Located in Central America, Costa Rica is a beautiful country with a variety of activities to enjoy. There are beaches, volcanoes, and rainforests. Costa Rica is also home to a variety of bird species, including the Quetzal.
Isla del Coco
Located off the coast of Costa Rica, Isla del Coco is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It's an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean, and it's also home to some of the world's largest schools of hammerhead sharks. Isla del Coco has been protected since 1978, and it is now open to tourists.
In 1997, Isla del Coco was named a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The island is also a marine national park. It is home to a variety of fish and sea animals, including hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. The island has a unique climate.
During the rainy season, the waters become more turbulent. This can be problematic for people with seasickness. It's also not a good time to go scuba diving.
Cocos Island is home to many unique species, including a variety of sea birds. You can spot the Brown Booby, Red Footed Booby, White Tern, and the Great Frigatebird. Other land-based birds you may see include the Cocos Cucko and the Cocos Flycatcher.
The Cocos Islands are a group of islands in the Puntarenas Canton in Costa Rica. The island is only accessible by boat. The island's waters are rich in docile whale sharks and hammerhead sharks.
Sendero El Ceibo
Located just 15 kilometers from La Fortuna, Sendero El Ceibo is one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica. The area offers a number of exciting activities. The area offers some of the most beautiful views of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal.
The area also offers an abundance of wildlife. The area has a number of different hiking paths. The best time to view wildlife is at night. White faced monkeys can often be seen coming down to the sand.
There are also plenty of other activities in the area. The Butterfly Conservatory is home to the largest exhibit of butterflies in Costa Rica. This facility also offers a chance to learn more about the area's conservation efforts. The Butterfly Conservatory also offers an assortment of fun trivia.
For those who enjoy hiking, the Las Coladas Trail offers a 1.7 km (one mile) hike. The trail ends at a lookout with spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and Lake. It is also a great place to see the secondary growth forest.
For a more relaxing vacation, consider the area's natural hot springs. There are also several fun night tours. One such tour is the Sloth Tour in the Wild, a two hour tour that gives visitors a glimpse of Costa Rica's sloths.
Sendero La Ventana
During your visit to Costa Rica, you may wish to hike the Sendero La Ventana (The Window). It is an easy trail that offers stunning views of the Pacific and the Continental Divide. It is only a mile long and consists of 49 feet (16 meters) of elevation gain.
The trail passes through the Quebrada Cuecha, a gorge that has numerous streams and waterfalls. You can see different types of flora and fauna along the way.
Sendero La Ventana is located in the Corridor of the Old Woman national park. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and includes three active volcanoes. The last eruption of the volcano occurred in 2017.
Aside from hiking, you can also see the Arenal Volcano, which still produces volcanic rocks and ash. You can take a day trip to the volcano from San Jose. Depending on your time, you can also visit the Mistico Hanging Bridges, which offer beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano.
If you aren't feeling up to a long hike, you can also visit the La Cangreja waterfall, which is a medium-difficult trail. This waterfall falls into a turquoise lake. If you want to jump into the water, you'll need to be cautious because of strong currents.
Rio de Celeste
Known for its luminous blue waters, Rio de Celeste is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica. It is located inside of Tenorio Volcano National Park in the Alajuela province.
The Rio Celeste is a 14 kilometer long stretch of turquoise water that cascades into a pool 90 meters below. The water's color is caused by the combination of minerals suspended in the water, the suspension of sunlight, and the amount of water flow.
The best time to visit Rio de Celeste is in the dry season. This is from mid-December through April. There are a few established amenities, such as a free public entrance.
For a more upscale experience, you can check into the Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel, which is close to the entrance to Tenorio Volcano National Park. The hotel has air conditioning and is a good choice for travelers interested in a more luxurious experience. You can also check out the nearby Blue Falls of Costa Rica.
Aside from its waterfalls, the Rio Celeste is also home to a natural forest and hot springs. There are a variety of animals in the area, including puma, tapir, kestrels, and caucel. The forest also contains an aquamarine pond, which is not seen from the road.
Las Pailas
Located on the volcanic side of Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Las Pailas is one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica. Las Pailas is one of the most accessible sectors of the park. It is also one of the most popular sectors for visitors.
The Las Pailas Trail is one of the most popular trails in the park. The trail is around 2.5 miles long and loops through dry tropical forest. The trail also offers side trails to waterfalls and hot springs.
The trail begins with a paved path that crosses a river. Then the trail turns into a graded dirt path with small steps. The trail then passes through a mountain range. The trail ends at a lookout where you can view a volcanic steam vent. The trail is well maintained and wheelchair accessible.
Las Pailas is also home to several waterfalls. One of them is the Oropendola Waterfall. The waterfall is 82 feet high and is close to the Las Pailas entrance. You can also take a hike to La Cangreja Waterfall, which is located separately.
Las Pailas is home to several species of white-faced monkeys, which are also known as spider monkeys. Other animals you may see are armadillos, collared peccaries and howler monkeys.
Santa Maria
Located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Santa Maria is a small town that is often overlooked by visitors. Although it's not the largest city in the country, it is easily accessed and boasts a few nice attractions.
The city has a variety of fun attractions, but none are more impressive than the World of Snakes. This museum houses a stunning collection of snakes and other creatures.
The nearby Juan Santamaria Cultural Historical Museum is also worth a visit. It exhibits historical maps and artifacts from the region.
The La Fortuna Waterfall is a popular destination for swimming and sightseeing. It's a short distance from hotels in the area and can be reached by car or horse ride. It's also popular for picnicking.
The Orosi River Valley is an amazing river valley. It's not far from the city and is worth a day trip.
Another interesting activity is to ride a canopy tour. These tours offer views of the forest floor from high above.
The Corridor of the Old Woman is a national park located in Guanacaste province. The park encompasses three active volcanoes, as well as one dormant volcano. It's last eruption was in 2017, but there's been a number of eruptions over the years.
Tortuguero
Located on the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero is an ecotourism paradise. It is home to hundreds of exotic creatures and nesting sites for green turtles. You'll find the biggest colony of nesting green turtles in the world here.
Tortuguero is part of the Tortuguero National Park. It's a diverse park, with rainforests, wetlands and beaches. It is one of the most popular national parks in Costa Rica. You can hike around the park, ride in a kayak or canoe, or take a boat tour.
Tortuguero is known for its turtle conservation, but there are dozens of other exotic animals to watch and photograph. This is a great place to spot capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys. You can also spot parrots and kingfisher.
You can take a boat tour to see the nesting sites for green turtles. You'll see a large number of these animals and get the chance to see their eggs hatch. During the nesting season, more than 50,000 visitors visit the area to watch these events.
The Sea Turtle Conservancy operates a research station, visitor center, and turtle-related exhibits. You can also rent canoes and kayaks to explore the canals and mangroves. Throughout the year, the Conservancy helps to protect these turtles.