Hi Bobbie - It looks like we have some similar interests! I also have done quite a bit of ESL/EFL/Spanish teaching. I took my second trip to Costa Rica this summer. If you look at my photos, you will see some of the pictures I took on my last trip. Where do you like to visit when you go there?

I guess it depends on what type of activity you like. Just a couple of hours north of San Jose is the famous "Cloud Forest" - called Monte Verde. I love it there. You can hike through the forest during the day or during the evening (when they have special night tours and you get to see nocturnal animals). It is located near a small town called Santa Elena - which has kind of become a little bit touristy since I was last there, but I still like it. If you get the chance, you should try the Dos Pinos ice cream here. Surprisingly, the roads are actually MOSTLY paved now going up in the mountains. The last time I was there a few years ago, the roads were really scary. It's not so bad now. If you are really into adrenaline, you can go on zipline canopy tours, ATV tours through the forest, and ride horses in the rain/cloud forest. It's called a cloud forest because its elevation is above cloud level. There is also an awesome place called Tabacon Hot Springs. You should take your fiance. It's a natural massage in the water. In some areas, the water gets up to 31 degrees C. There are waterfalls, etc. It's beautiful! This is near the town of La Fortuna. There is a pretty mariposario and waterfalls area here (La Paz). They also have a serpintario, lots of frogs, and hummingbirds. In this same area, you'll find 2 volcanoes - Poas (which is considered inactive, so they will allow you to walk all the way up an peer inside the crater - I have a couple of photos of it in my gallery). If you go, make sure you take the extra trip up to see the lake also. Near the little town of La Fortuna, there is an active volcano called Arenal. It erupts a small amount almost every day. I was lucky enough to see it erupt this summer - at night - so it was really cool - unfortunately, unless you have a super-powered lense, you can't really get a good photo though.

If you head south, you will go to my other favorite spot in Costa Rica - Manuel Antonio National Park. It's like a nature preserve meets the beach. I'll put a couple of pictures on my gallery for you to see. Anyway, there are lots of sloths, monkeys, iguanas, etc., here. Right next to the forest is the beach! It's really AWESOME!

Well, I'm sure this is more than you wanted to know. I have visted quite a few other cities too, but I didn't want to bore you to death. Hope this helps some. Let me know if you move to CR. Buena suerte :)