Introduction Speech - Essay Example

Costa Rica Here We Come! Introduction A. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be able to see gorgeous pristine beaches and a rain forest one day, a volcano and cloud forest the next, and play golf along the Pacific Ocean, all in one vacation? That’s exactly what I plan to do with my daughter during the break. B. We’ve selected a tour that will allow us to spend a whole ten days exploring the natural beauty of Costa Rica. It was difficult to choose just one package, because there was so much to see and do, however we finally decided on the best one.

Ours is the private transportation package, where a driver does all the hard work and all we have to do is sit back and watch and keep the camera going! I. Main Point #1 – Basic Costa Rica Information A. Location: The Republic of Costa Rica is an interesting country located in the lower middle of Central America between Panama and Nicaragua. It is bordered to the east by the Caribbean Sea and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. It is the only Central American country without a military system.

It is known as the “Switzerland” of Central America. B. The climate ranges widely from mild in the central highlands, to tropical and subtropical along the coastal areas. It has a variety of terrains with coastal plains on either side of a rugged central range. This range, located in the middle of the country, houses most of the farming area as well as a tropical rainforest. C. There are approximately 4.5 million people of various ethnic descents living there. The people are very friendly, laid back, and most speak either Spanish or a Caribbean patois blend of Spanish and Portuguese. II. Main Point #2 – Package Itinerary: The Caribbean Side A.

After we arrive at San Jose, we will be picked up at the airport to begin our journey at Tortuguero (Tor-too-ger-o) National Park. Long ago it was an archipelago of islands along the Caribbean side; now, as a result of central range volcanic action, it filled in and is a maze of canals and marshy wetlands. There are several varieties of sea turtles that come home to nest: Pacific olive ridleys, greens, loggerheads, leatherbacks, and hawksbills. It takes approximately 30 years for a sea turtle to reach maturity; instinct leads them back to the beach where they were hatched in order to lay their own eggs.

The native “ticos” as they call themselves, capture the eggs to eat and sell. The name Tortugero means “turtle catcher” in Spanish. We will spend our first night at the Best Western Irazu there and eat breakfast before departing for the Tortuguero Rainforest. B. After breakfast, we will be taken to the Tortugero Rainforest to the Mawamba Lodge where we will spend the next two days relaxing and enjoying the breathtaking beauty of the ecosystem there. If we decide to go fishing, there are plenty of places to go; travel within the canals is limited to boats.

Numerous species of colorful birds also make their homes there. I plan to take a lot of pictures. C. The beauty of this tour package is that everything is included; three meals at the lodge each day, as well as canal sightseeing transportation. The food along the Caribbean coast is very much like creole cooking; spicy and loaded with seafood. All we have to do is simply enjoy. III. Main Point #3 - The Central Range A. Then we’re off to the Arenal(Ah-rayhn-al) Volcano where we will spend two nights at the Volcano Lodge with all meals included.

The Arenal Volcano had only one crater and was dormant for hundreds of years until 1968 when it exploded and destroyed the surrounding town. It then developed three craters and remains the tenth most active volcano in the world today. B. Next we will spend two nights at the El Establo (ay-stav-lo) Lodge in the Monteverde (Mont-ay-ver-they)Cloud Forest. Monteverde Biological Cloud Forest Reserve is the most famous cloud forest in the world. It is dedicated to the preservation of nature, species of animals and plants, and boasts around 3% total of Costa Rica’s annual tourism.

There is a museum at the entrance that gives information on the habitat, animals, and the history of the area. Guided tours begin hourly. C. The food in the Central Range area is heavier; based on beans and rice, with cabbage salad. It is the farming area where meat is also included in their diet. Their famous breakfast dish is called gallo pinto ( gah-yo-peen-to) which is prepared rice and black beans fried in oil with a side of chopped tomatoes, onions, and some cilantro. Yum! IV. Main Point #4 – The Pacific Side A.

The next three days we will spend in Guanacaste (gwahn-uh-cast-ay) at the Tamarindo (Tam-uh-rin-do) Diria(Dee-ree-uh) Beach Resort. There along the Pacific are beaches that appear to be made of powdered sugar. In the northwestern part of Costa Rica many entrepreneurs from America have bought land and developed resorts. There are also cattle ranches which supply a rich variety of meat. We plan to play golf at the resort, go swimming, and just generally relax before we head back to the reality of school once more. B. There are several clubs there that have lively music to either dance to or just listen.

Their music is lively with a variety of instruments; the singers and dancers wear colorful costumes and everyone seems to have a good time. C. There is always a variety of “tapas” (tah-pahs) hors d’euvres available, from fruits to various small dishes made of tortillas and meat, beans, tomatoes, avocados and rice. V. Conclusion A. Costa Rica is a small country with a lot of inherent natural beauty. The people are warm and friendly, laid back, and easy to talk to. There are many places to explore where taking pictures is a must.

The very best way to see Costa Rica is to sign on with a tour company and leave the driving and details to them. B. We are very excited about our planned vacation; we’ve both worked very hard and just need some downtime; this trip is the perfect answer! Works Cited Background Notes. Costa Rica. US Department of State. February 20, 2011. Web. April 18, 2011. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm Costa Rica Tours. Nature Wonder Expeditions. Costa Rica Tours, 2011. Web April 18, 2011. http://www.

costaricatours.net/destinations/nwe.html