Tropical Costa Rica

San Jose
San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica, and the largest city, with 290,000 in the city itself and 1.5 million in the metro area. It is named for Joseph of Nazareth, and has a very European feel and culture. It is located near the middle of the country, which has both Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Spanish colonists started to arrive shortly after Columbus, and many of these immigrants still returned to Europe to study and they created a city that was more European than colonial. Some of the important sights here are the neo-classical Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica, opened in 1897 with a performance of “Faust”, and the Plaza de la Cultura, an urban park where you can find marimba bands, jugglers, ice cream sellers and crowds of locals. San Jose installed its first street signs in 2012.

Coffee Plantation
Coffee has always been one of Costa Rica’s top exports, grown in the central plateau since the mid 18th century with plants brought from Ethiopia. Costa Rican coffee is very high in caffeine and is considered among the best in the world. You will visit the coffee plants themselves and learn about the cultivation process and then how the beans are roasted and processed.

Arenal Volcano
What an impressive sight – the imposing Arenal Volcano – 7,000 years in the making and reaching over 5,000 feet! This live volcano is currently dormant but was active as recent as 2010. Its most active period began in 1968 and it stayed active until July 2010. Smoke plumes and lava flows were common occurrences for decades. Now, although quiet, it is still just as breathtaking. Rising high over the shores of the peaceful Lake Arenal and surrounded by lush forests, it is simply majestic. The volcano’s underground geothermal activity creates nature’s gift - hot springs. Spend time soaking in the soothing waters while gazing at this extraordinary sight.

Cano Negro Refuge
This is a wetland refuge in north central Costa Rica created in 1984. The only access to the 25,000 acre area is by boat. The boats are small and most are covered. The refuge is home to several endangered species, including cougars, jaguars, ocelots, tapirs and several kinds of monkey. The Rio Frio runs through the refuge and allows good wildlife viewing. In the dry season (November to April) millions of migratory birds from North and South America spend the winter here.

Lake Arenal Cruise
Lake Arenal is the largest lake in Costa Rica, and was created as part of a hydroelectric project in 1979. The present town of Arenal on the lake is new – the original town is at the bottom of the lake after the enlargement in 1979. The lake is about 30 km long and 5 km wide and is 100 to 200 feet deep. From the lake, there are spectacular views of the volcano and the surrounding forest.

Farm Tour and Lunch


Monteverde Cloud Forest
This is a nature reserve located on the central volcanic mountains in northern Costa Rica and contains 26,000 acres of cloud forest, 90% of it virgin forest. Cloud forest is defined as having constant or frequent low-level cloud cover that creates unique humid conditions. A group of Quaker farmers from Alabama bought land here in 1951, moving to Costa Rica to avoid the Korean War draft, and they named it Green Mountain (Monteverde) because it was green all year round. Scientists began to notice how special it was in species diversity in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and the first bits were purchased as a reserve in 1973. There are over 160 kinds of amphibians living here including the golden toad, and many birds including the Resplendant Quetzal.

Choice on Tour
You may chose between two options while in Monteverde: The hanging bridges walking tour consists of a series of walkways suspended near the tops of the trees in the cloud forest, giving you the ability to walk at treetop level in the clouds. They are anchored, but not fixed, so there is some movement, but they have handrails and are quite safe. You will also explore one of the world's largest butterfly gardens -OR- take the exhilirating zip line. Secured by a system of cables and platforms in the canopy of the rainforest, you will glide above the forest as you take in the breathtaking views.

Guanacaste
This is a province in the northwest part of Costa Rica bordering the Pacific Ocean, and it gets its name from the national tree of Costa Rica, the Guanacaste tree (ear pod tree). Nicaragua, which borders Costa Rica, possessed the province in the 19th century and wants it back now. Guancaste has a very dry climate and is very hot during the North American winter season, so has become a very popular beach resort area. The rest of the local economy is based on cattle farming.

Tropical Costa Rica

DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari
00 San Antonio de Belen, Ciudad Cariari, San Jose, Costa Rica


Mountain Paradise Resort & Spa
000 Arenal Volcano, Arenal, Costa Rica


El Establo Hotel
P O Box 549-2050, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica


Nammbu Beachfront Bungalows, Playa Carrillo
0 Playa Carrillo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica