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  TRAVEL Everything about travelling to Costa Rica by car, airplane private suttle. Rent a car or travel with the local bus network...

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  ACCOMMODATION At Frida Travel you can choose from a wide variety of lodging all over Costa Rica with direct links to online booking.

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  THE CENTRAL VALLEY Most exciting experience in Costa Rica. visit volcanoes,rivers, private reserves, Orosi Valley famous for its old Church  

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  Few regions of comparable size can offer as many sights, unique attractions and leisure-time activities as Costa Rica

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Frida Travel
(506) 252-73-07 San José

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Discover Central America - Panamá

While Panama is known mostly for its famous canal, the country's natural attractions offer an irresistible lure to far-sighted travellers. This overlooked country offers some of the finest birding, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing in the Americas.

It is a proud nation that offers astounding wildlife adventures, that respects its seven indigenous peoples and that celebrates its Spanish heritage with frequent and colourful festivals. There's an inescapable feeling that you're in on a secret the rest of the travelling world has yet to discover.

The country's indigenous name means 'abundance of fish'. Rafters can ride 20 sets of rapids in a single day, wildlife abounds in the scarcely-visited national parks, and a person can snorkel in the Caribbean Sea and swim in the Pacific Ocean...on the same day! It's no wonder the locals boast that Panama has much more to offer than nearby, traveler-soaked Costa Rica.

Full country name: Republic of Panama
Area: 78,200 sq km
Population: 3 million
People: 65% mestizo, 14% African descent, 10% Spanish descent, 5% indigenous
Language: English, Spanish
Religion: Roman Catholic (85%), Protestant (10%), Islamic and Jewish (1%)
Government: constitutional democracy
Head of State: President Martin Torrijos Espino
GDP: US$18 billion
GDP per capita: US$6,200
Annual Growth: 4.1%
Inflation: 1.1%
Major Industries: Banking, construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling, shipping and agriculture
Major Trading Partners: USA, EU, Central America & Caribbean, Japan

Activities

There are hundreds of islands off both coasts of Panama, and because the coasts are just an hour's drive apart, you could easily spend the morning snorkelling in the Caribbean Sea and the afternoon swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Some of the best snorkelling and diving to be found in Central America can be found in the protected waters beside Panama's Coiba Island. Divers looking for something different might want to consider diving in the Panama Canal; not only are there wrecks to explore but also all kinds of submerged equipment left by the French when they worked on the railroad many decades ago. Surfers should check out Santa Catalina Beach, on the Península de Azuero, which periodically sees waves with 6m (20ft) faces, though they're usually hovering around 3m (10ft).

Fishing enthusiasts will be pleased to know that more deep-sea fishing records have been set at Piñas Bay, on the Pacific coast, than anywhere else in the world. You can see sea turtles in large numbers along both Panamanian coasts, although the Kunas' habit of lopping their heads off with machetes and eating them is taking a heavy toll. Cana, deep in the heart of Parque Nactional Darién, is birding nirvana, and what's more, you're likely to find yourself alone as you take in the great green, blue-and-yellow, red-and-green and chestnut-fronted macaws. However, it must be noted that Cana is not considered safe to visit due to guerrilla activity so check with local authorities to assess the situation before heading into this area.

GUATEMALA - HONDURAS - EL SALVADOR - NICARAGUA - PANAMÁ