Costa Rica Travel: A 9 Day Costa Rica Vacation

Apr 13
07:58

2012

Matthew Barker

Matthew Barker

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Take a Costa Rica vacation and explore the diverse landscapes and wildlife the country has to offer. Check out this nine day sample itinerary for an amazing Costa Rica vacation with this article written by a Costa Rica travel expert.

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South America offers a great getaway with a variety of attractions,Costa Rica Travel: A 9 Day Costa Rica Vacation Articles landscapes, and cultures; there are many great destinations for your South America travel. However if you are looking to experience the best nature has to offer take a Costa Rica vacation where beaches, volcanoes, and lush jungle await. To see the best of Costa Rica check out this sample nine day itinerary.

The best way to start your Costa Rica vacation is to fly to its capital, San Jose. On your first full day take a tour to the top of the Poas volcano; sitting at 8800 feet you will be rewarded with breathtaking scenery and an opportunity to view the main crater, one of the largest in the world. After thorough exploration of this natural wonder return to the city and enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the many great San Jose restaurants.

Start day twoby heading to your next destination, Tortuguero where you can stay in the Tortuguero National Park. The park is only accessible by boat as it is set in an endless network of channels, canals, and lagoons, making it a great way to get an up close and personal experience with nature. Explore the area in the afternoon, take a trip to the village of Tortuguero, or go to the nearby Caribbean Conservation Corporation’s museum which aids in the conservation of the areas green sea turtle.

For the next three days spend some time in Puerto Viejo, with white and black sand beaches and a wide variety of water sport activities, it is the perfect place to relax. You can also take a tour of the nearby Cahuita National Park to explore the tropical wilderness. If you are lucky you could even spot one of the many endangered species like the manatee, crocodile, or tapir that live among the countless other species in this dense forest.

The next two days of this sample itinerary will take you from the beach inland to the country’s infamous Arenal volcano. The drive will allow you to see the variety of landscapes Costa Rica offers, you will pass by volcanic peaks and find yourself in the cloud forests on your journey to the town of La Fortuna where you will be staying for your visit to the volcano. Visiting the Arenal volcano is sure to be a highlight of your Costa Rica vacation, as you can observe, plants, animals, and get spectacular views of the Lake Arenal and maybe even see one of the volcano’s small daily eruptions.

For your final destination head to the marvelous Santa Elena and Monteverde cloud forest reserve, the drive to Santa Elena is full of spectacular views of Lake Arenal as you ascend to the cloud forest. A visit to the world famous Monteverde forests are a must, you can take a walk through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, where a diverse array of wildlife and constantly changing landscapes are apparent as you travel through the forest, it is truly a nature lover’s paradise.

If time allows add an extra day or a week to explore Tamarindo, Jaco, or Quepos. This sample nine day itinerary will allow you to see the diverse landscapes of Costa Rica, but with a country full of great cities, beaches, and other natural wonders, there is no vacation long enough to explore all the wonders. Use this sample itinerary for an idea on how to make your Costa Rica vacation unforgettable.