Posts Tagged ‘Rica’

Do I need 4WD on camping trip to Costa Rica?

I am going to Costa Rica for vacation for the first time. I like going to various parts of the country for sightseeing.

My question is do I need 4WD or I can get to all interesting parts of the country in a regular car?

For example in Maui one doesn’t need 4WD because there are almost no off-road attractions. In Kauai’i there are quite a few places where you can only get by 4WD.

So how about Costa Rica?

Scuba Diving in Costa Rica: Why an Amazing Quest?

Scuba diving in Costa Rica is distinct from any other scuba diving location. It presents two different, widely diverse locations for diving. There are many different things to see and experience. Somehow, like any scuba diving adventure, it is best to have a guide that is familiar with the area. In this way, you will be assured with great fun and safe dive.

If you are not familiar with scuba diving and would like to get a sight with the amazing underwater world that Costa Rica has to offer, many of of the motels, as well as the travel companies, offer scuba diving lessons. Near perfect conditions such as excellent water temperatures to amazing marine life makes scuba diving in Costa Rica among the best. There are many admirable destinations to dive on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The area called Bahia Drake has amazing dive spots, especially around the Isla del Cano, as well as the Isla del Coco. Off the coasts of the two islands is an amazing display of marine wildlife. Around these islands are rich of sharks, sea turtles, and several different species of fish, making them the perfect underwater paradise for divers.

Around the Isla del Cano, over eighteen different species of coral, several species of dolphin, and many more species of crustaceans are also found. Also on the Pacific coast, you can encounter many different species of shark, including the dangerous hammerhead and the enormous Whale Shark. On the other hand, while the Pacific coast is copious with beautiful fish and interesting sea life, it pales in comparison to the wildness of the Caribbean coast. There are very few scuba diving centers on the Eastern coast of Costa Rica, however, the diving is still premier.

Failure to explore the amazing shipwrecks, scuba diving in Costa Rica would not be complete. The Caribbean Coast offers three. The first is the Fenix, which was a cargo ship that sank off the coast of Isla Uvita in Costa Rica many years ago. Further south you will find Cahuita National Park and a reef stretches for nearly seventeen hundred feet long and covers a total of 63,828,741 square feet.

It is on this reef where the second and third shipwrecks can be seen; two galleons of either Spanish or French origins, believed to be pirate ships, sunk in only twenty-three feet of water. Their surroundings could not have been more apt for a shipwreck, surrounded by the beauty of an incredible coral reef and thousands of fish of different species. Knowing the outstanding underwater worlds that blossom on either side of Costa Rica will bring much excitement to visit and experience scuba diving in Costa Rica.

Want to find out more about Scuba diving in Costa Rica, then visit MyDiveBuddies site and start planning your scuba dive today.

Top Costa Rica Tourist Attractions

The Caribbean island of Costa Rica is a popular tourist destination. Along with the many resorts, hotels and beaches, tourists have opportunities to enjoy beautiful scenery and exquisite shopping. However there are many natural and manmade Costa Rica tourist attractions that you should have on your itinerary when you visit this island.

1. Arenal Volcano National park and Observatory. This is an active volcano located in the San Jose area of Costa Rica. The tours usually start in the afternoon and involve about an hour’s walk through lava rocks before reaching the place where you can view the volcanic eruption. The sight of the eruption and the lava flow from the observatory is spectacular and is a sight that will remain in your memory for years to come. The best time to see the eruption is after dark when the glowing lava lights up the sky. If you visit on a cloudy day, you may not see anything.

2. Our Lady of Los Angeles Church. This is the most famous church in the Cartago Region, if not in all of Costa Rica. The focal point of the church is the statue of the Virgin Mary, called La Negrita. As legend has it, this statue was discovered at the site of the present church in 1635 and reappeared miraculously after it was removed. This is a destination for thousands of pilgrims each year, especially on August 2.

3. The Rainmaker. This is a series of suspension bridges on the Pacific Coast of the island. It was the first aerial walkway in Central America and reaches 25 stories tall at its highest point. The area around the bridges is spectacular with rainforest trails that wind along streams and to glorious waterfalls.

4. Rainforest Aerial Tram. This is a train that moves along the canopy of the rainforest. There are 22 cars in the train, each of which can carry five passengers. A naturalist guide points out sights of interest and explains the workings of the rainforest as well as the names of the birds and animals that you may be able to see.

5. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. This type of forest is usually cloudy and humid because of its high altitude. There are eight different ecological zones within this reserve with over 400 species of birds, 110 species of amphibians and lizards, 100 species of mammals and over 2500 species of plants. Some of the hiking trails could be a bit muddy so visitors are advised to wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

6. Santa Rosa National Park. This is one of the oldest parks in Costa Rica. It covers almost 100,000 acres of land on the Santa Elena Peninsula. The numerous hiking trails offer breathtaking scenic views and the possibility of seeing many type of native wildlife. It is the largest dry tropical rainforest in Central America and is one of the best camping places in Costa Rica. It is the home of a sea turtle sanctuary as well as fabulous beaches for swimming and surfing.