Costa Rica, Adventure in Latin America

First coming to the attention of international travelers in the mid-1990s, Costa Rica is currently and consistently one of the hottest vacation and adventure-travel destinations in Latin America, with over two million visitors each year, it has become one of the best tropical vacation spots for everybody. Despite the boom in vacationers, Costa Rica remains a place rich in natural wonders and biodiversity, where you can still find yourself far from the maddening crowds. The country boasts a wealth of unsullied beaches that stretch for miles, small lodgings that haven’t attracted hordes of tourists, jungle rivers for rafting and kayaking, and spectacular cloud- and rainforests with ample opportunities for bird-watching and hiking. In addition to the country’s trademark eco- and adventure-tourism offerings, you will also find luxury resorts and golf courses, plush spas, and some truly spectacular boutique hotels and lodges

The Costa Rican colón is the currency and $1.00 US dollar is worth approx. 1 colón.

Costa Rica can be divided into seven regions, corresponding to well-defined geographic criteria. The capital, San José, occupies a broad valley surrounded  by the mountains of the Central Highlands. The Central Pacific and Southern Nicoya region is a transition zone between a dry ecosystem and a humid one. To the northwest, the dry plains of Guanacaste and Northern Nicoya are framed by volcanoes and, to the west, by gorgeous beaches. Northward, the land slopes down to the sprawling lowlands of the Northern Zone. The Caribbean’s coastal plains are unique for their African culture and endless beaches, while the rugged Southern Zone is covered in dense rainforest. Below is an overview of the distinctive highlights of each region.

San Jose

A large, bustling conurbation with few historical buildings, San José does not have many sights of interests: two days are sufficient for exploring the city. Most attractions are concentrated downtown within walking distance of one another in the compact city core. With fine hotels for every budget, the city center is easily accessed on foot, while the taxi system proves efficient. Some localities can be dangerous, but police patrol the tourist areas.

One day should be spent concentrating on San José’s Museo del Oro Precolombino and Museo de Jade, as well as the Teatro Nacional Costa Rica’s Neoclassical architectural gem. The Mercado Central and Edificio de Correos  are  also close by. The small squares that anchor the city core can also be taken in.

Day two should be given to the Museo Nacional and Parque Nacional and to exploring Barrio Amón  and the Centro Costarricense de Ciencias y Cultura). If time remains, check out the artwork at the Museo de Arte Costarricense  and shop for quality arts and crafts. The Centro Comercial El Pueblo is also recommended. San José has many gourmet dining options. Take your pick from fine restaurants that span the globe. La Cocina de Lena offers great traditional Costa Rican cuisine, with an ambience to match.

The Central Highlands

With its fabulous scenery, charming towns, and colonial churches, the Central Highlands region is tailor-made for scenic drives. It offers delightful touring through coffee fincas (farms) andlush valleys, culminating atop towering volcanoes. Two active volcanoes are accessed by paved roads that lead through lush cloud forest to the crater rims. Encompassed within Poás and Irazu National Parks, these volcanoes offer superb opportunities for hiking and birding, as do relatively hard-to-access Turrialba National Park and the rugged trails of Braulio Carrillo and Tapantí-Macizo National Parks .

Wildlife is also displayed at several sights near Alajuela. Particularly recommended are the Butterfly Farm, Zoo Ave , In Bioparque and the World of Snakes.

Heredia makes a good base for exploring the coffee country, including a visit to the Doka Estate and Café Britt to see how Costa Rica’s splendid coffees are produced.  Sarchi is a must-visit , it is the center of crafts  and lies along an exquisite drive taking in Grecia  and Zarcero, known for their metal church and topiary respectively. Some of the best scenery lies along the Route of the Snakes, while east from San José, a separate drive leads through the Orosi Valley, revealing some fine colonial churches. Nearby, Turrialba is a gateway to Monumento Nacional Guayabo, the nation’s foremost pre-Columbian site, and also a base for exciting rafting on the Reventazón and Pacuare Rivers .

Four days should prove sufficient, although a week would be required to explore in-depth. Convoluted roads and lack of road signs can make for frustrating touring. However, a large choice of appealing boutique hotels, some set amid coffee estates, makes up for this.

The Central Pacific and Southern Nicoya

With two of the nation’s most popular and easily accessed national parks, and a fistful of other coastal wildlife reserves, this region appeals most strongly to wildlife lovers. Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Curú  and Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco , both compact reserves along the shores of Southern Nicoya, offer diverse habitats and a  loads of wildlife. Isla Tortuga,  offshore from Curú, is an idyllic escape that plays host to boat excursions departing the port town Puntarenas. Youthful travelers are drawn to the tiny community of Montezuma and the surfers’ haven of Malpais, which enjoy spectacular settings along rugged shorelines.

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Popular with surfers, the beach resort town of Jacó,  boasts casinos, nightclubs, and a range of hotels. Immediately north, Parque Nacional Carara  extends inland from the coastal highway. Excursions, including crocodile safaris on  Rio Tarcoles, are offered from Jacó. Explore the forests of the rugged coastal mountains at the Rainmaker Conservation Project .

Most travelers in this region head for the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, accessed via the sportfishing town of Quepos . This lovely park combines superb beaches with a coral reef, fabulous wildlife viewing along easily accessed trails, and some of the finest hotels in the country.

Guanacaste and Northern Nicoya

The most diverse of Costa Rica’s regions combines mountain cloud forests and lowland dry forests – both full of wildlife – with lovely beaches. At least one week is needed to explore this region, with two weeks required for a full tour. The key destinations are connected by regional air services. Exploring is easy overland, with main sights accessed by spur roads that branch off the Pan-American Highway. However, a 4WD is recommended, not least to reach Monteverde , acclaimed for its cloud forest reserves.

