Places To go

Canals and Lakes

Places To go

The canals and lakes in Costa Rica give the visitor the opportunity to observe a great variety of animal species, especially birds. Also, they allow the practice of popular water sports such as wind surfing, canoeing, and kayaking. The man-made Arenal lake is an ideal spot for these sports. In fact, it has been compared with places like Il Garda Lake (Italy) and George River (United States). The Tortuguero canals and Caño Negro Lake are especially attractive places for bird lovers.

Canals:
- Tortuguero.

Lakes:
- Arenal- Caño Negro – Cachi.

Forest

Places To go

Costa Rica has mainly two types of forests: dry tropical forest (In Guanacaste and Central Pacific) and humid tropical forest (in the Caribbean and South Pacific.) In both types of ecosystems it is possible to observe a great diversity of animal species, some of which are residents, while some others are migratory. Santa Rosa's National Park in Guanacaste and the Cloud Forest of Monteverde, are some of the most well known places in the country and they attracts a lot of tourism. In both types of environments, it is possible to do activities like canopy and journeys in aerial tram.

Dry Tropical Forest:
- Parque Nacional de Santa Rosa- Palo Verde.

Humid Tropical Forest:
- Rain Forest Aerial Tram (Caribbean)- Monteverde - Monte de la Cruz- Sarapiqui-Jaco- Bajo de los Rodriguez- Turrubares- Corcovado.

Our Beaches

Places To go

Costa Rica offers many beaches that satisfy the most varied tastes. There are beaches with white, golden, gray or black sand, and in some of them colors are mixed. Some beaches may even have shells instead of sand. Some of them have calm waves, but we also have beaches with rough waves, which are ideal for surfers. Some beaches are close to cities and population centers. This fact facilitates the access to all kinds of services (including access to Internet!). While others are solitary places where you can be completely surrounded by nature. Although some beaches are safer than others, like any other beach, it is always a good idea to be careful when bathing in the sea.

Guanacaste (Pacific Ocean):
- La Rajada - El Jobo- Naranjo-Roca Bruja - Panamá - Hermosa - Del Coco - Ocotal - Potrero- Flamingo- Basilito- Conchal- Tamarindo- Langosta- Avellanas – Playa Grande - Junquillal- Azul - Ostional- Guiones - Carrillo- Samara - San Juanillo.

Puntarenas (Pacific Ocean):
- Puntarenas- Jaco- Hermosa - Esterillos- Manuel Antonio- Dominical- Uvita.

Limón (Atlantic Ocean):
- Manzanillo - Cahuita- Puerto Vargas - Puerto Viejo- Punta Uva.

Caves

Places To go

Costa Rica, is a young region from an geologic point of view. In fact, until a few millions of years ago, there was nothing but water between North America and South America. The apparition of submarine volcanoes and the contact between the tectonic plates worked together and formed Central America, from which Costa Rica is part. The contact between " Cocos " and " Caribe " plaques caused  regions that were originally under the sea to elevate over their original level, transforming what in that time were underground rivers in majestic caverns, whose stalactites and stalagmites formations (formed through thousands of years) are a real masterpiece of nature.

- Barra Honda Nicoya - Venado San Carlos.

Volcanos and Mountains

From north to south, our country presents a series of mountainous formations, grouped in four mountain chains; Guanacaste's Mountain Range, Tilaran's Mountain Range (both located in the northwest area of the country), Central Mountain Range and Talamanca. The latter is the only one that doesn't have volcanoes; but has the highest mountainous formations in the country, including Cerro Chirripo, the highest point in Costa Rican territory. On some volcanoes, you can climb very close to their crater; for security reasons, other volcanoes have to be seen from far. But no matter how close you can go; all of them offer particular characteristics that make them very interesting. The Poase's crater (the second biggest in the planet), and Irazu volcano, as well as Arenal volcano, which offers regular nighttime shows due to its frequent activity.

Guanacaste's Mountain Range:
- Orosi Volcano- Rincon de la Vieja Volcano- Tenorio Volcano- Miravalles Volcano
Tilarftn Mountain Range: - Arenal Volcano

Central Mountain Range:
- Poas Volcano- Barva Volcano- Irazu Volcano- Turrialba Volcano- Escazu Mountains
Talamanca Mountain Range: - Chirripo Mount