San Jose, affectionately known to its residents as 'Chepe', lies in the heart of Costa Rica and is home to almost two-thirds of the country’s population. With few buildings over 100 years old, the mountainous capital is relatively modern compared to its Latin American counterparts, but still has a significant amount of culture, art and history for visitors to discover. With a number of theatres full of Costa Rican culture, museums that include the largest collection of American jade in the world, and streets full of bright murals and painted buses, San Jose is an eclectic city waiting to be experienced.
An exuberant blanket of dense rainforest encompasses over 77 000 acres on the northeastern coast of Costa Rica at Tortuguero National Park, a biodiverse wonderland and sanctuary for a rich array of wildlife, including jaguars, monkeys, sloths, and an astonishing variety of bird species. The park's name, meaning "Land of Turtles," highlights its significance as a nesting ground for several sea turtle species, most notably the endangered green turtles. A network of canals weaves through the lush rainforest, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore by boat or kayak, immersing themselves in the park's unparalleled natural beauty. Pristine beaches, vibrant mangroves, and dense forests make Tortuguero National Park a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and conservationists, where adventure and ecological wonders intertwine harmoniously.
Located just 2-hours drive northwest of San Jose, the little Costa Rican town of La Fortuna rests at the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano. La Fortuna provides an excellent base for visitors to explore the beautiful surrounding area, most notably the scenic Arenal Volcano National Park. Photographers will delight in the spectacular views provided by several lookout points along sublime hiking trails, which wind through lush rainforests and past idyllic natural hot springs. The glistening Arenal Lake, which is the largest lake in the country, offers fantastic opportunities to practice water sports. Don’t miss the beautiful La Fortuna waterfall and natural pool. Visitors can also look forward to wildlife tours, coffee plantation tours, and cacao farm tours, as well as an array of excellent restaurants and shops in the town centre.
Named after one of three volcanoes in the reserve, Rincon de la Vieja National Park offers a heady mix of rolling green hills, gushing waterfalls and lush cloud forest. The park attracts travellers year round who come to explore its volcanoes, hot springs and numerous picture perfect waterfalls. Rincon de la Vieja means "The Old Woman's Corner" and was named after a local legend, which tells of a girl’s lover who was thrown into the volcano by her father. It’s said the woman became a recluse and developed healing powers, living out her days on the slopes of Rincon de la Vieja.
Known as the ‘Forest in the Clouds’, Monteverde is one of Costa Rica’s key conservation areas, taking in six different ecological zones and home to a kaleidoscopic array of flora and fauna. Breathtaking walking trails traverse this mountainous reserve, while a network of canopy bridges is suspended in the tree tops overhead – both offering visitors the chance to experience its astonishing biodiversity. The park’s menagerie of exotic wildlife includes jaguars, ocelots, three-wattled bell birds, bare-necked umbrella birds, and elusive, vividly coloured quetzals, while its botanical offerings range from woodlands and rain forests, to exquisite orchids, delicate ferns, jungle vines and mosses.
Neighbouring the spectacularly scenic 680-hectare Manuel Antonio National Park and situated along Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, the bustling beachside village of Manuel Antonio offers a variety of comfortable accommodation options for eco-explorers and adventurers who flock here to explore this beautiful area. The undeniable highlight is the adjacent Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica’s smallest national park, featuring lush biodiverse rainforests, mangroves, lagoons, offshore coral reefs, pristine white-sand beaches and abundant wildlife, including over 100 mammal species and almost 200 bird species. Visitors can enjoy a variety of exciting activities including fishing, swimming, snorkelling, wildlife viewing, bird watching, hiking and relaxing on tropical beaches.
Drake Bay, also known as Bahia Drake, is located on the north side of the Osa Peninsula on the coast of southwestern Costa Rica. The area is famous for its incredible display of nature, which takes the form of lush, untamed tropical rainforests, impressive wildlife, and National Parks. The isolated, unspoilt woodlands are covered with thick canopies where screeching macaws and swinging howler monkeys have their homes. Nearby, golden sandy beaches are lapped by turquoise seas. Off the shores of the Isla del Cano Marine Reserve, go snorkelling and diving to spot huge, multicoloured schools of tropical fish, as well as dolphins, small sharks and even whales. Rio Agujitas provides great kayaking opportunities at high tide (look out for small crocodiles, reptiles and birds). Head to the Corcovado National Park for lots of animals including the big Baird’s Tapir.
