Its lush rainforests and unique wildlife are just the beginning.
In spite of its small size, Costa Rica packs a powerful punch. The Central American country’s remarkable abundance of diverse attributes, including its fascinating wildlife and distinctive tropical environment, are unsurpassed. With emerald-green forests, endless blue skies and stunning flora and fauna, my first trip there was like arriving in the beautiful fantasy Land of Oz. Each day I spent in this natural paradise of a country offered up one amazing surprise after another – magical sites and rare experiences that exist nowhere else on the planet. Indeed, it’s one of the world’s special places, one which easily convinced me that my first trip there would not be my last.
This stunningly beautiful gem is sandwiched between the countries of Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. Its eastern shoreline is lapped by the tranquil Caribbean Sea, while its western perimeter is rimmed by the powerful Pacific. Considering Costa Rica’s abundance of blessings, both natural and otherwise, it’s hardly surprising that the country annually attracts hundreds of thousands of Canadian snowbirds. One of those snowbirds is Sally Matschke, who spends nearly six months a year on a peninsula in the western region of the country. She bought a house there in a gated community in which she says fellow residents are 85 per cent Canadian. Her slice of Costa Rica heaven includes tennis and pickleball courts and a golf course. “My favourite thing about the country is the weather,” she said. “It never typically rains December through April and I can literally count on guaranteed sunshine. No worries about weather disturbances or grey days.” In addition to perpetual sunshine and a beautiful natural environment, Matschke says that she likes the fact that the place is not overly touristy like many other sunshine spots. “Costa Rica offers something different than destinations conspicuous for their traditional malls, crowded beaches and the same old, same old,” she said. Since the country is Spanish-speaking, Matschke says that it helps to speak a bit of the language, but that this is not a deal breaker. This snowbird from Port Stanley, Ontario says that she experiences no issues with safety and that health care is both efficient and affordable. “The cost of wintering there largely depends on the level of accommodations people choose,” she said. “Overall, it’s cheaper than living in Canada.”
The same Costa Rica attributes that Matschke praises correspond with those developed by me during my inaugural trip there. This remarkable jewel of a country enjoys a brimming cornucopia of unique and outstanding features, both natural and man-made. Moreover, it’s those very features that have shaped the democratic republic of Costa Rica into a destination that attracts more than 2.5 million people a year for both short- and long-term stays. There’s an old saying, “build it and they will come” but, in the case of Costa Rica, little building was needed. The country already had its main attraction: a land so incredibly beautiful that it can sometimes take your breath away – the land that Christopher Columbus first laid eyes on in 1502. It was he who named the area “Costa Rica,” which translates to “Rich Coast” in Spanish. This compact land with its two stunning coastlines is as multi-faceted as it is beautiful. Just more than half of the country exists under a dense cover of tall, broad-leaved trees whose thick crowns form a continuous rainforest canopy. There are also steep mountain ranges together with long stretches of sand beaches, raging rivers, freshwater lakes and thunderous waterfalls. A tropical climate with generally mild temperatures, together with a bonanza of exotic wildlife puts Costa Rica in a sunshine class of distinction. Here are just a few of the highlights which this captivating country has to offer.
The Capital Experience
Lying in the centre of the country, San Jose is Costa Rica’s capital and largest city. It’s a vibrant, bustling centre with a mix of modern buildings and historical landmarks dating back to its colonial era. Widely regarded as the finest building in San Jose is the Teatro Nacional (National Theater) modelled after the Paris Opera House. It’s home to the country’s National Symphony, world-class ballet and international guest artists. Among the city’s several cultural attractions is the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) which contains more than 500 pre-Columbian artifacts including gold animal figurines, jewellery, erotic statuettes and a life-sized gold warrior figure. Adding depth to the museum is a section devoted to Costa Rica’s currency and pre-Columbian history. Housed in one of San Jose’s new architectural buildings is the Jade Museum containing the world’s largest collection of jade artifacts that tell the story of ancient Central American civilizations. The country’s animal kingdom is represented at the Simon Bolivar Zoo, a facility paired with the oldest botanical gardens in Costa Rica. Overall, the capital is home to a bevy of things to see and do, with several city markets ranking among the top tourist attractions. Here, visitors can find everything from souvenirs to food, spices, jewellery, handmade crafts, woven hammocks and much more.
Volcano Visits
The country has at least 60 dormant or extinct volcanoes, with six that are historically active. The big kahuna of them all is the famous Volcan Arenal, a renowned natural feature that is one of Costa Rica’s must-see sites. Lying in the northern region and created from layers of ash, lava and rocks, Arenal is classically cone-shaped and towers over the surrounding fertile landscape at a height of well over 5,000 feet. This iconic monolith that is currently dormant is a spectacular sight to behold with smoke and steam rising from its crater. Geologically, Arenal is considered a young volcano estimated to be less than 7,500 years old. Together with surrounding geothermal hot springs, spas and rainforest reserves, Arenal is a major attraction in the region, if not tops in the entire country. At least five other of Costa Rica’s primary volcanoes are also well worth a visit.
