Sights and Activities:
Costa Rica is home to one of the world's most beautiful landscapes, nature parks, volcanoes and beaches. There is a lot to keep you busy for weeks, after which you can relax on numerous of the beaches, both at the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Manuel Antonio National Park:
The Manuel Antonio National Park is located in the south of the country near the city of Quepos and is one of the most visited areas in the country.
The park has a beautiful setting with lots of wildlife, including sloth, several species of monkeys, iguanas, numerous birds including the toucan, bats, spiders, and snakes. Activities include guided walks, wildlife watching and relaxing and one of many beaches inside or just outside the park.
Arenal Volcano:
The Arenal Volcano in the north of the country is probably one of the best known volcanoes in the world and still a very active one as well, erupting many times (albeit small) a day.
You can visit this volcano and the nearby rain forest from the town of La Fortuna and activities including guided walks, magnificent night walks (to see the eruptions), and wildlife watching in the forests on the way with many species of birds to see.
Tortuguero:
Tortuguero is located on the Caribbean coast and is one of the most remote places in Costa Rica, only accessible by boat or plane. The Tortuguero National Park is what most visitors bring all the way up here and the main activity probably is seeing turtles laying their eggs on the beaches.
Most of these tours last for several hours and leave when it's dark. It is not always season though and your best bet will be visiting during April to May for leatherback turtles and July to October for green turtles. Canoe tours, wildlife watching, and jungle trips are other options with one of the many tour operators in this fantastic area.
Cocos Island National Park:
The Cocos Island National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Pacific Ocean over 500 kilometers from the mainland of Costa Rica and is famous for its spectacular diving with chances to see sharks, big tunas, rays, and dolphins. Apart from the marine ecosystem, there is very dense rain forest on the island itself with very rich biodiversity. It doesn't come cheap to visit this place but it is well worth the effort and money.
Corcovado National Park:
Corcovado NP is located on the Osa Peninsula in the south of Costa Rica and its main access point is Puerto Jimenez. It still is one of the more remote national parks though but with excellent wildlife watching. Species include the Scarlett macaw, many other species of birds, frogs, spiders, reptiles, tapir and even large predators like jaguar and puma, although there are much harder to spot, especially during daytime. The waterfalls, beaches and rain forest make this park a real gem and not to miss when you are in Costa Rica.
Canopy Tours:
There are more than 120 places in Costa Rica to do canopy tours, allowing you to experience the rain forests from a bird's eye view. Some of the canopy tours are set up as skywalks and visitors can walk amongst the treetops.
Many others have zip-lines hooked up between trees and visitors are strapped into a harness and sent flying past the canopies. Be aware that not all tour operators maintain high safety standards. It is worth researching the operator you plan to use in advance!
Other Sights and Activities:
Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves
Tenorio Volcano National Park
La Amistad National Park
Beaches near Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Jaco, and Pochote
White water raft the Pacuare river
MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK:
This national park is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the country. It is a combination of a paradisiacal beach of crystalline waters with coral reefs, bordered by exuberant vegetation and the natural captivations of the tropical humid forest. Its beaches are counted among the best in the country, where the snorkeling and the surf are very popular.
On the way to Manuel Antonio along the coastal line, you will enjoy nice views and will be crossing plantations of African palm and picturesque villages along the Pacific coast, until you reach the port of Quepos and few minutes after the National Park.
At our arrival we will hike to the park, crossing a creek to access the park, since this park is closed to vehicles.
Once at the park, it is possible to simply enjoy the beach, take a sunbath, or a nature walk through the park's trails, which will allow you to observe the abundant flora and fauna of the park, especially several species of monkeys, iguanas, birds, and maybe, the three toe sloth. One of the trails borders Cathedral Point from where the sight of the park and the sea is spectacular.
WHITE WATER RAFTING:
In this excursion, you have the opportunity to be on one of the three most popular rivers for this sport, Pacuare River, Reventazon River or Sarapiqui River.
