Holidays in Costa Rica

An introduction to Costa Rica

This tiny sliver of Central America is Russian doll-like in its approach to landscapes, wildlife and sandy shorelines. Just when you think you’ve seen the true face of Costa Rica, another one crops up and takes you by surprise. From its sunny beaches and lime-green jungles, to the Disney-like cast of creatures who call this place home – think monkeys, toucans, hummingbirds and more - Costa Rica’s CV scans like a holiday must-read. And the locals’ love-of-life attitude is infectious – after all, it’s hard not to be upbeat when you’re in what’s often dubbed ‘paradise on earth’. Topping its list of paradise credentials has to be its beaches. On the northern Pacific coast, you’ll find the Guanacaste province – all golden sugar sands, swaying coconut palms and cobalt blue waters. Talking of the water, it’s bath-warm and full of marine life – neon fish, manta rays and coral reefs teeming with underwater lodgers. Perfect for a spot of snorkelling or scuba diving. Or, if that sounds a little too much like hard work, head to one of the pampering hotel resorts dotting Guanacaste’s coast for an ultra-relaxing spa treatment or three. When you’re feeling refreshed and ready to explore, head inland from the coast and you’ll find coffee plantations, rivers and dense woodland rising up to still-simmering volcanoes and cloud forests full of wildlife - so much so, you half expect to see David Attenborough gearing up to do a piece to camera. From butterflies to sloths and slumbering crocodiles, this is a nature lover’s dream. Plus, if you’re an adrenalin junkie, Costa Rica’s countryside provides myriad ways to make mothers worry, with everything from zip lining, white water rafting and horse trekking to get stuck into. And come sundown, expect to hear ‘marimba’ and ‘merengue’ beats drifting into the night air from the open terraces and restaurants. For a small country, Costa Rica sure knows how to shake it.

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