About Costa Rica
Costa Rica is made up of 7 provinces San Jose (the capital), Limon, Puntarenas, Guanacaste, Heredia, Alajuela, and Cartago. For a small country Costa Rica is a beautiful place to visit with rainforests, cloud forest, and more than 200 volcanoes. Virtually every province has something to suit the adventurist & family travel. Since the size of the country is small it’s possible to visit more than one destination in one day. Keep in mind due to road conditions it may take longer to drive from one location to the next. Another possibility is to take a small plane with Nature Air or Sanza.
The mountain ranges run northwest to southeast containing many volcanoes such as the popular Poas Volcano & Arenal Volcano. There are many eco-systems in Costa Rica for you to experience with different wildlife & plants. Many birds call Costa Rica their home and many others migrate here.
Our rainforests receive a lot of rain per year making the vegetation lush with typically hot and humid conditions. Trees and plants grow very large making the rainforest home for many animals. The dry forest as you might guess receives very little rain. The trees will drop their leaves to conserve water and then bloom a vibrant color of flowers. The Guanacaste tree also know as the “ear tree” produces large brown seeds shaped like ears. This tree is also the same name as the province in the north. In the cloud forest you will find the temperatures cooler and of coarse cloudy often as well as the higher elevation countryside’s.
When should I go?
Costa Rica’s dry season (high season) is from December to April. This is when you will find lots of tourist here, prices are generally higher, and availability may be limited. During this time we suggest booking about 6 months in advance. The rainy season (low season) is from May to November. Expect more rain particularly in the months of September and October. Keep in mind the Caribbean side receives more rain annually. Most days during the rainy season may start out sunny in the morning with increasing rain late afternoon to evening. The temperatures are cooler at higher elevations which might require a light jacket and pants depending on your comfort level. As you get closer to the beach the hotter the temperature gets.
Driving in Costa Rica
Costa Rica can become quite confusing for driving. The road signs are few and far between in some areas, they may be closed for 1 way traffic or impassible due to a mud slide. Some roads are paved, gravel or dirt so you might need a 4×4 at times. We suggest if you need assistance navigating to use the waze app on your smart phone or stop in a public are to get help. If you rent a car park in a secured lot and leave any valuables back at your hotel or stowed out of site. If you prefer private transportation we are proud to offer our services to you.
Best places to visit
Some of the best place to see wildlife include Santa Rosa National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, Manuel Antonio, Osa Peninsula, Tortuguero, and the Tarcoles River. The best family destinations in the country are La Paz Waterfalls, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Playa Hermosa, and Playa Jaco. Most of the beaches are of darker volcanic sand with some of white sand. Costa Rica has over 1200 km of shoreline on the Pacific & Caribbean coasts for your enjoyment. It you want to see something spectacular be sure to add Rio Celeste to your list. Thanks to the minerals in the rivers this waterfall is a gorgeous turquoise blue color. The Rio Celeste waterfall is located inside the Tenorio National Park.
What should I pack?
Videos of Costa Rica
Ticos
Last but not least you will hear the expression from the locals “Pura Vida” simply meaning “Pure Life” everything is good. You will find the Ticos as they call themselves very friendly, easy going, laid back, and helpful. Most of the people here run on what’s called “Tico time” which means no rush and people may arrive late. Tour companies generally run more efficiently.
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