Author: Sweta
Enchanting Costa Rica - 6days/5nights
Stroll through lively markets in San Jose, explore the jungle in the Tortuguero National Park, chill out to the sounds of nature in Sarapiqui, soak off the day in La Fortuna hot springs, get close to the coalface at Arenal Volcano, discover the sultry Monteverde cloud forest, catch a fish 'that big' off the Pacific Coast, and shake your booty to the samba soundtrack of Costa Rica!
Every year thousands of tourists travel to Costa Rica but few get to experience this charismatic country's real way of life. By following this Classic Costa Rica itinerary you'll uncover jungle gems in Tortuguero and Sarapiqui; hot springs, waterfalls and a live volcano in La Fortuna - all set to a sizzling samba beat. This adventure into the heart of tropical paradise will surely leave you wanting more.
Costa Rica is more than a vacation destination; it is an interactive sensory experience. The country is bestowed with an intense array of biodiversity and environmental attractions - majestic volcanoes, misty cloud forests, stunning river valleys, and hundreds of beaches along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Costa Rica carries a fascinating ecological story, woven into the history of a peaceful and family-oriented culture. In Costa Rica you can try something new every day, and Costa Rican food is just beautiful. Let your mouth water from the juices of the fresh fruit and vegetables in the country. Have breakfast the traditional way - fried plantains, egg and orange juice is the perfect way to experience yet another flavour of Costa Rica.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
he splendid gardens of La Paz are located on the slopes of the Poas volcano. This area is rich in bio diversity thanks to an altitude of that varies between 4,000 and 5,000 feet, allowing for both cloud forest and rain forest to co-exist. Be prepared for a truly magical experience. Here, visitors will find the largest butterfly observatory in the world, hummingbird and bromeliad gardens, a serpentarium, frog pond, and 5 striking waterfalls.
Turtle Watching Night Tour
Tortuguero National Park is the largest nesting site for the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the Western Hemisphere. On this unforgettable tour and educational experience you will be accompanied with a guide to observe the nesting and egg laying process. You will not be permitted to take photos because it is very disruptive to the nesting turtle. In some cases it is necessary to wait for many hours until the park rangers find a nesting turtle. In some cases there are no turtles.
Established in the 1960s, Tortuguero stretches out over 189 square km (117 square miles) and is filled with thick forests, waterways and beaches. Walk around the park's main paths and keep your eyes peeled to spot monkeys, birds, frogs and perhaps a sloth or two. The park offers great views of local fauna from either trailside or boat, and guides are available to help visitors navigate the marshland.
The tour will continue from there to the Arenal National Park, home of the world's second most active volcano. Here you will have unrivalled views of the conical volcano as well as informative guided tours through the dense rainforest to view the natural beauty and abundance of wildlife that roams free.
Monteverde is the ideal opportunity for a ride over the rainforest canopy on a zipline. The Sky Trek Canopy Tour in Monteverde is located 6 km from the town of Santa Elena and about 3km from the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. Flying across the misty cloud forest of Monteverde is one of Costa Rica's signature experiences.
San José's central shopping corridor is bounded by avenidas 1 and 2, from about Calle 14 in the west to Calle 13 in the east. For several blocks west of the Plaza de la Cultura, Avenida Central is a pedestrian-only street mall where you'll find store after store of inexpensive clothes for men, women, and children. Depending on the mood of the police that day, you might find a lot of street vendors as well.
Adios!
