Most of the world seems to be in a funk these days. The leaves have fallen, the days are getting colder. The Boys of Summer are freezing their bats off and nearly ready to put them away until Spring. A Costa Rica vacation may be the only thing between you and winter. Here are some great reasons to take that Costa Rica vacation now.

1. Airfares have not been this reasonable in years. The world economic downturn has come to Costa Rica. Tourism in Costa Rica is down by at least fifteen percent this year, presenting terrific travel deals to an informed and frugal traveler . Want affordable luxury? Budget-conscious folks who travel Costa Rica can rent very nice Costa Rica hostels (some with private rooms) for about $12.00. If you are a bit more flush with cash, but still looking for a deal, the Hilton Papagayo Resort is offering rooms as low as $160.00 a night. Seniors can get an extra discount. Travel Tip: always ask the hotel, resort, or hostel if there is a discount for cash. And, keep in mind that the very best rates are between May to mid-November and the premium prices are over the holidays.

2. With almost eight hundred miles of coast visit one or more of hundreds of pristine Costa Rica beaches. Fish off of Drake Bay, named after Sir Francis Drake, who visited the southern Costa Rica Pacific coast a decade before sinking the Spanish Armada and saving England in 1588. You can even walk the same Caribbean beach where Columbus named Costa Rica 600 years ago. Black, brown, and white sand beaches, sea shell beaches, rugged rock-strewn beaches are everywhere.

3. All Costa Rica beaches are public so you can frolic on the same Costa Rica beaches enjoyed by Britney Spears or Mel Gibson (but you need to bring your own Russian model). Take romantic walks or just be lazy. Do not forget to bring your surfboard because some of the best surfing on the planet is found here. Most beaches are completely free but if you prefer to visit a very popular national beach park called Manuel Antonio, there will be a small entry fee.

4. Become an ecotourist. Costa Rica ecotourism has become a booming industry and is helping to preserve endangered sea turtles, exotic macaws, and many other species while bringing in much needed revenue to local communities. Be sure to check out Ostional National Preserve on the popular Pacific Gold Coast, where thousands of olive ridley sea turtles come ashore in massive nestings, called “arribadas”, perhaps the largest spectacle of its kind in the world. Arribadas take place year-round but the biggest (sometimes involving hundreds of thousands of turtles) typically are when the moon is in its last quarter during the months of July to November.

5. Costa Rica has been called the “Switzerland of Latin America.” This mountainous little country has nearly as many species of birds as in the entire continental U.S., more than 900. You can hike every inch of Africa without seeing as many species of butterflies as there are in Costa Rica. Twenty Percent of all animal and plant species on the world are found in this country.

6. You can hike the tallest mountain in Latin America, Mt. Chirripo. Voted one of Costa Rica’s Seven Natural Wonders, hikers start at its tropical forest base and, if they have the stamina, end at its cold alpine summit. Bring a backpack with warm clothes as you climb this beauty to a little night time shelter overlooking remnant glacial lakes carved from ancient glaciers. Climbing requires a permit and reservation but the cost is very modest and when you reach the top you may be reminded of the mighty Andes. Most hikers make this a two day trip.

Writer Victor Krumm posts from his home in Costa Rica. Visit his authoritative, lovely website about Costa Rica Vacations and be sure to check out the spectacular Seven Wonders of Costa Rica