Some of the most enjoyable destinations in Costa Rica are those which are not as well known or as well visited as the typical holiday spot. When you want to take a step away from the ordinary and explore the world beyond your luxury Costa Rica resort, be sure to put these places on your list.

San Gerardo de Dota
This hidden gem of Costa Rica is a birdwatchers paradise, boasting a constant buzz of hummingbirds and woodpeckers as well as the beautiful songs of tanagers and quetzals. There is also lucrative trout fishing on the nearby Savegre River for the angler who wants a bit of a tropical fishing challenge. ATV tours through the area are available and coffee plantation tours provide an interesting day trip option.

Cahuita
If you want to experience some authentic Creole culture while in Costa Rica, this is the place to visit. With a population of only 4000 it is a sure-fire way to immerse yourself in the everyday happenings. Snorkeling and scuba diving are favorite activities along the two beautiful and secluded beaches. The area is most renowned for the unusual cuisine that is offered up by local establishments. Zesty is the term most often used to describe the local dishes that are infused with the Afro-Caribbean flavors of the town. Access to the Cahuita national Park is another attraction of the area.

Peace Waterfall gardens
A stop here is a certain delight for all the senses. Located near the town of Vara Blanca, the series of waterfalls are the most spectacular in the country. A large butterfly observatory is located on the grounds as well and houses over 24 different species of hummingbirds that dwell among the butterflies.

Playa Bejuco
For a beautiful day of soaking up the sun in peaceful quiet surroundings, the brown sand beaches of Playa Bejuco can’t be beat. Nestled only a few miles from more bustling centers, this little piece of Costa Rica paradise is a perfect place to spend some down time.

Playa Zancudo
This beach spot is situated far from the tourist crowds as well along the southern Pacific coast. The beach is unusual black sand and is surrounded by a backdrop of coconut palms and almond trees. There are water and land activities to be enjoyed as much or as little as a tourist might wish.

Poas
This quiet little town is close to some of the major centers but has not yet been developed for tourism. Visitors say that it is one of the most relaxing, safe and quiet areas of the country and one of the few places remaining that allow you to experience life here that has remained untouched by commercialism. Taxis and buses are very inexpensive and can take you from Poas to any number of nearby attractions such as rafting, volcano tours and canopy adventures. The only drawback to this lazy little town is its weather. Unlike most of the popular tourist areas that are hot and humid, Poas is wet and rainy.

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After working for so many months nonstop, the only thing you can think about is your holidays. At that time of the year, you feel tired and exhausted. So what you need is a nice place to relax, away from your hectic life, where there is no rush, no traffic jams, and no timetables. You picture yourself walking by the sea, looking at the sunset and listening to the songs of the birds. But you also want to have fun: go to parties until dawn, go to some out of the way places, and, why not, take part in some adventurous activities. Because, after all, during your holidays, all you want to do is relax and enjoy. Is there a magical place on Earth that fits the above description? Of course, and it is called COSTA RICA.

Costa Rica is famous for its beaches, its turquoise water and its breathtaking tropical rainforests. So one of the things you can do in this amazing country is to walk along the beach, lay in the warm sun, swim or practice sports, such as windsurfing, surfing, snorkeling and kayaking. Besides, you can hike through the tropical rainforests, where you will be able to see numerous exotic plants and trees, as well as over 150 species of birds, monkeys and iguanas, among many others. This is the perfect opportunity to be in contact with wildlife and to listen to the sounds of nature.

Moreover, if you are a sportfishing fan, Costa Rica has a place for you. By taking a charter boat in the port, you will be taken to inshore fishing, where awesome species await you, namely, mahi mahi, yellow fish tuna, snapper, mackerel and rooster fish. If you are a more adventurous person, Costa Rica will also accommodate you. When you travel to this incredible country, you have the possibility to enjoy more than 65 different activities that will rush your adrenaline and increase your heartbeats. Canopy tours, volcano tours, river rafting, horseback riding and crocodile tours are the most popular ones among tourists.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that Costa Rican people are amazing. They are always ready to help you and to make you feel as comfortable as possible. If you are not sure about the activities you can do or the places you can visit, there are very useful tourist information centers, where a nice lady or gentleman will be willing to point out the best places to visit in the country.

To sum up, stop thinking about the possible cities or countries where you can spend your holidays; choose Costa Rica vacations. It is the perfect place to not only relax and forget about your hectic life in the city, but also to enjoy and have fun. Without any doubt, Costa Rica is a paradise surrounded by crystal water.

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Costa Rica vacations are never complete without a visit to the province of Limon. It is here that you will get the very authentic Caribbean feeling of the coast. Limon is full of beautiful beaches, rainforests and some of the best examples of Caribbean culture anywhere in the country.

