Costa Rica Info   

Costa Rica , a country of towering volcanoes, white sandy beaches, virgin forests, abundant wildlife, friendly people and much, much more. These are several of the contrasts of the biological diversity. Few places in the world present such natural variety in such small territory. Over the 51,100 Km2 you will find endless special places to discover because Costa Rica has something for everyone, depending on their interests: ecotourism, bird watching, adventure sports, fishing, archeology or just leisure, there's fun for all.
Costa Rica is home to 3.5 million Costa Ricans or "ticos" y "ticas", as they're more popularly know. It is one of the few countries in the world that has lived without an army for over 50 years. Furthermore Costa Rica is known for the hospitality and friendliness of its people.

Geographic location:

Costa Rica is located in Central America, bordered to the north by Nicaragua and to the south by Panama, it has both a Pacific and a Caribbean Coast.

In the heart of the Costa Rica, there is a jagged mountainous spine that runs from the northwest to the southeast corner of the country, forming the Pacific and Caribbean slopes. The volcanic mountain ranges (Guanacaste, Tilarán & Central) remain separate from each other by relative low passes and valleys. The Talamanca range cuts across the southern part of Costa Rica and continues into Panama, these are the highest peaks in the Country. In the Central range the heart of Costa Rica is located, (the Central Valley), where about 60 % of the Costa Rican population lives.

Geographically, Costa Rica presents a great variety of areas that permit the wonderful biological, geological and human diversity and richness.

Costa Rica has an exceptional National Parks System, 24.6 % of the territory is protected under one of the categories contemplated in the System such a National Park, Biological Reserve, Forestry Reserve, Wild Life Refuge, principally, this reflects the strong national commitment towards the preservation of nature. These outstanding wilderness areas provide shelter for almost all the 120,000 varieties of plants, 237 species of mammals, 848 species of birds and 361 different amphibians and reptiles, which are natives of this country.

The Geography, topography and weather permit the existence of the great variety of environments including: deciduous forests, mangrove swamps, rain forests, marshes, Paramus, cloud forests, coral reefs.

Climate:

Costa Rica, located just ten degrees north of the Ecuator, enjoys the advantages of the perfect tropical climate. With exclusively two seasons all year round: the rain season and the dry season.

The averages temperatures change little between the seasons, the most important factor that affects the temperature is the changes in the altitude.

San José & The Central Valley:

The heart of Costa Rica, San José and the Central Valley, is surrounded by beautiful mountains and volcanoes where it is easy to find coffee plantations - better known as a " the Golden grain". It boasts a nearly - perfect climate, excellent museums, a wide selection of restaurants and other services.

The city of San José is located in the Central Valley, at 1149 meters above sea level (3769 feet), has an idyllic climate, with temperatures that vary from the 24 a 16 0C (75.2 - 60.8 0F) during the two seasons.

San José offers visitors a wide variety of activities, including tours of some impressive museums. Underground, at the Plaza de la Cultura, a fantastic collection of gold gleams inside the enormous vault of the Gold Museum, The Jade Museum with the largest collection of pre Columbian jade in the Americas, also includes some fine polychrome ceramics, a fascinating collection of grinding stones. The National Museum, has an excellent historical and archaeological exhibit. San José also boasts an art museum, entomology museum, natural history museum, butterfly park and zoo.

The location of the Hotels at the pedestrian walkway or close to it meanders through the city center, past shops, coffee shops and restaurants,

  • Hotel Balmoral: With 116 room with air conditioning, TV and direct phone dial. Laundry and room services, restaurant, cafeteria and bar.
  • Hotel Presidente: With 110 rooms with TV, air conditioning, and phone. Restaurant, bar, and lobby snack.
  • Hotel Europa: With 72 rooms with private bathroom, TV, air conditioner, security box and phone. International restaurant, classic bar, swimming pool, room service and souvenir shop.
  • Hotel Herradura: (5****) Located close to the International Airport. 224 rooms, with private bathroom, TV and phone. Swimming pool with cascade, room service, wet bar, several restaurants, gift and souvenir shop, tennis courts, golf court with 18 hole, casino, Jacuzzi, sauna, gym equipment

During the stay in San José you are able to visit close attractive places such as :

The Poás Volcano located in Alajuela Province, 2708 meters above sea level (8884 feet) and it is one of the most spectacular volcanoes in the country. It is an active volcano, the crater is a huge depression that measures 1.5 km in diameter and 300 meters deep and has a sulfuric and acid hot water lake with a slow effusive activity. There are also cinder cones that rise about 40 meters above the lake and has a very active fumaroles. The second crater is the site for the Botos lagoon, it has a cold - water lake.

