Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a wildlife and adventure-lovers’ paradise. Monkeys, brightly coloured toucans, hummingbirds and tiny tree frogs live in beautiful national parks. Costa Rica boasts incomparable biodiversity, where unspoilt beaches rub shoulders with tropical forests and fiery volcanoes; walk on canopy walkways or whitewater raft through the rainforest.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Spot wild orchids, hummingbirds, and the famous resplendent quetzal among gorges, waterfalls and dense, steamy cloud forest. The reserve was created by American Quakers in 1972 to protect the environment when farming threatened the wildlife. Today, its 10500 hectares provide sanctuary for hundreds of animal, bird and reptile species, and thousands of insect and plant species.
HIGHLIGHTS: Canopy walkways, hiking trails, hummingbird gardens, night walks, coffee and chocolate tours.
Arenal and
Rincon de la Veija Arenal Volcano rises out of Costa Rica’s lush northern lowlands in a classic cone, covered by a tangled mass of vegetation on one side and old lava flows on the other. Further north, in the Guanacaste province, is Rincon de la Veija, the most active volcano in the Guanacaste mountain range. The national parks surrounding Arenal and Rincon de la Veija are the perfect place for a plethora of activities.
HIGHLIGHTS: Horse-riding, mountain biking, hiking, rafting, hot springs.
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Manuel Antonio
National Park Manuel Antonio National Park is famed for its beautiful beaches and rich wildlife, which lives in the lush forests bordering the bays’ pristine white sands. Capuchin white-faced monkeys hang out on the beach, while coatimundis, sloths and tiny squirrel monkeys sit in the trees. It’s one of the country’s smallest but most beautiful and diverse national parks.
HIGHLIGHTS: Horse-riding, mountain biking, hiking, rafting.
Corcovado National Park
Located on the lovely Osa Peninsula in southwest Costa Rica, Corcovado National Park has an abundance of wildlife amid its montane and cloud forest plus other varieties of vegetation. Corcovado’s exceptional diversity is due to its position between North and South America; linking the two continents provides a unique climate and habitat for Baird’s tapir, ocelot and spider monkeys.
HIGHLIGHTS: Walking trails, wildlife-viewing.
Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero’s network of beaches, canals, lagoons and wetlands are a fitting home for nesting turtles. Each night in certain seasons, green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles come ashore en masse to lay eggs, before heading back to the sea. Boat trips are an excellent way to discover the park’s creeks; explore by canoe if you’re feeling more active.
HIGHLIGHTS: Boat trips, turtle observation, canoeing.
Sarapiqui
Sarapiqui is a small town in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica, an area famous for bananas. The name, Sarapiqui, comes from the indigenous Indian word meaning “movement of the snake”. The river winds its way through the jungle which harbours many species of birds such as parrots, toucans and oropendolas, with their distinctive call and long golden tails.
HIGHLIGHTS: Night walk, white-water rafting, birdwatching, boat rides.
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