Costa Rica
Costa Rica provides visitors with a vacation experience unrivaled for its rich biodiversity, easy access to national parks, and an eco-focused tourism infrastructure. Costa Rica is a small country but is home to an astonishing 3% of the planet’s biodiversity and 3.5% of the world’s marine life. And Costa Rica is also a leader in sustainable tourism practices. The country includes various microclimates and astonishing natural wonders. Mountain ranges, rainforests, active volcanoes, cloud forests and the beautiful Cocos Island are just a few of the landscapes for which Costa Rica is famous.
Temperatures in Costa Rica are pleasant all year-round and there is always something to do. Top-tier golf, fishing, world-class scuba diving and birdwatching are all available in different regions of the country. From canopy tours to zip line rides through the cloud forest, hiking one of the many National Parks and horseback riding along beach and in the mountains, a vacation is definitely best enjoyed outdoors. Costa Rica is also a mecca for windsurfers and offers excellent surfing, whitewater rafting and kayaking.
South Pacific
The ruggedly beautiful southwestern corner of Costa Rica is the most remote region of the country. Bordering the Pacific Ocean to the west, and Panama to the east, this region features some of the most pristine rainforests and beaches. The 3 main destinations are Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce. Accessible by local flight from San Jose or Liberia: To Palmar Sur if you want to reach Drake Bay, Dominical or the Ballena Marine National Park or into Puerto Jimenez, which is well located for visiting the Osa Peninsula and the Golfo Dulce.
Caribbean Coast
The Caribbean coast can be divided in two parts: the northern coast with its destinations of Tortuguero and Barra del Colorado offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Costa Rica, and boasts places for turtle watchers. And the southern coast is noted for its pristine rainforests and its Caribbean culture with its main attractions of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo.
Northern Pacific
The Northern Pacific coast - aka Guanacaste province - is a favorite destination with a dryer climate than the rest of the country. The recently inaugurated international airport of Liberia has converted this region into an easy-to-reach vacation destination for North Americans and Europeans! Beaches in Guanacaste are equally gorgeous with the main ones being the Gulf of Papagayo, Playa Hermosa, Coco, Conchal and Ocotal, Tamarindo, Playa Grande and Playa Junquillal.
Central Pacific
The Central Pacific coastline extends from the Nicoya Peninsula and extends south to Quepos and the Manuel Antonio National Park. Travelers will find resorts with golf courses and Spa's to more typical, smaller seaside hotels and delightful Ecolodges. The highlights are Nosara, Ostional Wildlife Refuge, Playa Samara, Playa Carrillo, Punta Islita, Mal Pais and Santa Teresa, Montezuma, Playa Tambor, Jaco and Manuel Antonio.
Northern Highlands & Lowlands
This region of Costa Rica is for nature-loving and active travelers! One can easily spend a week or more in the highlands and plains north of San Jose, especially between visits of the Caribbean and/or Pacific coast. The main attractions of the Northern part of the country are the majestic Volcano Arenal, the Monteverde cloud forest and the Sarapiqui area which wraps around the lower slopes of the Braulio Carrillo National Park.
San Jose & the Central Valley
The Central Valley is a green patchwork of coffee plantations, tropical forests and well-ordered farm dotted with interesting towns. There are many things of interest for visitors just a day-trip away from you hotel, including volcanoes, waterfalls, whitewater rafting, coffee plantation tours, rainforest tours and butterfly farms. San Jose is a congested capital city and the most interesting for tourists are the National Theater and Gold Museum, both located at the Plaza de la Cultura.
