Outside Costa Rica’s capital of San José lies the port town of Puerto Caldera, which serves as the home base for travelers looking to venture into the lush wildlife the country is known for. Gateway to the province of Puntarenas, the port is a short distance away from several national parks, like Carara National Park, a biological reserve with over 400 species of birds, the Tarcoles River and the Poas Volcano.
In the northern part of Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province on the central Pacific coast lies the small booming harbor town of Quepos. With a variety of outdoor adventure and nightlife, the village center composes six blocks of restaurants, bars, art galleries and gift shops all resting beside the main beach and sport fishing fleet. With one of the prettiest and most impressive marinas in Costa Rica, Quepos is known to many as one of the best places in the world for big-game sport fishing.
A gateway to the eastern Tropical Pacific, Marina Papagayo is a year-round yachter’s paradise in the Costa Rican province of Guanacaste. Palm-lined beaches and rocky bays define the coast of this water sports and recreation haven. Relax on white sandy beaches or ride on horseback along the black sand beneath the cliffs at Playa Ocotal. Enjoy a boat ride to the wetlands in Palo Verde and visit the old wooden Hacienda El Viejo. This family-owned estate offers a variety of activities from a cultural tour to a rum-m
Costa Rica’s southernmost port town of Golfito is often referred to as the last frontier, and its only city situated within a declared protection area. In a remote and secluded region of the country, it’s an escape from the hustle and bustle of the more popular tourist-filled destinations.
An ecological paradise of unbridled diversity, Costa Rica certainly lives up to its name, which means “rich coast.” The city of Puerto Limón has a few attractions, including the waterfront Parque Vargas and an interesting ethnohistory museum, but most visitors head to one of the many astounding national parks outside the city. A cruise through the canals of Tortuguero National Park offers the chance to observe endangered sea turtles, sloths, monkeys and even jaguars.
