Experience new culture with Costa Rica Tours

Costa Rica: Attracting millions of tourists annually, this rather tiny nation is a true paradise. With its stunning beauty, charismatic creatures ranging from howler monkeys to exotic toucans, a vast array of fish, leatherback and green turtles, a Costa Rica tour is truly an experience like no other.

Costa Rica’s diverse topography means you can repel down a 100ft wall right next to a waterfall and play in the pool of water at its base. Climb a volcano, hike through the jungle while making your way to the beach or tide pools. Bring your surf or boogie board to hit the waves or just pass out on a hot sandy beach.

Accommodations abound, when combined with a Costa Rican tour package, you can save a bundle. Resorts (some all inclusive), beach front bungalows or vacation rentals with all the amenities.

When to visit:

• May-July, the early months of the rainy season, for some towns, considered the high season and
• definitely the best time for Costa Rica tours. Many rivers begin to swell and local dirt roads get rather muddy making travel in certain remote areas a little difficult and or inaccessible. Consult a local before setting out; bring your umbrella and a little patience and you’re sure to have an excellent tour.

• For surfers, September-October is primetime for the Pacific coast and the Caribbean side will have you hangin ten from November-May. If a Costa Rica tour of wildlife is what you seek, peak season for leatherback turtles is from April-May and for the green turtle, August-September.

• Bird lovers can see quetzal and toucans from November-April. Fishing is good year round. On the Caribbean side, January-May is best for Tarpon, the autumn months are best for Snook. On the pacific side, November -May is best for Golfo Dulce and Sail fish.

Costa Rica’s Weather:

When planning Costa Rica tours, be weather savvy. Being a tropical country, there are 2 seasons, wet & dry. Dry season is from late December-April and wet season for the rest of the year. The highlands are cold comparatively with an eternal spring like season particularly in the San Jose and Central Valley region. Both coasts (Pacific & Caribbean) are hot year round. Temperatures vary little between seasons, influenced by altitude; the humidity at lower altitudes can be harsh so get ready for the occasional bad hair day.

Costa Rica tours:

• Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal: Arenal, an active volcano, produces menacing ash columns, massive explosions, and streamers of glowing molten rock almost daily since 1968. An excellent Costa Rica tour stop, despite constant volcanic activity, it’s retained a picture-perfect conical shape, although its slopes are now ashen instead of green. Best viewed at night from its northern side, you can take a night tour at the Arenal Observatory.

• Wilson Botanical Garden: The Wilson Botanical Garden established in 1963 covers 12 hectares (30 acres) and is surrounded by 254 hectares (628 acres) of natural forest. Internationally known for its collection of more than 1000 genera of plants in about 200 families, it plays a scientific role as a research center as well as a popular Costa Rica tour.

• Monumento Nacional Arqueológico Guayabo: The largest and most important archaeological site in the country, believed to be an important cultural, religious and political center. The site may have been occupied as early as 1000 BC, was mysteriously abandoned by 1400AD. The most impressive feature at Guayabo is the aqueduct system, which may have served more than 20,000 people in AD 800, the height of the city's prominence. A must see of any Costa Rica tour.