SMALL AND SAVAGECOSTA RICA
THE OTHER IDEA OF EXOTISM PARADISIAC DIVERSITY

Discovery

A travel to Costa Rica, called “Switzerland of the Central America”, is a stay calm and resting. A small surface which offers great wealths, in a prosperous environment and good child. The visitor will be immediately surprised by the luxuriant vegetation and the landscapes to cut the breath: tropical forests, mountains, rivers. Costa Rica corresponds completely to the families as with the sportsmen in search of adventures. Beaches, volcanos and observation of fauna and the flora remain the main activities to be discovered in Costa Rica. It should be noted that, for several years, the country has proposed very powerful tourist structures, making tourism simple and pleasant. In love with nature, this little place of paradise is made for you!

Identity

North of the territory at the coasts of the Pacific or the Caribbean, Costa Rica is an incredible country. Equipped of a luxuriant and abundant nature, it is ideal for the travellers in search for exoticism. Indeed, there exists in Costa Rica few large metropolises and modern infrastructures. One finds primarily villages picturesque and nature reserves, except for San José the capital. Nature, fauna and the flora are thus the main assets of the countries which abound in corners sublimes and still little modified by the man. Costa Rica is not an immense country, which makes it possible to discover various areas on an only one journey. You will be able to thus be stretched out on the sandy beaches gray, white or black of the coasts but also to climb on the Arenal volcano or to insert you in the dense tropical forests.

With 34% of the protected territory, Costa Rica is a corner of paradise where you will discover rare birds, tortoises lute, monkeys but also of the flowers and trees exotic. For most courageous, this small country of Central America also offers very famous spots of surfing and stroll in the marshes or at the bottom of cascades. Will pura emptied (pure life), asserted by the inhabitants of Costa Rica, is a philosophy, a lifestyle in adequacy with nature. Registered everywhere in the country, the expression reminds the tourists that here, it makes good things in life and that it is necessary to benefit from nature all while preserving it.

Culture & Traditions

NATURE

Costa Rica is incontestably a country with one of most beautiful natures! It is besides its first center of interest. You will see there many volcanos, falls, of water, sources of water, rivers and of course an intact tropical forest where evolves a multiplicity of animals.

FAUNA

The nature of Costa Rica offers to many animals an ideal and exceptional habitat. It has one of the richest faunas of the world. You will find there in particular 35,000 species of insects, 160 species of Amphibians, 220 species of reptiles, 850 species of birds as well as many mammals and marine animals.

AUTOCHTONES

Even if they account for only 1% of the population costaricaine, the autochtones groups attract much the travellers of share their culture. Each one with could keep its language and its habits. You will find in particular Bribri and Cabécar which live on the Caribbean side of the country. Guaymi which lives in the Indian reserves of Valle de Cotobus and Boruca as well as Maleku.

PRE-COLUMBIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

The grounds costaricaine are inhabited since long time by Amerindian tribes. These last although they have almost all disparuent, left their trace. You will find in particular vestiges of ceremonial places in Guyabo as in the valley of Diquis where a hundred spheres carved with the hand are profiled. Their origin is however still a mystery.

Essential

From December to April, Costa Rica knows one dry season, it acts of the best period to go there. The rainy season goes from May to November, however from one corner to another of the country, precipitations differ considerably.

20° WINTER / 25°-35° SUMMER
LE COLON COSTARICAIN
-8H SUMMER / -7H WINTER
SPANISH
SAN JOSE
GALLO PINTO

Form your trip

The stages

SAN JOSÉ

When Costa Rica is evoked, San José comes automatically to mind. The capital and more big city of the country expect you for a total expatriation through its immense arteries and its narrow lanes. You will be captivated by his architectural heritage without equal where the slums cohabit with the modern and greying buildings. In Otoya and Amon, you will fall even under the charm from an architecture multicultural, sometimes Spanish, sometimes art déco, sometimes still neo-classic or Moorish following the example of the Alliance Française, the yellow house, Chambord, or the house of Monsignor Rodriguez… To the maze of the avenues, your steps will carry out you towards the majestic national theatre to the Renaissance style or the Morazan park. With some streets from there the plaza of Cultura with its luxurious museum of gold, quite simply stunning is. After having strolled on the side of Central Avenidad, bordered of shops, you direct towards Central Mercado, true labyrinth where you will find pleasure to lose you in his coloured stalls. Also visit the museum of Jade to the unequalled collections.

