Already nearly everyone has tired of winter and imagining some place where shorts, not overcoats, can be worn. Costa Rica has become the destination of choice, in part, because of its reputation for being one of the most beautiful countries in the world. This small Central America country is only a couple of hours south of Florida and has spectacular tropical mountains and volcanoes, and some of the best beaches anywhere. Visitors come for its terrific surfing beaches, beach communities with daytime fun and adult nightlife, and deserted beaches where verdant mountains meet the shore.
Few visitors to Costa Rica appreciate its rich history or how it got its name. About a decade after he discovered the New World along the American coast, Christopher Columbus returned and sailed south. He became so enthralled with the Caribbean beaches he found here that he named his discovery Costa Rica! The name means the rich coast and has stuck for over five centuries.
Do not be misinformed. Columbus was the first, but not the last, explorer. There are still new places for visitors to discover for themselves. Costa Rica has nearly 400 miles of Caribbean beaches. The eastern coast is still largely undeveloped compared to the western side of the country and has a unique Caribbean flavor. This is Bob Marley country.
For an increasing number of ecotourists, their Costa Rica vacation includes a tour of Tortuguero National Park. This is a remote park along the northern Caribbean Coast, initially created to protect the green sea turtles which come ashore to nest. Today it has become the largest green marine turtle nesting beach on the planet. Tortuguero provides critical nesting areas over a 30 kilometer stretch of beaches for four of the seven sea turtle species and thousands of people go there annually to witness a real spectacle of nature.
The city of Limon is south of Tortuguero and most tourists go through it to reach remote Tortuguero and Barra Honda beaches north or to travel south to a number of small beach communities and kilometer after kilometer of beautiful beaches. Limon should be considered as merely a jumping off point to head north or south because it is not a recommended destination. However, for the wonderful beaches seen by Columbus, Puerto Viejo awaits. It has the world famous La Salsa Brava wave, a difficult large wave that tests the best surfers on the planet, particularly when at its largest between November and April. Less experienced surfers go a bit farther south to Playa Cocles.
About 25 miles south of Limon and a short distance north of Puerto Viejo is Cahuita, a very small, laid-back community with kilometer after kilometer of pristine beaches, some nearly black and others snow white. September and October are the driest months of the year and visitors who come around October 12 take in Carnaval at Limon, a week-long fiesta celebrating Columbus Day. Cahuita is known for its wonderful reef snorkeling around its two shipwrecks. Not a lot of nightlife here so head a few miles south to Puerto Viejo.
If you continue heading south, the Gandoco-Manzanillo Wildlife Reserve awaits nearly at the Panama border. This is where Columbus came ashore and named Costa Rica. Here he found, and you will, too, crystal clear tropical waters perfect for swimming. But, unlike that explorer you will be able to go scuba diving at Costa Rica's largest coral reef. The rare and recently discovered freshwater Tucuxi Porpoise lives only here. Vacationers can see sea turtles nesting and fishermen often find tarpon and snook. Lots of them. In the nearby Caribbean, in the many lagoons and rivers. Very little fishing pressure. But when they are here, lots of fish! - 31498
Few visitors to Costa Rica appreciate its rich history or how it got its name. About a decade after he discovered the New World along the American coast, Christopher Columbus returned and sailed south. He became so enthralled with the Caribbean beaches he found here that he named his discovery Costa Rica! The name means the rich coast and has stuck for over five centuries.
Do not be misinformed. Columbus was the first, but not the last, explorer. There are still new places for visitors to discover for themselves. Costa Rica has nearly 400 miles of Caribbean beaches. The eastern coast is still largely undeveloped compared to the western side of the country and has a unique Caribbean flavor. This is Bob Marley country.
For an increasing number of ecotourists, their Costa Rica vacation includes a tour of Tortuguero National Park. This is a remote park along the northern Caribbean Coast, initially created to protect the green sea turtles which come ashore to nest. Today it has become the largest green marine turtle nesting beach on the planet. Tortuguero provides critical nesting areas over a 30 kilometer stretch of beaches for four of the seven sea turtle species and thousands of people go there annually to witness a real spectacle of nature.
The city of Limon is south of Tortuguero and most tourists go through it to reach remote Tortuguero and Barra Honda beaches north or to travel south to a number of small beach communities and kilometer after kilometer of beautiful beaches. Limon should be considered as merely a jumping off point to head north or south because it is not a recommended destination. However, for the wonderful beaches seen by Columbus, Puerto Viejo awaits. It has the world famous La Salsa Brava wave, a difficult large wave that tests the best surfers on the planet, particularly when at its largest between November and April. Less experienced surfers go a bit farther south to Playa Cocles.
About 25 miles south of Limon and a short distance north of Puerto Viejo is Cahuita, a very small, laid-back community with kilometer after kilometer of pristine beaches, some nearly black and others snow white. September and October are the driest months of the year and visitors who come around October 12 take in Carnaval at Limon, a week-long fiesta celebrating Columbus Day. Cahuita is known for its wonderful reef snorkeling around its two shipwrecks. Not a lot of nightlife here so head a few miles south to Puerto Viejo.
If you continue heading south, the Gandoco-Manzanillo Wildlife Reserve awaits nearly at the Panama border. This is where Columbus came ashore and named Costa Rica. Here he found, and you will, too, crystal clear tropical waters perfect for swimming. But, unlike that explorer you will be able to go scuba diving at Costa Rica's largest coral reef. The rare and recently discovered freshwater Tucuxi Porpoise lives only here. Vacationers can see sea turtles nesting and fishermen often find tarpon and snook. Lots of them. In the nearby Caribbean, in the many lagoons and rivers. Very little fishing pressure. But when they are here, lots of fish! - 31498
About the Author:
Victor Krumm lives in beautiful Costa Rica and and has a lovely website Costa Rica Vacations. Look here to see lots more Costa Rica Beaches
