Which areas of Costa Rica would you like to see on this trip? (check all areas you want to visit)
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COMMENTS |
CARIBBEAN SIDE |
Barra Del Colorado
(North coast) |
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Situated along Costa Rica's gorgeous Caribbean coast near the Nicaraguan border, the Refugio Barra del Colorado is a 92,000-hectare refuge made up of wetlands and rainforests that are the habitat of many the country's indigenous flora and fauna. The area offers unique wilderness experiences and is linked to Tortuguero National Park by canal. It combines mangroves and fresh water, saltwater estuaries teaming with life, frozen in time.
The Refuge provides great opportunities for ecotourism because the wide stretch of protected rainforests and wetlands offer a diverse array of plants and animals as well as bird watching, and canoeing.
Superb tarpon fishing draws fishermen from around the world. Other fish caught in the area include snook and calba, which run upstream from December to January. Barra del Colorado is a little less than a half an hour away from San Jose by air and just north of Tortuguero.
The best time to visit the Refuge is from February to April when the weather is dry and one can spot toucans, caimans, monkeys, frogs, crocodiles, sloths, macaws, jacanas, falcons and a variety of other animals, birds and reptiles amid the lush topical trees found here.
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Tortuguero |
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Very popular eco tourism destination; Costa Rica's "Amazon" - a working laboratory of rain forest, freshwater, and marine biology. A great resort here.
Tortuguero is one of Costa Rica's most popular National Parks. It is a wilderness area with great biological variety. The wildlife is rich and diverse, with eleven different defined habitats. These include high rainforest, littoral woodland, slope forest, swamp forest, holillo forest, herbaceous swamp and herbaceous lagoon. Mammals, birds and fish are numerous.
The habitats for which Tortuguero National Park is most famous are the coastal and marine areas. Strong Caribbean currents have provided a long, straight 22 mile expanse of beach which is a favored nesting ground for sea turtles. Hawksbill, loggerheads, and Pacific Green turtles nest from July through October. The Leatherback , the largest sea turtle species in the world, nests from February to July.
Many lagoons and canals run through the park. They can be sailed and are also the habitat for many crocodiles, turtles, manatees, crabs and 52 species of river fishes.
This is one of most rainy areas of the country, with two kinds of rains: light rain and the characteristic heavy rain of the Caribbean that could last for 15 days.
Fauna is very rich and diverse in this area. Among them are the danta, jaguar, congos, pizotes, raccoons, fishing bats, poison frogs etc... |
Puerto Limon
(South coast) |
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A not so attractive port city, but good surfing and Caribbean flavor all the way. Cruise ship port. |
Cahuito &
Puerto Viejo |
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Charming Caribbean towns; the Cahuita National Park is known for its marine wealth.
Cahuita's beauty rests on its white sand beaches, miles of coconuts, turquoise blue sea and choral reefs. The angel queen fish is one of the most beautiful of the reef. There are also other attractive species like the French angelfish, the "Isabelita" and the blue parrotfish. Other species living in this habitat are barracuda, "remora", manta ray, 3 different kinds of sharks, "Morenas", a sea cucumber that measures up to 30 cm in length, lobster, sponge, white shrimp, green turtles and Carey turtles.
Puerto Viejo is a perfect place to kick back and relax; miles of gorgeous beaches running north and south. Popular with backpackers and surfers for its laid-back atmosphere. |
Manzanillo |
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GANDOCA MANZANILLO WILD LIFE NATURAL REFUGE
This park located at the southern end of the Caribbean coast.
It protects wild fauna, specially endangered and reduced number species.
It is classified like a humid tropical forest because of the lagoon. The primary forest found in this area, is invaluable, because of the small area covered by this life zone of the low lands of the Atlantic coast.
This area has a great diversity of land habitats with some primary forests and with numerous sea and river habitats including the best preserve coral reefs in the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica.
Because of its natural conditions, this area is very interesting for scientists and tourists.
The end of the road; as close to the lost tropical land of your dreams as you are likely to discover! Offshore DIVING as good as any in Costa Rica, Enviable weather all year round. Take a boat, a horse, and/or set off on foot.