The Irazú Volcano located on the just 32 Km northwest of the City of Cartago, 3432 meters above sea level (11260 pies). It is an active volcano with a long history of violent eruptions. Its altitude (the highest in the country) and location permits, on clear days at the top of its Alto Grande peak, to have a magnificent view of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans together with a large expansion of the mainland. At the summit there are 4 craters: the main, Diego de la Haya is the main place to visit, there is a permanent lake at the bottom with yellow - green water.

White Water Rafting: For those that want to enjoy more adventure, the white water rafting is an ideal experience on the rivers Reventazón, Pacuare or Sarapiquí where it is nice to enjoy the crystalline water and the beautiful tropical vegetation.

CARIBBEAN COAST:

Costa Rica's Atlantic region, filled with pristine untouched nature, is home to several of the country's most notables National Parks, including Tortuguero, Cahuita, Braulio Carrillo, Chirripó y la Amistad. In addition, several Biological Reserves also share this fertile coastal habitat: Hitoy - Cerere and Gandoca - Manzanillo.

This is a coast where the evergreen mountains of the deep forest line the long stretches of quiet, pristine sandy beaches. Year round, these long stretches of white or black sand beaches are ideal for leisure activities, such a horseback riding, sun bathing, snorkeling among the colorful coral reef, home to an infinite variety of under water sea life or the visit to the indigenous communities.

Tortuguero: One of the most attractive ecological destination sites in Costa Rica: the canals, rivers and lakes of Tortuguero National Park are the place for studying the rain forest, freshwater and marine biology. The access to the area can be by boat or plane.

Ilán Ilán Hotel , located on the strip of land between the Tortuguero Lagoon and the Penitencia Canal, which leads to Barra del Colorado. The Hotel has eight hectares. Seven belong to the Natural Biological Preserve created by the Hotel, where it is easy to visit by the trails and be in direct contact with the Rainforest, contemplate the exhuberant vegetation and admire the fauna, where howler monkeys, slots, parrots, toucans, red frogs and much more are easy to find. The Hotel was built with the idea of providing the necessary facilities for tourist exploration in an area of limited access, without harming its natural richness, so tourists will have the chance to really appreciate a tropical forest. The rooms have queen size and twin beds, private bathroom, ceiling fan, a family style restaurant, bar and rancho. The guided tours include the terrestrial and fluvial transportation, lodging, 7 meals, general tours and a special activity "Let's plant a tree for Costa Rica" . The Hotel offers optional tours through small canals or night visits to the beach during the green turtle spawning season to witness this amazing feat of the nature.

Puerto Viejo - Cahuita: Cahuita National Park is located on the extended beaches of the South Caribbean coast, about an hour south of Limón. It has several miles of white sand beaches lined with palm trees, trails that leads from the beach into the rainforest and is able to do snorkeling in his coral reef home to an great variety of under water sea life.

Gandoca - Manzanillo: Is without a doubt, one of the coastal regions with the most magnificent scenic beauty in the country. Beaches of dazzling white sand fringed with coconut palm trees and a sea of gently curling waves and of coral formations in shallow waters, make this wilderness area a paradise for lovers of Nature.

Continuing to the South, we will arrive to Puerto Viejo, an ideal place to rest a couple of days enjoying its white sandy beaches at Punta Cócles or Gandoca Manzanillo

  • Hotel Punta Cocles Caribbean Beach: Surrounded by coarse and impressive places and in front of one of the most beautiful beaches on the Costa Rican Caribbean. It has 60 extensive rooms with air conditioning, telephone, private bathroom with hot water, adults and children's swimming pool , restaurant and bar; laundry and fax services.

