Costa Rica Travel Guide - Take the Tropical Vacation of Your Dreams

Located near the mid-section of the Central American isthmus, Costa Rica is a beautiful place! Fill your next vacation with rainforests, wildlife, mountains, active volcanoes, ancient ruins and surfing. Because of its unique location, Costa Rica has black volcanic sand on the Pacific side, and white sand on the Atlantic side. This place will melt away your stress. Many visitors wind up purchasing a piece of land and settling in Costa Rica permanently.

You will most likely fly in to San Jose on your vacation. The capital city offers all of the accommodations you will need when you arrive and before departing. Even though there is such an abundance of natural wonders to see, consider checking out some of the museums and plazas in San Jose. Museo del Jade (Jade Museum) and Museo del Oro Precolombino (Pre-Columbian Gold Museum) are two places to see beautiful artifacts from the time before European colonization. You could spend the day before your return flight home sightseeing in the city and experiencing Costa Rica's urban side. When out in the city, be careful not to venture too far off of the tourist path. A friend of mine was stabbed with a screw driver, and had his wallet stolen while out bar hopping in a rougher part of town. I don't say this to scare you, only to make you aware that crime can occur in a tropical paradise. This is probably a good thing to remember in any city you are unfamiliar with.

The following are activities that populate many's visions of what a Costa Rica vacation should include. There are numerous other venues to visit, so be sure to do some further investigating. Click here for a map of Costa Rica and its natural wonders.

Monteverde Cloud Forest - This is a wonderful place to see exotic plants and animals! This eco-tourism center of Costa Rica offers canopy tours and walkways, zip lines, suspension bridges, horseback riding and mountain bike trails. Get lost in the trees for a few days!

Arenal Volcano - This picturesque cone-shaped volcano is active, and a favorite of tourists. It takes a little traveling to get there, which allows you to see more of the countryside. If you plan to make the drive yourself, be sure you have a vehicle with four wheel drive! There are other volcanoes closer to San Jose, but this one is near a large lake, which enhances the beauty of the scene.

Guayabo National Monument - This is the best ancient site in Costa Rica. There is a working ancient aqueduct, a stone road and many other carved stone artifacts. You can hire a local guide to give you a tour of this magnificent place for a very good price.

Are you interested in a trip to Costa Rica yet? Click here to request a free quote on a Costa Rica vacation package. It will be tailored to suit all of your needs. No matter what you choose, I hope you enjoy your vacation! You should check the U.S. Department of State website on Costa Rica for alerts before booking your trip. Click here to go there now. One last thing before I end; be sure to purchase a travel guide before you go, as it could come in very handy.