Costa Rica World of Nature

This park is located in northeastern Costa Rica on the Caribbean coast, and it can only be reached by airplane or boat, but is the 3rd most visited park in the country. The coastal part of the park has many different animal species, including land turtles, manatees and crocodiles, and several types of sea turtles come here to lay their eggs, such as Loggerheads and Leatherbacks. The inland forests are home to jaguars, three-toed sloths and several kinds of monkeys. There are also many poisonous frogs and 375 species of birds. The park was established in 1975.

These are walkways suspended near the tops of the trees in the cloud forest, so people can walk at treetop level, in the clouds. They are anchored, but not fixed, so there is some movement, but they have handrails and are quite safe. The longest one in Monteverde is 984 feet. About 90% of the organisms in the forest live near treetop level, so the bridges give access to much more than is visible from the ground. The bridges are linked by well-marked trails, and most of the way it is relatively flat.

This is a small (about 4,500 acres) national park on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, known for its beaches and hiking trails through the tropical forests. It was created in 1972 and is the smallest national park in the country. Forbes Magazine listed it as one of the world’s 12 most beautiful parks. There are beaches suitable for swimming and also tidal pools for snorkeling. Animals found there include three- and two-toed sloths, monkeys, iguanas, coatis and 184 species of birds.

On your journey to the Sarapiquí region, an experience for the senses awaits you during a stop at a cacao plantation. A delicious endeavor into the origins of modern-day chocolate-making, you’ll learn the history of cocoa agriculture, and a fascinating demonstration illustrates the high art of converting this magical seed, bean to bar. Afterward, taste for yourself why cacao is coined “food of the Gods.”

Explore your surroundings on a Penas Blancas River Safair. As you paddle down the river, take in the sights and sounds of the rainforest as your naturalist guide explains the rich wildlife all around you.