Bucket list experience:
Costa Rica
Protected jungles and reefs preserving an astonishing 900 bird species and nearly 250 mammals; fuming volcanoes swathed in cloud forest; tens of kilometres of beaches nested by critically-endangered turtles; no army (the money goes to education) and political stability…
Costa Rica’s status as a pioneer of sustainability and peace in turbulent Latin America is remarkable.
As is the story of this success. After World War II, 65% of the wild had gone to aggressive agriculture. Then a few mavericks took a stand – like Scandinavian hippy turned pioneer eco-campaigner Olaf Wessburg, who lost his life fighting to preserve the Osa Peninsula.
And Latin America’s ‘David Attenborough’ Mario Boza, whose relentless force of will inspired the wife of the president, led to Ley Forestal law of 1969 and the founding of 28 national parks. These now form the backbone of protected areas, covering 30% of the country.
Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
Shrouding Costa Rica’s most impressive volcano, this forested national park is cut with hiking trails, filled with waterfalls and offers adventures from zip-lining to canopy walkways.
Best for ages 13+
Duration: -
Heredia Province, Costa Rica
Located 30 minutes outside of San Jose, this cloud forest park has a riot of dense vegetation, as well as a small network of trails for day hikes, zip-lines and an aerial tram. Book online here.
Best for ages 13+
Cahuita, Limon Province, Costa Rica
Palm-shaded white sand beaches, unspoilt Caribbean reefs, forests filled with wildlife – all in walking distance of your hotel.
Best for ages 13+
Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
The last remaining stand of coastal Pacific rainforest in Central America is the crown jewel in Costa Rica’s park system.
Best for ages 13+
Duration: 2 days
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
The largest protected tropical dry forest in Central America, with landscapes from volcanoes to mangrove swamps, home to rare animals including the endangered Central American tapir, jaguar and leatherback turtles.
Best for ages 13+
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
One of Costa Rica’s most popular (and crowded) national parks, with easy-to-access, trail-cut rainforest (with abundant monkeys, lowland birds and smaller cats) backing a gently arching series of beaches. Editor: Alex has not done a full review as there are alot better options than this one.
Best for ages 13+
Monteverde, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
![Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve [zip-line]](https://chsglvdtka.cloudimg.io/familyhotelfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/Costa-Rica-Monteverde-Cloud-Forest1-SH.jpg?w=426&h=285&func=cover)
This rugged mountain, misty cloud forest is a biodiversity hotspot, with canopy walkways and zip-lines through rainforest trees encrusted with orchids and covered in thick carpets of dripping moss.
Best for ages 8+
Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Spectacular and little-visited national park next to the wild Osa Peninsula, spread out around a deep-water tropical fjord.
Best for ages 8+
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Covering a remote peninsula in Costa Rica’s far north-west, Santa Rosa protects important sea turtle nesting beaches and was the site of a historic battle in 1856. It’s also a prime surfing location, with two renowned breaks: Witch’s Rock and Ollie’s Point, both generally accessed by boat.
Best for ages 13+
Limon Province, Costa Rica
The best place in Central America to see nesting and hatching turtles, with a range of luxurious places to stay.
Best for ages 8+
The best way – and often the only way (due to strict environmental laws) – to see Costa Rica’s national parks is with an accredited guide. While some parks can be explored independently, remoteness, seasonal flooding, poor signage and rough roads make them difficult to access. And contrary to Tarzan mythology, wildlife is very hard to see in tropical forests. Guides know where (and when) to look and they’ll be able to identify species.
Guides are easy to find in Costa Rica – there’s a wealth of local operators and well-managed hotels and jungle lodges. And with the bulk of tourists coming from the USA and Canada, English is widely spoken. Trips organised with a guide will include food and drink (not available in remote national parks) and there’s no risk of getting lost (Satnavs are unreliable in rural areas in Costa Rica).
The dry season is seasonally the best time for wildlife (December-April on the Pacific, February-March on the Caribbean, May-November around Arenal). Turtles nest on the Caribbean beaches March-November.
The best time to spot wildlife – especially birds and monkeys is just before and for 90 minutes after dawn and around dusk. Animals retreat into the shade during the heat of the day. Other mammals are best spotted during the night (when cats hunt and larger animals like tapirs feed). Night safaris are easily organised with guides.
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Costa Rica
Rainforests, powdery beaches, white-water rivers and towering volcanoes: this relaxed Central American country offers exceptional wilderness adventures in stunning landscapes.
