• Introduction
• Top 10 Costa Rica Attractions, Part 2: Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna and Monteverde
• Costa Rica News Round Up
• Learning Spanish (Tico Style) -Lesson #22
• Wrap up

 Monteverde, Costa Rica Cloud Forest

Arenal Volcano doing it’s thing in 2006.

 Details, links, and more inside…

Links mentioned in this show:

Horseback ride from Monteverde to Arenal Volcano (about 3 hours)

Trapp Family Lodge (Monteverde)

Tabacon Resort (Arenal)

Here are some cool pictures showing the Zarcero to La Fortuna including a stop at Doña Chila’s resturant.

Costa Rica News Round Up features Google’s business plans for Costa Rica and new bus and taxi fare increases.

Learning Spanish the Costa Rica way…today’s Tico Spanish word is “chepe”.  Listen to the podcast for details.

Show notes…

• Introduction
• 10 Attraction’s to visit in Costa Rica
• Costa Rica News Round Up
• Learning Spanish - Costa Rica Spanish Lesson #21
• Wrap up
• Music Cumbia No Frills - Kevin Macleod

In keeping each podcast to 15-30 minutes I’ll be featuring two attractions for each of the next five podcasts. If I were to discuss all 10 Costa Rican attractions this episode would be over an hour long. So for episode #22 I’ll be feauring:

• A Walking Tour Of Downtown San José, Costa Rica
• Nicoya Peninsula

10 Attraction’s to visit in Costa Rica:

1. Walking tour of downtown San José (featured in this episode #22)
2. Nicoya Peninsula (featured in this episode #22)
3. Arenal Volcano - Fortuna
4. Monteverde
5. Puerto Limon
6. Barra Honda
7. Tortugero National Park
8. Talamanca Region
9. Isla del Coco
10. Parque Nacional Corcovado

Walking Tour Of San José, Costa Rica

If you’re flying into Costa Rica via the San Jose International Airport I would suggest a walking tour of downtown San José. In this podcast I walk through my recommended route.

Check out this post for a video podcast tour of downtown Costa Rica.

Nicoya Peninsula

A drive from San José down to Puntarenas and take the fery to the Nicoya Peninsula. This podcast features my recommended stops in the Nicoya Peninsula.

Here we are driving on to the ferry in Puntarenas.

“How much money do I need to live in Costa Rica comfortably and should I ship my car to Costa Rica?”

Show notes:

• Intro
• Cost of living in Costa Rica
• Buying a car in Costa Rica or shipping one from home
• Costa Rica News Round Up
• Learn Spanish: Costa Rican Spanish Lesson #20
• Wrap up
• Music Salsa2Long by Kevin MacLeod

Links mentioned on the podcast:

The Costa Rica Four Seasons Hotel

Nice view from one of the suites at the Four Seasons located in the Papagayo peninsula in the Guancaste province:

Here is an article from the USA today about ex-AOL CEO Steve Case and his adventures in Costa Rica.

Show notes:

• 00:00 -  00:31 - Intro
• 00:31 - 03:58 - Song - Menealo by Marfil
• 03:58 - 12:04 - Hiring a maid in Costa Rica
• 12:05 - 14:05 - Costa Rica News Round Up
• 14:06 - 14:25 - Spanish lesson #19
• 14:26 - 15:01 - Wrap Up
• 15:01 - 15:30 - Song - Himno by BobbyBlue

• Introduction
• Costa Rica Adventure Races
• News Roundup
• Costa Rica Spanish Lesson #18
• Wrap up
• Intro Music: gomi chacha-Artist kcsaito

Costa Rica is already a hot spot for bird watchers and eco-tourists.  Now, Costa Rica’s beautiful and exotic location along with it’s famous multiple micro-climates are making the country very popular with adventure and endurance athletes.

In this podcast we’ll discuss two popular adventure races and an adventure guided tour that makes its way across Costa Rica’s both coasts.

 Links from websites mentioned in this podcast:

La Ruta de los Conquistadores (225 mile mountain bike race across Costa Rica).

Costa Rica Coast to Coast (300+ mile race that goes coast to coast).

REI Costa Rica Adventure Tours (a bit more mellow)

Thanks to Brian for emailing a great spot to go hiking and exploring near Cartago.

