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.
Monteverde, the name of a settlement and a forest described as ‘the jewel in the crown of cloud forests’ by National Geographic, lies in the Cordillera de Tilaran mountain range in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. One of the rarest habitats on the planet and unique from the country’s other rainforests for its constant swathes of mist (which give it its name), the Monteverde Cloud Forest is an incredible wild world filled with thousands of plant species, insects, bird varieties, and animals. Watch brightly-coloured birds at play in the Curi-Cancha Reserve; take a guided hike or horse ride through the dense jungle; watch electric blue frogs jump about at the famous Frog Pond, or take a dip in the pools around the San Luis Waterfall. Must-sees include the Butterfly Gardens, Orchid House, Selvatura treetop suspension bridges, and coffee, chocolate, and sugarcane tour.
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.
As previously described
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.