MOUNTAINS & NORTHERN PLAINS :

Land of volcanoes, cloud and humid forest, waterfalls, trekking surrounded by nature. One of the main attractive sites in the area is the flawless silhouette of the Arenal Volcano. It is a breathtaking sight, perfectly cone shaped and jetting out of the rain forest to approximately 5000 feet above sea level. Its loud rumblings and frequent explosions of lava and ash during the day or night when the red glow is dramatic can be seen easily from several vintage points in the area.

Heading northwest from the volcano, you'll wind through countryside through rolling hills and green pastures on one side and the sparkling blue waters of the Arenal Lake. This man - made lake, more than 40 square miles of it, provides water for a hydroelectric plant. Activities on the water are varied, but the most popular adventure sport practiced here is windsurfing. Arenal's winds blow at world class speeds (72 kms per hour). The spring water of the Tabacón River is another place to visit in the area at the Tabacón Resort. You can enjoy this natural spa surrounded by the fresh shadow of the forest and the quiet wildlife whispering. Celeste River place with a great scenic beauty where you are able to do horseback riding through natural forest in the Río Celeste area, a river with a turquoise blue natural water.

  • Hotel Rancho Corcovado: Located in El Tanque de la Fortuna, San Carlos, close to the Arenal Volcano. It has spacious rooms with private bathroom and hot water, tropical gardens, swimming pool, bar, restaurant and parking.

  • Hotel y Resort Tabacón: (4****) Located near Arenal Volcano slope, all the 42 rooms with TV. Restaurant, mineral water pools, waterfalls, hot water spring, mud treatment and therapeutic massages.

Monteverde: The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has earned its fame as one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the New World tropics. Positioned at the start of  the Continental Divide in western Costa Rica, this reserve extends down both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes. The resulting combination of climatic and geographic factors creates temperature and humidity gradients, which changes dramatically over relatively short distances. The reserve supports six different vegetational communities. There are over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 120 species of amphibians and reptiles and 2500 species of plants (among them 420 different kinds of orchids). Spectacular wildlife includes the Jaguar, Ocelot, Tapir and the resplendent Quetzal.

In the area you are able to enjoy some others activities like horseback riding and the canopy tour.

  • Hotel Belmar: Located in the adjacent mountains of the Biological Reserve of Monteverde. It has 34 rooms with private bathroom and hot water, bar, restaurant and laundry service

  • Hotel Fonda Vela: It has 28 rooms with a spectacular view to the forest; each room has 2 queen size beds, private bathroom with hot water. restaurant, bar, TV room and laundry service.
  • Trapp Family Hotel: It has 10 rooms, with a queen size bed and a twin bed, private bathroom with hot water, a beautiful view of the forest, restaurant, bar and laundry service.

Volcán Rincón de la Vieja : Located in the Guanacaste Mountain Range just 27 km northeast of Liberia and at 1916 meters above the sea level (6286 feet). On the summit, nine sites of volcanic activity have been identified, one of which is active and the rest inactive or in the process of degradation. At the foot of the volcano is an area known as Las Hornillas ("Kitchen Stoves") which extends over 50 Ha. It is also the site of hot springs which form small streams with very hot water: sulfate lagoons which fill small hollows in the ground and consist of constantly bubbling muddy water. Its flora and fauna is abundant, this is the place with the largest population of  the Guaria morada (the national flower). In this area you are able to do Canopy tour, an amazing experience where it is possible to see the forest and his life from a different perspective.

  • Buena Vista Lodge: Located 30 km from Liberia downtown. Offer 33 rooms with private bathroom. Restaurant; bar; laundry services; hot water springs; fumaroles and natural sauna.
  • Hacienda Guachipelin Lodge: It is located on the Northern region of Liberia, in the volcanic mountain range of Guanacaste, it has  20 cozy rooms, all of  them with private bathroom and a balcony to admire the wonderful surroundings of a 600 ha. property that contains all kinds of tropical forests of the area, kilometers of trails where you can hike or horseback ride, also the amazing journey of the CAÑON CANOPY an unforgettable experience on the top of trees.
  • Canopy: 17 platforms and an aerial bridge (11 lines) on the treetops, under the strictest security measures. There are different levels of platforms, connected with steel cables, which allows us to ride between them. With complete equipment: harnesses, pulleys, security cables and other climbing equipment, we can run distances of 40 to 90 meters from one tree to another. All this allows us to see nature from another perspective, with the intention to preserve the forests for research and educational purposes.

