Stories of political unrest, hurricanes, and not-so-tourist-friendly areas have a way of scaring people away from visiting Central America come vacation time. However, you’d be wise to investigate the situation for yourself before crossing Costa Rica off your list. This beautiful, surprisingly quiet and peaceful country has all the qualities that make for an exotic and relaxing trip, so consider this oasis for your next holiday if you’re in the mood for something different yet delightful.
Costa Rica has miles of coastline to take advantage of, so if you want to surf, snorkel, or just laze on the beach you won’t have to look too far. Along this line of thinking, some consider Nicoya Peninsula to be the most beautiful spot in the country. Popular beaches border a tropical yet dry rainforest where agricultural and ranching developments are also found. Fun mixes with authentic terrain here, and you’ll find that the result is almost overwhelming.
Wildlife preserves and parks will acquaint you with Costa Rica’s focus on conserving precious flora and fauna, and you’ll have the chance to catch sight of the world’s largest species of turtle. Northeast of Nicoya are some fascinating caves, and throughout the forests are birds, iguanas, and howler monkeys. Playa Samara, Montezuma and Playa del Coco are all places worth investigating as well if you’re lucky enough to find yourself on the peninsula with time to meander and be amazed.
Internationally recognized for all that it has to offer, Wilson Botanical Garden brims with rare, indigenous, eye-popping species of plants. Grab a map and head out for a self-guided walk or follow a tour guide who will tell you what’s what. Either way you go, you’ll end up dwelling over medicinal herbs, colorful flowers, and an array of birds that will make binocular wearers jump for joy. If you’ve come all the way to Central America, taking in the natural landscape like this is a must.
Surfers will find Costa Rica to be a paradise, and notable places to catch a few waves include Playa Naranjo and Ollie’s Point. Seek out the famous “long lefthander" that the Golfito region is known for if you want a true challenge. Experience both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans as you tour the many beaches, and be assured that non surfers will find plenty to do as well. If you’d rather not feel the pull of the tides and the crash of the waves, just sit back and take it all on from ashore.
In a matter of three hours you can go from one side of Costa Rica to the other, so in order to see as much as possible you’ll likely be moving around a bit. If you happen to pass through the capital, San Jose, be prepared for a bustling city that’s a little gritty but definitely worth exploring. Museums, theatres, shopping, and excellent food will all compete for your attention as you navigate the noisy streets that weave through skyscrapers and typical big city sights. The energy is palpable, so you may not find San Jose to be the place to achieve the ultimate feeling of relaxation, but it makes a nice contrast to your quieter escapades.
As you wander the cities taking in the language and the culture or tour the rainforest stretching your neck to view the untamed upper canopies, you’ll be glad that you’ve strayed from the beaten path to take a vacation that is out of the ordinary yet perfectly safe. As you drink refrescos (fresh fruit, sugar and water) after a day of hiking or as you stroll across a black sand beach, you’ll be torn between telling the world about your wonderful trip and keeping it your own little secret. Later you can do whatever you think is right, but be sure to enjoy the peaceful moments as they occur.
As far as where to stay while in Costa Rica, lodging options are plentiful. In the spirit of this distinctive trip, however, you may find yourself gravitating towards a vacation rental. By settling into a house or villa that captures the tropical vibe, offers great views, and provides better than average amenities like a washer and dryer, a covered porch, plenty of closet space, and long-term availability, you might be tempted to leave your old world behind and take up a new identity as a tico (local). Conveniences like being able to walk to the beach without ever feeling crammed into a boxy hotel will be key in contributing to your overall sense of happiness during this well-deserved getaway.
Costa Rica vacation rentals by owner are plentiful and sure to add a little extra something to what already looks like an incredible trip, so go online today and start seeking out the perfect place.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Most famous for being associated with the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the tiny community of Monteverde is a small village located near the entrance of the cloud forest. Monteverde was founded by the Quaker community that migrated from North America to Costa Rica in the 1950's. In town, which is actually Santa Elena, you'll find banks, drug store, a local hospital, book store, gas station, ATM machine, police station, post office, supermarkets, internet cafes, restaurants
As the weather here is quite chilly and misty, due to the village being high up in the Tilaran Mountain Range, you should bring some thick clothes and a light jacket to stay warm. When here, do remember to try out the delicious local cheeses, which are a treat to eat. If you are a bird watcher, this village offers some lovely bird watching opportunities, even though you are not in the cloud forest itself. However, if you prefer to do the more touristy thing, visit the local craft centers, the women's co-op center, the butterfly garden and the Hummingbird Gallery in town.
Dominical Beach Located on Costa Rica's amazingly beautiful Central Pacific coastline, the small village of Dominical is a surfer's paradise where waves can reach over 10 feet high, a place rich in island biodiversity and amazing underwater flora and fauna. It is the perfect combination between the extensive golden coasts full of scenic beaches & luscious mountains.
