There Really Are Free Things to Do in Costa Rica

So there you are: vacationing in Costa Rica -- ONE of, if not THE most bio-diverse location on Earth and home to panoramic beaches, rainforests and waterfalls, not to mention a seemingly endless variety of flora and fauna and you're looking for things to do in Costa Rica that are FREE?

Sure thing! Excluding the obvious free activities like hiking, walking on the beach and sunbathing, there ARE free things to do in Costa Rica. It depends on where you go and at what time of the year and above all HOW you want to spend your time. Having established that, here are some free things to do in Costa Rica.

I. Festivals

Let it not be said that in Costa Rica the locals don't know how to party! Every month during the year there is at least one festival being held and like all great festivals they are FREE! Within the context of the festival you're going to have to pay for food and drink - but the music, dancing and fireworks that are invariably a big part of every festival in Costa Rica is free-of-charge. And as we all know -- FREE is a good thing. Here are some noteworthy free festivals held throughout the year. Take your pick and schedule your vacation accordingly:

JANUARY:

- Palmares Civic Fiestas - Lots of culture here: folk dances, music, amusements and bullfighting.

- Alajuelita Fiestas - Honoring the Black Christ of Esquipulas, Alajuelita's Patron Saint..

- Santa Cruz Fiestas - dancing, marimbas and bullfighting.

FEBRUARY:

- San Isidro del General Fiestas - annual agricultural and industrial fairs with bullfights and a flower exhibition.

- Fiesta of the Diablitos - annual recreation of the fight between Indians and the Spanish.

- Puntarenas Carnival - Masks, music and plenty of sangria.

MARCH:

- Escazu - Dia de los Boyeros (Oxcart Driver's Day) - parade of oxcarts and the blessing of the animals and crops by local priests. Not to be missed - especially if you're a farmer.

- National Orchid Show - more flowers than you can shake a stick at.

APRIL:

- Holy Week - processions galore in all parts of country.

- Juan Santamaría Day - Commemorating Costa Rica's national hero -- a simple barefoot soldier who gave his life in the battle against William Walker's troops in 1856.

MAY:

- Puerto Limon - picnics, music and dancing. What more is there to life?

- Escazu - San Isidro Labrador's Day - another celebration honouring the Patron Saint of farmers

- Corpus Christi Day - May 29 - Religious celebration.

JUNE:

- Saints Peter & Paul Day - June 29 - More religion!

JULY:

- Puntarenas - Virgin of The Sea - fishing boat regatta which honors Puntarenas' Patron Saint, La Virgen del Monte Carmelo. Plenty of parades, dances and fireworks.

- Guanacaste Day - you guessed it: folk dances, bullfights, and music.

- Alajuela - Los Mangos Festival

AUGUST:

- Cartago - Virgin of Los Angeles - Honors Costa Rica's Patron Saint , "La Negrita" with nationwide pilgrimage and religious processions to the Basilica in Cartago.

SEPTEMBER:

Costa Rica's Independence Day is September 15th: witness the Freedom Torch as it is brought from Nicaragua by student relay runners the day before. Thrill to local "lantern parades" where kids carry home-made "faroles".

OCTOBER:

- Puerto Limon - Limon Carnival - Columbus Day is celebrated in style in the port city with week-long street dances, parades and music.

- Upala Corn Festival, Corn Queen contest.

- Tres Rios Virgen del Pilar's Day - celebrating yet another Patron Saint with parades and costumes made entirely of corn husks, grain, and silks.

NOVEMBER:

- All Souls day - Nov 2 - Day of the Dead.

- Central Valley Coffee picking contest, music and dancing

- International Arts Festival, plays, street theatre and other entertainment.

DECEMBER:

- Fiesta de los Negritos - very big event held in the Indian village of Boruca, and ancient Indian ritual is combined with honoring the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception.

- Nicoya Fiesta de la Yeguita - Processions, bullfights, fireworks, concerts.

- Festejos Populares (Year-end Festivals) - Dec 25-31

- Tope - Annual horse parade. Careful where you step!

- Carnival - Head to downtown San Jose for the biggest block party of the year!

II. Free Museums

- The Museo de Oro Precolombino (Museum of Precolumbian gold) is located under the Plaza de la Cultura in downtown San Jose. This impressive underground building houses the exhibit that creates a mysterious and dark background for the gleaming beauty of the golden pieces, which seem to float because they're suspended by transparent strings.The Museo de Moneda, or the Coin Museum, is located in the same building, and its exhibit includes information on coins, as well as interesting samples. And it's FREE.

- The Museo de Jade, or the Jade Museum.o Lcated in the INS building in downtown (in the National Insurance building. The exhibit in this museum is the largest American jade collection in the world. The collection is extremely valuable because of the rarity of the mineral and of the religious and historical significance that it has for the Indian population and for the Costa Ricans in general. Like the golden pieces, the jade artifacts also depict animal shapes.

- The Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle (Natural science) and the small Entomology Museum in the University of Costa Rica. The first museum is located in La Sabana and presents a taxidermy collection of various animals and a preserved fish and reptile exhibit. The small university museum houses a large collection of insects of Central and South America, including beautiful butterflies.

III. Free Markets

The most popular market in Costa Rica is Mercado Central (Market Central) and has to be seen to be believed. A variety of craft work , leatherwork and crafts not to mention some of the cheapest meals in San Jose town. Come to think of it, almost every town of any size in Costa Rica has a mercado central, where in addition to produce, fruits and meat, there are booths selling everyday items.

IV. Other Free activities

The Hummingbird gallery

Next to the Monteverde Reserve entrance. Feeders outside attract dozens of hummingbirds representing about 7 species.

V. Art & Artisans

Traditional Costa Rican artisans in Guaitíl hand throw Chorotega pottery while you watch, and the wood carvers of Sarchí transform rainforest hardwoods into every imaginable shape. Drums, baskets, textiles, and pre-Columbian reproductions are just a few of the things you'll want to take home with you.

VI. Bird Watching

Botaurus pinnatus, Tigrisoma fasciatum, Tigrisoma mexicanum, Egretta thula, Egretta caerulea, Agamia agami, Cochlearius cochlearius- and that's just the most common Aredeidae. Avid birders know that Costa Rica is one of the top spots in the world, but you don't have to spend hours with binoculars glued to your eyes to see fascinating bird life in Costa Rica.

VII. Waterfalls & River Hiking

The number of spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica reflects rainfall averages of over 20 feet a year and the sheer drops of some of the mountain ranges. Some are visible from paved roads as you travel from place to place, but others require significant effort to reach. The surest way to find a falls with a deserted swimming hole at the bottom is to start walking upstream.

So there you have it: some truely fun things to do that are free! You're no doubt going to discover many more free things to do and see once you set foot in beautiful Costa Rica. Follow your instincts and not your pocket book and you'll come up with your own list of free activities in Costa Rica!