GUANACASTE:

The largest province of Costa Rica's North Pacific region. The province is known primarily for its cattle production. The Guanacaste region is very different from the rest of the country's, with a separate climate and cultural history. While most of Costa Rica is either lowland rain forest or high mountain plateaus and valleys, Guanacaste is an area of dry forest. Sporting a number of world class beaches, numerous National Parks and Biological reserves. Guanacaste's glistening white sandy beaches are lined with palm trees and lush vegetation.

  • Hotel Three Corners - Bahía Bolaños: "all inclusive" (upgrade) Situated on one of the most pristine and virgin beaches of Guanacaste, just 87 kms from Liberia and 12 kms from the town of La Cruz close to Santa Rosa National Park. The rooms are neatly spread within 18 acres of tropical gardens with exceptional views of the ocean, Isla Bolaños, the hills of Nicaragua and Orosí Volcano on the horizon. All the rooms are simply furnished yet comfortable with air conditioning, private bathroom with hot water, phone and private terraces. Swimming pool, Jacuzzi, restaurant, wet bar and surf bar, aquatic sports, disco and golf court (9 hole)

  • Hotel El Milagro Playa Tamarindo: Located right on the beach, offers rooms with air conditioning, private bathroom with hot water and phone. Swimming pool, restaurant and sports activities.
  • Villas Playa Sámara - Playa Sámara: Located right on the beach, offer fully equipped villas with 1, 2 or 3 rooms, ceiling fan, private bathroom with hot water, air conditioning (some of them), terrace, restaurant, Jacuzzi with bar, swimming pool. Tennis court and badminton court.
  • Isla Chora - Playa Sámara: Just 150 meters from the beach, spacious air conditioned units (2 queen size beds), private bathroom with hot water or attractive furnished flats with air conditioner and all the comforts (3 queen size beds), day and night areas, bathrooms with hot water, kitchenette and terrace. Italian Ice Cream, Italian restaurant, Souvenir shop, laundry service, security box, TV, Pizza place and disco, swimming pool, sports activities.

Central - south pacific :

This coast has spectaculars beaches all along it, some of them are far from the noisy and active life in the city, something that permits a complete, relaxing experience. The are several ways to spend the time in the region, several National Parks, Biological Reserves, lined African palms join the travel parallel to the coast up to Quepos.

Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the entire system. It is especially attractive because of the white sandy beaches at Espadilla Sur and Manuel Antonio, which slope gently into undisturbed, crystal - clear water. The beaches are furthermore fringed by a tall evergreen forest, which grows right down to the high tide mark and provides pleasant shade.

  • Hotel Terrazas del Pacífico: Located at Playa Hermosa - Surfing Paradise, between a beauty contrast of mountains and sea where you can enjoy the nature in a quiet environment. Offers 43 standard rooms with one double and one single bed, air conditioning, phone, TV, security box, private bathroom, ocean view balcony. Restaurant - Bar in front of the beach, swimming pool for infants and adults, wet bar, parking area and gardens.

  • Hotel Villa Teca: On the slopes of the Manuel Antonio mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean are scattered throughout a lush tropical vegetation that attracts numerous exotic birds and small wild animals. Offers rooms with air conditioning, private bathroom with hot water, private terrace. Two level swimming pool, full service restaurant; bar; parking; free shuttle bus to the Manuel Antonio beaches and Park.
  • Hotel Tres Banderas: Located on the road between Quepos & Manuel Antonio. Rooms with air conditioning, balcony and private bathroom with hot water. Swimming pool with waterfall, Jacuzzi, restaurant and full bar service.

  • Hotel El Parador: (5*****) Offers 55 rooms, all of them offer a fabulous view over the Pacific Ocean and the jungle that surround the Hotel. Restaurant, bar, swimming pool with Jacuzzi, tennis court, sauna, mini golf court, parking and sports activities.