Costa Rica is an incredible holiday destination known for its diverse and abundant wildlife, humid rainforests and mist cloaked cloudforests, impressive volcanoes and beautiful beaches lined with tropical vegetation both on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Located in Central America bordering Panama and Nicaragua, Costa Rica has a peaceful and politically stable environment.
For many years sustainability has been a strategy for Costa Rica, national parks and protected areas make up almost 25% of the country's territory which have allowed it to maintain its remarkable biodiversity. Despite its small size, the country is home to a wide range of ecosystems, animals such as monkeys, sloths, macaws, toucans, colourful birds and reptiles can be spotted. Nesting turtles can be witnessed on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts and migrating whales can be viewed off the coast of Uvita on the Pacific during certain months of the year.
Of the many volcanoes in Costa Rica, Arenal is the most well known and although no longer active visitors are drawn to the area not just for the humid rainforest and the animals and birds that live there, but for the active adventures on offer such as ziplining, white water rafting, horse riding and kayaking. Contrast a visit to the rainforest with a cloudforest visit, where the climate is cooler, huge old trees are draped in mosses, ephiphytes and bromeliads and hummingbirds whizz around your ears.
At the coast there are national parks with hiking trails and guides, many wild beaches and opportunities to surf, snorkel, dive and ocean kayak. Parks such as Manuel Antonio on the Pacific and Cahuita on the Caribbean combine beautiful beaches with rainforest and a variety of wildlife. For the ultimate wildlife experience head to the Osa Peninsula home to 2.5% of the world's biodiversity and species such as Scarlet Macaws, anteaters, jaguars, tapirs and squirrel monkeys.
Costa Rica is a year-round destination, in general the dry season runs from December to April with plenty of sunshine and less rain, from May to November rainfall can vary in different regions as there are different microclimates in Costa Rica, showers tend to be in the afternoon and the rainforest at this time is particularly lush and green. Overall, Costa Rica is a paradise for nature and wildlife enthusiasts.