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INTERIOR |
San Jose |
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Cosmopolitan city with a grubby face, but a go-go pace. The hub of the nation - you can't get from one coast to the other without going thru San Jose (and the roads are not the highlight of Costa Rica's charms). World class restaurants, museums, theaters and vibrant night life flourish. Pleasant, but sometimes sticky climate; cooling rain at its heaviest from May to November, usually in the afternoons. Location at 2,900 feet above sea level, gives it an idyllic climate with temperatures in the mid-70's F during the day to about 60 degrees F at night. |
| Monteverde Cloud Forest |
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Popular with ecotourists; A variety of activities and accomodations at moderately high elevations. A rough road to get here, but a lovely place to spend some time: 490 butterfly species, 400 bird species and 2,500 plant species. You may see a sloth; if you're lucky, maybe even a Resplendant Quetzal, worth the trip all by itself.
There are two main reserves in the area, Santa Elena, and Monte Verde. They have similar ecosystems. Santa Elena Reserve is the less visited (limited to 100 people a day, I think), and so is much quieter, which is essential for viewing wildlife. There are two canopy tours leaving from the same place on the road to the Santa Elena Reserve. One, called the Sky Trek, is expensive, uses many cables, and is mainly an adventure activity. The other, called Sky walk, is less expensive, and is a system of trails and suspension bridges that allows you to walk through and view what goes on in the canopy of the forest.
Also near Santa Elena don't miss the Butterfly Farm. You get an entertaining and fascinating tour of bugs and butterflies, and will know most of what there is to know about them when you are finished.
And the Eco-farm in the same area. They put food out, so you will see animals. Especially good is the farm tour that starts at dusk. We saw night animals not visible during the day. The amazing guides know where they are, even in the dark, and point them out with flashlight and/or laser pointer. |
Arenal Volcano |
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A spectacular sight, along with the nearby volcanoes of Paos, Irazu. The Arenal Volcano, rises 1,633 meters above sea level and has been continuously active since 1968. Hike to the Rio Fortuna waterfall, take a dip in the crystal clear water, follow a trail to a lava flow, try out one of the local spas and watch for spectacular nighttime eruptions from your hotel.
Arenal is the most active volcano in the country. It was believed to be dormant until a major eruption in 1968. The park is next to the country's largest hydroelectric project, the Arenal Lake Dam.
Primary cloud forest and rainforest cover Arenal National Park, which abounds with flora and fauna species in multiple life zones, innumerable rivers, waterfalls and thermal hot springs.
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PACIFIC SIDE |
Tamarindo
(North Coast) |
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Great beaches, surfing, food, night life, family vacations. Rainy season from late April through October. A typical day is sunny or partly cloudy until late afternoon, when showers build inland and move offshore, often producing spectacular sunsets. Everything is green and lush during this time of year.
Tamarindo Bay is a mecca for surfers and blue water sport fishermen. Visitors also have access to SCUBA diving, snorkeling trips, beach cruises, water skiing, jet skiing, catamarans, ocean and river kayaking, wind surfing, sailing cruises and horseback riding. Bicycles, beach gear, surfboards, boogie boards and equipment of all types are available for rental from specialty stores.
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Manuel Antonio,
Quepos &
Jaco
(Mid Coast) |
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Manuel Antonio is very popular with travelers, upscale. Manuel Antonio National Park is perhaps the most visited park in Costa Rica. The picturesque Punta Catedral was once an island off the coast. Over the years, sedimentation filled in a bar of sand, connecting it to the mainland. The locals call this stretch of white sand beach Tombolo. Unique attractions include monkeys, sloths, iguanas, toucans and scarlet macaws.
Inviting beaches, restaurants, night life, shopping, luxury accomodations.
Watch a sunset, nurse your drink and contemplate how good life can be.
Quepos is well known by sport fishing enthusiasts. Challenges for seasoned, as well as occasional anglers. |
Oso Peninsula
(South Coast) |
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Golfito, a former banana port. Spectacular setting, backed up against steep, thickly forested hills to the east, and the Golfo Dulce - one of the deepest gulfs of its size in the world - to the west. Sport fishermen expect to find mighty Sailfish and the Black and Blue Marlin. There is an abundance of Grouper, Snapper, Roosterfish, Snook, Dorado, Tuna and many types of Jack.
Corcovado National Park is the backpacking experience of a lifetime. It encompases the only old growth wet forests left on the Pacific coast, plus 13 major ecosystems, including lowland rain forest, highland cloud forest, jolillo palm forest and mangrove swamps, as well as costal marine and beach habitats. National Geographic magazine has called the area "the most biologically intense place on earth". There is a good chance of spotting some of Costa Rica's shyest and most endangered inhabitants here; Baird's Tapirs, Jaguars, Scarlet Macaws, Harpy Eagles, Red-backed squirrel monkeys and White-lipped Peccaries. It is wet, remote and rugged, but the trails are relatively good, and the camping areas near the ranger stations are grassy and well drained. |