Family Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is very much a pioneer of eco-tourism, and fully a quarter of the country is protected as reserves and national parks that make perfect adventure playgrounds for children and parents alike.

Begin your explorations by heading for the Caribbean coast, taking in waterfalls and the world’s largest butterfly collection en route, and travel by boat into the Tortuguero National Park to discover the rich jungle and marine life of this coastal rainforest. Between July and October, sights include the rare green turtle, which comes ashore to nest on the beaches.

In the north of the country, the majestic Arenal volcano is one of the highlights of Costa Rica. Staying next to an active volcano may not sound like a good idea, but the eruptions, though frequent, are moderate and can be viewed from a safe distance. The volcano is a spectacular sight, especially at night when the lava flows and the glow from the crater stand out against the dark.

River safaris, white-water rafting, horse riding, mountain biking, wallowing in natural hot springs and boat trips or windsurfing on Lake Arenal are some of the other activities available in this region. For a memorable encounter with the fascinating and colourful world of the rain forest canopy, make a beeline for the Arenal Hanging Bridges. Yet another facet of Costa Rica is the cloud forest of the central highlands, which can be experienced by swooping through the treetops on zip-wires, or on nocturnal nature walks.

Altogether, a journey around Costa Rica is like being transported inside the pages of National Geographic: a combination of dramatic scenery and properly wild life, from squirrel monkeys and tree frogs to sloths, mud turtles and dozens of colourful birds such as parrots, toucans and the rare quetzal bird. Round things off with a few days on the sandy beaches of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.

Also Try


	Central Valley Costa Rica Any holiday to Costa Rica will begin and end in the heart of the country; the Central Valley, home to about three quarters of the country’s residents.
	Nicoya Peninsula Costa Rica A trip to Costa Rica isn’t complete without an escape to the beach. Fortunately, there is no shortage to choose from, with both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts on offer.
	Volcanoes & Cloud Forests Costa Rica With its impressive waterfalls, La Fortuna is the jumping-off point on route to the very much live Arenal volcano, one of the absolute highlights of a trip to Costa Rica. This colossal mountain is only visible if the weather conditions are in your favour, so while it is always a gamble as to whether Arenal will be shrouded in mist, on a clear day the mountain is simply stunning, with plumes of smoke hovering above it.
	Osa Peninsula Costa Rica On the Pacific coast of south-western Costa Rica, The Osa Peninsula is home to more than 400 species of birds and more than 100 species each of amphibians and mammals.
	Tortuguero National Park Costa Rica On Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean coast, Tortuguero National Park protects one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America.