Limon, which was once a small banana port is the main city of the region, and is in fact, the only city of any real size, having a population of about 85,000. The downtown has a very casual feel with a large central open air market. Just about anything you’d be looking for can be found here, from all kinds of exotic fruits and vegetables to handmade crafts that make perfect souvenirs to take back home.

Much of the area still uses English although it is heavily laced with a Jamaica/Caribbean accent. You will also likely hear a local dialect referred to as Patois in many areas.

Naturally the music is what you would expect from the area and groups take advantage of any opportunity to be heard. Calypso and Reggae bands abound and the definitive rhythmic beat is instantly recognizable. Add the charm of this music to the exotic beach setting and you have an experience not soon forgotten.

Almost as definable as the music of the area, is the food that Limon has to offer. Although the staples of the dish may seem rather mundane, the way they are cooked makes these dishes anything but boring. Rice and beans are cooked to spicy perfection with coconut milk and often pieces of jerk chicken or seafood. A very local specialty called Rondon which is culled from the phrase “round up” and is also cooked in a coconut broth and spices. Then the cook pretty much throws in anything else they have in the pantry, or as the name implies, anything else they can round up. Another popular item is the Pati which is a flaky pastry filled with meat and spices. And to wash all these spicy dishes down, you must have a drink of toad water. Actually much tastier than its name implies, toad water is a concoction of lemon juice, molasses and ginger. Locals all say there is also a secret ingredient that is never revealed.

There are a few towns that are must sees as well on your Limon tour that will add even more memories to look back upon. Cahuita is a very relaxed slow moving town and boasts a provincial park of the same name that is worth visiting to see the beautiful coral reefs and exotic fish in the only marginal reef on the Caribbean coast. There is also plenty of wildlife to see and guides are available for hiking tours. Puerto Viejo just south of Cahuita, is considered the place to be if you love the night life, clubs and entertainment. The area draws surfers from around the world to ride the famous Salsa Brava wave. Obviously an area like this is also rich in local culture and cuisine. Tortuguero is a place to see just to experience the canal waterways. A jungle cruise boat tour is a great way to experience the sights and sounds of the town. It also serves as the entry point to the national park of the same name that is the famous nesting grounds for the many species of endangered turtles.

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Costa Rica, with its tropical year round climate and variety of beautiful beaches and rivers is one of the best locations in the world for kayaking.  Whether you’re cruising down a lazy river or fighting white water, kayaking in Costa Rica is an adventure to remember.  The wide diversity of the area makes a kayak ride a different adventure wherever you choose to travel, whether it’s on a river, a lake or in the ocean.  If kayaking is something you might like to add to your Costa Rica vacation, here are three unique destinations to consider.

Lake Arenal Kayaking
Lake kayaking in Costa Rica is a gentle experience for families that like to get out on the water together, and Lake Arenal is the perfect destination. Many tour companies offer guided kayak tours to help travelers get the absolute most out of their days on the water.  While out on the lake, paddlers will marvel at the vista of rolling hills and tropical forests that surround the lake, and nothing on earth can quite compare to watching lava spew from the top of the Arenal Volcano which can be seen from the lake as you paddle by.

Curu Sea Kayaking
For this trip, paddlers enter the open waters of the Gulf of Nicoya, where they are very likely to drift along beside sea turtles and manta rays. These waters are best traveled as part of a guided tour and several are offered from various companies in multi day packages.  One of the main attractions you will see as you drift through the emerald green waters of the gulf is natural rock archway near Las Islas Tortugas that was formed entirely by the sea.  Most of the tours through this area are all inclusive, meaning your meals, group transportation to and from launch points, equipment and camp lodging is included.  This trip is more adventurous than the lake water  kayaking, and professionals recommend that participants have some previous kayaking experience. Close attention is paid to safety of the participants and a support boat accompanies the tour to assist any paddlers who may encounter difficulties.

Whitewater Kayaking
If you’re an experienced whitewater kayaker, Costa Rica has plenty of challenge to offer you in both Class ll/lll and lll/lV extreme rapids on river waters that run through the Turrialba Valley.  Day tours for this type of paddling generally range from two to twenty-one miles.  You’ll find the shortest run on the lower Orosi River that boasts interesting views of the many coffee plantations of the area.  This 45 minute run includes 15 rapids to manoeuvre making it a challenging trip.   Two other rivers, the Sarapiqui and the Upper Pacuare offer an even more difficult series of rapids over a three hour ride and reach difficulty levels of lll-V.  All whitewater tours include equipment, transportation, meals and guide.

