A Costa Rica Vacation can take you to some of the most Costa Rican luxurious hotels in the tropics and most beautiful ecolodges on the planet. You will be missing out though if you do not visit mother nature's finest places of Costa Rica and that is the Costa Rica National Park & Reserve Network.
Here you will find 4% of the planets biodiversity and over a million hectares of land not including the mangrove system (all mangroves in Costa Rica are preserved and belong to the State). This makes for around 25% of land in Costa Rica is protected. There is a total of 161 parks and reserves around country of Costa Rica. For most people that are visiting Costa Rica they will visit only a handful of parks which goes to show that it is always worth coming back for a second Costa Rica vacation.
Here is a short description with some helpful information that you might find useful during your Costa Rica adventure tour. We hope you decide to visit some of the most secluded spots in one of the most protected countries in all of the tropics.
Source: Costa Rica National Parks Guide INCAFO COSTA RICA
Guanacaste Conservation Area
Santa Rosa National Park & Guanacaste National Park
The Santa Rosa National Park was set up in 1966 with over 100,000 hectares of land and sea protected. It is located in the northwest province of Guanacaste making it a very low and dry area is most parts. It is considered to be one of the most important tropical dry forest of all of Central America. The Santa Rosa National Park rises in elevation at the Cacao and Orosi volcanos. These two volcanos are located near the border of Nicaragua. Much of Costa Rica is dated to be around 3 million years old. There is an area in the Santa Rosa park that dates back to 85 million years old making it the oldest part of Costa Rica. It is expected that this 85 million year old piece of land was just an island before the two super continents connected 3 million years ago.
There is also some more recent history of the National Park of Santa Rosa and that is the famous Casona. The "Casona" is where the story of Costa Rica's victorious battle over the filibusters took place. This was an important battle for Costa Rica and something we often mention on a Costa Rica family vacation. We mention it because the kids get a big kick out the story of Juan SantaMaria. He is Costa Rica's national hero and was a 15 yr old drummer boy when he was said to have set the filibusters base on fire.
It should be noted that the Costa Rica Airport near this area is called Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport or the Liberia Airport. We only say this because the San Jose Airport is named Juan Santamaria named after the national hero. The Daniel Oduber Quiros in Liberia happens to be much closer to the Santa Rosa National Park.
It is when you move from Santa Rosa inland and up the beautiful mountains that you get the real beauty of this protected area of Costa Rica. The Cacao and Orosi volcanos do not get much attention when visiting Costa Rica but it is not because they are any less beautiful than other volcanos. It is here where those that are looking for a Costa Rica nature tour can make the hike to the summits. When you arrive you will find the Maritza Biological Station surrounded by Primary forest. The Tempisque river also flows down from the top of the Orosi volcano. The Tempisque river is not what we consider our choice for a whitewater rafting tour but it is a very important river in Costa Rica for economic terms.
Here in the Santa Rosa and Guanacaste National Park you will find a number of different species of plants and animals. You may also find something you might not have expected which might be hard to get out to see. This is the Bolanos Island located in the Pacific Ocean. This Island is located just 2 miles from Nicaragua and is part of the San Rosa National Park. The Island is small with a surface area of 60 acres and home to the famous frigate bird. At it's highest point it is 200ft above sea-level. It has a beautiful white-sandy beach on one side and don't even think about it because it is not for sale. But if you are on a Costa Rica vacation and you have a yacht then this might be a spot to stop and relax for a few hours. Don't bother asking us for the yacht because we don't have one yet.
Rincon de la Vieja National Park
The Ricon de la Vieja National Park gives you everything you want in a volcano. Not only does it have the beauty of all of the Volcanos of Costa Rica but you can do things here that the other volcanos can not offer. If you visit the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano on a Costa Rica vacation you are in for a great treat.
This became a national park in 1974 and measures almost 30,000 acres and over 7,000ft high. There are nine different areas where eruptions have happened but the crater of Rincon de la Vieja is the only area still active. With a day visit to this park you can find lakes, creeks, waterfalls of 200ft high, thermal springs, lagoons, and what is called small mud volcanos. If you are not familiar with the other volcanos of Costa Rica this is the only one that offers all of this with access and a completely natural setting. There is also a kid friendly zipline nearby that goes along side the volcano and over a waterfall. This is a perfect zipline for a Costa Rica family vacation and then off to the beauitful beaches of Guanacaste.
The birding is excellent in the park and there are a number of other animals to be seen. You have the chance of seeing Pumas or even a Tapir and three different species of monkeys. There is a guard's house at the entrance of the park. There are also day tours from the town of Liberia or the beach towns of Guanacaste.
Our personal opinion is that if you have the time it is well worth the trip to Rincon de la Vieja because it is still what many volcanos probably were in Costa Rica 30 years ago. It does not have the larger crowds of other volcano craters, it is not surrounded by hotels, and many of it's natural settings such as the mud baths are virtually untouched. If you decide to visit the crater it is suggested to go with a guide and the hike is intense. It is a bit of a Costa Rica adventure to visit this park but nothing the average person with good condition visiting Costa Rica can not handle.
Las Baulas de Guanacaste National Marine Park
The Las Baulas de Guanacaste National Marine Park is mostly made up of marine life hence the name. It was set up in 1991 with only 379 hectares (800 acres) of land and 22,000 hectares being marine habitat. There was one main reason for setting up this site and that was to SAVE THE TURTLES. The leatherback turtle (Dermochels coriacea) along with many conservation biologist consider this National Park the most important spot on the planet for the leatherback to lay her eggs.
A Costa Rica family vacation should be about teaching your kids and yourself for that matter that we are all in this together. There have been countless amount of students and tourist that have found harmony through nature by visiting and experiencing the leatherback turtle laying her eggs. The time to visit is from October to March and we do quite a bit of Costa Rica vacations during this time so all you have to do is let us know. The conditions are not exactly 5-star but everyone always says it is worth it.
This park is also home to the 400 hectares of mangrove (around 1000 acres). In these 400 hectares you can find the six different species of mangroves in Costa Rica. Here in the mangroves of this park they have spotted 57 different species of birds, raccoons, coatis, monkeys, crocodiles, and a number of different species of fish.
With limited time on Costa Rica vacations we understand that you might not get the chance to visit the beaches of National Parks like this and see first hand one species caring for another but we always make an effort to educate our clients on the importance of including all of nature in the landscape of conservation.
Tempisque Conservation Area
Barra Honda National Park
The Barra Honda National Park is a dream land for the geologist. Here you can find the most complex cave system in all of Costa Rica with forty different caves only twenty have been explored. You might not want to visit all forty on a Costa Rica vacation. It is probably best to leave it for the experts.
