| So you have your heart set on going to Costa | | | | Central America. |
| Rica, but where should you go? Even though | | | | Manuel Antonio |
| Costa Rica might not be one of the biggest | | | | Many first time visitors to Costa Rica, start their |
| countries to visit, it still offers a wide range of | | | | trip at Manuel Antonio which is the name of the |
| destination choices. By understanding the layout of | | | | coastal national park as well as the resort |
| the land, it will help you determine what you would | | | | surrounding it. The hilltops surrounding the park is |
| like to experience and where ultimately to go. | | | | still covered in dense rain forest and offers |
| Travelers from all over visit Costa Rica for many | | | | visitors some breathtaking views of their green |
| reasons. With many just wanting to experience | | | | surroundings and magnificent beaches. Manuel |
| the beauty of Costa Rica's fantastic sun drenched | | | | Antonio is pretty isolated with no real town or |
| beaches others come for a bit of adventure or to | | | | village nearby. The closest thing is the port of |
| experience the magnificence of Costa Rica's cloud | | | | Quepos surrounded by dense green forest that |
| and tropical rain forests. But you do not only have | | | | continues for about five miles on end. Along this |
| the option to do one or the other. You can | | | | winding road you will be able to find most of |
| actually tailor your vacation to include a bit of both | | | | Manuel Antonio's shops, restaurants and hotels. |
| worlds. So lets take a closer look at a few places. | | | | Monteverde |
| San Jose | | | | Situated high in the mountainous region down the |
| This overpopulated central American city serves | | | | center of Costa Rica, Monteverde, meaning green |
| as the central point for a large number of airlines. | | | | mountain can be found. Monteverde is lush in |
| Unfortunately poverty is seen around each street | | | | magnificent rain and cloud forests with the |
| corner and the downtown area is overcrowded | | | | mountaintops and forests being covered by dense |
| with poorly maintained streets and sidewalks. | | | | clouds daily. This unique phenomenon creates a |
| Many arriving in San Jose, quickly make their way | | | | special ecosystem that is extraordinarily |
| to the refuge that their hotel rooms offer. | | | | biodiverse. There are more than 2500 species of |
| Nonetheless, San Jose still offers a few great | | | | different plants of which 400 types are orchids, |
| hotels, good restaurants and a couple of | | | | 100 different types of mammals and several |
| noteworthy museums making it a good starting | | | | hundreds of different species of birds. |
| point for anyone looking to do a few day trips or | | | | You will not find any large resorts or hotels in |
| excursion around the city. | | | | Monteverde but rather a number of small |
| Guanacaste | | | | mountain lodges varying in style and quality. There |
| Situated in the north western corner of Costa | | | | are plenty to do in Monteverde from hiking, |
| Rica, the Guanacaste province is home to many | | | | horseback riding to biking, canopy tours and |
| of the country's most popular beaches and is | | | | visiting the cloud forests. |
| referred to by many as Costa Rica's Gold Coast. | | | | As you can see, Costa Rica has plenty to offer |
| Guanacaste is the driest part of the country and | | | | and an array of destinations to choose from. With |
| only receives about 70 inches of rainfall each year. | | | | a bit of good planning and fancy footwork, you |
| Apart from its magnificent beaches, Guanacaste | | | | will be able to experience all this extremely |
| also have numerous volcanoes and one of the | | | | diverse country has to offer. |
| last traces of a tropical dry forest left over in | | | | |