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There are so many wonderful sites to explore in Costa Rica and each has its own "jewels." Visit them all, and you will have seen the best Costa Rica has to offer.
Tortuguero National Park
Corcovado National Park
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Curu National Wildlife Refuge
Pacuare River
Tortuguero National Park
 At almost 19,000 hectares, Tortuguero National Park lies on the Caribbean coast in the most northeastern part of Costa Rica. The area can be explored by foot as well as by boat - for the best experience, make sure you do both. Tortuguero is one of the most important breeding grounds in the Caribbean for marine turtles - four out of the world’s eight species of marine turtles nest here. Tortuguero is the Spanish word for turtle – and the large population of turtles here gave name to the park.
The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the best studied of the marine turtles and it’s the only turtle you will see nest in large numbers. The other species - leatherbacks, hawksbills, and logger heads – tend to arrive and nest singly. The green sea turtles come to Tortuguero to nest from July through October, with the highest number nesting in late August.
Watching the green sea turtles nest or seeing the eggs hatching is a fascinating experience. The female digs a hole in the sand with her flippers, lays about 100 eggs, and covers them with sand. Incubation is about two months after which the newly hatched baby turtles head for the sea (usually at night) in order to escape most of their shoreline predators. Even so, only a very small percentage of the babies manage to escape their predators on land and at sea.
Though Tortuguero is most famous for its sea turtle nesting grounds, the area has much more to offer. More than 300 species of birds live here, and Costa Rica’s three species of monkeys (howler, spider, and white-faced capuchin) are often seen here as well as sloths, anteaters, and a large number of reptiles. If you are really lucky, you may also catch a glimpse of a manatee, tapir, and various members of the cat family.
Visit Tortuguero on our Adventures in Costa Rica adventure.
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 Corcovado National Park
The more than 50,000-hectare Corcovado National Park is located in the southeastern part of Costa Rica, and is probably the best remaining Pacific coastal rainforest in Central America. The rainforest is home to about 400 species of birds (among these the largest population of the stunningly beautiful scarlet macaw), about 140 mammals (like crocodiles, giant anteaters, sloths, jaguars, and monkeys), and more than 500 species of trees. There is also a number of impressive waterfalls in the park leading you to cascading rivers and refreshing swimming holes. In some cases, you may find waterfalls right on the beaches, too!
Corcovado is best explored by foot. Some of the most interesting hikes through the rain forests will take you to beautiful sandy beaches at the Pacific Ocean where you can cool off. Though not a tropical fish heaven the water is unbelievable clear - so bring your snorkeling gear.
Visit Corcovado on our Wild Costa Rica adventure.
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Monteverde Cloud Forest
 The story of the founding of the Monteverde area is an interesting one. In the early 1950s a group of Quakers were searching for a peaceful place to settle. Having searched in most of North America and Central America they ended up choosing Costa Rica because of the country’s lack of an army and generally peaceful policies. The Quakers bought about 1500 hectares of land in Monteverde and started dairy farming and cheese production. Today, the area is famous not only because of the cloud forest but also for its cheese production.
Though Monteverde is becoming a "must" on most visitor’s lists of places to see in Costa Rica, the Quakers are managing their status as a tourist attraction very well, and the community remains quiet and friendly. There is a limit to the number of people who visit the area – and one of the ways this number is (peacefully) kept under control is by NOT maintaining the road up to Monteverde. So be prepared for a bumpy drive – but it’s well worth it!
The hiking in Monteverde is great and to make the most of it, make sure you have a knowledgeable guide with you on your hike. (They are trained in spotting animals – in places you probably wouldn’t even dream of looking!) More than 300 species of birds reside here, including the emerald tucanet. A great place to view birds is from the Skywalk, a series of five suspension bridges in the forested valley. You may also want to try the cable traverse through the forest canopy!
Monteverde has other draws besides hiking in the cloud forest. There’s the wonderful Monteverde Butterfly Garden – a small, outdoor butterfly center focusing on education and research that is home to hundreds of Costa Rica’s amazing butterfly species. And there’s interesting shopping to be done in the local Quaker handicrafts shops.
Visit Monteverde on Wild Costa Rica adventure.
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 Curu National Wildlife Refuge
At the eastern end of Nicoya Peninsula (on Costa Rica’s Pacific Ocean side) is the small Curu National Wildlife Refuge. Despite its small size (less than 100 hectares), you’ll find a great variety of habitat here – rocky headlands, large tree forests, mangrove swamps, and beautiful white sandy palm tree beaches. In the forested areas you may encounter deer, monkeys, pacas, and some species of cat. The beach area is home to iguanas, crabs, lobsters, shellfish, and sea turtles. More than 115 species of birds have been recorded in the refuge.
Needless to say, the Curu National Wildlife Refuge is a paradise waiting to be explored. There’s first-class hiking in the park, swimming and snorkeling right off the beach in calm, clear waters, and easy kayaking in the estuary - exploring sea arches and wildlife up close.
Visit Curu on our Adventures in Costa Rica adventure.
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Pacuare River
 The Pacuare River runs through Costa Rica’s relatively remote and inaccessible central valley. It is undoubtedly the most scenic river in Costa Rica, plunging through a number of spectacular canyons in an untouched rain forest. It’s a whitewater rafting landmark, with thrilling Class IV rapids but also calm sections framed within extremely tall, green vertical walls. The river can be run all year, but the best time to go is June through October.
In 1986, the Pacuare was the first river in Central America to be granted protected status by the government. Despite its protected status, Costa Rica’s National Electric Company is investigating the feasibility of building a hydroelectric dam on the river. At this point, no decision has been made on whether to build the dam or not. If built, it would destroy one of the most beautiful and unique rivers in the world.
Like anywhere else in Costa Rica, this area is a wildlife paradise – especially for people with an interest in birds. Among others, this area is home to the striking looking toucan.
Visit Pacuare on our Adventures in Costa Rica adventure.
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For more information and reservations, please contact:
Mountain Travel Sobek
1266 66th Street, Suite 4
Emeryville, CA 94608
1-510-594-6000 or
Toll Free 1-888-831-7526 (USA & Canada)
Additional International Toll Free Numbers
Fax: 1-510-594-6001
Email: info@mtsobek.com |
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