| Places of Natural Beauty in Costa Rica | | | | may also be spotted sporting around in these |
| Costa Rica is traditionally divided into six | | | | beach areas. However, the naturalist may want to |
| geographic zones; Caribbean, Central Valley, | | | | check the lagoons and rivers for them. Also |
| Central Pacific, the "Dry Region", the Plains and | | | | present in this zone should be poison-dart frogs - |
| the South. The backpacker, hiker or other | | | | look but don't touch if you find them! |
| traveler will consider mainly the beaches, the cloud | | | | The traveler may also want to visit Tortuguero - |
| forests and its many parks. The reason here is | | | | but it is accessible only by plane or boat. |
| the natural beauty and the wildlife that can be | | | | However, here one may observe sea turtles |
| viewed in these exotic and sometimes remote | | | | laying eggs or the hatching of the same. |
| locations. Remember - when visiting Costa Rica | | | | The Cloud Forests |
| the traveler can have direct encounters with the | | | | The cloud forests are probably Costa Rica's most |
| jungle! | | | | famous feature. Monteverde is accessible from |
| The Beaches | | | | San Jose. Trip by car or bus is said to take 3 |
| The Central Pacific is where the traveler will find | | | | hours - but schedule 4 to 5 hours! Ecotourism |
| most Costa Rican beaches. Puntarenas is generally | | | | hikes of 3 hours duration are also available in the |
| known as a ferry point for the rest of the area. | | | | forest. The Eco-tours offered are said to be |
| Manuel Antonio is probably the most well known | | | | "responsible with little damage" to the forest - but |
| for being the first to become popular - so it is | | | | one may expect crowds. One must expect to be |
| probably the most expensive! Manuel Antonio | | | | overwhelmed by the diversity of bird life. The |
| National Park is placed in this beach region and is | | | | Audubon Society reported a record bird species |
| therefore mentioned here. This park is divided | | | | count in one 24 hour period. |
| into white cliffs, sandy beaches and the water's | | | | The Parks |
| edge coming right up to the jungle. There are | | | | There are several parks and stations suggested |
| many trails to explore in this huge (over 4K | | | | for hiking and backpacking. These are the Arenal |
| acres) park. Despite its size, it is still a very busy | | | | (volcano), Cahuita, Lankester Botanical Gardens, |
| park. | | | | Rincon, and La Selva Biological Station. Corcovado |
| The Caribbean and the Sea Turtles | | | | Park is most famous for its scarlet macaw |
| Is actually not very populated and not visited | | | | population. Rincon has a waterfall (Cangrejo), two |
| very often. But it is a great place to find sea | | | | volcanic craters and a crater lake. It is best to call |
| turtles and other wildlife. The main refuge there is | | | | and make advance reservations with La Selva. |
| the Gandoca-Manzanillo. If fortunate, one may be | | | | One other famous park is discussed with the |
| able to find Hawksbill sea turtles from March to | | | | Cloud Forests - Monteverde. Corcovado is said to |
| August. The great Leatherback turtle appears | | | | be relatively uncrowded due to visitor controls - it |
| from February through April (it appears elsewhere | | | | also offers some hard trails for the hiker! Cahuita |
| in other seasons). Other sea turtles appearing on | | | | is flat with short trails and should be a relatively |
| these wild beach sites are the Green, Loggerhead | | | | easy hike. |
| and Olive ridley. Manatees and Tucuxi dolphins | | | | |