It all started 60 million years ago (about the time dinosours went extinct) when limestone reef deposits started to emerge as the result of tectonic activity. With rain water and CO2 forming carbonic acid, along geological activity ever since then it has formed the caves that reach 240 meters deep (900ft).
Those that want to venture into the cave can arrive and explore the cavern known as the Terciopelo but it must be with a guide. The entrance to this cave is located in the province of Guanacaste 22km north-east of the city of Nicoya. If you are not in the mood for going underground, the park can still be worth seeing. There is a place called La Mirador which will take you to a viewing point of the Gulf of Nicoya.
Who knows maybe someday we might explore the next 20 caverns of Barra Honda National Park and it might open up to a new underground whitewater rafting adventure for our company.
Diria National Park
Diria National Park is just a baby in terms of being a National Park. This park is located in the province of Guanacaste and was named a national park in 2004. It makes up 5,500 hectares (12,000acres). This National Park is all about water and is the type of national park our planet needs more of. The National Park Diria protects the basin of Enmedio river, Verde River, Tigre River, and Diria River. All of these river supply the living and drinking water to the town of Santa Cruz. Most people associate the tropics and rainforest with plenty of rain but in this section of Costa Rica it can become very dry.
This national park protects the last remaining cloud-forest that at one time stretched across the peninsula. There are also three species of threatened trees that are found here that are rosewood, the cedar, and chaperno. The area is also home to some endemic species of plants. The Pitcarnia bromeliad and the Stenocereus Cactus can only be found in the Nicoya peninsula and are protected in this park.
There is a creek that runs through the park that is called Brazil and has a beautiful waterall called Brazil waterfall. Along with the natural beauties of this park you can find a little bit of pre-colombian history also. If you are looking for an educational day trip on your Costa Rica vacation on conservation, biodiversity, and pre-colombian history this is a great place if you are in the area.
Ostional National Wildlife Refuge
The Ostional National Wildlife Refuge was started in 1983 wanted to give attention to one of the most important nesting areas for the Pacific Ridley turtles. It is from the months of July to November that large numbers of turtles make their way up to lay their eggs. The amazing part of this is that the same turtles after traveling for months always come back to the same beach. This is what we always say about our clients visiting us on a Costa Rica vacation that they are always welcome back to visit us like the turtles that come back every year.
We humans can somehow apply what is learned from Ostional National Wildlife refuge in the fact that the turtles always come back. What we can learn is that nature knows a lot and the turtles do not use gps, maps, or need a reminder in their smartphone. How they do all of this? We do not know in many cases but the study of biomimicry is helping us apply billions of years of knowledge from the natural world and use it today to live in a more sustainable world in harmony with nature. Only if we give attention to places like Ostional National Wildlife refuge can we protect this knowledge.
This park is located 50 kilometers south-west of the city of Nicoya. Near the Ostional National Wildlife refuge you are in luck if you want to try and get a site of the turtles because there are places to stay such as hotels, guest houses, and restaurants. If you have the time and the months fit your schedule it can be worth making this part of a Costa Rica family vacation. It does not have the excitement of whitewater rafting but if we can get kids excited in learning from nature we are then headed in the right direction.
Guayabo, Negritos and Los Pajaros Island Biological Reserves
The three of these reserves are located in the Nicoya Peninsula. Do not plan on visiting these on a Costa Rica vacation unless you plan on getting on a boat. If you take the fairy from Puntarenas to the Nicoya Peninusula that will be a close look at the islands. If you dont visit them there is still much to be learned from them.
The Guayabo Island is quite the site to look at and can make for some amazing pictures as it is rhomboid-shaped block of sedimentary rock strata around 80 million years old and 200ft high. This would make for quite the rappel down it's back side but we have yet to do it. The importance of this island is that it harbours the largest of the four nesting areas of brown pelican.
The Negritos Islands which are made up of the Eastern Island and the Western Island have a very difficult coastline to access. These islands are made up of deciduous forest. Sea-birds find these islands to be good nesting areas and the marine life in the water around the islands is said to be very plentiful.
The Little Pajaros Island is actually possible to walk around at low tide but becomes impossible during high tide. This island is situated only 500 meters from the the coast. It is located 13 km from the town of Puntarenas.
If you did want to visit these islands during your Costa Rica vacation it would be possible and the only requirement is to get a permit from the Tempisque Conservation Area. You may also hire somebody to take you out to the islands from the area of Puntarenas.
Cabo Blanco Strict Nature Reserve
Cabo Blanco Strict Nature Reserve is the oldest protect wild area in all of Costa Rica. It was created in 1963 which if you think about it was just seconds ago in the history of nature itself dating our planet back to 3.8 billion years. When the reserve was started it was over 85% pasture land. With the 15% of forest that was left was used to reforest the rest of the 1200 hectares of protected land.
It is now a beautiful forest and one of the most attractive natural sites in a developing Nicoya Peninsula. There have been 140 different species of trees identified with a mix of evergreen and deciduous forest. If you are visiting Costa Rica and want to see and feel how the forest life can regenerate itself then Cabo Blanco Strict Nature Reserve is a great spot.
The largest known nesting site of the brown booby bird is in the Cabo Blanco Strict Nature Reserve. The brown booby is a large sea-bird that is beautiful to see in flight. The Cabo Blanco reserve is home to some beautiful beaches. A beach that you can almost guarantee to be your private beach for a Costa Rica vacation is the Cabo Blanco Beach. It is a bit rocky but worth it. The Reserve also has it's own island which is located 1 mile off the coast of the mainland.
Central Volcanic Conservation Area
Braulio Carrillo National Park
The Braulio Carrillo National Park is what it feels like to be in the movie Jurrasic Park. Well it turns out some of the movie was filmed in this park so it might be the reason almost every tour guide will make that comment. This is a park with breath-taking majestic views. Some of Costa Rica's largest and most beautiful waterfalls can be found in this park. One of the main ways to see this park is through the highway that cuts right through it. An unfortunate fact but a somewhat necessary project to connect the capital city of San Jose to the Port city of Limon.
This is a 47,000 hectare park which makes it one of the largest in the country and was created in 1973. The park is made up of some of the most scenic yet rough terrain that can be found in the tropics. It is thought that much of the park has never been set foot on by man. Much of it is formed from extinct volcanos, raging rivers, canyons, and thundering waterfalls. It is here that we will not take you for your whitewater rafting adventure although some expert kayakers have ventured into the park to run some of it's waterfalls. The terrain and waterfalls are made by the 4,500mm of rain that this park receives every year. One of the most scenic parts is the river Sucio which carries minerals of volcanic origin which gives it a bright yellow color. Another river is the transparent river Hondura which can be seen from a bridge on the highway. From this viewing area on the highway the Sucio River and Hondura River come together making for quite the amazing picture from the window. The park is made up of three volcanos which are Barva, Cacho Negro, and Zurqui.
