One of the smallest countries in Latin America, yet one of the most attractive given its peaceful background, amazing biodiversity, and the relative ease of seeing quite different sights and regions in just one visit. Costa Rica offers humid rainforests and cool cloudforests, endless beaches, banana and coffee plantations, fascinating wildlife, plentiful soft adventure, and very friendly people. It is one of the top places in Latin America for nature lovers, birdwatchers, surfers and wildlife enthusiasts. Many Costa Ricans speak some English, so this is also reduces culture shock.
The major attraction is nature, from amazing scenery to colourful birds and wildlife. Almost a quarter of the country is protected by national parks and reserves that straddle an enchanting diversity of zones, from mysterious rain and cloudforests to active volcanoes and impressive expanses of palm-fringed coast. Within the parks is a remarkable array of biodiversity, some five percent of the world's total, and including more bird species (850 or so) than in USA and Canada combined.
In addition to the parks there are great beaches on both coasts, world-class surfing, kitesurfing, excellent whitewater rafting, many canopy tours with zip lines through the jungle, and first class mountain biking. Costa Rica has some of Latin America's most memorable eco-lodges. Despite bad roads in places it is a great country to drive around, and is still amongst the safest countries in the region although crime is on the rise and precautions need to be taken.
Tortuguero A network of inland waterways right beside the Caribbean coast that teems with wildlife, particularly birds. During March, May, and July-October, turtles come ashore to lay eggs on the beach.
Puerto Viejo The offbeat fishing villages of Puerto Viejo and Cahuita on the southern Caribbean coast have lively Caribbean nightlife and long stretches of clean, sandy beaches to explore or surf or snorkel. There are several attractive reserves to visit.
Arenal Volcano One of most active volcanoes in the western hemisphere. Arenal throws out smoke and molten red lava on a regular basis, and on many clear nights you can experience an amazing pyrotechnic display. Arenal lake is an attractive temperate region, and there are rivers and waterfalls to visit in the area, as well as the famous thermal waters of Tabacon.
Monteverde Known worldwide for its unique cloudforest reserve, in fact there are several reserves including Santa Elena with virgin cloudforest, thick walls of epiphyte-covered vegetation, and gaily coloured flowers and birds. Colonized by a group of US Quakers in the early 1950s, Monteverde is a rural alpine-style panorama of small dairy farms and mountain scenery.
Guanacaste The northwest of Costa Rica is quite different to the rest of the country, with extensive and endangered dry forests, incredible and varying beaches along the whole length of the coast, and cloudforests. Much of the Nicoya peninsula is as rural Costa Rica was 50 years ago.
Osa Peninsula Difficult to reach and less well-known but with stunning scenery, marvellous jungle lodges on the coast, and the vast national reserve of. Corcovado with rainforest-fringed beaches visited by flocks of scarlet macaws, Corcovado is one of Costa Rica's most beautiful national parks. Drake Bay and Cano Island offer wonderful marine life, often whales, and snorkelling.
Rincon de la Vieja Another active volcano set in a large dry forest national reserve, in northern Guanacaste. The walking trail through the dry landscape with rock-strewn savannah, gurgling hot mud pots and sulphurous underground springs, can reach a summit with spectacular views of active craters, a lost world lake, and the surrounding plains below. Hard-to-spot animals include peccaries, tapirs, monkeys and big cats.
Manuel Antonio The smallest but most popular national park, combining superb beaches, close-up wildlife viewing, coral reefs, and easily accessed trails. It is right beside some of the country’s best lodges and restaurants.
Dominical South of Manuel Antonio there is a long stretch of superb Pacific coastline, with excellent road access, unspoilt and little-visited beaches, and an increasing number of small attractive lodges. Dominical itself is an active surfing location.
Turrialba An agricultural region little-visited by tourists, with beautiful countryside spreading over the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Central and down towards the vast jungle expanse of La Amistad reserve. Home of the best whitewater rafting or kayaking, on the Reventazon and Pacuare rivers. |
