Costa Rica is a small but developed enough country for Central America. It is worth going there not only for the incredible nature, fun vacations, safe walks, pirate treasures and the beautiful architecture of the capital. You can come to Costa Rica for happiness! According to a 2012 study, Costa Rica is home to the happiest people. They do not have advanced technologies, highways and huge skyscrapers. So what brings happiness?
Costa Rica has a pleasant climate. Many points of the country rise above sea level by a thousand meters. There are also conditions for great surfing and beach recreation, both with children and with a noisy company.
Volcanoes are a must-see in Costa Rica. Not going down into the crater of the Turrialba volcano and not watching the magical fire show of the Arenal means not seeing the country, not feeling its breath. Costa Rica has many national parks. Some of them remain almost untouched, and some, they say, even hidden treasures. The pirate island is also worth a visit. Who knows, maybe you will be lucky to find the wealth stolen by the robbers.
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What to see in Costa Rica?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a short description.
City of San Jose
The capital and largest city of Costa Rica. San Jose is located at an altitude of 1200 meters, surrounded by valleys and mountains. It is home to about half of the population of the entire country. The inhabitants of the city are friendly and sociable, the streets are quite clean, and in the center there are beautiful pedestrian streets, parks, old buildings, museums and shopping centers. You can also buy real aromatic coffee in San Jose.
Arenal volcano
It is the youngest and most spectacular volcano in Costa Rica. The last time a major eruption of the Arenal was recorded in 2000. It is 1,657 meters high; on its territory there is a national park of the same name and a lake. Now the volcano periodically produces small lava eruptions that do not threaten the population in any way, but serve as a very entertaining show for tourists.
Manuel Antonio National Park
The park is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It was founded in 1972. Manuel Antonio occupies a little more than 16 km², but, despite this, annually becomes a place of visit for 150 thousand tourists. The park is known for its four beautiful beaches and hiking trails. It also has many tidal pools suitable for snorkeling.
Coconut island
It is the largest uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean. Its area is 24 km². It is located 600 km from the west coast of Costa Rica. The island is famous for a legend that says that an incredible treasure is hidden on it, which no one has yet found. The entire island is covered in wild jungle, in the center is Mount Rounddel-Cohn, and in the coastal waters, algae and sharks live violently.
Arenal lake
It is the largest lake in Costa Rica. It is located 90 km from San Jose. The lake area is 80 km². It reached this size after the construction of the dam of the hydroelectric power station in 1979. Depending on the season, the depth of the lake ranges from 30 to 60 meters. There is a beautiful rainforest around the reservoir, and from April to November, thousands of tourists come to the lake to windsurf.
Volcano Turrialba
It is an active volcano located 30 km east of San Jose. The height of its largest peak is 3340 meters. This is the only volcano in the country, into the crater of which you can descend. The process of lava formation constantly takes place in it, which tourists can see. From the high peaks of the volcano, amazing panoramas of the rainforest open up.
Guayabo
On the southern slope of the Turrialba volcano is the Guayabo archaeological site. While a small part of it has been excavated, its size is 218 hectares. But it is already possible to judge the importance and level of development of the city by it. It has been inhabited since 1000 BC, in 800 AD. it had a population of about 10 thousand people, and in 1400 they left the city. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of stone streets, aqueducts, foundations of wooden houses.
Corcovado National Park
The park is located on the Pacific coast, on the Osa Peninsula. It includes 42,500 hectares of almost untouched rainforest with incredible flora and fauna. The nature of the park consists of at least eight ecosystems. It is home to over 500 species of trees and many animals. The main attraction of Corcovado is the Salsipuedes Cave. According to legend, Francis Drake left a treasure in it.
Irasu
It is a volcano located 31 km from the city of Cartago. It is located at an altitude of 3700 m above sea level. In one of its craters there used to be a salt lake that changed color from red to green, but after the earthquake it disappeared. But the volcano did not lose its beauty because of this. It offers incredible views, and during the ascent to the volcano, you only need to have time, to photograph everything.
National Theater of Costa Rica
The construction of the theater began in 1891, and was opened in 1897. The money for the construction was found by coffee magnates: they introduced a tax on the export of coffee. Thus, the national theater has become a symbol of the economic prosperity of the state. For its construction, the Paris Opera was taken as a model. The theater was built in the Renaissance style and is decorated with statues. The expensive interior was once damaged by an earthquake but has been rebuilt.
