Costa Rica has nearly 300 different beaches along its stunning Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, each with a distinct setting. Even on nearby beaches the sand can vary from white, black, or brown coloration. Some are fantastic for swimming and snorkeling and others are better for surfing.
Up in the northern Caribbean sits Tortugero, one of the most remote villages in the entire country. It borders Tortugero National Park, where birds, reptiles, and amphibians seen nowhere else in the country thrive. Expeditions take visitors out on the canals or to the beach, where they watch baby turtles hatch and attempt to reach the sea. The Cahuita and Gandoca national parks in the southern Caribbean are also replete with wildlife, sloths included. Aside from sloths, Costa Rica is full of cheeky monkeys who might steal your food if you aren’t watching, and if it’s not the monkeys, it’s the raccoons – they run around in the daylight with a similar outlook on life to the honey badger of South Africa.
There are lizards, geckos and iguanas all over the place, and Costa Rica is also known as a great bird-watching country with over 812 recorded species found there.
One of the main tourist attractions, Costa Rica currently has five listed active volcanoes and 200+ volcanic formations. Because of them, the country has very rich and fertile soil which helps make it so lush and full of life. The volcanoes and surrounding areas are also popular areas for hiking, camping and mountain biking. The most famous is Arenal, which is over 5,500 feet tall. The country's tallest volcano is Irazu, which towers 11,259 feet above sea level and is very active. Poas Volcano National Park is Costa Rica's most visited national park.
In Costa Rica, chocoholics can not only savor the "food of the gods" but also discover its history and ecology.
Costa Rica is known as the happiest country on Earth. It’s army-free, citizens have a life expectancy of 79.3, and they’re surrounded by a beautiful setting that’s sure to improve any mood. Expect beaches, volcanoes, rain forests, and pretty great weather most of the time. “Pura vida” is a local saying there, meaning “life is good.” Everywhere you go in Costa Rica you will be welcomed with a smile by the locals, and they will truly make you feel at home in their country.
People in Costa Rica will always try to make you feel like home, and that's why people do love visit Costa Rica!
Costa Rica borders both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, with a total of 1,290 kilometres of coastline of the Caribbean coast and the Pacific. Costa Rica also borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south-southeast.
The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripó which is the fifth highest peak in Central America. The highest volcano in the country is the Irazú Volcano and the largest lake in Costa Rica is Lake Arenal.
Costa Rica has several islands: for example Cocos Island and Calero Island.
Costa Rica protects over 25% of its national territory within national parks. It also possesses the greatest density of species in the world.
Costa Ricans speak standard American Spanish, but they have developed distinct patterns in their language. Costa Ricans usually utilize the respectful "Usted" form when addressing one another, this is somewhat formal and surprises some Spanish-speaking foreigners when they arrive.
The local currency is the Costa Rican Colon, 1 USD is about 605.6 Costa Rican Colons (March 2019).
The best time to visit Costa Rica is December through April, this is the dry season. The rainy season, which lasts from May to November, usually has sunny mornings, with rain showers in late afternoon and evening. Overall, the climate is tropical, with an average temperature of 22°C. It can be much hotter along the coastal areas of the country, and much cooler in the mountains.
When you are in Costa Rica, of course you have to taste some delicious local cuisine. It is a combination of Spanish, Mexican, American, Caribbean and Southern American influences.
The national dish is "Gallo Pinto" ("spotted rooster"). It is mainly a combination of black beans and white rice and it is spiced with cilantro, onions, garlic, salt and a local condiment called Salsa Lizano. Another typical dish is "Arroz con pollo" ("rice with chicken"). This dish basically consists of bite size chicken chunks mixed with rice and diced vegetables that include carrots, peas, corn and garbanzo beans.
A nice refreshment after a long day discovering the country are called "refrescos," "frescos," "naturales," or "batidos". They are made with either water or milk and come in an endless variety.
Costa Rica was populated with African slaves in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, although most Caribbean Costa Ricans of African descent originate from Jamaican workers brought in during the nineteenth century to work in the construction of railways. These Africans left behind their unmistakable cultural heritage.
During the nineteenth century, Italian and Chinese immigrants came to the country to work on the construction of the railroad system as well, but unlike the slaves, these newcomers did so for monetary gain and skills acquirement. Their cultures are reflected in the Costa Rican culture as well.
Catholicism is recognized as the official religion in Costa Rica but even though many Costa Ricans claim they are Catholic, devotion varies among the population.
Costa Ricans refer to themselves as tico (masculine) or tica (feminine). The tico ideal is that of a very friendly, helpful, laid back, unhurried, educated and environmentally aware people. The phrase "Pura Vida" (literally "Pure Life") is the motto in Costa Rica. It means living in a peace, calm manner, appreciating a life surrounded by nature and family and friends.
Most music and the most representative folklore comes from the north of the country where the Mayan’s influence is large, including the Nicoya Peninsula, and the Atlantic coast. During your visit to this amazing country you will definitely come across various types of local folklore.
For the nature lover, this country is a must. Costa Rica is home to a rich variety of plants and animals. Over 25% of Costa Rica is composed of protected forests and reserves. The Corcovado National Park is the place to be for ecologists, it has a large biodiversity and you can see an abundance of wildlife.
Tortuguero National Park is home to spiders, howlers, white-throated Capuchin monkeys, the three-toed sloth, 320 species of birds and a variety of reptiles. But it is mostly known for the endangered green turtle.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve hosts two thousand plant species, including numerous orchids. Over four hundred types of birds can be found here, and over one hundred species of mammals.
The tour consists of a walk from 9 km to 11 km by one of the trails through the National Park area of Playa Blanca up to the area of Puerto Vargas, passing beautiful beaches where you can relax and swim in the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea. The tour ends in the administration sector of Puerto Vargas where our transportation will pick you up to t..
Corobicí River is perfect if you have been dreaming about the thrill of a rafting experience. The waters are not difficult, but you have to work for their management (the river is Class I and II). The tour is a two hours one in a rubber boat, the Corobici river is surrounded by tropical dry forest, where you can see trees like ceiba, mahogany a..