Costa Rica: Good news. There is still a distant destination to fly to without fear of having to struggle (too much) with one’s ecological conscience. This country of 51,100 km2, nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, a superb mix of jungle, wild coasts, and volcanic lands, and home to no less than 6.5% of the world’s biodiversity, is Costa Rica!
A true pioneer in ecotourism, this small Central American republic has no less than 29 national parks (covering a quarter of the country’s surface area) and displays a very ambitious policy in terms of environmental protection, with an objective of zero carbon emissions by 2050! More concretely, a trip to Costa Rica is above all the perfect opportunity to discover the wonders that the country conceals: the legendary generosity of a population has invented the concept of ” Pura Vida “, heavenly beaches, a plethora of activities intended for adventurers of all levels or eco-lodges built in total harmony with wild and preserved nature.
1. Because its nature is one of the most preserved in the world
Once you set foot in Costa Rica, it’s difficult to know where to turn, as nature offers what is most precious, namely fauna and flora that have remained intact. Animal lovers can be proud to have access to the best observatories of wild animals in the world. Among the country’s 26 national parks, here are the ones you can’t ignore:
- The lush Corcovado National Park – which alone shelters 3% of the world’s biodiversity, is a true ornithological paradise, where the lucky ones will be able to spot the extremely rare scarlet macaw, as well as the marine fauna of Drake Bay.
- Although one of the most visited on the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero National Park is large enough to be as alone as a 19th-century adventurer. Created to protect turtles (Costa Rica alone is home to five of the seven species of sea turtles existing in the world), it is not uncommon to admire lazy howler monkeys and other caimans along the way;
- In September, whale season is in full swing on the Pacific coast. Now is the time to visit the Marino Ballena National Park or the Gulf of Papayago.
- or fans of antediluvian landscapes, head for the Arenal Volcano National Park (and its perfect cone from the top of its 1,720 meters) and other waterfalls on the side of rocks, such as the Rio Celeste and Llanos del Cortes.
2. For the legendary kindness and generosity of the Ticos
It’s difficult not to be charmed by the sense of welcome shown by the inhabitants of a country that has decided to abandon its army to give priority to health, education, and the environment. In San José, the capital, the simple fact of strolling through the aisles of the Mercado Central and stopping at one of the many “sodas” (small local canteens) is enough to measure the infinite goodwill of the Ticos (this is how the Costa Ricans call themselves).
It is impossible to understand the population without being interested in the extremely rich history of Costa Rica. We cannot recommend a visit to the Guayabo National Monument, a splendid archaeological site that houses important vestiges of pre-Columbian civilization, the goldsmiths’ pieces from the Gold Museum, the neoclassical feat carried out on the facade, and the vestibule of the San José National Theater.
The same observation applies outside the cities, where it is very easy to meet the local population, in particular by participating in a cooking class with locals in Bijagua, sharing a traditional meal with the indigenous community of Malekus of the Upala region — who will be happy to pass on their great knowledge of medicinal plants — or by visiting the plantations of coffee and cocoa producers in Naranjo and Turrialba.
Everywhere, infectious kindness and generosity!
3. Because Costa Rica is a paradise for adventurers of all kinds
If there are still a few countries where you can still think of yourself as Indiana Jones, Costa Rica is high in the ranking. Sports fans—more or less extreme — will be spoiled for choice:
- Rafting along the Pacuare, Sarapiquí, Reventazón, Naranjo, or Tenorio rivers;
- Abseiling and ziplining in the heart of the magnificent Monteverde canopy;
- Multi-day trekking in Cerro Chirripó (the highest point in Costa Rica), or among the active volcanoes of Rincón de la Vieja National Park;
- Surfing on the Caribbean coast, near Puerto Viejo, an adorable little hidden port where Salsa Brava, the most powerful wave in the country, rages, but also on the superb beaches of the province of Guanacaste, such as Protero Grande, Naranjo, and Santa Teresa, or in Nosara, one of the Meccas of board sports in Central America;
- Diving and water sports with a stop in the seaside resort Playa Hermosa, located in the Central Pacific;
- Or even caving in the immense caves of Barra Honda National Park.
Finally, an excursion further south cannot do without a detour to the Osa Peninsula, one of the first tropical forest destinations in the world, lined with magnificent white sand beaches. And for the less adventurous, head to the former prison of Puntarenas to visit San Lucas Island, a true “Costa Rican Alcatraz” where you can feel the thrill without taking the slightest risk!
Web-story: Costa Rica’s Secret: Where Jungles Meet Turquoise Paradise
4. Because it’s never too late to discover “Pura Vida.”
Considered one of the happiest people on the planet, Costa Ricans ignore depression. Better still, they are at the origin of the very concept of Pura Vida. A true mantra that has become a widely used expression daily, Pura Vida consists of letting go, reconnecting your body with the environment, or simply taking the time for contemplation.
The country therefore offers a wide range of activities linked to well-being, starting with yoga and meditation retreats in Nosara on the Pacific coast. A trip to Costa Rica will also be an opportunity to try earthing, a practice consisting of touching and feeling nature with bare feet and hands.
Finally, the country can boast of having become the first destination to practice forest bathing and mindful walks among the trees. There are so many possibilities, allowing you to fully embrace Pura Vida!
5. For its eco-lodges, among the most famous on the planet
To encourage the hotel industry, including luxury hotels, to preserve the environment, Costa Rica has adopted a label of excellence, the Certificate of Sustainable Tourism (CST), awarded based on multiple criteria. Support for local development projects, use of biodegradable products and materials, enhancement of local communities and traditions, reduction of carbon emissions… Staying in one of these ecolodges distinguished by the ecolabel? Without a doubt, this is one of the best ways to combine comfort and eco-responsibility while spending your vacation close to nature!
A true flagship of luxury eco-lodges—the appearance of the first dating from the early 1980s—Costa Rica today has many of them, scattered across the four corners of the country, whether nestled in the heart of the tropical forest, such as the iconic Lapa Rios Lodge, which has become a model of its kind, rewarded time and again by the international press, or the more affordable Tiskita Jungle Lodge within a private biological reserve. On the ocean side, in Nosara, The Harmony allows you to enjoy the famous Playa Guiones (seven kilometers of white sand), popular with surfers, while in the mountains of the center of the country, El Silencio plays the card of serenity and refinement on foot. of the Poás volcano.
All these exceptional places offer the opportunity to reconnect with the Earth through various activities, from meditative retreats to silent walks in the mountains to observing trees, plants, and wild animals in their natural environment.
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