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.
The small town of San Gerardo de Dota is strung along a quiet road in the Talamanca Mountains roughly three hours from the capital, San Jose. One of the main attractions here is Los Quetzales National Park, famous among the world’s bird watching fraternity as one of the best places to view the resplendent quetzal, with its vivid green and red plumage that has earned it a reputation as one of the world's most beautiful birds. For exercise and outdoor enthusiasts, hiking is a must-do activity in the region, with fantastic paths leading through the national park and across the Rio Savregre.
Situated in southern Costa Rica, the small village of Uvita, also known as Uvita de Osa, is a little remote gem on the coast. It isn’t as overdeveloped as the other beach towns and boasts an array of wonderful attractions and activities for visitors to enjoy. Uvita serves as the gateway to the incredibly scenic Marino Ballena National Park, famous for its migrating pods of humpback whales. It features a unique peninsula, the Cola de Ballena, which translates as ’The Whale’s Tail’, which is indeed in the shape of a whale tail. Visitors can look forward to enjoying a refreshing dip in the Uvita Waterfall, as well as the enormous multi-tiered Nauyaca Waterfall and exploring the caves of Playa Las Ventanas Don’t miss the opportunity to catch a magnificent sunset over the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, and spot colourful toucans flying around the jungle. Highlights include: the Annual Whale and Dolphin Festival, horse riding excursions, kayaking tours and excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities.
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.
Located in the Alajuela Province in Costa Rica, the laid-back colonial city of San Ramon has been dubbed the ‘City of Presidents and Poets’. It has played an important role in Costa Rica’s history as it has been home to many local literary heroes and political leaders including one of Costa Rica’s most influential leaders, Jose Figueres Ferrer. This small city is surrounded by lush rainforest as well as coffee and sugar cane fields. Visitors can explore the many historical sights dotted around the city, experience a rainforest canopy tour just beyond the city limits, and enjoy an array of restaurants, cafes, and bars serving up local delights. Don’t miss the opportunity to hike through the beautiful tropical forests and spot a variety of animals such as monkeys, deer, and sloths as well as abundant birdlife.