Manuel National Park
Known for its stunning beaches, lush rainforests and abundant wildlife, this is the smallest national park in the country…but size is not its defining factor. Generally considered a must-see attraction, the park was established in the 1970s by Costa Ricans committed to protecting one of the most breathtaking and biodiverse regions on the planet. Visitors come to catch a glimpse of howler and squirrel monkeys, together with three-toed sloths, iguanas, lizards, snakes, hundreds of species of birds and more. A range of guided tours help visitors get the most out of their park visit. Overall, the country is home to 30 national parks and a remarkable five per cent of the entire world’s biodiversity.
Beaches
Costa Rica’s more than 900 miles of sand beach coastlines are a natural attraction for surfers, swimmers, sun bathers and shell seekers. Moreover, a number of the beaches are identified as nesting turtle sites for the Green and Leatherback species. On the Caribbean side of the country, there are 130 miles of calm turquoise waters, pristine sand shores and various coral reefs perfect for snorkelling. The longer Pacific coast features 780 miles of beaches that are some of the most beautiful in the country and where surfers come for the big waves, good fishing and scuba diving. The two coasts have superb and distinctive characteristics, with the Caribbean shoreline being charmingly natural and less commercial than the Pacific side. Since both coasts feature some of the best beaches in the world, there are no bad choices to be made.
Birdwatching
With at least 850 identified species, Costa Rica is a birdwatcher’s paradise and one of the country’s chief natural assets. To put this number in context, the country is home to more varieties of birds than all of Canada and the United States combined. One of the reasons for the country’s extraordinary range of avian species is its great variety of habitats – rainforests, mangrove swamps, beaches, cloud forests and rivers. In a country that provides a range of both climates and altitudes, its popular birds include the toucan, scarlet macaw, 50 species of hummingbirds and the resplendent quetzal. The quetzal is unique to the cloud forests of Central America and catching sight of one is a gold-star experience. This somewhat-elusive bird with its stunning iridescent green and red plumage was a symbol of spiritual power among ancient civilizations, which used its tail feathers ceremonially. While the quetzal wins the beauty contest, the clay-coloured thrush is Costa Rica’s national bird. Regarded among the top birdwatching spots in the country are the Monteverde Cloud Forest, La Selva Biological Station and Carara National Park. Achieving the richest viewing experience is greater at parks, reserves and other sites that have treetop platforms and raised suspension bridges.
Sports Scene
In a country that’s smaller than the province of New Brunswick, the range of Costa Rica’s sports activities is remarkable. Whitewater rafting is a big attraction, with the country having more adrenaline-rushing rivers, deep gorges and incredible rapids than any other place in the world. Off shore, hundreds of miles of coastline waters provide unlimited surfing, windsurfing and kayaking together with world-renowned fishing. Anglers can choose the thrill of deep-sea fishing or casting a line in one of the country’s freshwater lakes. The country’s popular game fish include marlin, sailfish, tuna, snapper and grouper. On land, there are more than a dozen golf courses known for their lush green fairways, rolling hills and stunning ocean views. Some of them have been designed by such world-class architects as Robert Trent Jones Jr. and George Fazio.
Wildlife Viewing
Costa Rica ranks among the world’s top 10 destinations for its incredible biodiversity and opportunities for seeing animals in their natural environment; in some cases, up close and personal. In fact, the country’s tropical rainforests are home to 5% of the world’s wildlife. This figure comprises 250 mammals alone that include, but are not limited to, the adorable, slow-moving sloth, vampire bat, anteater and jaguar. Added to the list are ocelots, pumas, reptiles, lizards and crocodiles. Moreover, the country’s bonanza of wildlife is not limited to the land. Offshore waters teem with dolphins, sea turtles and whales, with Costa Rica having the benefit of one of the world’s longest whale-watching seasons when humpback whales migrate to the country’s Pacific coast for nearly eight months of the year.
Coffee Time
Renowned for its ideal coffee-growing conditions, the country is famous for producing some of the finest Arabica beans in the world, making it a sought-after destination for coffee enthusiasts. With rich volcanic soil, high altitude and the right amount of rainfall, Costa Rica is home to dozens of coffee plantations with many of them offering plantation tours and more. Such tours are often paired with other local activities such as a volcano visit, a rainforest tour, ziplining, river tubing and waterfall rappelling. Despite supplementary attractions, coffee tours are framed around the richness and global reputation that the award-winning product has earned. With thousands of farms across the country – both large and small – there are coffee-growing plots everywhere. Getting a good cup of “Joe” in Costa Rica is guaranteed.
Cloud Forests
Costa Rica has numerous cloud forest regions where tropical evergreens rise into the clouds, forming a lofty canopy. Among the most scenic areas in which to see this awesome natural phenomenon is the country’s Central Highlands, where spectacular mountain peaks literally rest within cloud banks. Sometimes called water forests, they are cool retreats from the tropical zones of the country and are likewise hotbeds of diversity. With their high humidity and moisture, they are rich habitats for mosses, ferns, orchids and other flowering plants. They are also a cool habitat for hundreds of species of birds, sloths, monkeys and a host of others within Costa Rica’s inimitable wildlife menagerie. Regarded among the country’s top cloud forest reserves are the Monteverde, Santa Elena, Bajoz del Toro and Los Angeles.
Resources and Information
As a Canadian, you can stay in Costa Rica for up to 180 days without a visa. Anybody planning to stay for longer than that is required to obtain a residency status or visa issued by the Costa Rican Immigration Authority. For full and complete information about this awesome sun destination, visit the country’s official website at www.visitcostarica.com. The site includes everything from getting there to staying there and what to see and do.