COSTA RICA FAMILY VACATIONS
by Paula Hughes Court
Costa Rica is a natural paradise known for its lush tropical rain
forests, active volcanoes, rivers, palm tree-lined beaches,
gorgeous sunsets, national parks, scenic mountains and
breathtaking beauty. This country lies to the south of
Nicaragua and north of Panama, in Central America. The
Caribbean Sea borders to the east and the Pacific Ocean
forms the western edge.
Costa Rica is divided into 20 natural parks and 8 biological
reserves. It is also divided into seven provinces, Alajuela,
Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, and San
José. Costa Rica has three main mountain ranges and
several volcanoes.
The tropical forests have 1500 tree species and almost 850
species of birds. Costa Rica is home to four types of monkey,
sloths, armadillos, jaguars, tapirs and beautiful butterflies.
Costa Rica is a country that enjoys tranquillity among its
turbulent neighbors. Over one million visitors visit each year.
San Jose, which sits in the Central Valley, is the economic,
geographical and political center of Costa Rica. Residents
enjoy a very pleasant climate year-round. You'll fly in and out of
San Jose and will most likely spend your first and last nights in
the area. There isn't much to see in downtown San Jose, but
there are many restaurants, hotels and nightlife. The area is
congested and walking at night can be dangerous. Some
tours depart daily from San Jose.
When to Go
There are two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. Late December
to mid-April dry season is the most pleasant, but also the most
crowded and expensive.
Activities
Activities include horseback riding, hiking mountains in the
cloud forests, guided bird-tours, white-water rafting, fishing,
surfing, hot springs, hiking, scuba diving, biking, bird watching,
kayaking, snorkeling, swimming and much more.
Volcanoes
Nine major volcanoes, three of which are active and more than
one hundred craters. The most impressive is the active Arenal
Volcano, with a near-perfect cone shape. This volcano can
provide a thrilling light show with earthshaking rumbles.
Rainforest Tours - Aerial tram that goes through the tree tops
of a tropical forest over 100 feet above the jungle floor offering
a view of the rain forest - tree frogs, vine snakes, hundreds of
bird species and sloths. More adventurous travelers strap on
a mountain climbing harness and pull along suspended
cables to a series of small wooden platforms built in the tops
of trees.
Monteverde Cloud Forests – One of Costa Rica’s biggest
tourist destinations. The origin of Monteverde's tourist fame
was the pristine cloud forest and the National Park. Home to
the Resplendent Quetzal and also hundreds of other birds,
mammals and plant species. Trees are heavy with
bromeliads, orchids, hanging moss and vines.
Tiskita Rainforest Reserve
Tiskita is a 400-acre private rain forest reserve in the remote
region of Golfito on the southern pacific coast. Explore fresh
water jungle pools and beautiful beaches.
Pacific Beaches
Swim or relax on one of Costa Rica's beaches. The Pacific
coast has a mixture of luxury resorts and deserted beaches.
Golfito is on the southern Pacific coast, tucked in a small bay
off Golfo Dulce.
National Parks
Costa Rica is famous for it's world class National Park system.
There are approximately three dozen parks composed of
national parks, biological reserves, wildlife refuges,
monuments and recreational areas. Following are a few you
may want to consider visiting on your vacation in Costa Rica.
1. Arenal National Park – Guanacaste Province -Cloud
forest, premontane tropical forest. The giant volcano rumbles
and erupts with spectacular displays of vapor and lava.
2. Corcovado National Park – Puntarenas Province on Osa
Peninsula – Pacific tropical rainforest - a wonderland of virgin
rainforest, unspoiled beaches, jungle-thick riverbanks and
exotic wildlife. Home to many large mammals, the jaguar, tapir,
ocelot, peccaries, crocodiles, scarlet macaws and giant
anteaters. Conditions are hot and humid - Not recommended
for everyone!
3. Guanacaste National Park – Guanacaste Province –
Ranges widely from tropical dry forest to cloud forest. Large
felines as well as 300 species of birds and 5000 species of
butterflies.
4. Manuel Antonio National Park – Puntarenas Province
south of San Jose and Quepos – Beautiful land with palm
lined beaches and titi monkeys - almost a quarter million
travelers a year – endangered squirrel monkeys.
5. Tortuguero National Park – Limon Province on
Caribbean coast north of Limon – Tropical lowland park lying
across a system of natural lakes - Accessible only by boat.
A passport is currently required for U.S. citizens to enter Costa
Rica as of March 2003. Visas are not required for U.S. citizens.
No immunizations are currently required nor recommended.
