1 TTHEHE BBESTEST OOFF CCOSTAOSTA RRICAICA COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 004_482197-ch01.indd4_482197-ch01.indd 1 110/9/090/9/09 111:51:361:51:36 AAMM 1 irst coming to the attention of international travelers in the mid-1990s, Costa Rica is currently—and consistently— one of the hottest vacation and adventure-travel destinations in Latin America, with over two million Fvisitors each year. Despite the boom in vacationers, Costa Rica remains a place rich in natural wonders and biodiversity, where you can still fi nd yourself far from the maddening crowds. The country boasts a wealth of unsullied beaches that stretch for miles, small lodgings that haven’t attracted hordes of tourists, jungle rivers The Best of Natural Costa Rica Costa of Natural Best The for rafting and kayaking, and spectacular cloud- and rainforests with ample opportunities for bird-watching and hiking. In addition to the country’s trademark eco- and adventure-tourism offerings, you will also fi nd luxury resorts and golf courses, plush spas, and some truly spectacular boutique hotels and lodges. Having lived in Costa Rica for more than 18 years, I continue to explore and discover new spots, adventures, restaurants, and lodgings—and my “best of” ex- THE BEST OF COSTA RICA OF COSTA THE BEST periences keep on coming. In this chapter I’ve selected the very best of what this unique country has to offer. These places and experiences are covered in greater detail elsewhere in the book; this chapter is merely meant to give you an overview of the highlights so that you can start planning your own adventure. THE best OF NATURAL COSTA RICA W Rincón de la Vieja National Park (northeast of Liberia, in Guanacaste): This is an area of rugged beauty and high volcanic activity. The Rincón de la Vieja Volcano rises to 1,848m (6,061 ft.), but the thermal activity is spread out along its fl anks, where numerous geysers, vents, and fumaroles let off its heat and steam. This is a great place to hire a guide and a horse for a day of rugged exploration. There are waterfalls and mud baths, hot springs, and cool jungle swimming holes. You’ll pass through pastureland, scrub savanna, and moist secondary forest; the bird-watching is excellent. See p. 198 W The Río Sarapiquí Region (north of San José between Guanacaste in the west and the Caribbean coast in the east): This region is a prime place for an ecolodge experience. Protected tropical forests climb from the Caribbean coastal lowlands up into the central mountains, affording you a glimpse of a plethora of life zones and ecosystems. Braulio Carrillo National Park borders several other private reserves here, and a variety of ecolodges will suit any budget. See “Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí” in chapter 9. PREVIOUS PAGE: Arenal Volcano. 2 004_482197-ch01.indd4_482197-ch01.indd 2 110/9/090/9/09 111:51:421:51:42 AAMM PeñasPeñas BlancasBlancas LakeLake NicaraguaNicaragua SantaSanta NICARAGUA LaLa CruzCruz CeciliaCecilia GGolfoolfo ddee LosLos ChilesChiles SantaSanta ElenaElena VVolcánolcán OOrosros GuanacasteGuanacasteG 4 S Nat’lNat’l ParkPark ua a n n a RRinconincon ddee 3 Ju CCaboabo SSta.ta. 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GGuionesuiones 9 SámaraSámara NNicoyaicoya OOrotinarotina SAN JOSÉ 160 Tres Juan Vinas PeninsulaPeninsula 13 Santiago Rios Cartago PaqueraPaquera Moravia JabillaJabilla GolfoGolfo CararaCarara Nat’lNat’l ParkPark San Ignacio TamborTambor dede Puerto San Pablo Cahuita NicoyaNicoya Tapantí (Orosí) Viejo Nat’l Park Manzanillo 11 MontezumaMontezuma San Marcos Santa Uatsi Telire 12 JacóJacó 34 Maria Chirripó CCaboabo BBlancolanco T CaboCabo BBlancolanco Parrita re Nat’l Park al Bratsi 0 25 mi eg a NatureNature ReserveReserve av m 10 S an Sixaola Cerro ca 025 km Chirripó Quepos Ra Savegre San Isidro ng La Amistad e Manuel Int’l Park THE BEST OF NATURAL COSTA RICA THE BEST ADVENTURES Antonio Dominical Nat’l Park Arenal Volcano/Tabacón Hot Springs 5 Battling a Billfish off the Pacific Coast 24 Buenos Aires Braulio Carrillo National Park 18 Diving off Isla del Coco 10 Bahía Ballena Marine G Nat’l Park e Manuel Antonio National Park 25 Hiking Mount Chirripó 22 ne ral Monteverde Biological Kayaking Around Golfo Dulce 27 Palmar Norte Cloud Forest Reserve 6 Rafting the Upper Reventazón River 16 Cortes PANAMA C o r o n a d o Palmar P Osa Peninsula & Surfing & Four-Wheeling Guanacaste 8 Sur an B a y -A m Corcovado National Park 26 Surfing Pavones 28 e San Vito ric an Piedras H Rincón de la Vieja National Park 2 Windsurfing Lake Arenal 4 Drake Bay igh Rincón Blancas way The Río Sarapiquí Region 14 G Nat’l Park ol Neily Osa fo D Tortuguero Village & Jungle Canals 15 THE BEST BIRD-WATCHING San Pedrillo Peninsula u Golfito lce Corcovado Paso Canoas Aviarios del Caribe/Cahuita National Park 20 Nat’l Park Pto. Jimenez THE BEST BEACHES Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge 3 Sirena Carate The Beaches around Playa Sámara 9 Carara National Park 13 Malpaís 11 Cerro de la Muerte 23 Manuel Antonio 25 La Selva Biological Station 17 P A C I F I C Playa Montezuma 12 Parque del Este 19 Burica Peninsula Punta Uva & Manzanillo 21 Río Tempisque Basin 7 O C E A N Santa Rosa National Park 1 Wilson Botanical Gardens 29 Punta Burica 4 004_482197-ch01.indd4_482197-ch01.indd 4 110/9/090/9/09 111:51:421:51:42 AAMM Peñas Blancas Lake Nicaragua The Best of Santa NNICARAGUAICARAGUA La Cruz Cecilia Costa Rica Golfo de Los Chiles Santa Elena Volcán Oros GuanacasteG S Nat’l Park ua a n n a Rincon de Ju Cabo Sta. 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