The forest of the Braulio Carrilo National Park is one of the most wild places in the tropics. The forest is almost all primary evergreen forest with over 6,000 different plant species. It would take most of the time out of your Costa Rica vacation to identify all of those plants. Heck it would probably take your entire life.
One of the most amazing parts of this park is that it has the biodiversity and untouched majestic forest and it is located only 20 km outside of the capital city of San Jose. This goes to show just how rough the terrain is inside the park. If you want to access the park there are a few areas where you can enjoy some beautiful hikes and get away from the highway that runs through the center. If you join us on a rafting trip to Pacuare we return to the San Jose area through the national park of Braulio Carrillo.
Irazu Volcano National Park
The Irazu Volcano is the tallest volcano in Costa Rica reaching 3,432 m high. On a clear day from this national park you can see both oceans. Here you will find the main active crater which at times let's off smoke or large clouds of steam and ash.
This is an easy access volcano and no vertical walking to visit the main crater of where you can view the yellowish green sulfurous water. The name of the volcanos is said to be indigenous and was altered from the indigenous name "Istaru" meaning -- hill of trembling and thunder.
The eruptions of this active volcano Irazu have been pretty consistent and the last eruption was in 1994. Since the year of 1723 when the govenor Diego de la Haya described the eruptions for which one of the craters is named after it has been active. In the year 1844, 1917-1921, 1933, and 1963-1965 it has done eruptions killing up to 30 people. It has also covered the central valley in ash bringing businesses in San Jose to a hault. During the eruptions the ashes reach as far as the beaches of Tamarindo in the Guanacaste province.
The Irazu volcano is located just outside of San Jose and we often use it to break up the drive on a Costa Rica vacation or even our student trips on the way out to the town of Turrialba. It is at Turrialba that we do our whitewater rafting tours on the Pacuare River or the smaller Pejibaye River.
Because of the activity of the volcano the plant life is nothing to get too excited about and the amount of animals you see are limited. You might see a white-nosed coati eating a chocolate chip cookie fed to him by an uneducated tourist. There are also said to be coyotes in the park but quite difficult to see.
Learn More About Costa Rica Volcanos -- Click Here
Poas Volcano National Park
The Poas Volcano National Park will give you a good look at what one of the most visited national Parks in one of the most protected countries in the Americas looks like. I dont think you will be dissapointed and if you have the extra day in San Jose while visiting Costa Rica the Poas Volcano National Park is a great way to fill your morning.
The Poas Volcano National Park enlarged to the size it is today in 1993 at 6,506 hectares. The volcano is a stratovolcano that is 2,708 m high. It is guessed that the volcano first became active in the Von Frantzius cone around 25,000 - 20,000 years ago. The nearby Botos crater was estimated to be active 7,500 years ago and has a diameter of 400 meters and is 14 meters deeps and on the outskirts is surrounded by vegetation. The hike to the craters is easy and almost accesible to anyone visiting Costa Rica. You can arrive in a car to the crater if you request the red-cross to drive you up.
The main crater is still very active and smoking during most visits. It is 1.5 km across and over 300 mts deep. The thermomineral lagoon is located at the bottom of the crater with tempatures around 80 degrees celsius. This pool of water actually traps a good amount of sulfur and it is during dry months that the pool can dry up completely. During this time it is when they fear the acid rain because of the sulfur is being released. This type of rain will damage crops in the area.
The Poas Volcano National Park is made up of four different habitats. The different areas are made up of the types of vegetation that adapt to areas where lava flow has been. The second type is the dwarf forest which has to do with the high elevation. The third being a lagoon which has undergrowth forest such as ferns. The final type of habitat is our favorite because it is what makes the neo-tropics famous, the epiphytes. There is quite a bit of wildlife in the Poas Volcano National Park. You can find a number of different species of bird even the famous Quetzal.
When visiting this park there are great places nearby just outside the park such as places to eat or waterfalls to visit, nice roads, hiking trails. Not a bad place if you are looking for a low impact tour on a Costa Rica vacation.
Learn More About Costa Rica Volcanos -- Click Here
Guayabo National Monument
The Guayabo National Monument is usually a bit of a surprise when we mention it or include it in a Costa Rica vacation. This is because Costa Rica is not known for having archaeological sites. The fact is that you should not expect a large pyramid like in Mexico or a huge civilization like the Aztecs. When visiting the Guayabo National Monument you can use a little of your imagination. There still might be an entire civilization under your feet when visiting Guayabo National Monument. This was created in 1973 and is made up of 232 hectares (500acres). It is located in a beautiful area on the slopes of the Turrialba volcano. It marks the most important and largest archaeological site discovered in all of Costa Rica to this date.
They believe that this site dates back to 1000 BC and they think the height of the chiefdom was around 300 to 700 AD. During this time they estimate the Guayabo population was around 1,500 and 2,000 people. The civilization was abandoned before the Spanish arrived.
There have been a number of findings in the only four hectares that have been excavated. They have also learned about how they lived with their tomb sites, aqueducts, bridges, drainage system, and retaining walls. This is all much of what is needed in todays areas of Turrialba with the heavy rains and landslides. Many of their findings along with gold and artifacts can be found in the national museum. When studying archaeology it is is interesting to see how humans survived in ancient times.
The survival tactics used not only by ancient humans have also been used by nature itself in surviving over a period of 3.8billion years can be seen in the study of biomimicry. This is in a sense in studying archaeology of humans as we have all evolved through nature. If you see how the ancients used aqueducts and drainage systems you can see what leaves and trees have been doing for millions of years. The amazing part of the ancient cultures is that they were always in contact with nature and they new how to survive because they did not treat nature with the eyes of what they could exploit from it but with the eyes of what they could learn from it.
Back to the Guayabo National Monument we got a little side-tracked on the biomimicry topic which we always enjoy discussing. The natural habitats of the Guayabo area are mostly secondary forest because before it was declared protected it was mostly cleared land. There is a nearby Gauyabo River Canyon that is now protected and offers tall evergreen forest which is common of the region. If you are looking for a Costa Rica adventure and on your way to whitewater rafting tours in the area of Turrialba it never hurts to take a look back into time and visit the archaeological sites of humans that had constant contact with nature.
If you are in the area and you enjoy Costa Rica ecolodges we often use the Espino Blanco which is a great area to be completely surrounded by nature. You might also want to join us at the Pacuare Tent Camp for a night on the river Pacuare.
La Selva Protection Zone
La Selva Protection Zone is an area where you can find some of natures top scientist. Duke University and other Universities are a major part of making La Selva what it is today. The La Selva is an area that is visited mostly by students and those that want to learn about the biodiversity of the tropics through the OTS (Organization for Tropical Studies). This does not mean you can not make this part of your Costa Rica vacation.
