www.visitcostarica.com for nature adventure wildlife
www.visitguatemala.com for ruins exotic Mayan beutiful colonial towns
www.mayan-traveler.com
Check your consular advisories Guatemala far more dodgy than CR
wBeautifull.state.gov for a heads up www.insuremytrip.com
www.caravan.com good value budget/moderate tours
For me if a first timer who likes nature wildlife adventure more safety..
It's going to depend on your teens, to be honest. I have been on both and Costa Rica should be your choice if what they want is wildlife.
Guatemala is a wonderful tour, but your kids are going to have to like more cultural things: Tikal, Copan and -yes- shopping and other things. Which will be in markets, not malls! The bus rides are longer- it's a bigger country- but gameboys and the like are always good. Or naps.
There were teens on both tours and all of them enjoyed the tours, but you do have to look at the tours and know your kids and plan. Even ask the kids (unless this is a surprise trip).
Something that may tilt one way or another is the Costa Rica trip does have a stay in an all-inclusive; Guatemala uses smaller hotels- I preferred them- and does not.
They are both very beautiful countries.
In Guatemala you see more of the Mayan culture. They speak more than 20 languages in Guatemala that come from the indian roots. Guatemala is more dangerous than Costa Rica but it has a lot of nice things.
Costa Rica has more of a Spanish influence and its hard to find people that speak a mayan language in CR, you have to go deep into certain parts to find the indian costa ricans but its mostly just Spanish.
Costa Rica has both the pacific ocean and the carribean sea.
Guatemala only has the pacific ocean.
Those are some differences.
Most Costa Ricans are scared of going to Guatemala and most Guatemalians are not scared of going to CR.
Hum, it depends of what you are looking for...
Which differences are you talking about? Food? Culture? Temperature? Cost of living?
I live in Costa Rica, so I can tell you about this country.
It is a wonderful country, very safe and peaceful.
Costa Rica has no army, they prefer to use their money for education and environment protection.
Temperature changes a lot depending of where you are.
But it is a tropical country with hot temperature.
Costa Ricans are also called "Tico".
This is the more expensive country in Latin America, but there is also the safest country too.
Well, if you have more questions, it will be a pleasure to help you.
I give you here some links to help you in your trip:
-about Costa Rica transportation, let see this:
http://www.costaricatravelandvacations.c...
-about hotels in Manuel Antonio, let see this:
http://www.southerncostarica.biz/Manuel-...
Have a safe trip!
Costa Rica has a Mala costa and Guatemala has a Rica one .
Is this just for homework or are you planning a trip? What kind of information are you looking for?
There's this nifty tool called google on the "internets." Try using it.
