Costa Rica or Jamaica?

Hey I am going on my first backpacking adventure this summer and the 2 destinations I have narrowed it down to is either Costa Rica or Jamaica. I am going with a good friend of mine from high school. I would love to hear and opinions, tips, stories, or whatever you have to say about either or both locations. I should have a little over 2 grand saved up and am going to be going for about 2 weeks.

Costa Rica and Jamaica are so different it is like comparing apples and oranges. You need to tell us what you like, what countries you have enjoyed previously, what type experiences you are looking for, etc.

The Latin American culture is so different from the African/ Caribbean culture. I can understand why you haven't gotten any replies.

Tell us more about yourself so we can help.

Thanks Juan. Yeah I guess mostly I am wanting to experince other cultures, but I also want to do some hiking across beautiful landscapes. I think I am going to go to Costa Rica. It has the most ecologically diverse ecosystem in the world which is of great interest to me.

I've only been to Costa Rica. From what everyone tells me, Jamaica is either hermetically-sealed resorts, or more hassles than people care to deal with. Costa Rica is really chilled-out and relatively safe. You can get a fix of Caribbean culture in the Puerto Viejo/Cahuita area, and more mainstream Tico culture in the rest of the country.

Jamaica can be dangerous for the unaware traveller and is an entirely different experience than CR. CR is diverse and beautiful.

I know that Jamaica has been devastated economically by globalization/trade with USA. Jamaica and Haiti were a couple countries used as case studies in my geography classes. My friend took a cruise down there and was very disenchanted with the place experiencing the juxtaposition of wealthy travelers at resorts and seeing the poverty of the settlements constructed around the resorts by people attracted to jobs created by the resorts.

I guess the trick would be avoiding these socio-economic border lines.

My personal opinion is you avoid the artificial environment of the resort areas and visit places where tourists normally do not go, or at least do not go and then lock themselves behind gates, never experiencing anything remotely resembling the rich culture of whatever country they are in. To learn about a country I like to meet people who live there in their environment. But that's just my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by Galactica:
I know that Jamaica has been devastated economically by globalization/trade with USA. Jamaica and Haiti were a couple countries used as case studies in my geography classes. My friend took a cruise down there and was very disenchanted with the place experiencing the juxtaposition of wealthy travelers at resorts and seeing the poverty of the settlements constructed around the resorts by people attracted to jobs created by the resorts.

Most Haitians would kill to be 'disadvantaged' by those jobs.

Central America, including Costa Rica, certainly has its share of poverty. The big difference, in Central America, is the lack of a bad attitude toward tourists who have money.

To us, most of the East Caribbean islanders had the attitude of "Leave us your money and go home". This was especially true of the Jamaicans. This was the main reason we spent only a few weeks in the Eastern Caribbean and and years in the Western Caribbean.

You will love Costa Rica and the Ticas will love you.