The size of La Selva is 2,444 hectares and varies in elevation from 35 m high to 2,906 m high in the Braulio Carrillo. This allows for La Selva to have four different life zones and perfect conditions for wildlife to call home. Here the average rainfall is 4000mm. There are 2000 different species of vascular plants. The biodiversity, easy access from San Jose, and infrastructure makes it the perfect spot to be a student of the different ecosystems of the tropics.
The area which La Selva is located is not far from what is a bit more well known. This area is called Sarapiqui. Here there are many areas similar to La Selva and many areas not so similar as you can find very large monoculture pineapple plantations. Personally we think all of these plantations need a quick lesson in permaculture farming. Along with a mix of forest and agriculture you can find the Sarapiqui river which is used by many for whitewater rafting tours. There are also a number of different Costa Rica ecolodges that can be found in this area that make for getting a full feel of the lowland tropical rainforest.
Llanuras de Tortuguero Conservation Area
Tortuguero National Park & Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge
The Tortuguero National Park and the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge are in the norther Caribbean coasta of Costa Rica. If you can not make it to Italy no need to worry because your Costa Rica vacation can inlude the Venice of the rainfoerest. The most efficient way to travel in this area is by boat which will take you to the many Costa Rican ecolodges in the area.
This area including marine habitat makes up around 170,000 hectares of what is the most important site for the laying of the green turtles.
Looking geologically at the area, it is broad flood plain made up of deltas which make up lakes, meanders, and a few small volcanos that have anchored much of the land that has been eroded. Probably the highlight of visiting this area on a Costa Rica vacation would be the wildlife. Unlike taking an intense hike through the jungle you can ride on a boat and be on the edge of the river where much wildlife can be spotted. This is a very low-impact way of seeing things.
This is one of Costa Rica's rainiest areas with an annual fall of around 6000mm. There have been identified eleven different habitats. You can visit these different habitats and get a glimpse of one of the 60 different species of frogs, Baird's Tapir, or maybe even a jaguar by riding little boats through the channels and lagoons.
If you decide to visit this area during a Costa Rica vacation you will want to spend the night and often staying two nights is the best way to see the area. You can take the more adventurous ways through plantations on bumpy roads or there are in-country flights using Sansa or Nature Air. You will find a mix of different loding from very low budget to some of the finest Costa Rican ecolodges around. If you come during the right months you can take the night hike out to see the turtles laying their eggs. The months for the leatherback are April to May and the Green turtle is July to October.
La Amistad-Caribe Conservation Area
Cahuita National Park
Cahuita National Park is a relatively small park on land but makes up for it in it's marine habitat. We would have to consider this one of our favorite spots in all of the country. The fact is that the more and more the Pacific side becomes developed the more and more we fall in love with the Caribbean side. This park is a long white beach with palm trees running along it's side and a perfect place to relax or not a bad choice for a Costa Rican honeymoon.
Along with beautiful beaches to just relax at you can also find a good bit of wildlife. The nearby Sloth River or Perezoso River is the natural discharge area for the freshwater swamp that covers most of Punta Cahuita. The river got it's name from the amount of sloths that could be found in the river. This river is filled with sloths and wildlife to this day. It makes for a great day trip during your Costa Rica family vacation if you want to take one of our rafts or just enjoy it in a sea-kayak.
The coral of this park is what has also made it famous. There have been 35 different species discovered to this day. Along with the coral there are 140 different species of mollusks, 44 species of crustaceans, and 128 species of algae, and 123 different species of fish. Most of us know that global warming is destroying places like this and it is important if you take a day trip on your Costa Rica vacation to see a coral you learn about the positive roll it has for us in trapping carbon and not being just pretty colors to look at. The largest living structures on Earth that have been around for thousands of years are now threatened in our lifetime. With no coral reefs not only do we lose a large amount of bio-diversity in our ocean but this can cause coastal erosion and flooding for people along with billions of dollars all over the world from tourism.
The Cahuita National Park is located 43km south of the port city of Limon. The park has two different entrances and it will be a $10 charge as all National Parks are. If you are staying in the area for a few days there are a number of different eco-activities to do and you can even take part in our Costa Rica whitewater rafting tour of the Pacuare river.
Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge
The Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge is just south of the Cahuita National Park. It was created in 1985 and measures over 8,000 hectares with 4,436 of those are marine habitat. If you want beautiful tropical beach then this is spot. A Costa Rica vacation can be spent here with doing everything from visiting the emerging reefs to the white sandy beach. The location of the park is just above the border of Panana. A snorkeling trip that you will never forget can be done in the Punta Mona which will give you an upclose look at some of Costa Rica's most colorful fish.
This refuge consist of 400 hectares of swamp land also which allows for some excellent birding tours and also 60% of the land is covered in tropical rainforest. The refuge protects some of Costa Rica's most diverse and endangered species such as the Baird's Tapir and American Crocodile. This refuge contains the only mangrove on the Costa Rica Caribbean which makes it very important area of protection. This is also the only place in Costa Rica where you can find the Orey and Jolillo Palms.
If you are in the area we often like to suggest staying at the Almonds and Corals Hotel.
La Amistad-Pacific Conservation Area
La Amistad International Park
If you want to spend the rest of your life knowing a national park then La Amistad International Park is probably big enough for the task. They call it the La Amistad which means the friendship park because a portion of it is in Panama and another portion is located in Costa Rica. It makes up a total area of 258,546 hectares and is considered a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This park consist of five protected areas where are Tapanti National Park, Chirripo National Park, Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve, Barbilla National Park, and La Amistad International Park of the same name. There are also a number of protected Indian reservations.
This emmense region is home to the largest forest and greatest biodiversity in all of Costa Rica. Because of it's size it contains a number of different types of habitats. The Paramo which is just below the snow line but still very high in altitude around 9,000ft is part of this park. Paramos are more common in the Andes but are basically the high peaks of parts of tropics but not high enough to be in the snow. Just below the Paramo you get different cloud-forest which open up to an endless amount of flor and fauna. It is in this type of forest that many high altitude Costa Rica ecolodges can be found. You will not find too many people spending their Costa Rica vacation in the paramo just a few adventurous campers who don't mind the 30 degree farenheit weather at night. This type of Costa Rica adventure is not exactly your luxury family vacation but it can still be fun sleeping in the Paramo with the right gear.
Along with a very high percentage of Costa Rican wildlife all six species of cats are found in this protected area. There are said to be around 400 different species of birds found in here also which makes it the perfect place for a Costa Rica birding tour. This accounts for almost half of the species of birds the country offers.
