| Costa Rica is 19,652 square miles of pure beauty | | | | beautiful canopy tours. One tourist company even |
| and the perfect place for nature lovers to | | | | has a tree-top hotel room in the canopy for |
| vacation. With 20 natural parks, eight biological | | | | those wanting to experience the jungle at night. |
| reserves and protected areas, 25% of this | | | | Be sure to try out the Superman cable at Turu |
| country's land is protected. This is more than any | | | | Ba Ri Tropical Park. This is a 3280 foot long zip |
| other country in the world. Whether you enjoy | | | | line that takes tourists zooming over the canopy |
| water, air or land activities, or a little of each, | | | | at 55 miles per hour. |
| Costa Rica will definitely not disappoint. | | | | The super adventurous can try the 200 foot |
| Water Activities | | | | free-fall bungee jump at the old Colorado River |
| Costa Rica straddles Central America and has | | | | Bridge. This jump is said to have exceptional |
| coastlines on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans | | | | scenic views. Hot air balloon tours are available at |
| with both black and white sand beaches that | | | | San Carlos, which is about 20 miles East of Arenal. |
| sunbathers enjoy. More active water activities | | | | Land Activities |
| you can pursue on your vacation to Costa Rica | | | | Corcovado National Park is home to tapir, big cats |
| include snorkeling, deep sea diving, surfing, | | | | and all four of Costa Rica's monkey species: the |
| parasailing, kayaking, windsurfing and more. | | | | White-headed Capuchin, Mantled Howler, |
| About 300 miles off the shore of Puntarenas is | | | | Geoffroy's Spider Monkey and the Central |
| Coco Island where snorkelers and deep sea | | | | American Squirrel Monkey. This area is known for |
| divers can see colorful coral reefs, whale shark | | | | the abundance of wildlife. You are sure to see |
| and white finned shark, as well as an abundance | | | | many of these animals as you hike the miles and |
| of other marine life. The Pacific coast locales of | | | | miles of mountain trails. In the Monteverde Cloud |
| Esterillos, Hermosa and Marino Ballena National | | | | Forest Reserve you will see more than 800 |
| Park are especially popular with surfers, while | | | | different species of bird, over 100 species of |
| swimmers prefer La Punta. The Puntarenas | | | | mammals and 2000 plant species, including orchids, |
| Estuary is excellent for water skiing, bird watching | | | | as you climb the mountains and hike the trails. In |
| and even touring the mangrove swamps by boat. | | | | addition, you can go spelunking in the caves at |
| Air Activities | | | | Venado or horseback riding or bird watching at |
| No trip to Costa Rica would be complete without | | | | many other protected areas in Costa Rica. |
| a canopy tour. Take an aerial tram 100 feet | | | | Boredom is not an option when taking a trip to |
| above the forest floor and see tree frogs, vine | | | | Costa Rica. With so much to see and do, you will |
| snakes, hundreds of bird species and even | | | | find yourself wishing you could stay longer and |
| three-toed sloth. If you would rather experience | | | | start making plans to return to this tropical |
| the canopy face-to-face, travel tree-to-tree via | | | | paradise even before you board the plane to go |
| zip lines. Monteverde is known for its especially | | | | home. |