VOLCANO TENORIO

It is the one of the most recent parks of the Costa Rica, become in a few years a true tourist attraction. The ideal is to devote one day for visiting to it the park well. After a pedestrian path in the forest, you will find yourselves in front of a superb cascade with milky water blue. This unreal color is due to the meeting of two rivers, at the place even of the cascade. A little further, you will see a series of hot springs and of mud ponds in boiling.

VOLCAN ARENAL

 

During your visit of the park of the observatory of the Arenal volcano, the activities do not miss! This perfect image which determines the North-West of Costa Rica books you wonders and phenomena interesting to discover! On the road, you will be invited to pass in the beautiful town of Sarchi where you will be able to laze in sources of warm waters. Arrived at the entrance of park: excursion, stroll with horse, walk on foot are advised to you to contemplate specificities of the park. You will be able to plan an excursion at the edge of the cascades or hot swimming pools of the park. A pleasure sailing on the famous lake Arenal will be also appreciated to profit from a spectacular sight on the conical shape of the volcano. To observe the eruptive cycle of the Arenal volcano, to see the lava flows in eruption, to hear its rumblings… a stage impossible to circumvent at the time of your stay in Costa Rica!

NATIONAL PARK MANUEL ANTONIO

Classified national park in 1972, this park of 1,620 hectares is a small jewel. He proposes pretty marked trails by the coconuts but also of the rocky headlands giving on wild beaches.  Its abundant fauna adds to the charm of this place. Being the second smaller natural park of Costa Rica, Parks it Nacional Manuel Antonio has a human dimension, which reinforces its success.

TORTUGUERO

Nacional Tortuguero Parks is a very pleasant coastal park which shelters the largest ground of reproduction of the green tortoises of all Caribbean. It holds its name of the small village located in its center.  In the middle of a protected area, bordered by the sea and the forest, the village of Tortuguero is accessible or maritime only by air. Tortuguero, which means “the place of the tortoises”, is a high-place of laying of the green tortoises on the sandy beaches black.

SARAPIQUI

Privileged destination for the sportsmen in search of strong feelings, water of Rio Sarapiqui gives the opportunity of making white water rafting and kayak. Formerly known like main port when United Fruit Company, old American banana company, dominated the country, it is today the paradise of the écolodges with its many forest reserves. You will also have a better knowledge of the life of the Amerindians and the occasion to discover a very rich fauna and a flora.

RICON OF THE VIEJA

The Rincón national park of Vieja is of a stunning beauty. Very different from the other parks of the country, it is composed of savannas just like of a luxuriant vegetation, marked by tree trunks to the extraordinary forms. Its natural thermal waters and its waterfalls allow fauna and the flora to develop peacefully. Besides one observes there more a large number of Guaria Morada, flower national of Costa Rica. The volcanic solid mass culminates with 1,916 meters and is composed of nine eruptive points and an observable lagoon since the crater.

TAMARINDO

Holydays of dreamed, choose Tamarindo. Known from now on like a true seaside resort of international repute, this ancient village of fishermen has very to like. And due, its immense littoral with fine sand is an invitation with the escape and idleness. In the shade of tamarinds, admire the professional surfers who come to conquer the impregnable waves. You will also discover spots impossible to circumvent there for the windsurfing, the jet ski, the diving and the kayak. After you to be sat at table with the one of the beach restaurants, stroll in the lanes of the village to unearth pretty objects of memories in the shops of luxury and artisanal. Do not miss the Large laying of the tortoises lute on the side of Playa and Playa Langosta. And especially, discover the night life of Tamarindo where coffees and clubs beat the full one.