Biological Reserve Hitoy-Cerere
This Biological Reserve Hitoy-Cerere is given it's name by the local indigenous who live nearby. The Hitoy and Cerere are the river basins that this Reserve protects. The reserve receives around 5,000mm of rain each year. You can arrive to this reserve heading 68km south of the port city of Limon. This is a relatively difficult to access and there are hiking trails that can take you into some of the primary forest of the reserve but they are not well maintained. It is said to be an area of very high populations of mammals.
If you are looking for the ultimate Costa Rica adventure and you enjoy trekking this might be an adventure where you can explore uncharted parts of the jungle and see species that biologist to this day have not even identified. This is one of those areas that you want to take a guide or you want to be experienced in how to take care of yourself in the jungle.
National Park Chirripo
The National Park Chirripo is without a doubt the most scenic park and best places of Costa Rica (our own personal opinion). Keep in mind you have to be there on a clear day and if you want to make Chirripo National Park a part of your Costa Rica vacation you will need an extra three days to fit it in. The fact that it is the most beautiful might be related to the fact that it is the most difficult to get to.
The 3,819 m high peak of Mount Chirripo is a two day hike to the top. It is an area where geological lessons can be learned around every turn. There are glacier forms that date back around 35,000 years. This happens to be the highest peak in all of Costa Rica and the second highest in Central America. It is not just arriving to the peak there is a base camp at the area near the top and here you have the option of exploring and hiking to many different areas. All of the areas are geological masterpieces of beauty and elegance with names such as the Sabana de Los Leones (The Lion's Sheet) and the Valle de los Conejos (Valley of the Rabbits). There happens to be a large population of rabbits in the park. Probably the most famous part of Chirripo National Park is Los Crestones who most people actually think is the highest part because it is what you see most in postcards but it is not.
This area is located heading to the town of San Isidro in the southern area of Costa Rica. This is an amazing adventure and you want to be in good hiking condition. The sleeping arrangements are rustic and the weather can be cold and rainy. This is a one of the places of Costa Rica that all should see but it does require time and energy to get there.
National Park Barbilla
The Barbilla National Park is something we spend time near as it is close to the Pacuare River and when you go whitewater rafting with us which we think you should you will be rafting down one side of National Park Barbilla. This is an important Park and filled with gorges and primary forest making much of it difficult access. If anyone knows how to get through this park it is the Cabecar Indians which is Costa Rica's second largest native tribe.
If you want to visit this park you head south from the main highway from Siquirres to Limon and then you head towards Pacuarito which will be a dirt road. Here you will find the guard station where there are bathrooms and from there you head to some trails. One of the most fascinating parts of the park is the Cerro Tigre which the indians consider a Sacred Place which you can visit but you must have an indian guide.
National Park Tapanti
When visiting Costa Rica the National Park Tapanti is not on everyones wish list. If you get the chance to visit this park you will ask yourself why it is not more populated. It is a beautiful area that is virtually untouched and surrounded by nature. It is true that the Tapanti park probably receives more rain than any other part of the country which is a total of 8,000mm each year. Because of all this rain it not only scares off a few tourist probably but it also supplies drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people in the central valley.
There are some waterfalls in this park that essentionally go unvisited by tourist and make them some of the most pristine waterfalls in the country. The area has also been tapped into by the electric company making it a large producer of hydroelectic power in certain parts of the park but not all parts fortunately.
You can make a day trip from San Jose out to the park and it is worth the trip. There are rivers you can hike to and sit on the bank of the river and just relax. There is even some whitewater rafting tours that can be operated in the Orosi river and a number of areas where mountain biking can be done.
Osa Conservation Area
Ballena National Marine Park
The Ballena National Park is located in one of our favorite parts of the country. Heading south down the coastal highway about four hours from San Jose you arrive to Dominical. If the time of the year is right it is here that you can find every adventure you need for the perfect Costa Rica vacation.
The Ballena National Park covers acres of land and marine habitat on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It was the first marine park in Latin America. The small islets of Ballens and Tres Hermanas formed off a shelf. Uvita was a former islet and is now connected to the mainland by a sand bridge which is wide enough to cross at low tide. This is home to the green iguana and the basilisk. Many species of birds can also be found here, like the white ibis. Dolphins and whales are big attraction here. Low shrubs grow along the beaches alongside of coconut palms. A mangrove swamp nearby has five species of mangrove.
The south Pacific coast of Costa Rica is not as developed as the northern Pacific coast. It is much more natural, greener, and you see the mountain meet the sea. However, in the area of Ballena National Park there are many places to stay for the night. In Dominical there are restaurants, hotels and guest houses.
This park is often visited by locals and has a very easy access.
Corcovado National Park
The Corcovado National Park is one of those special places as all protected areas are but this park has the little extra touch. It might be the fact that it is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet in ratio to it's size. If you are looking for Costa Rica ecotourism there is no better place than the Osa Peninsula which is also home to the Corcovado National Park. The area around the park is home to some of our favorite Costa Rica ecolodges such as Lapa Rios, Tiskita Jungle Lodge, Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, and many more. Many ecotourist visit this area because of the Corcovado National Park which has left much of the peninsula in it's natural state.
This park is a vast tract of wet tropical rainforest and marine habitat along the Pacific coast.
It is one of the wettest parts of the country with 5500 mm of rainfall annually. One of the most obvious sitings of wildlife when you first arrive to the park will be the large populations of Scarlet Macaws as you can see and hear them in many parts of the park. This park happens to be the last original great tract of moist tropical forest in the Meso-American Pacific and is a total area of 42,469 hectares and another 5,375 hectares of marine life.
One of the most fascinating parts of the Corcovado National Park is the trees that grow up to 200ft in height making for a spectacular canopy. Many of these large trees are of a species known as La Ceiba or silk cotton tree. This is the largest tree in all of Costa Rica. The silk cotton tree grows very fast up to 4 meters a year. The seeds from the tree can be used for making lifevest, pillows, and other cushions from the kapok fibers on the seeds. There is an estimated 500 tree species in the park many of which are endemic to the park. We happen to know of one tree species that is endemic to just the property of Lapa Rios Lodge.
There are a total of 140 species of mammals in the park which include jaguars and the famous giant anteater which both are very hard to see. If you want to spend your nights hiking through the Corcovado National Park on your Costa Rica vacation you might run into the jaguar. If you don't see the jaguar chances are your picture will be taken by the many motion sensor cameras in the park to try and keep an eye on the jaguars. They have these cameras set up as part of a conservation project for the jaguar.
You can also see a number of different species of amphibians, snakes, and even turtles who enjoy visiting the beaches of this park. Remember many of the animals in the neotropics are small and you want to be patient, quiet, and with a guide to have the best chance to see some of natures top survivors. If you feel you will not make it down to this park for your Costa Rica vacation you can at least see some of the best pictures of the Corcovado National Park in a book by Roy Toft and Trond Larsen called "OSA Where the Rainforest Meets the Sea".