Poas volcano
The volcano area is a national park of Costa Rica. It was founded in 1971, and its area is 65 km². The maximum height of the volcano is 2700 meters. Poas has three craters, two of which are inactive. The crater of one of them is a picturesque ice lake. Its diameter is 360 meters. Many animals and plants can be found in the park. Among them are beautiful magnolias and orchids.
Monteverde National Park
This is one of the richest reserves in the tropical zone. It is located at an altitude of 1400 m, so it is constantly shrouded in a misty haze. There are hotels for tourists in the park. Walking through Monteverde, you can see over 400 species of orchids, 400 species of birds and 2,500 species of plants. Among the entertainment in the park is the descent on the rope. Having put on the insurance, you can fly at a height of 40 meters and look at the park from a height.
La Fortuna waterfall
This picturesque waterfall is located in the Arenal National Park. The height from which the flow of water falls is 70-75 m. A trail leads to the top, along which you can climb on foot or by horse. There is also an observation deck with an incredible view of the waterfall and moss-covered rocks and the canyon. The pool of the waterfall has cool water in which you can swim.
Tortuga Island
It is an island in the Caribbean known for pirate legends. In the old days, this piece of land was a haven for generations of sea robbers. Pirates sailed on it to repair ships, sell stolen goods and jewelry, relax and have fun. Now the island attracts adventure-hungry tourists.
Jaco city
The city is located on the Pacific coast. You can get to it by car from San Jose in 1.5 hours. It is a youth resort that attracts active and fun-loving tourists. The beaches of Jaco have excellent surfing conditions, and a beginner can find a place here to learn how to stand on the board. At night, Hako never sleeps. There are tons of bars, clubs and restaurants. Souvenirs are sold on every corner at low prices.
La Amistad International Park
The park is located on the border of Costa Rica and Panama. Its total area is more than 5700 km², which are covered with picturesque tropical rainforests. This is the largest nature reserve in Central America.At the same time, four indigenous Indian tribes live in the park. It also contains the remains of the life of a person who lived in the 10th century BC.
San Jose Gold Museum
The museum is located in the capital of Costa Rica, not far from the Plaza of Culture. It features gold jewelry and products created by the Indians. Some of the exhibits were created in the 5th century BC. In total, the museum displays 2000 gold items. Among them are figurines, golden shields, household items. But this is not all the heritage of the Indians, much of it was destroyed or melted down.
Conservation Area of Guanacaste
This is an area in the northwest of Costa Rica that includes five parks. Their total area is over 1400 km². National parks, taken under the protection of the state and UNESCO, are important natural complexes. They have not yet been fully explored, but they surprise with their rich fauna, flora and beautiful landscapes.
Santa Teresa beach
Santa Teresa Beach is called one of the most beautiful civilized beaches in Costa Rica. It has snow-white sand, clear water, all conditions for surfing. Those who want a quiet and relaxing holiday will find cute bungalows here, delicious dishes are served in restaurants on the beaches, and in the evenings there are no noisy discos. In the village near the beach, you can find everything a tourist needs.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Cartago
After the earthquake, Cartago was destroyed. The only surviving building was the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels. It is located in the central square of the city. Inside you can see the miraculous statue of the "Black Madonna", admire the amazing stained glass windows and figures with which the basilica is decorated around the entire perimeter.
Braulio Carrillo National Park
The park was founded in 1978 and named after the president of the country. Its area is about 44 thousand hectares. Most of the park is occupied by beautiful mountains, densely covered with tropical forests. Also of interest are two extinct volcanoes. Due to the sharp changes in altitude, the flora and fauna are diverse in the park. There are over 600 species of trees alone.
Naujaka waterfall
This is not a waterfall promoted by travel agencies, which the locals love very much. From the parking lot to the water, you will need to walk several kilometers through the forest. But this is not a very tiring route, because there is very beautiful nature around. The waterfall falls with great force, forming a pool of very cold water. You can also catch tiny frogs in the waters of the waterfall.
Venado Caves
These are limestone caves that were created about 15-20 million years ago. Inside them, stalactites and stalagmites create an amazing interior. Inside the cave there is no lighting or anything for the entertainment of tourists. Almost everywhere there is water on the floor, so tourists feel like real explorers. You can wander with a flashlight along the narrow passages as much as you like.
Simon Bolivar Zoo
The zoo is located in the city of San Jose. This is the largest zoo in Costa Rica. Many representatives of felines live in it, there is a large serpentarium in which they keep multi-colored snakes. Many of them are poisonous. The main thing that the zoo can boast of is a huge collection of bright parrots collected from all the forests of the country.
