If
you are looking for an adventure destination
that offers miles of coastline, unspoiled
rainforests, and exotic wildlife, Costa
Rica is the perfect destination. Bird-watch
for macaws and toucans in one of the many
national parks, visit an active volcano,
or enjoy the unspoiled tropical beaches.
From rustic jungle lodges to luxury resorts,
Costa Rica offers the ideal accommodations
for every traveler. The capitol city of
San José features great shopping
and urban flair, including gourmet restaurants
and museums showcasing the country's rich
history, architecture, and art.
For
the active traveler, opportunities for
surfing, snorkeling, hiking and kayaking
abound, while visitors looking to lounge
will appreciate Costa Rica's secluded
sandy beaches and leisurely river tours.
What to do? What to do? Fly through the
rain-forest canopy on a zip line? Go white-water
rafting? Climb a volcano? Laze on a white-sand
beach? Check out colorful marine life
while snorkeling? Or try to hook one on
a deep-sea fishing excursion? Relaxing
next to a beach-side
waterfall?
Costa
Rica offers plenty of pleasant choices like
these, especially if you're interested in
nature and outdoor activities. That's why
so many people have chosen to go there:
In the past decade, the number of visitors
has quadrupled, and tourism has become a
big part of the nation's economy.
Costa
Rica is practically synonymous with ecotourism
- travel that incorporates education about
the environment and promotes preservation
of natural resources. The country has a
large number of national parks and nature
preserves that boast a rich array of birds,
mammals, reptiles and rain-forest plants.
The variety of birds, in particular, is
astounding: Some 850 species are packed
into a relatively small area. Approximately
25% of the country's land has been set aside
in protected areas, earning Costa Rica a
reputation as an environmentally sensitive
country and leader in ecological conservation.
However, nonprotected areas have not fared
so well: During the past few decades, Costa
Rica has had one of the highest rates of
deforestation in the world and is coming
to terms with the large resorts being built
to serve the growing numbers of travelers.
The
country has good conditions for a number
of adventure sports, among them surfing,
whitewater river rafting, hiking and scuba
diving. Those who prefer a less strenuous
vacation can view more than 50 volcanoes,
take boat trips down jungle rivers and float
through the treetops in the world's first
Rain Forest Aerial Tram.
Costa
Rica Geography
A small country - just 75 mi/120 km separates
the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea
at the narrowest spot - Costa Rica still
has some of the most diverse scenery in
the world. Its coasts have both sandy beaches
and marshy swamps, while its interior is
dotted with volcanoes, dense with rain forests
and abundant with unusual flora.
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