dough. Inside the dough will be pork, rice, carrots, pepper, eggs, and raisins. All of the ingredients are cooked inside a plantain leave. This is just a sampling of the food that you can enjoy during your visit to Santa Cruz.,/p>
Weather in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Guanacaste has a tropical climate that is fairly warm to hot the entire year. While there is no bad time to visit the region, you will want to keep in mind that it is the rainy season from May to October. If you like to stay dry on your vacation, the best time of the year to visit is January through March. You will find March to be the hottest time of the year, followed by the coolest month of the year in May.
The Location and Getting There
Santa Cruz is located in the center of Guanacaste. Getting to the city is rather simple. You can fly directly into the Daniel Oduber International Airport. From there, you can drive to Santa Cruz in half an hour, take the bus, or hail a taxi. It really could not be more convenient. If you are staying at the Hotel Diria, you can also email them ahead of your booking for assistance in getting to the hotel.
Top Things To Do and Festivals To Attend in Santa Cruz
You will honestly find no shortage of things to do in Costa Rica. Many people love the beaches and the waves that are found there. That makes surfing the perfect outdoor activity. Avellanas Surf School is a great place to learn the sport for the first time. You can also take a tour of the city by horse. This is sure to be a memorable experience for the entire family. Other popular activities include zip-lining, mountain biking, and visiting cultural museums. There are also a number of Santa Cruz Costa Rica festivals taking place throughout the year.
The Beautiful Beaches of Guanacaste
If you are like many people today, you will come to Guanacaste due in part due to its beautiful beaches. There are certainly plenty to choose from, all of them within thirty minutes to an hour of Santa Cruz. You will find that each of the beaches is clean and the water is so inviting that it will feel as if your name is specifically being called to jump in and be refreshed. You can just relax in the sunlight, doing nothing at all. There are also plenty of water sports that you can take part in, with fishing being particularly popular. Tamarindo Beach and Playa Conchal Beach are perhaps the most well known locations in Guanacaste. However, there are many smaller locations where you might encounter less of a crowd. These include Playa Negra and Junquillal.
Nearby Popular Attractions
As Santa Cruz is located in the center of Guanacaste, there are plenty of attractions to enjoy throughout the region. You will want to see one of the bullfights. There is even an entire festival that takes place on an annual basis. You might want to take a canopy tour. This is a great way to see the natural rain forests of the region. Whatever you do, go with a positive and adventurous spirit and take part in Santa Cruz Costa Rica attractions. If you do, you are sure to have the experience of a lifetime.
Planning your visit to Santa Cruz can be a lot of fun. With the Hotel Diria as your lodging base, you will never be very far away from all that the Guanacaste region as to offer you. This is a holiday where you can choose to relax every day by the beach with not a care in the world or take part in one of the many adventure activities that the area is known for. The choice is up to you. Let the planning process begin and then get ready to pack your bags.