With these three choices for kayaking in Costa Rica, you are sure to be able to find the right water and the right challenge to suit your style.

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Having a positive and happy vacation experience always begins long before you arrive at your destination.  Plenty of planning has to go into every trip and before you can even begin planning, you have to be sure of your final destination. If you’ve been considering a trip to the beautiful country of Costa Rica, the answers to some of these frequently asked questions may help with your decision.

Do I need a passport or visa to enter Costa Rica?
All travelers to the country must have a valid passport that will remain current for six months after you enter the country.  Travelers from some countries such as the US, Canada the UK and others do not require visas. If you are uncertain about needing a visa, ask your travel agent or contact the Costa Rican embassy.

What type of food can I expect?
Tasting the cuisine of a country can be a very enjoyable part of the travel experience.  Typical fare for locals in Costa Rica includes beans, tortillas, rice, beef and lots of fish, prepared in very traditional methods. Plenty of fresh tropical fruits and vegetables are also available.

What is the weather like?
Temperatures are consistently warm and average about 74 degrees, with temperatures getting a lot hotter along the coast.  There is a wet season which runs from December to April followed by the dry season.  For obvious reasons, most people prefer to travel during the dry season where you might still get one or two days of rain per week.

Is Costa Rica family friendly?
Absolutely!  Manu of the tours are not only suitable and a lot of fun for children, but they can be very educational as well.  Monkey watching, canopy tours, butterfly conservatories and turtle saving are just a few of the many tours that are often geared to the younger set.  Older children and teens can enjoy rafting, zip lining, surfing and diving.  Costa Rica definitely has something for everyone!

Can we get around without a car?
Since the majority of Costa Ricans do not own cars, the public transportation system is very efficient.  Buses run almost continuously between cities, towns and villages.  There are also numerous private shuttle and taxi companies that are very reasonable.  Small local airlines also offer flights within the country.

Do I need to get immunized?
Legally, no immunizations are currently required, but most health officials recommend you get a Hepatitis and typhoid vaccine before travelling.  Be sure to consult your doctor for advice on this matter.

Can I drink the water?
Water is generally safe to drink in the major centers but many people feel it is better to be safe than sorry and stick to bottled water which is readily available, even in more remote villages.

Is Costa Rica safe?
As in any country, there is some crime in the big cities.  Due to its high rate of tourism, most areas are perfectly safe.  The best policy is to travel smart. Keep your belongings close to you, stick to well travelled areas lock up valuables in a safe place and avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

If you are planning a vacation to Costa Rica, knowing and understanding the different regions may help you to ensure that no part of this intriguing country is overlooked.  Here is a brief description of each of the five main tourist areas of Costa Rica.

Northern Plains
The biggest attraction of this area is the Arenal Volcano which sits at 1633 meters and is in a state of constant activity.  If seeing a real volcano happens to be on your to do list, then this will most definitely be a stop to plan! The volcano sits in a national Park which provides safe trails for exploring the area.  This beautiful region also offers splendid canopy tours over the rain forest, gorgeous waterfalls, scenic horseback riding and thermal springs that provide a relaxing soak after a long day of activity. 

North Pacific
This is a fascinating area of the country where tourism and local culture come together to make for a variety of different activities.  There are numerous county fairs, bull mounts, which are similar to what we call a rodeo, and cattle herding demonstrations. Local cuisine and culture abound at these events are not to be missed on any Costa Rica holiday.  There is also plenty of history to be learned in this region along with typical tropical forest scenery and deep caverns that the adventurous can explore.

Central Valley
San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica is located in this region and as a result, much of the tourism centers here.  It also has the most consistent weather of the country with the average temperature staying at around 77 degrees. Five of the country’s largest museums are located here, offering visitors a variety of places to learn about the country’s interesting and progressive past.  The night life is hopping here as well, so if you want to dine and dance the night away, this is the place for you!

Caribbean
This is the area to visit if you’ve come to enjoy the sand and surf.  The black and white sand on the beaches is an awesome sight, and diving in the crystal clear waters is an experience of a lifetime.  Fishing is an ongoing activity where the big ones might include a Tarpon, Wahoo, or Barracuda!  The other “big ones” are the waves that draw surfers from all over the world.  One of the most famous waves in the world, “Salsa Brava” is located here and reaches heights of almost 40 feet.

South Pacific
By far the least developed region of the country, the South Pacific offers rain forest flora and fauna like no other region.  The area is made up of several national parks that work to conserve the natural beauty of the country, and the largest remaining swampland is also located here.  If getting to see the real rustic beauty of the country is your purpose for visiting Costa Rica, then planning a visit to this region is a must!