Costa Rica
is hard to beat if you?re looking for an eco-tourism destination. For a little country in Central America that's only 19,730 square miles, there is quite a bit to see and do. Even Christopher Columbus in 1502 called Costa Rica the 'rich coast' in Spanish, which is the country's official language. Of all Latin American countries Costa Rica is actually one of the most stable countries as it is situated between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. While there are world renowned tropical beach resorts on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, what really brings people is the fact that it is an eco tourism destination. For example, there is a wider variety of bird species in Costa Rica alone than in all of Europe and North America.
Surprisingly, there are diverse eco-systems and microclimates within Costa Rica. Not only are there coastal beaches but there are also dense jungles and rain forests with ranging fauna. Some are even referred to as cloud forests because of the moisture of the mists that linger among the trees. One forest even has a cable car set up so that tourists can observe the plant and animal life at the treetop levels. For the more adventurous types, there is a place where one can swing from tree to tree using a network of rope attachments. Along with these lush forests, there are also dry forests and colder barren volcanic tundra. A thirty minute travel can provide an extreme climate change. Some canal systems found in certain parts of the country are similar to those found in the Amazon, and some rivers offer amazing white water rafting.
As some of the inactive volcanoes are tourist attractions they are surprisingly accessible. Some of them even have gorgeous turquoise color lakes that have formed in the craters at the top of these volcanoes. Arenal, an active volcano is also a tourist attraction as it one of the most famous in the country. Visitors can safely view the volcano as it erupts from a nearby safe facility that has outdoor hot springs that are naturally heated by the mountain.
Birds are not the only things that can be sighted while visiting Costa Rica. Exotic wildlife like monkeys, sloths, jaguars, bats, reptiles and much more can be seen during one of the many available nature tours. Sea turtles can even be spotted when every year they come to specific beaches in order to nest, attracting numerous nature lovers. Land is not the only place to see incredible wildlife, there is also much to see underwater. Costa Rica offers a huge expanse of sea life that is much different than that found in the Caribbean. This is due to the higher amounts of plankton in the local seas that attract a larger number of marine animals that cannot be seen in the Caribbean.
For coffee lovers, Costa Rica also has something to offer, as it is one of its largest exports. You can sample some of the best coffee in the world, although it?s important to keep in mind that the locals like their coffee pretty strong. Tours are even offered that go past numerous coffee plantations.
While most tourists fly into San Jose, the capital it is not the nicest place to stay as the city is highly polluted and noisy. It is relatively safe and has some nice colonial architecture, but San Jose is better used as abase for many day trips to the various rain forests, volcanoes and beaches. Travelers can fly into the northern part of the country, Liberia, which is a much quieter region and close to many of the northern resorts. One thing you can do is to rent a vehicle and take a tour of the country on your own. Just be aware that the roads in Costa Rica are not the super smooth and have a lot of potholes. Mudslides are also common during the wet season from June to November, so a 4x4 is highly suggested.
Costa Rica literally offers something exciting for every kind of traveler. There is so much to see and so much to do. Many tourists return to see parts of the country that they didn?t have a chance to see before. It is easily the most popular destination in Central America. It now has a tourist office set up to provide all the information you could possibly need.
