Costa Rica

A small country and yet a destination which has plenty to offer the visitor in natural beauty, Costa Ricais magical nature and still a country where small "fincas" dot the hills and valleys surrounded by national parks and tiny preserves which hold on to the nation's environmental heritage. The evanescent cloud forests cannot help but capture the imagination of even the most demanding of spectators, the country unwavering commitment to ecological preservation, make Costa Rica a prime destination for nature lovers with great expanses of land dedicated to the protection of magnificent tropical rainforests, rare species of plants and animals, mangroves and the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines.

If one examines the different ecosystems that exist in Costa Rica, it becomes apparent that it is one of the biologically wealthiest nations in the world. From the forested slopes of its volcanoes to the coral reefs off both coasts, Costa Rica possesses an almost unfathomable diversity of flora and fauna. During the last few decades, more and more Costa Ricans have come to realize what an important part of their national heritage that biodiversity is. They have consequently created an exemplary National Conservation System to ensure the survival of endangered species, and a National Biodiversity Institute to catalogue and study the country's flora and fauna.

Nine active volcanoes continually remind visitors of the incredible power contained deep within the earth. In reality, nothing beats the unspoiled beauty of Costa Rica. Consider a pilgrimage to this natural paradise at least once in your lifetime, before it all disappears. Several regions of Central America can boast about their weather but few can match Costa Rica's variety of micro-climates. Within minutes and a few miles, temperatures can drop or rise twenty or more degrees, and rainfall differentials can be measured in inches or feet. Both coasts are warm, but the Caribbean is much more humid than the dry Pacific. The interior is dominated by mountain ranges and the higher valleys have an enviable garden temperature that lingers, year round, in the upper 70'.

The main visits should concentrate on the splendid nature of the country and the variety of habitats and micro-climates - from dry forest in the Pacific Guanacaste to cloud forest along the Central Cordillera and rain forest in the lower South. Although the ocean views and the waves attract many people and some of the resorts built along the coast are of good standards, Costa Rica is NOT a beach destination per se. Fortunately, at least for the moment, nature is still sovereign and even going to the beach is an adventure!