Citizens of other countries should consult the Costa Rican
consulate in their country for entry requirements
Get in touch with your travel agent today and start making
reservations for the most thrilling vacation of a lifetime in this
tropical paradise of Costa Rica.
by Paula Hughes Court
Costa Rica is a natural paradise known for its lush tropical rain
forests, active volcanoes, rivers, palm tree-lined beaches,
gorgeous sunsets, national parks, scenic mountains and
breathtaking beauty. This country lies to the south of
Nicaragua and north of Panama, in Central America. The
Caribbean Sea borders to the east and the Pacific Ocean
forms the western edge.
Costa Rica is divided into 20 natural parks and 8 biological
reserves. It is also divided into seven provinces, Alajuela,
Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, and San
José. Costa Rica has three main mountain ranges and
several volcanoes.
The tropical forests have 1500 tree species and almost 850
species of birds. Costa Rica is home to four types of monkey,
sloths, armadillos, jaguars, tapirs and beautiful butterflies.
Costa Rica is a country that enjoys tranquillity among its
turbulent neighbors. Over one million visitors visit each year.
San Jose, which sits in the Central Valley, is the economic,
geographical and political center of Costa Rica. Residents
enjoy a very pleasant climate year-round. You'll fly in and out of
San Jose and will most likely spend your first and last nights in
the area. There isn't much to see in downtown San Jose, but
there are many restaurants, hotels and nightlife. The area is
congested and walking at night can be dangerous. Some
tours depart daily from San Jose.
When to Go
There are two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. Late December
to mid-April dry season is the most pleasant, but also the most
crowded and expensive.
Activities
Activities include horseback riding, hiking mountains in the
cloud forests, guided bird-tours, white-water rafting, fishing,
surfing, hot springs, hiking, scuba diving, biking, bird watching,
kayaking, snorkeling, swimming and much more.
Volcanoes
Nine major volcanoes, three of which are active and more than
one hundred craters. The most impressive is the active Arenal
Volcano, with a near-perfect cone shape. This volcano can
provide a thrilling light show with earthshaking rumbles.
Rainforest Tours - Aerial tram that goes through the tree tops
of a tropical forest over 100 feet above the jungle floor offering
a view of the rain forest - tree frogs, vine snakes, hundreds of
bird species and sloths. More adventurous travelers strap on
a mountain climbing harness and pull along suspended
cables to a series of small wooden platforms built in the tops
of trees.
Monteverde Cloud Forests – One of Costa Rica’s biggest
tourist destinations. The origin of Monteverde's tourist fame
was the pristine cloud forest and the National Park. Home to
the Resplendent Quetzal and also hundreds of other birds,
mammals and plant species. Trees are heavy with
bromeliads, orchids, hanging moss and vines.
Tiskita Rainforest Reserve
Tiskita is a 400-acre private rain forest reserve in the remote
region of Golfito on the southern pacific coast. Explore fresh
water jungle pools and beautiful beaches.
Pacific Beaches
Swim or relax on one of Costa Rica's beaches. The Pacific
coast has a mixture of luxury resorts and deserted beaches.
Golfito is on the southern Pacific coast, tucked in a small bay
off Golfo Dulce.
National Parks
Costa Rica is famous for it's world class National Park system.
There are approximately three dozen parks composed of
national parks, biological reserves, wildlife refuges,
monuments and recreational areas. Following are a few you
may want to consider visiting on your vacation in Costa Rica.
1. Arenal National Park – Guanacaste Province -Cloud
forest, premontane tropical forest. The giant volcano rumbles
and erupts with spectacular displays of vapor and lava.
2. Corcovado National Park – Puntarenas Province on Osa
Peninsula – Pacific tropical rainforest - a wonderland of virgin
rainforest, unspoiled beaches, jungle-thick riverbanks and
exotic wildlife. Home to many large mammals, the jaguar, tapir,
ocelot, peccaries, crocodiles, scarlet macaws and giant
anteaters. Conditions are hot and humid - Not recommended
for everyone!
3. Guanacaste National Park – Guanacaste Province –
Ranges widely from tropical dry forest to cloud forest. Large
felines as well as 300 species of birds and 5000 species of
butterflies.
4. Manuel Antonio National Park – Puntarenas Province
south of San Jose and Quepos – Beautiful land with palm
lined beaches and titi monkeys - almost a quarter million
travelers a year – endangered squirrel monkeys.
5. Tortuguero National Park – Limon Province on
Caribbean coast north of Limon – Tropical lowland park lying
across a system of natural lakes - Accessible only by boat.
A passport is currently required for U.S. citizens to enter Costa
Rica as of March 2003. Visas are not required for U.S. citizens.
No immunizations are currently required nor recommended.
Citizens of other countries should consult the Costa Rican
consulate in their country for entry requirements
Get in touch with your travel agent today and start making
reservations for the most thrilling vacation of a lifetime in this
tropical paradise of Costa Rica.
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FAMILY TRAVEL FUN
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