The wonders of Costa Rica

[Travel Costa Rica]

National Parks of Costa Rica

Some of the most important national parks in Costa Rica include Corcovado National Park in the Osa Peninsula, Piedras Blancas National Park on the Golfo Dulce, Marino Ballena National Marine Park in Uvita, Manuel Antonio of course, Carara, La Amistad, which goes deep into Panama also, Chirripo, Hitoy Cerere, Tortuguero, Barra del Colorado, Maquenque, Cahuita, Gandoca Manzanillo, Los Quetzales, Monteverde, Arenal, Ostional, Cano Negro, Palo Verde, La Cangreja, Barra del Coorado, Braulio Carrillo, Poas, Irazu, Turrialba, Lomas Barbudal, Santa Rosa in Guanacaste, Rincon de la Vieja, Miravalles and Tenorio and finally even as far as Cocos Island National Park. These areas are distributed almost uniformly throughout the country, and give protection to tropical lowland rainforests, cloud forests, paramo, wetlands, rivers, mangrove forests, marine portions, rivers, lagoons, sub - mountainous and mountainous forests and many other habitats and vegetation.

Costa Rica has large percentage of national parks, nature reserve, biological reserves and privately held protected nature areas. In total, the area under some sort of wildlife protection status goes beyond 30 % of the entire territory. Indeed, the national parks, including those protecting volcanoes, rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, wetlands, tropical dry forests and even mountain peaks, rivers and lagoons are the main asset and reason why so many tourists from all over the world even come to Costa Rica. The main treasure we have here in Costa Rica is nature and biodiversity. Costa Rica has very changing climate zones, and therefore also very different and abruptly changing scenery, landscapes and habitats.

Volcanoes

Costa Rica is also famous for its many volcanoes. There are three volcanic mountain ranges that traverse Costa Erica like a spinal cord from South-East to North –East. These mountain rangers also separate de Pacific climate influence from that of the Caribbean. Thr northernmost Volcani Moun tain Range contains the volcanoes of Rincon de la Vieja ( active ), Orosi, Cacao and Miravalles. The Tilaran Mountain range includes Tenorio and the infamous Arenal Volcano ( active ). Further East, the Central Volcanic Mountain Range has the Poas Volcano ( active ), Barba, Irazu and Turrialba ( highly active ). The most visited are the Poas Volcano because of its large crater, the facilities and trails and its beautiful crater lagoon. The Arenal Volcano is also highly visited because of the area itself, the hot water springs and plenty of tours. Rincon de la Vieja is also frequently visited. Overnight packages are recommended, in order to enjoy the hot water springs, tours, scenery and activities at the fullest.

From San Jose, we offer several one day trips to the volcanoes in Costa Rica. The one day tour to the Irazu Volcano with a visit to the Lankester Botanical Garden is one of the most frequent departures. The trip to Poas Volcano and the Doka Estate Coffee Tour is also another tour that leaves daily. We even have a day tour that goes to Arenal Volcano and includes a visit to the Tabacon Hot Springs, with dinner included.

And beaches !!!

Manuel Antonio is the Pearl of the Central Pacific Coast. Located at only 3 hours from San José by car, and less than 1 hour by plane, it is well known for having some of the most beautiful tropical beaches in the country. The community of Manuel Antonio lies just South of the coastal fishing town of Quepos. One of the main highlights is the Manuel Antonio National park, which protects an important and endangered portion of tropical rainforest and wetlands inhabited by many species of flora and fauna. Just by walking through the park from the entrance to the beautiful white sanded beaches of Espadilla Sur and other beaches within the park, the visitor can quite surely encounter White Faced Monkeys, Coati Mundi, Racoons, Caimans, birds, butterflies and much more. The other highlight is indeed the beaches. What makes the beaches in Manuel Antonio ( especially those within the park ) so unique is not only the white sand and clear water, but also the fact that the tropical rainforest covers the mountains surrounding the beaches from the mountain tops down to the ocean, creating a unique scenic framework, unmatched in beauty.

 

The area of Quepos and Manuel Antonio offers the visit great accommodation options, with breathtaking ocean view and beachfront hotels that come with all the services and facilities. Manuel Antonio is definitely an area one should visit, not only because of its beauty, but also because it can easily be combined with other destinations in Costa Rica. Tours in the area include scuba diving, snorkeling, atv torus, horseback riding, white water rafting, mountain biking, canyoneering, canopy tours ( zip lines ), fishing and much much more. It is a great destination for adults, families, children and groups alike.

Guanacaste is the province located in the North West corner of Costa Rica. Its territory includes the entire Nicoya Peninsula and the North Pacific coastline, the Tempisque River basin, the Guanacaste volcanic mountain range and vast territories of ranches, cattle farms, savannahs, brushland, tropical dry forests and of course, fantastic beaches for all tastes, from families, surfers, snorkelers and scuba divers. Guanacaste also has large national parks, the Guanacaste National Park ( Santa Rosa, Rincon de la Vieja, Santa Elena Peninsula ), Lomas Barbudal, Barra Honda, Palo Verde, Ostional, Las Baulas Marine National Park and more. The largest city is Liberia, followed by Nicoya, Santa Cruz and Carmona. Guanacaste has its own International Airport ( Daniel Oduber ) with plenty of connection possibilities both domestic as well as international flights ( regular and charter flights ). Guanacaste is divided into North coastal Guanacaste, Central Guanacaste and South Guanacaste and finally inland Guanacaste, Guanacaste mountain range with its volcanoes Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Miravalles National Park and Volcano and Tenorio Volcano and National Park ).

The most spectacular beaches in Guanacaste include Tamarindo beach, Flamingo, Conchal, Nosara and Carrillo, Montezuma and Mal Pais in the southernmost part of the Nicoya Peninsula ( politically part of Puntarenas but in the tourism industry, easier to reach as part of Guanacaste ). Bathing, swimming, tanning, relaxing, family vacations, scuba diving and sport fishing, adventure and ecotourism are the main reasons why so many people come to this destination. Guanacaste is also chosen by many tourists that have traveled the rest of the country as the final destination in their itinerary. Hotels in Guanacaste include small boutique hotels, ocean view and beachfront hotels, large all inclusive resorts, high end deluxe beach hotels and resorts including Mariott, Four Seasons, Hilton and Hyatt. Tours are also abundant, from canopy tours, horseback riding safaris, birding, river tours, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, jet ski rentals and trips, ATV tours, climbing, surfing, snorkeling and diving, fishing and much more.