Costa Rica
The literal translation of Costa Rica is "rich coast" and the nation does not
disappoint when it comes to living up to its name. Bordering Nicaragua to the
north and Panama to the southeast, this small Central American country manages to
feature more diversity and exquisiteness of culture and nature than many other
larger territories and understandably remains a popular tour destination.
Join the adventure on our Costa Rica Tours!
The tranquil and serene nature of the country and its people seems to run
contrary to its surrounding environment, as it is buffeted on one side by the
might and intensity of the Pacific Ocean, and on the other, by the perhaps more
peaceful but certainly no less forgiving Caribbean Sea. However, a look at world
history might make this natural environment seem an appropriate position for the
country, since Costa Rica has earned the nickname 'Little Switzerland' on account
of its managing to remain impartial in and unaffected by torrid upheavals caused
by or involving its neighbours. It was the first ever nation to abolish its
military when it did so in 1949 and has since won a Nobel Peace Prize in
recognition of its promotion of diplomacy over confrontational activity.
Costa Rica's dedication to a mentality of preservation over destruction is echoed
not only externally--by the action of dismantling the armed services--but also
internally. A staggering 25% of the entire territory is protected in national
parks and though it constitutes only 0.1% of the world's total land mass, Costa
Rica is home to a massive 5% of the world's biodiversity. A tour to this
naturalist's paradise, with its unparalleled number and diversity of exotic
plant, insect and wildlife, is a tour to discover nature in all its glory.
Perhaps the quintessential Costa Rican territory that epitomises the country's
wealth of natural wonder is Corcovado National Park, where travellers will
bear witness to more than 150 species of mammal-including the unusual and
endangered Baird's Tapir--several hundred species of bird--perhaps even the
endangered and magnificent harpy eagle-as well as some big cats--such as jaguars,
pumas and margay.
For those more interested in a tour that involves a lot of lazing around on a
beach, Costa Rica's extensive Pacific and Caribbean coastlines ensure the
traveller plenty of choice as to where best to soak up the rays, be it on the
popular tourist beaches where people can intermingle with other the locals and
holiday-makers, or on the more remote and secluded stretches, which are ideal for
a bit more privacy. Those looking for a more active tour can partake in the many
watersports on offer, such as surfing, windsurfing, snorkelling or kayaking, or,
if water is not the preference, the on-land activities, such as hiking, mountain
biking or horseback riding are sure to entertain. One of the most popular
activities is taking a canopy tour, where it is possible to take in the splendour
of the country in a cable car high above the ground, or saunter at leisure on the
tree-top bridges.
A tour to Costa Rica guarantees an enriching experience. Costa Rica's dry season
falls between December and April when conditions are just right for exploring
this green gem. This peaceful little country is brimming with bright butterflies,
lazy sloths, chattering monkeys, impossibly colourful frogs and birds, all set
against a dramatic backdrop of soaring volcanoes and palm fringed beaches. This
is always one of the most popular trips in our Central American series, with
possible combinations including Honduras, Guatemala, and Panama.
Demonstrating an environmental sensitivity unparalleled elsewhere, Costa Ricans
have set aside one quarter of their land as protected areas and national parks.
Although Costa Rica is best known as an invaluable refuge for nature, this small
nation is also a haven of peace. Add to this a well-developed infrastructure and
the country's compact size, and you have the perfect opportunity to experience
all that this little green marvel has to offer with little effort. Belize is
another of our most popular Central American offerings. Famous for its spectacular
barrier reef and forest reserves, it also hosts some impressive Mayan monuments.
These two countries can be visited separately or in combination with each other,
or with Guatemala, Honduras, and /or Mexico.
Costa Rica Family Tours:
What a perfect setting for adventure! Costa Rica is blessed with dense tropical
rainforests, soaring volcanoes, cloud forests, and sandy beaches-on two coasts!
An extra plus is the vast array of wildlife, colourful birds, and abundance of
tropical flowers you'll encounter throughout your adventures, not to mention some
of the friendliest people in the world. Costa Rica offers a vast variety of fun
and educational opportunities related to its tropical forests; horseback rides
and exploding volcanoes provide daily excitement. Add to this a well-developed
infrastructure and the country's compact size, and you have the perfect
opportunity to experience all that this little green marvel has to offer with
little effort.
Despite the country's small size, Costa Rica houses five per cent of the world's total biodiversity and 25 per cent of its territory is protected with national park status. A naturalist wonderland, Costa Rica should be on the destination list of any nature-lover on a visit to Central America and travellers would do well to ensure they have plenty of batteries for their cameras. Exotic plant- and animal-life lurk around every corner and the tree-top canopy tours give a unique perspective to this abundant and diverse land. For the less active traveller, Costa Rica's sparkling white-sand beaches on its 1,2000km-long Pacific and Caribbean coastline provide the most idyllic settings to stretch out and soak up the rays.