Costa Rica Travel Wiki

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Travel to Costa Rica

The Republic of Costa Rica is a nation that is filled with beauty, adventure, and just a touch off danger. There are nearly 1,300 kilometers of coastline to enjoy, but there are also 120 volcanoes that are contained in the small Central American nation. Seven of those volcanoes are considered to be active.

Peace reigns supreme in Costa Rica. In the Western Hemisphere, it is the only country that does not have a military or an army of any kind. Because it also bridges North America to South America, this country has a unique blending of cultures and a density of flora and fauna that is unlike any other place in the world today.

Environmentalism is a point of emphasis in Costa Rica, with it being the only country in the world at the moment to meet all 5 criteria established for sustainability. It plans to be a carbon-neutral nation by 2021 and is the first country in the Americas to ban recreational hunting.

Beaches, museums, and dining opportunities are often the points of emphasis when planning a trip to Costa Rica, but the exploration opportunities in this unique environment cannot be ignored either. Manuel Antonio National Park gives visitors access to diverse wildlife opportunities in a rain forest environment. The Cloud Forest of Monteverde offers some of the most unique hiking trails you’ll ever see.

In Costa Rica, there are no tensions unless you want them to be there. The goal of this nation is to remain at peace and it has been this way since 1949. If you want to find some place where all of the pressures of the world can fade away, this is where your next destination should be.

Best of Costa Rica

Nauyaca Falls, Don Lulu Tour

This amazing set of waterfalls are located in between the surfing village of Dominical on the central Pacific coast and the bustling little city of San Isidro de General. The falls are privately owned and the best way to tour them is by taking the Don Lulu tour, which consists of a horseback ride to the falls and includes breakfast and lunch. The tour begins on the highway where you mount your horse, and begin the 3 mile trek to the falls, stopping at the quaint tico-style home of Don Lulu for a typical Costa Rican breakfast of fresh fruit and gallo pinto(beans and rice). After breakfast, it’s back on the horse for the short trip to the entrance to the falls. After a fairly steep descent down a hand cut stairway, you arrive at one of the most amazing natural attractions in all of Costa Rica. The falls consist of two levels with the upper falls towering over 500 feet and the lower falls consisting of a wide cascade of over 100 feet that plummets into an idyllic 30 foot deep pool. Your guides on the tour will be more than happy to help you climb up into the lower falls for a once in a lifetime leap of faith into the refreshing pool below. After a few hours swimming and relaxing next to this Costa Rican treasure, it’s a short but strenuous climb back up the staircase to your waiting mount.

Volcano and Lake Arenal

Volcano Arenal towers over Lake Arenal in the north central region of Costa Rica. It is the most active volcano in Costa Rica with daily eruptions, and vibrant glowing lava shows that can be enjoyed at night. The volcano last had a major eruption in 1968 when it buried the old town of Arenal in ash and soot. The Costa Rican government has since flooded the area where Arenal used to be to create Costa Rica’s largest lake, and submerging this once lively village in hundreds of feet of water. The lake is home to some of the best rainbow bass fishing in the entire world, and there are many local guides that will take you to the best spots. In addition to the world class fishing on the lake, Lake Arenal is also internationally known for its windsurfing. There are many types of accommodations in the Arenal area ranging from five star resorts like the upscale Tabacon Hot Springs Resort to small rooms for the budget minded traveler. There are some wonderful canopy tours in the area in which you can spend a day zipping down a cable over the rainforest canopy below. The Arenal area is truly an amazing piece of paradise where you can enjoy the sights and sounds of an active volcano looming over a picturesque lake. Truly a must-see in this spectacular country.

Manuel Antonio National Park

The crown jewel of Costa Rica’s national parks, Manuel Antonio is without a doubt a must-see on your visit to Costa Rica. Located just south of Quepos on the central Pacific coastline, the park is only a few hours from San Jose making it very accessible. Manuel Antonio is a very small park in relation to the other parks in the country, but it attracts more visitors per year than any other park. The park has pristine powder sand beaches back dropped by lush emerald green mountains that plunge into the deep blue Pacific. Manuel Antonio has become so popular that the park director has had to limit the number of people allowed into the park to 600 on weekdays and 800 on weekends. It’s no wonder that people are lining up to get in to this amazing place, as on any given day you can spot 3 different species of monkeys, sloths, marmosets, ocelots, river otters, pacas, and speckeled caimans as well as, 200 species of birds. The beaches at Manuel Antonio are often considered the most beautiful in all of Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio was actually discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1519 on his quest for the fountain of youth, and while he may have never located that particular fountain, it appears he had stumbled upon the garden of Eden. This place will leave you breathless and with unforgettable memories about the beauty of Costa Rica.

