Costa Rica - Switzerland of the Americas
Lush green forests, palm-fringed tropical beaches, diverse terrain, exotic wildlife reserves, unspoiled rainforests, mild climate and fragrant coffee farms; is what describes the beautiful country of Costa Rica. Located between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica is a true paradise for nature lovers, bird watchers, travel enthusiasts and adventure buffs. Listed below are some activities which you should not miss when in Costa Rica.
Soak up in Sun on White Sandy Beaches of Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is one of the most sought after beach destinations in Costa Rica. Either you can relax yourself at the long stretches of white sands or can indulge yourself in a scuba diving or a snorkeling experience. If you are an adventure buff, then do take a zipline tour across the rainforest canopies. Explore the beauty of the rainforest as you ride through the jungle on suspension cables. A visit to the Manuel Antonio National Park is also a must when you are here. Watch various species of monkeys jumping across the tree canopies; if you are lucky enough you can also get a sight of the endangered Mono Titi or squirrel monkey which are found only at one place in the world i.e. at the Manuel Antonio National Park.
The Manuel Antonio area is also a paradise for experienced rafters who can indulge into white water river rafting at the Naranjo River. The rafting tour takes you through beautiful jungle gorges and the rocky curves.
You can also take along with you the lasting memories of a Costa Rica fishing experience at the world class fishery located off the coast of Manuel Antonio. The most exciting catch is of the Pacific Sailfish or the 'Pez Vela' which weighs around 100 pounds. Other varities of fish that can be caught include the Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo and Dorado.
Visit the Tortuguero National Park
You can either take a short airplane or a boat ride from San Jose to the small town of Tortuguero which lies on the Caribbean Coast. The most famous tourist attraction of this town is the Tortuguero National Park which is one of the most important breeding sites for the Green Sea Turtles. One of the most exciting experiences which you can have here is watching the turtles laying and hatching the eggs during night time at the nesting beach. Hiring a licensed guide is a must if you want to visit the nesting beach. The best way to explore the national park is through boat. You can even hire a canoe or a kayak to take the guided canal tour inside the park. During the kayak tour, you will be amazed to see a wide variety of monkeys, crocodiles and birds.
Drive to Arenal, Costa Rica's Most Famous and Most Active Volcano
One of the most visited tourist attractions of Costa Rica is the Arenal Volcano which is famous for being the most active volcano. Though the volcano entered in its resting phase in year 2010 but it is still a site worth watching. The crater of the volcano filled with aqua blue water and still emitting plumes of smoke is sure to amaze you. The volcano resides inside the massive Arenal Volcano National Park which is rich in variety of flora and fauna. Once inside the park, you can get a sight of rare species like white-faced capuchin monkeys and parrot snakes.
At a distance of around 4 miles from the Arenal Volcano is the small town of La Fortuna where you can indulge into activities like Horseback riding (that takes you through the forests and hilly trails in the area) and whitewater rafting on the Peñas Blancas and Balsa rivers. You can also indulge in activities like canoeing, kite surfing, swimming, hiking and waterfall rapelling.
Your visit to Arenal Volcano is incomplete without experiencing a relaxing bath in the hot geothermal water springs that are heated by the volcano's geothermal activity. This is one experience which you will relish throughout your life.
You can end your day in Arenal by visiting the Venado Caves that are believed to be 20 million years old and are famous for the stalagmites and stalactites formations. Get amazed to see the hanging bats and monochrome frogs as you pass through these caves.
Visit the Lush Mountaintop Paradise of Monteverde
Nestled between the two cloud forest reserves is the town of Monteverde, site attracting nature lovers, bird watchers and scientists from all across the world. Once in Monteverde, explore the Monteverde Bats Jungle where you can watch numerous species of bats in their natural habitat; see where they roost, what they eat and even watch them visiting the bat feeders for fruit and nectar from behind a glass enclosure.
The other famous attraction of Monteverde is the Cheese Factory. You can take a guided tour of the cheese factory and learn about the cheese making and ice cream making process.
Another interesting experience which you can get while your visit to Monteverde is a trip to the Selvatura Park. Selvatura Park is a perfect site to indulge yourself in the longest canopy tour in Costa Rica. You can also enjoy the Selvatura's Tree Top Walkway trails (hanging bridges) that take you through Monteverde Cloud Forest area giving you some breathtaking views of the surroundings.
Your visit to Monteverde is not complete without visiting the Hummingbirds Gallery which is a fun site for kids. It is really fun watching a variety of hummingbirds hovering over your head. One more must site to visit if you are with kids is the Butterfly Garden where you can see a wide variety of butterflies, bugs and beetles. In this garden you will get an amazing experience to let free a newly born butterfly in one of the gardens.
Enjoy the Blue Sunset in Tamarindo
If you are a beach lover then visiting the beach town of Tamarindo is a must when you are in Costa Rica. Turquoise blue waters and a pleasant weather is what attracts tourists to this place to have a relaxing time. Wind surfing, swimming, scuba diving and kayaking are some of the activities which you can indulge into while your visit to Tamaraindo.
If you are interested in seeing the nesting site for Leatherback Sea Turtles then do visit the Marino Las Baulas National Park which is spread around an area of 445 hectares. To see the local and migratory birds, you can visit the Palo Verde National Park.
Tamarindo beach is also a great location for sport fishing. Boats for fishing are available here for both experts and beginners.
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