ATLANTIC SIDE NOW ENJOYING THEIR EARLY START TO DRY SEASON WEATHER…CONTACT US TO PLAN YOUR VISIT !
The Caribbean side of Costa Rica is known for being more laid back and tranquil and it has a huge variety of beaches, from
lagoons and marshes in the north, to long sandy surfing beaches in the south. There are no commercial flights to the Caribbean side; it’s a four-hour drive from San José to the popular tourist beaches of Cahuita and the Puerto Viejo area, bordered by the towering Talamanca mountain range where the indigenous Bri Bri tribe live. The Caribbean coast offers a unique blend of Tico (Costa Rican) and Afro-Caribbean culture and customs; you will hear Spanish and English patois side by side, and you can savor a unique – and tasty – Afro-Caribbean cuisine highlighted by the famous rice and beans. The resort towns of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Uvita and Manzanillo are similar in appearance but each has its own quality and differences. Puerto Viejo, a few miles south of Cahuita, offers some of the best restaurants in Costa Rica. It is a tiny village, but the number of hotels and restaurants tell us how much this area has to offer. The colors, the art, the music and once again the food, have to be experienced to be explained. The villages of Uvita and Manzanillo offer some of the best, most beautiful golden beaches in all of Costa Rica, along with charming, small hotels, bed and breakfast and rental house options. There are very few five-star or really upscale hotels on the Caribbean coast, but there are comfortable, accommodating hotels virtually everywhere.
The gay and lesbian friendly resort town of Manuel Antonio on the Central Pacific coast with its lovely, calm beaches, is Costa Rica’s second.most popular tourist destination. Almost one in every five tourists coming to Costa Rica eventually makes his/her way to Manuel Antonio, the continuation along the ridge and down to the Pacific again of the oceanfront city of Quepos. Its small but beautiful National Park is a world-renowned tourist attraction. Manuel Antonio offers a uniquely breathtaking fusion of scenic mountain beauty and an active lifestyle. Whether it be championship surf tournaments, hiking, rafting/kayaking, canopying, bird watching or sport fishing, Manuel Antonio offers something for everyone. The Manuel Antonio ridge with spectacular views, first-class hotels, fine dining, boutiques and kiosks and many overlooking it four beautiful calm beaches of perfect white sand, runs down to Manuel Antonio National Park.
Escape to a dreamy tropical beach in style: aboard a luxury yacht. Enjoy a scenic drive to the Pacific port town of Puntarenas, where you will board the yacht Calypso. During your cruise, the crew will serve you exotic tropical drinks and fresh fruits. Once at the island, you can explore the white-sand beach, splash around in the turquoise waters, go snorkeling, play beach volleyball or simply relax to the rhythm of the surf. A delicious buffet lunch, complete with white linens and wine, will be served on the beach. Guests return to San José late in the afternoon. Don’t miss this island paradise adventure!
One of Costa Rica’s most popular ecotourism destinations, the canals, rivers, beaches and lagoons of Tortuguero and is national park are a study of rainforest, freshwater and marine biology. The park has the biggest population of Green Sea Turtles on the Caribbean coast and is the most important nesting area for these amazing creatures. There are three other types of turtles that nest in Tortuguero: Baula, Carey, and Cahuama. Although turtles are the main attraction for visitors, other types of wildlife can also be spotted in Tortuguero National Park. This amazing park is home to half of the bird and reptile species that are found in Costa Rica. Within the park you are also likely to see monkeys, sloths, anteaters, lizards, caimans, crocodiles, fresh water turtles, snakes and frogs. More than 400 species of birds have been recorded and manatees, peccaries, tapirs and various members of the cat family inhabit the area as well. The park and small town of Tortuguero are accessible only by boat or small aircraft. Colours can arrange travel to the area and stays at one of its many lodges, almost all of them all-inclusive, offering complete packages that include air or land/boat transportation from/to San José, and tours.
The province of Guanacaste on the North Pacific Coast is said to have the best beaches of Costa Rica. But not all its attractions in this area have to do with the blue ocean and warm, sandy beaches; there are also pristine rivers, volcanoes and important protected areas such as Santa Rosa National Park, home to 10 different habitats including mangroves, swamps and evergreen and dry forests. Another protected area is the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, a refuge for birds and wildlife, featuring impressive vegetation, bubbling mud holes, refreshing river pools and waterfalls.
