Costa Rica
Costa Rica is located in the southern sector of Central America with Panama to the south and Nicaragua to the north. It has two coasts, the Pacific and the Caribbean. Its land portion occupies only around 51,000 sq km.
Costa Rica could have almost invented the word ‘ecotourism’ as it is jam-packed with national parks: lush and tropical jungles, sub-tropical and volcanic territories, intriguing cloud forests and of course underwater paradises for divers. It is teeming with wildlife from howler monkeys to poison dart frogs, from to toucans some 893 other bird species, 250 species of butterflies and at least 8,000 species of moths.
It is a democratic and peaceful country, without an army since 1949. Its population of around 4.1 million are a mixture of European (mostly Spanish), as is obvious by the language and architecture, and indigenous, which is reflected in the cuisine and handicrafts. There has also been some migration from the Caribbean, which provides some African influence. The Ticos, (Costa Ricans) are famous for their hospitality.
The capital, San José, is in the Central Valley and is surrounded by majestic volcanoes and green hills. It is the gateway to your Costa Rican adventure. There are also other charming colonial cities to be visited, such as Heredia and Cartago.
Costa Rica is well known for its coffee, sugar, bananas and other fruits, but is also an important producer of electronic components and medical equipment.
Rugged highlands are found throughout most of the country, ranging from around 1,000 to 2,000 metres above sea level. The Guanacaste, Central, and Talamanca are the main mountain ranges extending the entire length of the country. There are several active volcanoes - Arenal, Irazu Volcano, Rincon de la Vieja and Turrialba among others and the country’s highest mountain is Chirripo Hill with a height of 3,819 m. Costa Rica’s long coastlines in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as its rivers and streams attract specialist kayakers and rafters from all over the world.
There are many lodges through the country from which to explore the jungle, the cloud forest, the volcanoes and mountains, or the underwater life.
Let’s not forget the lovely beach resorts around Puntarenas, Limon and Guanacaste, offering a chance to unwind and relax in superb settings.
Costa Rica is small enough that one can absorb it all in just a few days, yet brimming with so much that you will want to stay longer. It truly is a natural paradise. Now wonder it is ranked as one of the most visited international destinations.