The best way to arrive to the park is to drive from San Jose or you can take the in-country flights. There are plans for an International Costa Rican Airport in the southern zone but it is still in the planning stage.
Golfito National Wildlife Refuge
If you decide to take the in-country flight you can make it to Golfito in around 30 minutes. It is here that you are flying over lush jungle and out of nowhere the plane starts to make it's descend. You get the feeling the pilot has fallen asleep and then out of nowhere appears a nice little landing strip just big enough to fit the plane you will be on. This is our favorite Costa Rica airport for the sensation of landing. The town of Golfito is known for being an area of cheap electronic appliances and as a tax free zone for the local Costa Rican's that want to make the day trip from San Jose. If you are in the shopping mood it is a good chance to put your Costa Rica currency knowledge to the test. It is not until you arrive to the little airport that you see just how much jungle is around you and you realize there is much more in this area than cheap appliances.
The area of Golfito National Wildlife refuge small of a total area of only 2,810 hectares. It is often just a stop through on the way to the famous Corcovado National Park but if you stop and look around there is much natural beauty to be seen. There are over 400 different species of plants and rolling hills of lush tropical rainforest. The Golfito National Wildlife refuge is home to jaguar, white-nosed coati, collared peccary, and 146 different bird species.
Isla del Cano Biological Reserve
The Isla del Cano Biological Reserve has been used by our company a number of times for Costa Rica vacations. It is a great way to spend a day on the water, snorkel, and then visit a protected island with some natural history lessons. The Isla del Cano Biological Reserve is very small measuring only 326 hectares and 2,700 hectares of marine life.
The formation of this island is very interseting as it dates back to 80 million years old and was caused from when the Cocos Plate sunk beneath the Caribbean Plate along the Meso-American Trench causing the earth to rise in certain parts. One of these certain parts is now the Isla del Cano Biological Reserve.
There is much marine life when snorkeling in the area and you can often have the chance to see the humpback whale, dolphins, and snorkel with sharks. There have been 15 different species of coral found here also. There have been stories of the ancient pre-colombian indians who lived on the island. It is said that they are responsible for some of the 158 different species of plants. This might be true or it could have been ocean currents or birds. What we do know is that it was not ocean currents or birds that carried the famous stone spheres to the Isla del Cano Biological Reserve. These spheres are found all over the southern pacific zone of Costa Rica. It is thought that the pre-colombian Indians used this island as a burial ground.
The Isla del Cano Biological Reserve is located 16.5 km off the west coast of the Osa Peninsula. This is a long day and if the seas are rough it is not a very enjoyable ride out. Most of the boats in this area are smaller boats. We suggest asking for a private tour to the Isla del Cano Biological Reserve. This is also a very popular area for diving. This is what we call a hit or miss tour for your Costa Rica vacation. We say this because it can be a calm day on the sea or a rough day and/or a clear day in the snorkel areas or a not so clear day. There are a number of mangroves to see on your way out to the island if you leave from the Sierpe area.
Central Pacific Conservation Area
Carara National Park
The Carara National Park is the dividing line between the dry tropical forest of the northern pacific of Costa Rica and the moist tropical forest of the southern pacific. Because of where it is located it has a very large amount of biodiversity having dry and moist habitats. It is a medium size park measuring of 5,242 hectares. The Carara National Park is best visited in the morning and if you are on a Costa Rica Family Vacation it can be a very educational stop for the kids but it will get hot in the afternoon. This is why the morning will be the perfect time to visit.
The Carara National Park has trees up to 40 meters high and has primary and secondary forest. The secondary forest as in most parts of Costa Rica were used for farming. It is because of parks like Carara National Park that have taken back much of the rainforest that our planet as a whole can not live without. Because of it's location many trees and plant species that are known farther south consider Carara National Park their farthest point north. This could all be changing with global warming. It appears that not only the icecaps are shrinking but the tropics are getting larger which will start to affect the limits of these dry and moist forest.
The Carara National Park is home to many different species of snakes and reptiles. The Tarcoles river which is one of the most populated rivers for the American crocodile in all the Americas is located as part of the Carara National Park. These crocodiles can grow up to 15 ft long. The snakes range from a number of poisonous snakes including the eye-lash pit-viper. If you visit the Carara National Park on a Costa Rica vacation make sure you are wearing rubber boots.
What many people do not realize is that the park is home to 14 different pre-colombian sites. These sites are not open to the public. The park is very easy to arrive to and is located right off the main highway from San Jose to the Pacific Coast. You can even visit this park in one day from San Jose if you leave early enough. The Carara National Park can be an easy day trip and a perfect spot for a birding tour to one of Costa Rica's most interesting parks.
Manuel Antonio National Park
The Manuel Antonio National Park claims that there are still more monkeys than tourist in the park. This is something that we believe but it the tourist seem to be growing in population. This is a very small park and measures only 1625 hectares on land and 55,000 hecatares. The Manuel Antonio National park is considered one of Costa Rica's best national Parks. This has to do with the access and foreign investment in and around the park making it a highly visited area. Our personal opinion is that it really can not be compared to many parks because there are waterfalls in Braulio Carrillo that 99% of us have not seen, Barbilla National Park is one of the most scenic views of virgin rainforest you could ask for with a terrain that only jaguars can write in guide books about.
Don't get us wrong we give a lot of credit to Manuel Antonio and we happen to love the park also and use it for many of our Costa Rica vacations. The simple fact is that it has become crowded and even though they close it on Mondays you must know the schedule to visit to avoid large crowds. It all depends on the time of year and the time of day. The afternoon can be just as active for animals and a lot less active for the human species in the park if you make 2pm your time of arrival. Who cares about the rain it is the rainforest? There are great hiking trails, bathrooms, some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, and often very easy sitings of monkeys. One of the most exciting animals is the famous squirrel monkey which is only found in this area of the country.
The beaches are very calm and safe for swimming in. Although you want to be careful after heavy rains because the crocodiles in the nearby rivers have been seen riding the current out to the ocean and pass by the beaches on their way back to the rivers.
The Manuel Antonio National Park has been an area picked by tourist from all over the world since it's opening in 1972. The area offers a little bit of everything if you don't mind the heavy tourist scene. There are things to do like whitewater rafting, zipline, and even a rainforest spice tour. This is an easy place to arrive to and probably the most common national park on the pacific coast visited by locals. Because of this almost everyone in the country can point you in the right direction of what is an already easy place to find.
La Congreja National Park
La Congreja National Park covers an area of 1,937 hectares. This park protects some very important watersheds of the River Negro and the Quebrada Grande. The park is known to have many waterfalls because of it's steep formation and an elevation of 1,305 m high. One of the more interesting facts about La Congreja National Park is that as many as 148 tree species have been indentified in one hectare. There are also up to 30 species of endemic plants found in La Congreja National Park.
