Volcano Visits The country has at least 60 dormant or extinct volcanoes, with six that are historically active. The big kahuna of them all is the famous Volcan Arenal, a renowned natural feature that is one of Costa Rica’s must-see sites. Lying in the northern region and created from layers of ash, lava and rocks, Arenal is classically cone-shaped and towers over the surrounding fertile landscape at a height of well over 5,000 feet. This iconic monolith that is currently dormant is a spectacular sight to behold with smoke and steam rising from its crater. Geologically, Arenal is considered a young volcano estimated to be less than 7,500 years old. Together with surrounding geothermal hot springs, spas and rainforest reserves, Arenal is a major attraction in the region, if not tops in the entire country. At least five other of Costa Rica’s primary volcanoes are also well worth a visit. The Capital Experience Lying in the centre of the country, San Jose is Costa Rica’s capital and largest city. It’s a vibrant, bustling centre with a mix of modern buildings and historical landmarks dating back to its colonial era. Widely regarded as the finest building in San Jose is the Teatro Nacional (National Theater) modelled after the Paris Opera House. It’s home to the country’s National Symphony, world-class ballet and international guest artists. Among the city’s several cultural attractions is the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) which contains more than 500 pre-Columbian artifacts including gold animal figurines, jewellery, erotic statuettes and a life-sized gold warrior figure. Adding depth to the museum is a section devoted to Costa Rica’s currency and pre-Columbian history. Housed in one of San Jose’s new architectural buildings is the Jade Museum containing the world’s largest collection of jade artifacts that tell the story of ancient Central American civilizations. The country’s animal kingdom is represented at the Simon Bolivar Zoo, a facility paired with the oldest botanical gardens in Costa Rica. Overall, the capital is home to a bevy of things to see and do, with several city markets ranking among the top tourist attractions. Here, visitors can find everything from souvenirs to food, spices, jewellery, handmade crafts, woven hammocks and much more. National Theater of Costa Rica 16 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
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