The Pacuare River is one of the five most important rivers in the world for is landscapes and fast rapids.
Traveling on this tropical river is pure magic. Located in the Caribbean of Costa Rica, the Pacuare River and the mountain of Talamanca are home to the native Indians of Cabecar and an immense variety of flora and fauna, once on the river, you will go 16 miles to the heart of the rain forest observing waterfalls, birds and variety of flora.
The Reventazon rivers make the perfect trip for beginners the 12 miles of river will take approximately 2 hours until you arrive at the city of Turrialba. During the trip you will enjoy incomparable landscapes along the river. Sarapiqui River is ideal for beginners and their families, the trip is also excellent for bird watchers and nature lovers.
CROCODILE SAFARI:
Come and visit a unique tourist destination in Costa Rica just two hours away from San José. Jungle Crocodile Safari offers a tour specially designed for adventurers and bird watchers, yet safe for the whole family.
The adventure takes place on the Tárcoles River, one of four rivers flowing out into the Nicoya
Peninsula, and home to one of the world's largest crocodile populations in the wild with individuals up to fifteen feet long. In addition to the crocodiles, over fifty different kinds of birds can be seen on-site, including the very rare scarlet macaw and a great variety of resident and migrant waterfowl. Iguanas and Jesus Christ lizards are very common as well. Jungle Crocodile Safari's tour time is
two hours.
Our bilingual tourist guide offers expert orientation about the crocodiles and other associated wildlife. On the way downstream, the boat heads along the Guacalillo estuary, a most awesome mangrove ecosystem that features four different species of mangrove trees.
RAIN FOREST AERIAL TRAM:
Only 50 minutes from San José on the highway to Limón, the Rain Forest Aerial Tram offers one of the most impressive and unique parks of ecotourism and investigation in the world.
Visitors literally travel 90 minutes between the grove forest, the canopy and its gardens discovering plants and animals that are usually hidden, a world little known, but with incredible beauty, and extraordinary biological diversity. The "Gondola" (Aerial Tram) Tour is a modified "Ski Lift" that covers a distance of 2.6 kilometers through the Costa Rica rainforest.
The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. The main idea of the tour is to show visitors the different levels of a rainforest, specifically the most difficult level to reach, up to now, and the least scientifically known part of the forest the canopy (the treetops). This course is very secure and very quiet; allowing visitors to listen to the many different sounds of the rainforest.
TORTUGA ISLAND CRUISE:
Aboard a yacht at Puntarenas and enjoy the Gulf of Nicoya, and its beautiful archipelago, admiring the many sea birds, while cruising to Tortuga Island. Tortuga Island is known for its immaculate white sand beach and turquoise waters, a perfect stop for swimming and snorkeling.
You will remain in the island for approximately four hours, where you can enjoy different activities such as: Canopy Tour, trails, kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, beach sports or simply relax and enjoy the beach, while the crew prepares an exquisite lunch - buffet style.
COFFEE TOUR:
Imagine following the journey of the coffee bean in the plantation from the plant to a cup of gourmet coffee. When you take the Coffee Tours at Café Britt you will do exactly that. Their professional acting troupe, dressed in traditional garb, will escort you through a multimedia, interactive tour through the history of coffee.
On the "Finca", as the plantation is called in Spanish, your day starts in six acres of coffee fields, tropical gardens, and coffee processing facilities.
We will teach you all about coffee cultivation and not just by giving you the facts, feel free to pick a few ripe cherries to taste their sweetness or take a few of the dried beans home to grow a plant of your own. From the fields, we will take you into our roasting and packaging facilities where you will soak in the aroma of roasting coffee and learn all about the magical process that turns a red coffee cherry into a delicious cup of java. Then, in our theater, sit back and watch a multimedia play and presentation of coffee's place in world history.
Learn about how deeply coffee culture is woven into the history and people of Costa Rica and be prepared to have a few good laughs while you're at it. Although incredibly knowledgeable, our troupe has a rather short and serious threshold.
