Costa Rica Vacations

Vacation and Holiday Ideas!

Costa Rica Vacation Spots

What are some of the "must see" vacation spots of Costa Rica?

San Jose

First stop is San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, located in the Central Valley Region. It's here you'll find some incredible museums, such as the Museo de Jade, which holds the largest collection of American jade dating from 500 BC to 800 AD. Another interesting museum is the Museo de Oro Precolombino, which houses one of the world's finest collections of Pre-Columbian gold.

For a glimpse into the wildlife and insects of Costa Rica, you may want to spend some time at the Spirogyra Butterfly Garden, where you can see the butterflies of Costa Rica up close, then head on over to the Simon Bolivar Zoological Park to spend time with some of the animals of Costa Rica, such as the monkeys, tapirs, jaguars, exotic birds, and reptiles.

Another way to experience nature in San Jose is to visit Turu Ba Ri Tropical Park, which boasts 600 acres of forest trails, native trees and plants, as well as 150 types of birds.

Day Trips from San Jose

San Jose is situated near many wonderful attractions which allow you to truly experience the great Costa Rican outdoors.

Sarapiqui Region

This region is named for the immense river that flows through it. Part of the lovely province of Heredia, the Sarapiqui Region is a popular destination among tourists who seek adrenaline recreation, as it offers some of the best white water rapids in the country. This area is warm, so the splashing waters will feel wonderful as you make your way over clear rapids that run through the lush rain forest. There is excellent birdwatching here as well.

Here it is common to see groups of monkeys and numerous exotic bird species. Eco tourism is big in this lush region and the area has nature lodging and scientific research stations nestled deep in the lowland rainforest and river banks of Sarapiqui Costa Rica.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Located within the Sarapiqui Region and just north of Heredia you'll find La Paz Waterfall Gardens, which boasts the largest butterfly garden in the world. It also includes hummingbirds, tropical gardens, and an array of waterfalls.

Tortuguero, Caribbean Coast

Sometimes called the "Amazon of Costa Rica", Tortuguero, located on the Caribbean coast, is an endless system of rivers and canals and the most biologically diverse region of Costa Rica. This allows for some extraordinary in-depth exploration by boat. You may come across crocodiles, lizards, toucans, sea turtles, and howler monkeys.

The big draw is the Tortuguero National Park, established in the 1970s to protect the Tortuguero canal and beach, considered the most important nesting site of the endangered green turtle in the Western Hemisphere. While visiting, be sure to take in a jungle boat expedition, where you can explore intricate river system via motorized jungle boat. As you wind your way through the lowland rain forest, your guide will be keeping his eyes peeled for the unusual wildlife that live in the region.

Another way to get up close and personal is to take a kayak tour through the maze of canals in Tortuguero, as this YouTube video shows:

Manuel Antonio, Pacific Coast

On the Pacific Coast side of Costa Rica you'll find Manuel Antonio, Its most well known asset is the stunning Manuel Antonio National Park, which covers 1,685 acres of incredible beaches and lush rainforest.

Here you will also find great whitewater rafting on the Savegre River, as well as more relaxing guided horseback rides through the rainforest to a waterfall. For a real adrenaline rush, go for a Zipline Canopy tour, where you can glide above the rainforest at top speeds.

Do keep your eyes peeled for some amazing wildlife, as the area is home to over 100 species of mammals such as porcupines, three-toed sloths, as well as over 180 species of birds such as pelicans and toucans.

For More Central America Vacation Spots, go to our pages on:

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