As director of Bilateral Alliance Partnerships at United Airlines, Fred Thome knows a thing or two about Latin America. And since he was born and raised in Costa Rica, he’s an especially good friend to have when you need recommendations about travel to this Central American paradise. In this exclusive interview, Thome shares some of his favorite Costa Rica travel tips.
How has Costa Rica evolved over the years?
I was born and raised in Costa Rica. However, I have been living abroad, mostly in the U.S. and Chile, for nearly 30 years after graduating from high school in San José, the capital of Costa Rica. From that perspective, I can say that Costa Rica has evolved considerably as a tourist destination since I was a child, mainly because it is now much more recognizable around the world, and you frequently run into someone who has been to Costa Rica or knows someone who has visited there. I believe that one of the key reasons for this positive change is that Costa Rica is recognized as having one of the oldest democracies in Latin America. It also has helped that one of its former presidents received the Nobel Peace Prize in the late 80’s, and that Costa Rica made a decision back in the late 40’s to abolish its army, which has allowed the country to invest and focus on universal health care and education for its people.
For a first-time visitor to Costa Rica, what are the three top attractions or activities that you’d recommend in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has approximately 5% of the world’s biodiversity, and part of this can be seen through the 26 national parks that comprise 25% of the country´s landmass. Manuel Antonio National Park, Chirripó National Park and Corcovado National Park are three examples of natural beauty in Costa Rica. I would recommend visiting at least one the country’s easily accessible volcanoes: Irazu Volcano (about 30 miles east of San José), Poas Volcano (about 40 miles north of San José) or the Arenal Volcano (about 80 miles north of San José). Additionally, you should try to visit Manuel Antonio National Park (located in the Central Pacific Coast region about 82 miles southwest of San José), which is known for its beaches and hiking trails through the rain forest. Finally, I would suggest visiting Sarchí, the country’s most famous crafts center (about 30 miles northwest of San José), where artisans produce the traditional carretas, the ornately painted oxcarts, as well as leather-and-wood furnishings.
Costa Rica is famous as being an eco-friendly paradise, so that’s not a big surprise to most travelers. What are some aspects of Costa Rica that actually might surprise visitors?
One of the main features of Costa Rica that people might not expect is the friendliness of its people, how willing they are to help visitors find their way around and how resourceful they are in trying to communicate with travelers. You will find that this comes handy, as the roads in Costa Rica are not very well marked and as a result, you may need local help when trying to find your destination. Also, Costa Rica is a small country and as a result, you can take part in many different and diverse activities in a short amount of time. Also, Costa Rica has two main international airports: Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in the Central Valley near San José and Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Guanacaste, about 136 miles northwest of San Jose and the gateway to the country’s North Pacific Coast beaches and national parks. Costa Rica has a very pleasant tropical climate not only during the dry season, which extends from December to April, but also during the rainy season, which runs from May to November. During the rainy season, you can expect to get rain in the afternoons, while the mornings are usually sunny. The country’s average temperature is around 22 degrees C or 72 degrees F, which increases considerably as you get closer to the coastal areas.
A lot of people aren’t familiar with Costa Rican cuisine; how would you describe it?
Make sure you try the traditional casado, Costa Rica’s typical dish, at any traditional or local restaurant. The casado includes rice, black beans, some form of meat (beef, chicken or fish) and a simple salad. Variations, which can be served as additional side orders, include fried plantains (highly recommended), avocado, French fries, tortilla with cheese, or a sort of stew that combines potatoes or other root-like vegetable with peppers, onions or other flavors (known as picadillo), also highly recommended.
What hotels that you recommend, in San Jose and in other popular tourism areas?
There are plenty of hotel options; you can find traditional and exclusive chains as well as boutique getaways. Some that come to mind, in no particular order, are:
• Marriott Hotel San José is near the airport. It is built like an old coffee plantation and a traditional hacienda, surrounded by real coffee plants and green areas.
• Hotel Grano de Oro is nestled in the old Barrio don Bosco in San José; this hotel feels more like an upscale B&B. It’s a renovated old house, closer to downtown, and with an excellent breakfast menu.
• Gran Hotel Costa Rica is located in the heart of downtown San José, in front of the 19th century National Theater.
• El Observatorio (Arenal Volcano) is one of the closest to the actual crater, with great views of the volcano. It is smaller and has a more local feel than others in the area.
• Mystica Hotel is located in the Arenal Volcano area; great for windsurfing in Arenal Lake and other activities, like yoga.
• Arenas del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort is located within walking distance of Manuel Antonio National Park.
• Westin Playa Conchal in Guanacaste Province in the North Pacific Coast region of the country, which offers all-inclusive packages.
What’s one of your own favorite personal memories of Costa Rica?
One of my favorite memories would have to be the many times I participated as a child during the presidential elections every four years — cheering and waving flags in the streets during the day near our home along with my friends and neighbors in support of a particular candidate, all part of the country’s peaceful democratic tradition.
MORE COSTA RICA TRAVEL TIPS:
• Travel Tips: Top 5 Things to do in Costa Rica
• Q&A: Marriott’s Dennis Whitelaw on the Best of Costa Rica