Dominical is a 4 km long beach strip, with a few hotels, lodges, resorts and restaurants in the area. While swimming here is near impossible with the strong swells and rip tides, one can kayak off the coast or enjoy some diving or snorkeling opportunities in the area. Horseback tours can also be arranged to the nearby Nauyaca Waterfalls, or one can visit the Marino
Ballena National Park, which is home to a number of marine mammals like turtles and whales that come here seasonally to mate and nest. If you like, you can take a short day trip to the lovely Caño Island just off the coast. This island is considered one of the best adventure diving spots in the world and is home to an impressive array of underwater marine life.
Tortuguero Tortuguero National Park is one of Costa Rica's most biologically diverse wildlife areas. Featuring one of the most verdant landscapes in the country, the 26,156 hectare park was created with the main purpose of protecting the green sea turtle nesting area. Tortuguero owes its very wet tropical forest to the 5000 to 6000 millimeters of rain it receives per year. These climatic conditions are favorable to more than 400 tree species, around 2200 species of other plants and more than 400 birds, 60 amphibian and 30 fresh water fish species, as well as several endangered animals including tapirs, monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, manatees and sloths. Tortuguero is characterized by beautifully scenic canals, lagoons and rivers that may be toured by boat, canoe or kayak. In addition to the green turtle, three other sea turtle species nest on the park's beaches.
Arenal Volcano The Arenal Volcano area is one of Costa Rica's top attractions. Only 3 hours away from San José, in the town of La Fortuna, stands a majestic 1,633m volcano, known to be one of the most active in the world. Despite its constant activity, the volcano is very safe to visit as long as you stay within the safety perimeter. In this area take advantage of the pristine natural surroundings! Go fishing, horseback riding; take a canopy tour, rafting or experience a tremendous canyon expedition. Whatever you decide, be sure to visit the relaxing hot springs in the area, the most famous being Tabacon and Baldi.
La Fortuna and Surroundings Often simply referred to as La Fortuna, the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos is the gateway to the magnificent Arenal Volcano. A charming and quiet town, La Fortuna is easily accessible from the capital city San Jose, and offers some panoramic views of the spectacular Arenal, Costa's Rica's most active volcano. Sitting around 10 kilometers away from town and regularly spewing smoke and ash for some time now, the Volcan Arenal is the country's top rated tourist attraction and is indeed a sight to behold. Over the last few years in particular, La Fortuna has become quite a bustling town. However, there are plenty of accommodations, hotels and resorts here to suit every budget. A must try when in La Fortuna are the amazing resort spas surrounding the volcano. On a clear day you can watch the volcano erupt and if you wait for nightfall, the Arenal puts on a brilliant show with bright red rocks tumbling down its sides. Beside the volcano, this town has other great tourist attractions like the La Catarata de la Fortuna, Tabacon Hot Springs, white water rafting, hiking excursions, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, canopy tours and Caño Negro Boat Tours are just some of the many activities that one can enjoy while you are here.
Malpais Malpais is situated on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Also known as the Hawaii of Latin America, there are several beaches to swim, dive or snorkel though it's main attraction is it's unique conditions for surfing and it's pristine subtropical nature. Horseback riding, sportfishing, canopy tours, scuba, and nature tours make up some of the other popular activities nearby. Malpais is a community unlike any other in Costa Rica with a strong surf culture and a the laid-back atmosphere that maintains the type of earthy tourism that made Costa Rica famous.
MalPais boasts a great selection of places to stay and eat from camping on the beach to luxurious resorts and a wide range of activities. Without a doubt it's a very attractive place to relax and enjoy the golden rays of the Pacific sunset. Turrialba Valley
With some stunning views of Costa Rica's rural countryside, Turrialba is a charming little town in the lush and beautiful Central Valley in Cartago province. Famous for being a white water rafting hotspot and base camp, this town lies 53 km east of the capital city San José and is an excellent place to tour the pre-Columbian ruins at Guayabo National Monument, or the rarely visited but lovely Parque Nacional Volcan Turrialba. A quiet town, Turrialba with its charming street corners and gorgeous surrounding sceneries is among the few places in Costa Rica with direct access to a volcano's crater. From the summit of the volcano, you can on a clear day, see the Irazu, Poás and Barva volcanoes in the distance Botanists and gardeners will want to pay a visit to the Center for Agronomy Research and Development (CATIE), which is located 5km (3 miles) southeast of Turrialba on the road to Siquirres. This center is one of the world's foremost facilities for research into tropical agriculture.
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Caitlin Moore has sinced written about articles on various topics from Food And Drink, Travel and Leisure and Vacation Rentals. CyberRentals.com is an extensive vacation rental marketplace that will help make your next trip better than your last.. Caitlin Moore's top article generates over 301000 views. to your Favourites.
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