Last week, I told you about the top destinations in Costa Rica….#5 thru #7. Now, let’s take a look at the final top 10 destinations……#4 counting down to the #1 top destination.

What this park lacks in size, it makes up for in the incredible wealth of attractions found here. Stunning tropical beaches, an amazing array of birds and wildlife, rich dense forestation, easy accessibility and a plethora of things to do, all make this park one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country.

#4 - Manuel Antonio & Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio is one of the most exclusive areas in Costa Rica, however budget hotels can be found. It started out as a tiny village that had a beautiful National Park next to it. As the park started to become more known more hotels started springing up. Because of Manuel Antonio’s size, or lack of size, hotels started building on the road to Manuel Antonio and many started taking advantage of the magnificent panoramic views.

The most popular national park in Costa Rica, the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is the most visited park in the country. Created in 1972 and encompassing an area of around 682 hectares, this park is among the most diverse and beautiful places in the region. Considered to be among the tiniest national parks in Costa Rica, what this park lacks in size, it makes up for in stunning natural beauty.

Even though this national park is small,  it epitomizes everything tourists flock to Costa Rica to see: stunning beaches, a magnificent setting with islands offshore, lush rainforest laced with a network of easy to walk trails, and wildlife galore. There is good chance that you will see monkeys (howler, white faced, and possibly squirrel monkeys), sloths, and coatimundis. Despite Manuel Antonio’s size, it is one of the country’s most popular parks, with as many as 150,000 visitors annually in recent years.

Nonetheless, the park is too small to sustain a healthy and viable population of certain animals. If the monkeys do not have access to areas outside the park, the population will decline because they cannot breed. Corridors that allow the animals’ access to areas outside the park have been taken up by hotels, so that the park has, in recent years, become an island. As a result, the squirrel monkey (mono titi) population is declining. Fortunately, in 2000, a decree was issued to triple the park’s size to just under 1800 hectares, almost tripling the size of the park.

#3 - Drake Bay & Corcovado National Park

Located on the gorgeous Osa Peninsula, the Corcovado National Park has been called as one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Together with Drake Bay, this region has become an ecotourism hot spot for those who want to be one with nature.

Drake Bay or Bahia Drake lies on the northern end of the Osa Peninsula in Puntarenas province. Probably one of the most well known destinations in the region, this tiny town by the bay is actually one of the most inaccessible places in the entire country. With a rich history of first being discovered by Sir Francis Drake in 1579 during his circumnavigation of the globe Osa Peninsula in Puntarenas province.

Simply known as Drake by the Ticos, Drake Bay is exclusively accessible by boat with only a limited number of lodges and cabinas in the area. Most of the lodges here offer all inclusive vacation packages and run on solar power generators making them ‘eco-lodges’ in the truest sense of the term.

Once in Drake Bay, you will find that there is much to do including a visit to the ‘biologically intense’ Corcovado National Park. With the tallest primary rainforest on the planet, this national park is home to many endangered animal and bird species as well as a huge number of indigenous wildlife and flora.

From Drake Bay you can also visit the biological reserve of the Isla del Cano which offers some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Costa Rica. This tiny island has a wealth of underwater beauty, and gives tourists the opportunity to swim amidst beautiful brightly colored tropical fish and dolphins. Horseback rides are available in the area as well as some excellent sport fishing off the coast. Canoeing and kayaking trips can also be arranged.

Exotic and lush, the Corcovado National Park is home to thirteen major ecosystems that range from mangrove swamps and jolillo palm groves to montane forests, lagoons, beaches, freshwater herbaceous swamps and primary lowland rainforests. Encompassing over 41,000 hectares the park protects over 140 different mammal species; 400 bird species, 20 of which are endemic; 116 amphibian and reptile species, 40 species of fish and at least 500 species of trees. Habitat of the rare Harbor Squirrel Monkey and the Harpy Eagle, the Corcovado Park also is a great place to spot the poison arrow frog, indigenous wild cats, crocodiles, pumas and jaguars as well as four species of sea turtles.

#2 - Arena  Volcano & Hot Springs

The most active volcano in Costa Rica, the fiery Arenal is indeed a sight to behold. Visit La Fortuna, a tiny town near the base of the volcano to catch a glimpse of the fireworks on display. While here don’t forget to check out the marvelous Hot Springs, a tropical paradise where you can relax both your mind and body.

Often simply referred to as La Fortuna, the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos is the gateway to the magnificent Arena Volcano.  A charming and quiet town, La Fortuna is easily accessible, and offers some panoramic views of the spectacular Arenal, Costa’s Rica’s most active volcano. Sitting around 10 kilometers away from town and regularly spewing smoke and ash for some time now, the Volcan Arenal is one of the country’s top rated tourist attractions and is indeed a sight to behold.