Costa Rica is home to one of the world's most beautiful landscapes, nature parks, volcanoes and beaches. There is a lot to keep you busy for weeks, after which you can relax on numerous of the beaches, both at the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Manuel Antonio National Park:
The Manuel Antonio National Park is located in the south of the country near the city of Quepos and is one of the most visited areas in the country.
The park has a beautiful setting with lots of wildlife, including sloth, several species of monkeys, iguanas, numerous birds including the toucan, bats, spiders, and snakes. Activities include guided walks, wildlife watching and relaxing and one of many beaches inside or just outside the park.
Arenal Volcano:
The Arenal Volcano in the north of the country is probably one of the best known volcanoes in the world and still a very active one as well, erupting many times (albeit small) a day.
You can visit this volcano and the nearby rain forest from the town of La Fortuna and activities including guided walks, magnificent night walks (to see the eruptions), and wildlife watching in the forests on the way with many species of birds to see.
Tortuguero:
Tortuguero is located on the Caribbean coast and is one of the most remote places in Costa Rica, only accessible by boat or plane. The Tortuguero National Park is what most visitors bring all the way up here and the main activity probably is seeing turtles laying their eggs on the beaches.
Most of these tours last for several hours and leave when it's dark. It is not always season though and your best bet will be visiting during April to May for leatherback turtles and July to October for green turtles. Canoe tours, wildlife watching, and jungle trips are other options with one of the many tour operators in this fantastic area.
Cocos Island National Park:
The Cocos Island National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Pacific Ocean over 500 kilometers from the mainland of Costa Rica and is famous for its spectacular diving with chances to see sharks, big tunas, rays, and dolphins. Apart from the marine ecosystem, there is very dense rain forest on the island itself with very rich biodiversity. It doesn't come cheap to visit this place but it is well worth the effort and money.
Corcovado National Park:
Corcovado NP is located on the Osa Peninsula in the south of Costa Rica and its main access point is Puerto Jimenez. It still is one of the more remote national parks though but with excellent wildlife watching. Species include the Scarlett macaw, many other species of birds, frogs, spiders, reptiles, tapir and even large predators like jaguar and puma, although there are much harder to spot, especially during daytime. The waterfalls, beaches and rain forest make this park a real gem and not to miss when you are in Costa Rica.
There are more than 120 places in Costa Rica to do canopy tours, allowing you to experience the rain forests from a bird's eye view. Some of the canopy tours are set up as skywalks and visitors can walk amongst the treetops.
Many others have zip-lines hooked up between trees and visitors are strapped into a harness and sent flying past the canopies. Be aware that not all tour operators maintain high safety standards. It is worth researching the operator you plan to use in advance!
Other Sights and Activities:
Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves
Tenorio Volcano National Park
La Amistad National Park
Beaches near Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Jaco, and Pochote
White water raft the Pacuare river
MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK:
This national park is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the country. It is a combination of a paradisiacal beach of crystalline waters with coral reefs, bordered by exuberant vegetation and the natural captivations of the tropical humid forest. Its beaches are counted among the best in the country, where the snorkeling and the surf are very popular.
On the way to Manuel Antonio along the coastal line, you will enjoy nice views and will be crossing plantations of African palm and picturesque villages along the Pacific coast, until you reach the port of Quepos and few minutes after the National Park.
At our arrival we will hike to the park, crossing a creek to access the park, since this park is closed to vehicles.
Once at the park, it is possible to simply enjoy the beach, take a sunbath, or a nature walk through the park's trails, which will allow you to observe the abundant flora and fauna of the park, especially several species of monkeys, iguanas, birds, and maybe, the three toe sloth. One of the trails borders Cathedral Point from where the sight of the park and the sea is spectacular.
WHITE WATER RAFTING:
In this excursion, you have the opportunity to be on one of the three most popular rivers for this sport, Pacuare River, Reventazon River or Sarapiqui River.
