Ten Must-See Places in Costa Rica

By Jonathan Williams

Costa Rica is one of the countries in Central America. It is bordered by both Nicaragua and Panama as well s the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Costa Rica is a wonderful tourist destination for visitors as well as newlyweds, and here are ten of the many places that you can enjoy in Costa Rica.

1.) The Central Cathedral

Located in Alajuela, this cathedral is a must-see when you visit the city. Although it is pretty in its own way, it is not that impressive when it comes to its architectural design. What makes this area special though is because it is a nice spot where you can enjoy views of parrots and even a sloth or two if you are lucky enough.

2.) Juan Santamaria Park

You can take a nice long walk in this park named after their national hero. You will also see here cannons that were used during the 1860s era. After a stroll in the park, you can also visit the Juan Santamaria Museum which houses memorabilia about the national hero.

3.) Poas Volcano National Park

This is a favorite place among locals and foreigners alike. Here, you will get to see what the crater of a volcano that is still active looks like. There are guided tours that will take you to the summit of the volcano.

4.) The Lankester Botanical Gardens

What great way to spend a relaxing afternoon than having a nice quiet stroll along the grounds of this botanical garden? Here, you will see a large assortment of orchids and other kinds of plants. This is also ideal for families to enjoy.

5.) Arenal Volcano

You can also take guided tours to the Arenal Volcano, another active volcano here in Costa Rica. Here, you will be taken to El Mirador where you are in a safe distance to view the volcano's eruption. The hot lava flow is a nice view when seen at night, red lava against the contrast of the black night.

6.) Fortuna Waterfall

This is another favorite tourist spot. Here, you can spend the day swimming in its lovely pool and stream as well as catch a glimpse or two of its native animals. Do not forget to bring a jacket though as it can become chilly at night.

7.) Cahuita National Park

Visiting this national park is also a great way to spend the day. Its main attraction is its coral reefs that are located near the shore. As such, this is a good area where you can snorkel or scuba dive and get to enjoy the views offered by the different species of fish that make their homes in the reefs.

8.) Corcovado National Park

This is a wildlife park that provides a very good opportunity to see animals at their habitats. Here, you will see four species of monkeys as well as wild cats (many of them endangered) and other kinds of animals like birds. This remarkable plethora of animals in this national park is brought about by less human contact.

9.) Manuel Antonio National Park

This is home to squirrel and white-faced monkeys as well as other kinds of animals such as the sloth and iguanas. You can also see here toucans and birds and, of course, bats. Word of caution though, it is prohibited to feed the monkeys in this national park.

10.) Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves

This is also a must-see in Costa Rica if you are a nature lover. You will enjoy here the sights of vast greenery as well as a myriad of creatures like amphibians and insects. Get a different thrill as you walk through its trails with vines hanging from trees and the songs of the birds and insects.

Jonathan Williams is the travel writer for Destination Guide TV - the place to share travel videos. Visit http://www.destinationguide.tv/costarica to view or share Costa Rica travel videos

Puerto_Viejo_Costa_Rica - Caribbean Coast Rica Adventure

By Hatchemoto Mishimuri

Puerto Viejo is a vibrant seaside town which lies 34 miles south east of Puerto Limon, and 10.2 miles south of Cahuita. Located in the Lim� province on the shores of the Caribbean sea, Puerto Viejo is considered one of the most happening places in Costa Rica. It is the largest tourist destination on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast.

Known for its warm, crystal clear blue waters, pristine, uncrowded beaches, excellent restaurants, Rasta-Jamaican influence, and exotic tropical fauna, Puerto Viejo was built around a beautiful bay with calm water for swimming. The distance from San Jose to Puerto Viejo is 130 miles (210 km).

Additionally, there are many interesting attractions nearby such as the Cahuita National Park, Talamanca Indian Reserve and Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. Puerto Viejo is fast becoming one of Costa Rica's premier tourist hot spots.

"Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a decidedly Caribbean concoction of perfect beaches, spectacular surfing and laid back afternoons, spiced with the most happening music, nightlife and restaurant scene on the coast. But don't expect to be the only gringo in town, more expats are moving here every year."

Hurricane Free Zone
The Southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is completely free of hurricanes! At 9 degrees north of the equator, we are blissfully free of worrying about hurricanes!

Gorgeous Tropical Beaches
From Puerto Viejo south to Punta Mona (Monkey Point), about 25 km, and to Cahuita, 30 kilometers to the north, stretch fabulous empty beaches dotted with coral reefs. These beaches are known to be some of the best in Costa Rica. Coconuts trees dot the white and black sand beaches mixed along the coast line, all the way to the border of Panama.

With a picture-perfect tropical influence, you can find miles of deserted, palm tree fringed beaches in which to spend hours snorkeling, strolling or reading peacefully. Or sit under the shade of a palm tree and be entertained by the local scene at the more populated hangouts. You will also find lovely calm coves that form small protected pools - perfect for children or lazy afternoons basking in sun and shade. From Manzanillo south to Punta Mona (Monkey Point) is about a 25 km walk or boat ride, as there are no roads. The beaches are gorgeous and interchanged with beautiful rock formations and overhanging palms.