MONTEVERDE

Monteverde is known for its virgin forest of 105 km2 dominated by the fog which is worth to him the nickname of forest of clouds (bosque nuboso). One has then the feeling to be transported in an imaginary country where fauna and the flora open out. Eco-tourism made the reputation of this magic place. The ornithologists will appreciate to see cores with orange throat, goldfinches, parajo campana of Tres Barbas, jays silver plated or the famous quetzals among other species. The few 500 species of orchises will charm the amateurs of flowers which will be able to also discover laGuaria Morada, national flower. Who says tropical forest and river says reptiles and Amphibians that one finds in mass. Indeed, one there découvrre more than 20 species of snakes of which frightening it terciopelo and its large rival the mussurana as well as multicoloured frog numerous species.

NATIONAL REFUGE OF VIDA SILVESTRE CANO NEGRO

Considered to be most remarkable and the most diversified protection zones of Costa Rica, “Refugio Nacional of Vida Silvestre Cano Negro” is ideally located in the province of Alajuela. It is characterized by a rainy tropical climate. This corner of paradise shelters an endemic fauna and a flora. The variety of birds is out of commun run: migrating water birds and varieties of birds resident. It is also the center of refuge of the endangered species to knowing the ocelots, the peccaries, the jaguars, the pumas and of the species of monkeys. Its landscape is defined by the river “Frio” where you can surf in the dugout to contemplate the beauty of the place. In other words, your visit of Cano Negro will be marked by a direct contact with nature. A windfall for the naturalists or all those which wish simply to slacken and déstresser!

NATIONAL PARK OF SANTA ROSA

The national park “Santa Rosa” deserves to be visited and revisited. During your visit, your walk under the tropical forest dries will carry out you towards marked trails which cross the spectacular forests and the spouting out cascades. You will be also brought to explore the historical museum “Casona”, “Sendero Los Patos” and the “Watchtower Monuments with the Heroes”. For the amateurs of surfing, the gray sand of “Playa Naranjo” will not leave you indifferent! Minis trekking on the Naranjo valley will be advised to profit from a panoramic view on the path of mangrove swamps of Playa Naranjo. Side fauna, the park constitutes a favourable place to observe the flights of the birds. A place where you can freely photograph the species of mammals as well as the reptiles. In all, this zone of conservation deserves well that one is delayed there.

RIO SAN JUAN

Including the history of Costa Rica, the mythical river “San Juan” will reveal you its secrecies! Not only you can slacken at the edge of the river by admiring its beauty, but you can also surf on an engine dugout to contemplate it. A great walk in the dugout will enable you to observe the wild nature of the jungle and the paths of fincas. In the dense and protected jungle, an incredible wealth of fauna and flora expects you. Your visit will be marked by your meetings with mammals, to the rhythm of the echo of the songs of the birds, in the shade of the forest. You can also throw a glance on the charming small towns of “Boca de Sabalos” and “El Castillo” in the neighbourhoods. The imposing river constitutes a large borough of fishermen. Thus, a good afternoon of fishing season in a canoe out of wooden will surely enchant you…

NATIONAL PARK CORCOVADO

True paradise for in love ones with nature, the Corcovado national park appears among the largest primary tropical forests of the Central America. It counts today more than 400 species of birds, 140 species of mammals and nearly 100 species of reptiles and Amphibians. Biological diversity is completely astonishing and impressive. Three paths make it possible to cross the park in all quietude and wellness. Sirena is the most favourable place for an optimal observation of fauna. The coastal poles of San Pedrillo and Carate offer in their turn the most beautiful sites to discover the tortoises lutes, olive-greenish and green, the ocelot but still the jaguar. On the side of Los Patos, located in center of the forest, the sight is doubly clearing by the presence of Large Hocco and the Toucan. Impassioned of adventure and discovery, the Corcovado park gathers the four species of primates listed in Costa Rica, in particular the Spider monkeys, the Howlers, the Capuchins and Saimiris or the monkey squirrel.

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