La Congreja National Park is a bit isolated from other Costa Rica National Parks which makes it somewhat of an island for much of it's wildlife. You can find a number of different species of birds, mammals, and snakes. The park is connected to the Zapaton Indian Reservation which I guess if you have to be a National Park, that is not surrounded by other National parks, the next best thing is an indian reservation.
La Congreja National Park has an interesting place nearby that we feel is worth mentioning. This place is called Rancho Mastatal which is a rustic Costa Rica eco-lodge. This is an amazing place of Costa Rica which everyone should visit from students that want to educated on sustainability to families on a Costa Rica vacation. It is a small place with a simple message that we at Costa Rican Resource can say we agree 100% with their ideals. We wish them all the blessings on the planet in dedicating their project to educating for a more sustainable future on Earth.
Los Quetzales National Park
The Los Quetzales National Park was created recently in 2006 and is a total area of 4,117 hectares. It is located in the area of Los Santos and has been created to protect the biodiversity and water supply of the region. This is the area around the upper Savegre River and most of Los Quetzales National Park is located in high-altitude cloud forest. Here you can find a few different species of poor mans umbrella and also a number of different species of mammals including the Baird's Tapir and the jaguar.
This central mountain range that divides Costa Rica in half (pacific side from caribbean side) is very important in explaining the amount of biodiversity in Costa Rica and why it is so high. When the mountains rose out of the ocean species like certain birds had to stop crossing at some point because it became too high. Some of the birds were left on the Caribbean side and some of the same species were left on the Pacific side with no form of ever crossing sides again because of the high elevation. After millions of years the species on the caribbean side and the species on the pacific side adapted to different environments and evolved into different species. This is best explained from the Tapir but it happened to this animal with the Andes mountains and now there are four different species including ours in Costa Rica the bairds tapir. This entire process is called speciation and is a fascinating characteristic of evolution that is seen all over Costa Rica and many parts of our planet.
We got a little side-tracked but we thought you might think the speciation thing to be pretty interesting. Now back to how Los Quetzales National Park might be a good spot for your Costa Rica vacation. The Los Quetzales National Park is located south of San Jose in the upper part of the Savegre river which give it the high elevation and perfect weather for the Resplendent Quetzal bird. This park is an excellent area for a birding tour and a chance to see some of the many different colorful species of the Costa Rican cloud forest. The weather is cold in the region and it might make for the perfect Costa Rica honeymoon. Don't worry many of the Costa Rica ecolodges in the area along the Interamerican Sur Highway have chimneys.
Arenal-Tempisque Conservation Area
Palo Verde National Park
The Palo Verde National Park is 18,418 hectares. This National Park is made up of mostly wetlands and are on the list of importance of the Ramsar Convention. It should be mentioned by the year 1993 half of our planets wetlands have been drained for recreation or real estate expansion. The total value of our planet Earth's ecosystems is around $33 trillion each year with the air, water, and food it gives us humans. Nobody can replace that or even come close to raising that type of money. The wetlands fall into this category in that they help with controlling flooding and also in the cleaning of water. Much of the water has to be cleaned in this part of Costa Rica because it is run off from agriculture. There have been billions of dollars spent by countries to clean water and control flooding all because lack of destruction of wetlands.
Wetlands are known to be some of the most diverse ecosystems on our planet and Palo Verde National Park is no exception. This park has 12 different habitats and is one of the most diverse areas of the country. Because of this, Palo Verde National Park is home to the largest population of aquatic birds in the entire Mesoamerica. When visiting Costa Rica on a birding tour it is always a good choice to include Palo Verde National Park.
You can also find a number of mammals such as monkeys, deer, and coyotes. The Palo Verde National Park is located 230km outside of San Jose and you will head north west to the Guanacaste area. There is also an OTS station which is the Organization for Tropical Studies. This is the same OTS that is stationed out of La Selva. This can be a very educational area for students and those that are looking for a Costa Rica nature tour.
What is the Ramsar Convention?
The Ramsar Convention is the International Convention on Wetlands that is an organization created to help protect wetlands all over the globe. Ramsar is the name of a city in Iran where the organization got started. These Ramsar site of the globe are considered the most important wetlands worth protecting for ecological importance. Costa Rica is home to 7 Ramsar sites:
- Palo Verde National Park
- Tamrindo Wildlife Refuge
- Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge
- Wetlands of the North-eastern Caribbean (Tortuguero)
- Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
- Terraba-Sierpe Forest Reserve
- Isla del Coco
Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve
The Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve is located in the Guanacaste province in the coastal waters of the Palo Verde National Park. The Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve measures 2,646 hectares. This reserve is made up of tropical dry forest and is home to many river sources. These river sources can be the perfect spot to cool off during your Costa Rica vacation. There are swimming holes in the rivers of what is usually a dry and hot Guanacaste region.
If you pass by the park in the month of March you will get the chance to see the Cortez trees in bloom. This is a beautiful yellow flower that is seen all over the reserve at the canopy of the trees. You might find it interesting that the Cortez tree's flowers only last for four days. It is then that small membranes from the seeds take flight with miniature wings. This flight along with bees helps pollinate and give birth to new Cortez. This is one reason why you can find Cortez from El Salvador to Brazil. It is an excellent hard wood also.
There are seven different habitats in the Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve. One of the most known parts about this reserve is it's high diversity of insects. There are said t be around 230 different species of bees in this reserve. You can also see mammals in the reserve such as monkeys, coyotes, and coatis.
This is an area filled with nature so we love it but if you are thinking about it for a Costa Rica family vacation you will want to prepare the kids for what might be a hot day of hiking. This can all be worth it if you plan on visiting the many pools to swim in.
Arenal-Monteverde Protection Zone
The Arenal-Monteverde Protection Zone is one of those places that you almost have to see. It is here that many of the Costa Rica vacations we plan get to visit. This is the area that is home to views of Costa Rica's most active volcano and one of the worlds most renowned cloud forest. It covers an area of 28,265 hectares on both the Caribbean and the Pacific slopes.
This is an area filled with thick cloud forest and is made up of the Monteverde Cloud forest reserve and also the Children's Everlasting Forest. The Children's Everlasting Forest (known as Bosque Eterno de Los Ninos) is funded by children from all over the world all making small donations for their future. The Children's forest is a total of 17,400 hectares and not a bad investment for kids from the Sweden, USA, Japan, Brtitain, and Canada.
The area is home to 2,500 species of plants and 350 orchids. Along with plants you can find many mammals and amphibians. The area of Monteverde has grown with international recognition for it's attention to global warming as the residents can see first hand the affects of global consumerism. It is the large amphibian population in the area that has made this so clear. Amphibians needs water and have very sensitive skin to tempatures. Because of global warming or some say different disease and bacterias (but it all relates back to global warming) species have gone extinct. The most common species to go extinct was the golden toad. This golden toad was last seen on May 15th 1989. Some of the world's top scientist have called this region home for many of their studies.