There is a long stretch of beautiful pristine beach which extends past Playa Chiquita to Manzanillo and beyond Monkey Point (Punta Mona) and Gandoca. Much of this region is under protection by the government of Costa Rica as a wildlife reserve, and is a fantastic place for snorkeling, nature hiking or observing troops of howler monkeys.

World Class Surfing
Puerto Viejo Costa Rica is legendary among the surfing crowd and is among the top rated surfing destinations of the world. Many international surfers come here from all over the world to ride what has been called the heaviest wave in Costa Rica: Salsa Brava - a thick Hawaiian style wave that builds in deep water and whose boxy barrel hammers thunderously over a shallow reef. The biggest waves in Costa Rica break in Puerto Viejo when there is a swell. Surfers also love the long stretch of beach at Playa Cocles in front of Break Bay Island - a more consistent break with lefts and rights breaking close to the beach and which is good for novices and intermediates.

Playa Negra (Black Beach) offers a great beach break with waves year round and, along with Punta Uva, is among the safest beaches in the area. There's plenty of fun for beginners here as well as free community surf activities for kids. The Playa Negra break is perfect for beginners taking lessons. And Manzanillo, located in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, 20 km south of Puerto Viejo, sports a fast break at the northern end.

Countless Activities
You will find adventures galore here including scuba diving & certification, snorkeling, surfing, canopy tours (including ariel trams and zip lines), sea and river kayaking, kayak surfing, fishing, jungle adventure/rainforest tours, boat tours, birding, turtle sanctuaries, chocolate tours, eco tours, dolphin tours, indigenous Bri Bri tours, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, hiking tours, cultural and educational tours.

The area is filled with abundant wildlife and bio diversity, with over 400 species of birds, almost 500 species of fish, and more than 40 species of coral including kingfishers, parrots, hummingbirds, sloths, toucans, monkeys, iguanas, lizards, frogs, a myriad of butterflies, basilisk lizards, otters, manatees. On the coral reefs are a myriad of life forms to see such as angelfish, parrot fish, triggerfish, mackerel, red snapper, jacks, crabs, rock lobsters, octopus, eel, squid, rays, starfish, brain coral, fire coral, sheet coral, lettuce coral and star coral.

International Flavor
The town of Puerto Viejo can host your days and evenings of shopping, Salsa & Caribbean dancing and delicious dining to Costa Rican and international cuisine. Some of the restaurants are famous for their Caribbean style seafood and reggae music, and you can also find wonderful international cuisine all within walking distance of town center. With it's relaxed, laid back atmosphere, this once quiet fishing village is poised to become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. Other local stands are known for their natural juice drinks and delicious breakfasts. Local women in Puerto Viejo make coconut bread, jam, biscuits, pattys and other homemade treats in the tradition of Lim�Costa Rica Puerto Viejo.

Tropical Reservations provides the most comprehensive information about Puerto Viejo Costa Rica.
http://www.tropicalreservations-cr.com/caribbean_area.php

Visit_Arenal_Volcano On Your Costa Rica Vacation 

By: Challen Clarke

If you haven’t seen an active volcano, visiting Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica is really an amazing site. Arenal Volcano is the most active volcano in Costa Rica and listed as one of the top ten most active in the world. Of course, you are not guaranteed to see any lava spewing from the top, but you will certainly see activity.

The rainy season corresponds to the summer months for those in the Northern Hemisphere and the volcano’s peak is often covered in clouds during the afternoon and evening, which lessens your chance of seeing the lava at night. However, during the rainy season the mornings are often very clear, which means early risers have a good chance of seeing the lava before the clouds roll in and will have great weather for morning hikes. Keep this in mind when you are planning a trip.

Even if you don’t actually see lava, you will still be able to feel and hear the volcano rumbling, as well as see smoke billowing out the top of the crater. If you have binoculars you can spot rocks expelled from the top and watch them tumble down the flanks of the volcano.

Inside Arenal Volcano National Park, travelers can take a hike, guided or solo, through the rainforest to find the 1992 lava flow. Once you reach it, you can climb up the now gray trail and see the interesting lava formations.

Travelers to the region might also be interested in going kayaking on Arenal Lake, or taking a horseback ride through the rainforest to the base of the volcano to begin a canopy tour. This canopy tour is a series of 12 platforms and 10 zip-lines.

It is very safe and pretty thrilling as you zip above the forest. All of these excursions make spotting sloths, tropical birds, and monkeys very likely.
Before you plan a trip, make sure you know which side of the volcano is most active. It changes every few years and you definitely want to stay in a hotel on the most active side to have the best chance of seeing lava.

Explore highly active Arenal Volcano on your exciting Costa Rica vacation with expert travel advisors Costa Rica For Less. Travelers to the region can often see lava flowing from the crater at night and will most likely hear and feel the volcano’s activity while watching plumes of smoke billow from the peak.

This guide to visiting Arenal Volcano on your exciting Costa Rica vacation was written by a Costa Rica travel expert at Costa Rica For Less.

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