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In just one word, how would you describe paradise? Warm? Tropical? Relaxing? But in two words, paradise is Costa Rica.
With emerald spectacular volcanoes, blue rivers, white sand beaches, and a kaleidoscope of flora and fauna, Costa Rica is truly heaven on earth. It is the jewel of Central American, and a haven for experiencing the best of everything the tropics have to give. The never ending Costa Rican coastline boasts an abundance of great waves for surfing, pristine beaches, and a climate made for relaxation at its best.
Costa Rica is in fact, a haven for ecotourists dreaming to experience the natural habitats of exotic creatures. While exploring the Costa Rican jungle, you’ll encounter poison dart frogs, monkeys, countless lizards and the most curious insects and butterflies. Wetlands are home to crocodiles, and those endangered sea turtles can be seen nesting on both coasts.
No visit to Costa Rica is complete without stopping at Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, one of the country’s largest parks. This area is Costa Rica’s oldest national park, and serves as protection for the largest remaining stand of tropical dry forest in Central America. It also guards some of the most significant nesting sites of a number of species of sea turtles, including rare ones.
If you’re planning a Costa Rican adventure tour, there are several other sites that you should be sure to visit on your journey:
Monteverde
This reserve may be small in size, however, it’s big on adventure. A popular destination for locals and international visitors, Monteverde is located in northwestern Costa Rica. The closest settlement to the cloud-forest reserve of Monteverde is a small community named Santa Elena. The road leading from Santa Elena to Monteverde is lined with tourist-pleasing art galleries, butterfly gardens, a cheese factory, and a serpentarium.
Peninsula de Nicoya
No Costa Rican adventure tour is complete without a visit to this spot on the northwestern Pacific coast. Although the lack of paved roads makes the area a little difficult to navigate, it’s absolutely worth the effort when you first spy the country’s most remote and breathtaking beaches. There are also a few rarely visited wildlife parks and reserves, including Parque Nacional Marino las Baulas Guanacaste, home to Playa Grande, a significant nesting site for the leatherback turtle. The peninsula’s most accessible beach, called Playa del Coco, highlights small villages with some nightlife.
San Jose
While the Costa Rican wildlife is exciting, never underestimate the adventures you’ll encounter while experiencing the cosmopolitan side of Costa Rica. Many Costa Rican adventure trips will include a stop in the bustling city of San Jose. This is the center of the Costa Rican universe; complete with high-rise building, shopping malls, fast food restaurants, low rise jeans, and busy streets. As you explore the streets of San Jose, you’ll find museums, vibrant nightlife, theatres, casual eateries serving traditional fare, and world-class restaurants featuring gourmet delights.
Whether you prefer surfing the crystal clear waters, exploring the tropical jungles, or cruising the San Jose nightlife, a Costa Rican adventure tour can satisfy your need for excitement. However you spend your time in Costa Rica, you’ll agree that it’s pure and simple paradise.
Tagged with: Costa Rica travel • family tour
Filed under: Family Vacation • Sanibel Island