Along with scientific work it has become one of the top cloud forest for ecotourism. People travel from all over the world for Costa Rica birding tours to get a glimpse at the Quetzal. The Quetzal bird is now seen easier at Cerro de La Muerte from our recent experience.
This is a park of easy access and you can actually take a two day hike starting from the entrance of Bosque Eterno de los Ninos and make your way to the Monteverde area. This is a great hike and if you are looking for a little adventure in your Costa Rica vacation and don't mind rustic lodging for a night you can take the road less traveled to the Monteverde area. When you arrive to Monteverde you can visit some of the beautiful Costa Rica ecolodges they have in the area from budget to luxury family vacation hotels.
Arenal-Huetar North Conservation Area
Juan Castro Blanco National Park
The Juan Castro National Park forms part of the Arenal Conservation area covering 14,453 hecatres. The Juan Castro National Park covers an area of primary and secondary forest that protects important water sources. Here you can find the Platanar Volcano and Cerro Viejo Volcano. The Platanar volcano is still active but it's last eruption is unknown on recorded history.
The animal life is diverse here also. You can find a number of species of amphibian, birds (including the quetzal), mammals, and reptiles.
Some of the highlights of this park are not the animals you might see but just the rivers and waterfalls. If you are adventurous and you don't mind trekking through the jungle you can come across some beautiful rivers and waterfalls in the area. You can also find a number of different thermal waters. There is also said to be a number of archeological sites from the Botos Indians and probably many that have not been discovered.
This is not a popular tourist area and you might find every now and then a Costa Rica nature tour making their way through the park but often times it is very private and chance to experience the primary forest in her full form. Much of this park is still unexplored as many parks in Costa Rica due to their rough terrain.
Arenal Volcano National Park
The Arenal Volcano National Park is one of those special places. It covers 12,124 hectares and on a clear day is one of the most amazing views you can experience in all of Costa Rica. This is a park that is not about the wildlife or vegetation it is about the life that comes from within the Earth. Although there is wildlife and vegetation in and around the park most visitors find it hard to take their eyes off the perfectly cone-shaped Arenal Volcano.
The Arenal National Park not only consist of the Arenal Volcano but also the Cerro Chato. Unfortunately for Cerro Chato, Arenal Volcano steals most of the thunder (literally) as being the popular spot. If you are looking for some adventure on your Costa Rica vacation with some intense hiking then the Cerro Chato is a good day tour up to see the crater surrounded by lush forest. The hiking at the Arenal Volcano National park is relatively flat with some optional hiking on the lava rock farther into the park.
Inside the park you can find rainforest and cloud forest. The park is also part of the countries largest hydro-electric project which gives electricity to 40% of Costa Rica. The Arenal volcano was thought to be dormant up until 1968.
The park is very easy to access and the area around the park is quite the touristy area. If you plan on visiting this area on a Costa Rica vacation there is much to do in the area. There are Costa Rican ecolodges and those that are not so eco-friendly in the area. If you want you can contact us directly to find out which places in Costa Rica are more eco-friendly than others. You can find budget places in the town of La Fortuna and a number of eco-activities to keep you occupied for a couple of days. Some of the more common adventures in the area are whitewater rafting tours, ziplines, and canyoneering.
Tenorio Volcano National Park
The Tenorio Volcano National Park is in the same area as the Arenal Volcano and is basically just the next volcano to the the north. It is still quite a distance away and you have to make the trip in a car as you will not be hiking from the Arenal to the Tenorio in the same day. This is a special park and although it is named after the Tenorio Volcano it is not it's main attraction.
If you are looking for a relatively easy hike on a Costa Rica vacation it might be worth the trip to make your way to the Tenorio Volcano National Park and visit the Rio Celeste. The Rio Celeste is a river that is given a sky blue color because of the sulfur from the volcano and the precipitated calcium carbonates.
The area is surrounded by hiking trails that lead to views of beautiful waterfalls and thermal waters. It is a complete natural setting and a nice feel. There is a new hotel in the area called Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel which is an excellent spot to spend a few days. It is a quiet and secluded place and can be used for a Costa Rica honeymoon package.
Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge
The Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge consist of 10,171 hectares. This is an area that is visited by most looking to see some Costa Rica wildlife on a one-day tour from the La Fortuna area. There is a Cano Negro lake that almost dries up in the dry season.
Because of the importance of the Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge it is one of the seven Ramsar sites in Costa Rica. There are five main habitats and this park is located very close to the border of Nicaragua. The amount of wildlife is often very plentiful. This is a popular area for birding tours and just easy float rides on boats.
It is easy to arrive to the Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge taking a paved road, heading north from the town of La Fortuna. Once you arrive the best way to see wildlife is to be on one of the many boats in the area. We enjoy taking our Costa Rica vacation clients in the afternoon as it can get pretty crowded in the mornings. The wildlife is just as plentiful at around 4pm and a lot less human species around.
Many animals can be seen such as different species of monkeys and birds. It is an easy day and not much strenuous activity is needed.
Coco Island Marine Conservation Area
Coco Island National Park
The Coco Island National Park is one of the most important national parks in all of Costa Rica. It is also probably the most difficult to get to. If you wanted to visit Cocos Island National Park on a Costa Rica vacation we could make it happen but our rafts nor our 4x4's are going to make it out there. This is an expedition that we have to contract out and it makes for over a week long Costa Rica adventure of living on a boat and visiting one of the most pristine natural settings on planet Earth.
UNESCO dedicated the Cocos Island National Park as part of their World Heritage sites. The park covers the island which measures 2,309 hectares of land and 97,235 hectares of marine habitat. It is estimated that around 1,500 tourist visit the island each year. Many of these tourist are looking for adventures in suba-diving. The marine life is where the specie diversity is at it's best. It should be noted though that there are also two species of reptiles of a lizard and salamander that are endemic to the island.
The marine life consist of different species of dolphins, turtles, and sharks big and small of all different species. There are also 18 different species of corals found around the island. There are waterfall and hikes that can be made on the mainland. The conditions are rustic with a resting area and a ranger station.
The Cocos Island is known for three treasures that were thought to of been hidden by pirates a few hundred years ago. The sizes of these treasures are thought to be enormous and the island became famous over the years because of them. Many even think the famous novel "Treasures Island" by L. Stevenson was inspired by the Cocos Island. There have been over 500 expeditions in search of treasures on the island. Even the Costa Rican government got involved with a search party in 1869 with resulted in no findings. Now it is the natural treasures that the Costa Rican government finds value in. The treasure might be where many minerals of the Earth should be and that is underground.
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