Things to do in Costa Rica

With almost 50.000 species of different fauna, animals and insects such as orchids, birds, butterflies, and freshwater fishes, Costa Rica is a place where nature abundantly sits on its 51,100 sq. km. land area.

Bordering the North Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica is home to luscious tropical rain forests, lovely beaches, coral reefs, mangrove swamps, cloud forests, volcanoes, and a large set- up of lakes and rivers. With these remarkable features, Costa Rica is one of the worlds most wonderful vacation destinations.

So if you have not yet experienced the best vacation in the world, then, going to Costa Rica will definitely make you see how magnificent Gods creation were.

With its great warm temperate climate and abundant nature, you can do many things while you enjoy your grand vacation getaway in Costa Rica.

Of course, to make the most out of your break, it is best to take note of the recommended activities in the area. These things will surely make your time in Costa Rica something worth remembering all your life.

White water rafting

Costa Rica provides a number of the worlds best white water rafting rivers. These remarkable types of waters will let you dive into the unknown tropical boondocks of Costa Rica.

So whether you are a novice or a skilled white water rafter, an adventurer or a nature aficionado, it is extremely important to experience white water rafting in Costa Rica. You will never know the kind of experience that awaits you if you will not try it.

Aerial adventures

With its abundant tropical rain forests, Costa Rica can give you one of the worlds best natural parks. Also, the best way to enjoy these extraordinary features is to try the Aerial Adventures. This refers to a chairlift- style trip that was built for optimum wildlife and bird viewing.

Aerial Adventures is the ultimate alternative to cable rides, especially if you are one of those few people who gets scared with hanging cables mounted on top of the trees.

Beach escapades

If you think you have already seen the best beaches in the world, think again! If you have not yet visited Costa Ricas lovely beaches, then you are nearly missing half of the bets things life has to offer.

When you have your vacation in Costa Rica, it is a must that you try and experience plunging into its exquisite beaches.

Costa Rica has a long range of glamorous beach resorts and first- class hotel accommodations. For example, in the Caribbean Coast, you can go to Cahuita, a miniature Oceanside community, with a beautiful national park attached to it. This place can give you the best snorkeling and swimming experience.

While on the Pacific Coast, you can visit Playa Samara, one of Costa Ricas stunning white sand beaches. It is blessed excellent coral reef situated in tranquil, shallow Costa Rica waters.

Wind surfing

With the strong Tradewinds blowing within the region, wind surfing has been one of the most sough- after activity every vacationer would like to experience.

Among the many lakes situated in Costa Rica, Lake Arenal is one of the finest windsurfing sites in the world. Compared to Columbias River Gorge and Lake Garda of Italy, Lake Arenals Tradewinds creates winds with extraordinary strength.

In fact, reports say that all through the dry season, the average wind speed amounts to 33 miles per hour. Only the professional windsurfers can manage this speed.

Hence, with great equipments and superior wind surfing ability, you will definitely enjoy this fun activity while you stay in Costa Rica.

Fishing and Scuba diving

Fishing and Scuba diving will never be the same again if you will experience this in Costa Rica. With its famous, Manuel Antonio National Park and Quepos, you can only be assured of a remarkable vacation near the waters.

Quepos Manuel Antonio is the place that created Costa Ricas world recognition. Blessed with many kinds of fishes, anglers will surely have a grand time catching the best inshore and blue water fishes in the world. You can also have a taste of fresh water fishes at Lake Arenal.

A rich culture

Costa Rica has a vast history of music, food, and morals. Music in Costa Rica is often associated to Spanish –style music. Spanish music is highly affluent in Costa Rica. Often times, the Spanish music is played with mariachis, and can be heard in restaurants, concert halls, and on the pedestrian lined streets. Costa Rican’s take pride in their food, which is evident in their cooking. There is a lot of passion and care that is placed into every meal, as the natives believe that every meal that is eaten should be satisfying. The foods that are offered are very flavorful, and have incorporated the spices of the land. Cumin, commonly referred to as cumino, and other spices such as chili powder, season every Costa Rican dish, and give it that extra bit of flare that Costa Rican meals offer.

A sense of family and religion are very important morals in the Costa Rican culture. Costa Ricans are known for their tight-knit families, and their deep devotions to their desired religion. The morals that are given in the Bible often dictate how a family operates in Costa Rica. Churches, commonly referred to as iglessias, are always packed every Sunday as mass is in session. Families convene into churches to worship, and carry on the morals of the culture that was passed down to them from previous generations.

The Costa Rica culture is multi-faceted, but overall, there is a main thread of loving one another that is evident in the communities. Learning how one culture can learn from another is what Costa Rica offers. For those that are visiting, there are a lot of different backgrounds that can be appreciated in Costa Rica.