Thanks to kcsaito for that upbeat podsafe song that I played as an intro to the show.

Episode #19 wraps up with Costa Rica News Round,  Learn Spanish Costa Rica sytle, and Listner feedback on a Costa Rica hot spot!

¡Pura Vida!

-Alan

I hope you had a great holiday season and I’d like to wish everyone a great 2008! It’s hard to beleive that Costa Rica Talk Radio has been podcasting now for one year. Time flies when you’re having fun.

I would like to kick off 2008 with a video podcast about driving in Costa Rica. My last audio podcast covered renting and driving a car in Costa Rica but a picture is worth a thousand words (or something like that). So this video podcast will take you on a ride with me behind the wheel.

We’ll make our way from downtown San José through the Sabana and down to Escazú via the old Escazú road. I also left a minute or so at the end to take you on a ride near Mal País in the Puntarenas Province so you can get a feel of navigating through the pot holes. If you get motion sickness-watch at your own risk!

• Driver - Alan Petersen
• Camera - Steve Sexauer
• Music - Kevin MacLeod - Cumbia No Frills (faster)

• Introduction to episode #18
• Renting and driving a car in Costa Rica
• Costa Rica News Roundup
• Costa Rica Spanish Lessons - lesson #17
• Personal Note
• Wrap up

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! 

For shownotes and to receive a 15% discount off your car rental rates in Costa Rica read on…

I’ll cover everything you’ll need to know to make an informed decision about renting a car in Costa Rica.  Including:

• Car rental insurance (do you need it?)
• Car rental prices in Costa Rica
• Car rental agencies in Costa Rica
• Driving in Costa Rica (pros and cons)
• How to get a 15% discount from EuropCar Costa Rica

Prices on five sites as of the week December 17th:

Dollar - $198 per week - for small car
$234 per week for intermidiate
$252 per week for a small 4-WD

Alamo - $198 per week for small car
$270 for intermidate
$324 for small 4WD

National
$186 per week for small car
$222 for compact like Yaris
$294 for small 4WD

Avis
$204 for small car, a KIA
$252 for mid-size
$330 for small 4WD

Mapache
$240 for small car Yaris
$324 for midsize
$432 for 4WD - Toyota Rav4

Car Rental Discount For Costa Rica Talk Radio Listeners

I’m also very happy to announce that EuropCar is offering a 15% discount on car rental fees for listeners of Costa Rica Talk Radio.

Here is how to get your 15% discount:You must reserve your car rental either through their TOLL FREE number from the US & CANADA 1-866-700-7711 or through email at:  reservations@europcar.co.cr and mention that you listened to this ad in Costa Rica Talk Radio for a 15% discount.

EuropCar website: www.EuropCar.Co.CR 

Please note the following Guidelines for this offer:

• Discount subject to availability.
• Not applicable for Easter Holidays.
• Valid from Jan 15^th to June 30^th 2008
• Minimum 3 day rental
• Must mention offer and talk show name when reserving.

Episode 17 Show Notes:

• 00:00-00:42 -Introduction and Podcast Summary for Costa Rica Podcast 17
• 00:42-01:39  -Costa Rican Folklore Music: Punto Guanacasteco
• 01:40-07:39 -My review of International Living’s Ultimate Event II held in Panama City, Panama
• 07:40-17:41  -I’m Podcasting while on a morning beach run in Playa Tambor, Costa Rica in the Puntarenas Province
• 17:42-19:35  -Costa Rica News Roundup for The week (what’s making news in Costa Rica)
• 19:36-20:20 -Costa Rica Spanish Lesson #16
• 20:21-21:20 -Wrap up
• 21:20-21:34 -Music by BobbyBlue

Episode 16 Show Notes:

• 00:00-01:11- Introduction and Podcast Summary for episode 16
• 01:12-21:51- Introduction and Interview with Charlie Zeller of Ship to Costa Rica
• 21:52-24:00- My London and Panama trip
• 24:01-27:11- Costa Rica News Roundup
• 27:12-27:46- Costa Rica Spanish Lesson #15
• 27:47-28:26- Wrap up
• Music by BobbyBlue

In the latest Costa Rica video podcast, I hit the streets of London, U.K. looking for the Costa Rica Embassy in England.