Costa Rica
Rainforest
A trip to Costa Rica would not be complete without a visit to the rain forest. A popular option is the Montverde Cloud Forest Reserve, straddling the continental divide. Another, more adventurous option is the private reserve Rara Avis, a remote high altitude tropical rain forest. To get there, one must ride a tractor for three hours up a muddy hill (or one can hike most of the way, after riding the tractor across a river). Bird watching at Rara Avis is exceptional, with over 350 species recorded. La Catarata, a 55- m high waterfall, is a short distance from the lodge. Rara Avis borders Braulio Carrillo National Park, which is excellent for hiking and wildlife watching (hire a guide, it’s easy to get lost!).
Road to Rara Avis
Surf and turf
Some of the best adventures in Costa Rica may be had on the Pacific Coast, combining beaches and forests. Manuel Antonio National Park, for example, offer stunning scenery, as the forests come down out of the mountains all the way to the beach. You can watch the monkeys while lounging in the warm water. It doe get crowded here, however, and a more remote option is Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula. This is perhaps the most pristine and biologically diverse area of Costa Rica. Backpacking and camping are necessary to fully appreciate this remote destination.
Giant tree ferns at Monteverde
Jaco
beach from Miro's Mountain
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Interactive map of Costa Rica
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