Farther north, Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja  offers spectacular hiking, as well as horseback riding and mountain biking at ranches that double as rustic hotels.

Situated on the slopes of Volcán Orosi, Parque Nacional Santa Rosa is a dry forest reserve where wildlife is easily seen. Although not as accessible as some other parks, Santa Rosa is well worth the effort. In contrast, Parque Nacional Palo Verde has wetlands unrivaled for birding.

Chorotega Indian traditions live on in the potters’ hamlet of Guaitíl . The Nicoya Peninsula is known for its profusion of beaches. Playas del Coco and Flamingo have great scuba diving and sport fishing. Tamarindo   is the most developed resort, while nesting marine turtles can be spotted at Playa Grande and Ostional .

 

The Northern Zone

With Costa Rica’s most active volcano, an alphabet of active adventures, and a choice of nature lodges and rewarding birding, the Northern Zone is a booming latecomer to the tourist scene. The attractions are concentrated in two distinct regions centered on the towns of La Fortuna and Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí.

Bustling La Fortuna is the gateway to Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal , and offers several dozen lodges, most with vistas of the soaring volcano that erupts almost daily. Activities such as exploring  the Cavernasde Venado and superb birding at Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Cano Negro  lie close at hand.

Soaking in the thermal waters at Tabacón is a great experience, as is a ride on the Arenal Aerial Tram , which combines excitement with grand views of both the volcano and of Lake Arenal), popular with windsurfers and fisherman.

Farther east, Puerto Viejode Sarapiquí  is a departure point for nature excursions on the Sarapiquí and San Juan Rivers. A short distance away are eminent rainforest reserves such as Selva Verde, Rara Avis, and Tirimbina.  Adjoining Tirimbina is an excellent educational facility, Centro Neotrópico Sarapiquís, which is dedicated to a celebration of pre-Columbian and contemporary indigenous cultures. Heavy rainfall is possible at any time of year. A 4WD is essential for successful touring. Local airlines fly to La Fortuna.

The Caribbean

The Caribbean offers three of Costa Rica’s premier rainforest reserves, plus splendid sport fishing and a uniquely laid-back ambience deriving from its Afro-Caribbean culture. The heritage is most colorfully alive in the village of Cahuita , where spicy Caribbean dishes are served at rough-hewn restaurants that reverberate to the sounds of Bob Marley. Steps away is Parque Nacional Cahuita, with trails that include a snorkeling trail. Farther south, Puerto Viejo  appeals to lovers of surf and an offbeat lifestyle. Its beaches unfurl southward, culminating in Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca Manzanillo, good for hikes, turtle-watching, and trips in search of dolphins and manatees. Excursions inland provide an opportunity to learn about the lifestyles of indigenous communities.

The highlight of anyCaribbean itinerary is a visit to  Nacional Parque Tortuguero ,where exploring by boat unveils a rainforest menagerie unsurpassed in the nation. A minimum three-day stay is suggested – longer if you wish to combine Tortuguero with Cahuita and Puerto Viejo. Drawbacks to the area include the heavy year-round rainfall. Be aware that drugs are a problem in coastal communities, and you may find that locals exhibit, at times, a rudeness not found elsewhere in Costa Rica.

The Southern Zone

Encompassing Costa Rica’s premier rainforests and most rugged mountains, this region, with its exceedingly diverse terrain, requires a 4WD for travelers exploring on their own. Come prepared for high humidity and heavy rain. Inland, the Talamancas offer a challenge to hikers. While well-developed trails lead to the summit of Cerro Chirripó  from San Gerardo de Rivas , access into the more remote portions of the mountains to the south is along seldom-trodden trails within Parque Nacional La Amistad.

Farther south is Las Cruces Biological Station, a superb destination for birders and individuals with a botanical interest. Nearby, a number of indigenous reserves are opening up to the tourist trade .The rugged coast is known for high surf and some splendid diving. Dominical  and Zancudo  are popular surfing beaches, while Parque Nacional Marino Ballena has fine whale-watching possibilities.

Whale- and dolphin-viewing boat excursions are popular from Bahía Drake, where many lodges specialize in scuba diving. The big draw is Parque Nacional Corcovado, which offers hiking and superb wildlife-viewing. Linked by water-taxi to the sport fishing town of Golfito),  Puerto Jimenez is the gateway to Corcovado. To the southwest is the hard-to-reach UNESCO World Heritage Site Isla Del Coco.

Costa Rica has so much to do, and spread out all over the country, below is a map, to give you a idea where everything is.

 

Map Index

Arenal Volcano/Tabacón Hot Springs 5

Braulio Carrillo National Park 18

Manuel Antonio National Park 25

Monteverde Biological

Cloud Forest Reserve 6

Osa Peninsula &

Corcovado National Park 26

Rincón de la Vieja National Park 2

The Río Sarapiquí Region 14

Tortuguero Village & Jungle Canals 15

THE BEST BEACHES

The Beaches around Playa Sámara 9

Malpaís 11

Manuel Antonio 25

Playa Montezuma 12

Punta Uva & Manzanillo 21

Santa Rosa National Park 1

THE BEST ADVENTURES

Battling a Billfish off the Pacific Coast 24

Diving off Isla del Coco 10

Hiking Mount Chirripó 22

Kayaking Around Golfo Dulce 27

Rafting the Upper Reventazón River 16

Surfing & Four-Wheeling Guanacaste 8

Surfing Pavones 28

Windsurfing Lake Arenal 4

THE BEST BIRD-WATCHING

Aviarios del Caribe/Cahuita National Park 20

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge 3

Carara National Park 13

Cerro de la Muerte 23

La Selva Biological Station 17

Parque del Este 19

Río Tempisque Basin 7

Wilson Botanical Gardens 29

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