Harvey World Travel - The Travel Professionals.
Call our Travel Professionals on 0800 75 87 87 or search for your nearest agent
  • Home
  • Flights
  • Holidays
  • Tours
  • Cruise
  • Hotels
  • Insurance
  • Search Deals
  • Travel Tools
  • About Us
  • Request A Travel Quote
  • Franchising Information
Home - Costa Rica - 

Costa Rica

Overview

The Basics

Attractions

Health

Contacts

Airports

Climate

Currency

Visa & Passport


Regions & Cities

San Jose Costa Rica

Central Pacific Coast

Northwest Costa Rica

The Caribbean Lowlands


Activities

Horseback tours

White Water Rafting

Sky Walk and Zip-Lining


Tools

Print this guide

E-mail this guide


   

Attractions

Although a small country, there are a wealth of attractions in Costa Rica and only the most jaded of travellers could fail to be excited by all the exciting things to see and do. A whopping 25 percent of Costa Rica is taken up by 75 different national parks, wildlife refuges, and biological reserves, making it a paradise for eco-tourism.

Adventurous visitors are spoiled for choice with activities like surfing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, white water rafting, canyoning, climbing, and zip-line tours available all over this diverse country. For those inclined to relax, Costa Rica boasts truly beautiful beaches and these alone could fill a holiday with sun-tanning, swimming, and snorkelling.

The northwest region of Costa Rica is famous for two particularly spectacular national parks: the Arenal Volcano National Park, with the seemingly perpetually active Volcan Arenal at its heart; and the world renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, a unique and awe-inspiring wilderness area that enchants visitors with its mystical atmosphere. Fortuna is a good base from which to explore the region and a visit to the Monteverde community, spread in the hills of the cloud forest, is a fascinating excursion.

The Pacific coast is well developed for tourism and is scattered with picturesque villages and great beaches. Jacó is a beach resort town perfect for surfing, sunning, and partying in the midst of this wonderful coastline.

Puntarenas, the largest town in the region, a popular stop for cruises, is also a good base for exploring the area. The Manuel Antonio National Park is the most celebrated reserve of the region and here you will find a captivating variety of wildlife, as well as the chance to enjoy numerous adventure activities.

The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is becoming increasingly popular, with its more relaxed atmosphere and less-developed infrastructure for tourism. It exists as a beach haven, with local communities generally friendly towards tourists. Puerto Limon is a bit rundown, but receives regular cruise passengers and acts as a doorway into the stunning coastal areas and pristine rainforests of Caribbean Costa Rica.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a popular tourist destination nestled on the coast. The best parks in this area are the Cahuita National Park, which protects a wondrous coral reef and is a treat for divers and snorkellers, and the Tortuguero National Park, in the north, a famous breeding ground for sea turtles.

And in the middle of this natural wonderland of a country sits the capital, San Jose, which is a lively and modern city with good shopping, restaurants and nightlife. It has some architecturally beautiful colonial areas and a few great museums. From this urban centre you can find no end of things to see and do in Costa Rica.


Arenal Morning

Arenal Volcano National Park

The Arenal Volcano National Park is situated in what is known as the 'Energetic Heart of Costa Rica'. At its centre is the 5,356 foot (1,633m) Volcán Arenal, a typically cone-shaped volcano despite being highly active, with some huge eruptions and larva flows...  see full details



Tortuguero

Tortuguero National Park

Despite its isolation on the northern part of the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero National Park is an extremely popular destination and one of the most important nesting sites of the green sea turtle, which lays its eggs here between July and October each year....  see full details



Cahuita beach

Cahuita National Park

The only coral reef on the Costa Rican Caribbean coastline is found within this national park, and with 500 species of fish it affords excellent opportunities for snorkelling. Apart from the vibrant underwater colours and fish, there are two sunken ships to explore...  see full details



Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio is the smallest national park in Costa Rica but also one of the more popular because of its beautiful white beaches, rocky headlands, and tropical rainforest. Among this varied landscape are typical Costa Rican animals like sloths, agoutis, monkeys, and iguanas....  see full details



La Fortuna

Fortuna

Fortuna is the nearest village to the spectacular Volcán Arenal. It has uninterrupted views of the volcano and provides a comfortable base for visiting the national park and other attractions. There are many tour operators in town offering night trips to see the...  see full details



Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde

Monteverde is a small community scattered along several kilometres of road that leads to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Originally bought for dairy farming, the reserve today is an integral part of Costa Rican society, known especially for their distinctive cheese that...  see full details



Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, known to locals as Puerto Viejo (not to be confused with Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí in the northern lowlands), is a dusty little village lying between the forested mountains of Talamanca and the sea. The little town offers excellent...  see full details



Puerto Limon

Puerto Limon

Puerto Limon is known not so much for its sights but for its proximity to some of Costa Rica's top natural attractions. Many cruise liners lay over in the port to allow passengers the chance to take excursions, and independent travellers come...  see full details



Travel Guide powered by Word Travels, copyright © 2021 Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Neither Globe Media nor Harvey World Travel can accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.

Site Map | Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Security | Flight Booking Fees


© 2009 Harvey World Travel. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to Harvey World Travel , The Travel Professionals.
Compare cheap airfares and cheap flights from some of the worlds leading international and domestic airlines, such as British Airways, Qantas , Thai Airways, Emirates, Air New Zealand , Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines , Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue and Jetstar. This site allows you to search compare and book cheap flights to Australia and cheap flights from Australia. It is also possible to book cheap holidays , both domestic holidays and international holidays. Users can also book cheap hotels and book car hire, all from the Harvey World Travel website or contact one of the Harvey World Travel franchisees to make your travel booking.