A must try when in La Fortuna are the amazing resort spas surrounding the volcano. When in town try and stay in the main plaza area, as the hotel rooms here offer some of the best views of the Volcan Arenalin the distance. On a clear day you can watch the volcano erupt and if you wait for nightfall, the Arenal puts on a brilliant show with bright red rocks tumbing down its sides.

Beside the volcano, this town has other great tourist attractions like the La Catarata de la Fortuna, a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall that falls from a dizzying height of 70 meters.

Another key attraction nearby are the Tabacon Hot Springs in the area, where one can go to relax and unwind after a long tiring vacation. Set amidst stunning lush greenery, rare orchids and superb waterfalls, the Tabacon Hot Springs is among the many here that offer the ultimate indulgence for those who just want some peace and quiet. The fall can be arrived at by foot or on horseback. The trail runs through pasture and rainforest, offering up chances to spot toucans, monkeys, and other tropical creatures.

And…….the #1 destination is.......Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Shrouded in clouds, the stunning Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a unique air of mystery to it. A distinctive mountain rainforest where the humidity is usually 100%, Monteverde is home to more than 3000 species of animals and plants.

the tiny community of Monteverde is a small village located near the entrance of the cloud forest. Monteverde which means ‘green mountain’ in Spanish was founded by the Quaker community that migrated from North America to Costa Rica in the 1950’s. In 1949, four pacifist Quakers from Alabama were jailed for refusing to fight in the Korean War. Once released, they sought a country where they could embrace their peaceful beliefs and continue to cultivate their dairy farms. Costa Rica had abolished its army the year before and had underdeveloped mountainsides that were perfect for their trade. This being the case, several Quaker families packed up their belongings and moved to Monteverde in 1950 and began to farm and live in peace. Though not an actual village as many of the homes spread out over a large area, this village has now developed itself to cater to the huge number of tourists that pass through here. Upon your arrival in Monteverde you will find that much of this village remains untouched by modernity, and most of the people here still lead rural lives

A lovely and peaceful place perfect for those who enjoy nature, the village of Monteverde is actually a dairy farming community that makes some of the best cheeses in Costa Rica. The weather here is quite chilly and misty, due to the village being high up in the Tilaran Mountain Range When here, do remember to try out the delicious local cheeses, which are a treat to eat. If you are a bird watcher, this village offers some lovely bird watching opportunities, even though you are not in the cloud forest itself. However, if you prefer to do the more touristy thing, visit the local craft centers, the women's co-op center, the butterfly garden and the Hummingbird Gallery in town.

The spectacular Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is a very important and popular ecotourism destination in Costa Rica. With its unique cloud canopy, this biological reserve located in Puntarenas province.

Unlike rainforests, cloud forests usually receive much less rain in comparison. However, because a cloud forest is situated at a higher altitude, it has more humidity and is therefore cloudier than a rainforest. This biological reserve sits at an elevation of between 1,200 m to 1,600 m, and is surrounded by a misty cover that supports a fantastic diversity of flora and fauna. Often creating a surreal environment, this reserve is considered to be among the most exceptional wildlife sanctuaries in the New World Tropic.

Encompassing eight distinct biological zones, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve covers an area of 26,000 acres (10,522 hectares), and is home to more than 2,000 species of plants and trees, 100 species of mammals, over 400 species of birds, and roughly 1,200 species of amphibians and reptiles. When exploring the forest you will come across a variety of birds and animals including, bellbirds, guans, toucanets, jaguars, pumas and monkeys, as well as the golden toad, a toad species that is only known to exist here the in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

  

This unique landscape is also the habitat of more than 300 species of orchids and 200 species of fern. With views of both the Pacific and Caribbean Oceans, this reserve is filled with a huge array of lofty and soaring trees laden with stunning epiphyte plants.

The Trainforest is a small-scale replica of an old-time train, created with the aid of modern electricity in order to guarantee the safety of our clients. The train will take tourists around the rainforest of Monteverde, providing them with a guided tour via train car, from which tourists can observe the majestic Arenal Volcano and the marvelous rainforest, with its tremendous diversity of flora and fauna, while specially trained guides explain the natural beauty that visitors will encounter throughout their trip.

Well, I hope you liked discovering the top ten destinations in Costa Rica.  I will be bringing to you, more about the local people, the food, the variety of wildlife, and even some suggestions on getting to Costa Rica and places to stay.

I am, Brendan Macarthur, Estate Reporter, Costa Rica Sims