The Pacuare River is one of the five most important rivers in the world for is landscapes and fast rapids.
Traveling on this tropical river is pure magic. Located in the Caribbean of Costa Rica, the Pacuare River and the mountain of Talamanca are home to the native Indians of Cabecar and an immense variety of flora and fauna, once on the river, you will go 16 miles to the heart of the rain forest observing waterfalls, birds and variety of flora.
The Reventazon rivers make the perfect trip for beginners the 12 miles of river will take approximately 2 hours until you arrive at the city of Turrialba. During the trip you will enjoy incomparable landscapes along the river. Sarapiqui River is ideal for beginners and their families, the trip is also excellent for bird watchers and nature lovers.
CROCODILE SAFARI:
Come and visit a unique tourist destination in Costa Rica just two hours away from San José. Jungle Crocodile Safari offers a tour specially designed for adventurers and bird watchers, yet safe for the whole family.
The adventure takes place on the Tárcoles River, one of four rivers flowing out into the Nicoya
Peninsula, and home to one of the world's largest crocodile populations in the wild with individuals up to fifteen feet long. In addition to the crocodiles, over fifty different kinds of birds can be seen on-site, including the very rare scarlet macaw and a great variety of resident and migrant waterfowl. Iguanas and Jesus Christ lizards are very common as well. Jungle Crocodile Safari's tour time is
two hours.
Our bilingual tourist guide offers expert orientation about the crocodiles and other associated wildlife. On the way downstream, the boat heads along the Guacalillo estuary, a most awesome mangrove ecosystem that features four different species of mangrove trees.
RAIN FOREST AERIAL TRAM:
Only 50 minutes from San José on the highway to Limón, the Rain Forest Aerial Tram offers one of the most impressive and unique parks of ecotourism and investigation in the world.
Visitors literally travel 90 minutes between the grove forest, the canopy and its gardens discovering plants and animals that are usually hidden, a world little known, but with incredible beauty, and extraordinary biological diversity. The "Gondola" (Aerial Tram) Tour is a modified "Ski Lift" that covers a distance of 2.6 kilometers through the Costa Rica rainforest.
The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. The main idea of the tour is to show visitors the different levels of a rainforest, specifically the most difficult level to reach, up to now, and the least scientifically known part of the forest the canopy (the treetops). This course is very secure and very quiet; allowing visitors to listen to the many different sounds of the rainforest.
TORTUGA ISLAND CRUISE:
Aboard a yacht at Puntarenas and enjoy the Gulf of Nicoya, and its beautiful archipelago, admiring the many sea birds, while cruising to Tortuga Island. Tortuga Island is known for its immaculate white sand beach and turquoise waters, a perfect stop for swimming and snorkeling.
You will remain in the island for approximately four hours, where you can enjoy different activities such as: Canopy Tour, trails, kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, beach sports or simply relax and enjoy the beach, while the crew prepares an exquisite lunch - buffet style.
COFFEE TOUR:
Imagine following the journey of the coffee bean in the plantation from the plant to a cup of gourmet coffee. When you take the Coffee Tours at Café Britt you will do exactly that. Their professional acting troupe, dressed in traditional garb, will escort you through a multimedia, interactive tour through the history of coffee.
On the "Finca", as the plantation is called in Spanish, your day starts in six acres of coffee fields, tropical gardens, and coffee processing facilities.
We will teach you all about coffee cultivation and not just by giving you the facts, feel free to pick a few ripe cherries to taste their sweetness or take a few of the dried beans home to grow a plant of your own. From the fields, we will take you into our roasting and packaging facilities where you will soak in the aroma of roasting coffee and learn all about the magical process that turns a red coffee cherry into a delicious cup of java. Then, in our theater, sit back and watch a multimedia play and presentation of coffee's place in world history.
Learn about how deeply coffee culture is woven into the history and people of Costa Rica and be prepared to have a few good laughs while you're at it. Although incredibly knowledgeable, our troupe has a rather short and serious threshold.