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trips to Costa Rica
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• Partly in order to continue to encourage ecotourism, the Costa Rican authorities have set aside a large proportion of the country (around 26 per cent of the total land area) as national parks and protected areas. There is good road access to most of these areas, and public transport is available. Braulio Carrillo National Park is located in the central region of the country just 23km (14 miles) north of San José. It has five kinds of forest, some with characteristic rainforest vegetation. Orchids and ferns, jaguars, ocelots and the Baird tapir may be seen here. There are trails through the park and many lookouts. Poás Volcano National Park contains the smouldering Poás Volcano and has the only dwarf cloudforest in Costa Rica. The crater of the volcano is 1.5km (1 mile) wide and contains a hot-water lake which changes colour from turquoise to green to grey. Access is possible by road. Tortuguero National Park protects the Atlantic green turtle egg-laying grounds; it is in an area of great ecological diversity. Its network of canals and lagoons serves as waterways for transportation and exploration. There are camping facilities and lodges. Santa Rosa National Park has the last large strand of tropical dry forest in Central America. There are 10 habitats including extensive savannahs and deciduous and non-deciduous forests. In addition to its abundant wildlife, recreational facilities are provided on some of the beaches. The virgin rainforest in Corcovado National Park contains many endangered species. It has the largest tree in Costa Rica, a ceibo which is 70m (230ft) high. Cano Island Biological Reserve has a bird sanctuary. Cahuita National Park protects the only coral reef on Costa Rica’s Carribbean coastline. Its other attractions include howler and white-faced monkeys, racoons and 500 species of fish. Costa Rica’s highest mountain, Chirripó (12,533ft/3828m) is in Chirripó National Park. The upper slopes of the mountains are often covered by cloudforest, characterised by the algae, mosses and lichens on the permanently wet surfaces. Numerous orchids and ferns grow here, but the forests’ most notable inhabitant is the Resplendent Quetzal (said to be Latin America's most beautiful bird). Lower down is the rainforest. Best visited in the company of an experienced guide (in part, because it is so easy to get lost), these forests are filled with elusive wildlife. Among the creatures they harbour are monkeys, armadillos, sloths, crocodiles, and birds such as toucans, parrots and macaws. Manuel Antonio National Park and the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge are also worth a visit, and many of the tiny islands in the Gulf of Nicoya, near Puntarenas, are ‘biological protection areas’.
• Mountain biking can be done on the trails in the forests and national parks. Hotels have equipment for hire and some specialist operators organise trips. Horseriding is also easily arranged. Because a different type of saddle and stirrups are used, even experienced riders may need to take some time to get used to their mounts. Beginners should arrange to have tuition beforehand, as working ranch horses are often used on rides. Canopy touring is becoming popular as well; it entails being attached to a harness and ‘flying’ through the jungle canopy via a series of cables. Bungee jumping and ballooning are also available.
• In the foothills of Rincón de la Vieja, the mud pools bubble permanently and it is possible to bathe in the hot springs in this area. The Central Highlands are the most accessible for the visitor, and feature Poás, whose crater contains a boiling sulphurous lake, and Irazú, its desolate landscape resembling the surface of the moon.
• The most popular adventure sport is white-water rafting. Outfitters and guides can arrange trips. The Reventazón River (class III) is suitable for beginners, while more experienced rafters can tackle the Pacuare (class IV) and the Pascua (class V) rivers. The best times to go are from May to November. Lake Arenal is one of the world’s top windsurfing spots. Situated at 5580ft (1700m) above sea level, the lake offers its best windsurfing between April and December. Puerto Soley on the northern Pacific coast offers good ocean windsurfing. Surfing is possible at many beaches, being especially popular at Pavones on the Pacific coast and at Playa Naranjo in the northwest. This part of the country also offers excellent diving and snorkelling, with more than 20 local dive sites. Tuition and equipment hire are widely available. Cocos Island, praised by Jacques Cousteau, and Caño Island, off the southwest coast, are also good diving areas.
• On the Pacific Coast, the beaches around Puntarenas are rather poor, although San Lucas Island, just off the port, has magnificent beaches. There are beautiful beaches in the Guanacaste area, near Quepos in the Central Pacific and near Golfito in the South. Puerto Caldera, a few miles south of Puntarenas, is a port of call for cruise liners.
• The Pacific coast, from the Gulf of Papagayo to Golfito offers excellent sport fishing. Sailfish, marlin, tuna and wahoo are among the catches. The Tortuguero Canals and the area around Barra del Colorado offer good freshwater game fishing, while trout can be caught in the country’s mountain streams.
Street address: Costado Este del Puente Juan Pablo II, Sobre Autopista General Cañas, San José, Costa Rica
Postal address: Apartado 777, 1000 San José, Costa Rica
Tel: 299 5800.
Website: www.visitcostarica.com
Cámara Nacional de Turismo (CANATUR)
Apartado 828, 1000 San José, Costa Rica
Tel: 234 6222.
Website: www.costarica.tourism.co.cr
Fundación de Parques Nacionales
300 Metros Norte, 175 Metros Este, Iglesia Santa Teresita, San José, Costa Rica
Tel: 257 2239.
Website: www.fpncostarica.org
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Inscrita en el R.M. de Madrid Tomo 15.973, F. 206, Sec. 8, Hoja M-270179 . C.I.F. B82826991 Gran Vía, 22 Dcdo. 4º Madrid, 28013 Spain.
Tel. (+34) 913 605 670 Fax: (+34) 902 196 339