● Costa Rica has 26 national parks, 15 wetland areas/mangroves, 11 forest reserves,
as well as 12 other conservation regions.
With a $ 1.9-billion-a-year tourism industry.
Costa Rica stands as the most visited nation in the
Central American region, with 1.9 million foreign visitors in 2007, which translates into a relatively high expenditure per tourist of $1000 per trip..
Most of the tourists come from the U.S. and Canada (46%), and the E.U. (16%). In 2005, tourism contributed with 8.1% of the country's GNP and represented 13.3% of direct and indirect employment. Tourism now earns more foreign exchange than bananas and coffee combined.
Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It is one of the world's fabulous tropical vacation destinations. Costa Rica is known for its diverse landscapes of rainforests, mountains, volcanoes, and beautiful coastlines of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is situated in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, beautiful Panama to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The land has 12 different climatic zones and abundant wildlife, but in general, the weather is tropical. Eco-tourism is its specialty. Costa Rica rental homes and villas have everything that one wishes in a vacation paradise. There are secluded white sand beaches with great surf and amazing waterfalls in forested mountains.
Costa Rica was a pioneer in this type of tourism and the country is recognized as one of the
few with real ecotourism.
In terms of 2010 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index , Costa Rica reached the 24th place
in the world ranking, being the first among Latin American countries.
● Skuba diving is a popular activity in tropical tourist locations such as Costa Rica
Snuba is a method of underwater swimming
in which the swimmer uses the swimfins ,
diving mask , weights , and breathing apparatus commonly used in scuba diving.
Snuba is typically used as a form of "introductory diving" (diving done in the presence of a professional, insured guide, and following a very short lesson, but not requiring a SCUBA certification).
● Snorkeling on Costa Rica .
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming at the surface of a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins.
● Surfing North Pacific coast of Costa Rica .
Surfing is a surface water sport in which the participant is carried along the face of a breaking wave, most commonly using a surfboard, although wave-riders may make use of kneeboards. Surfing-related sports such as paddleboarding and sea kayaking do not require waves, and other derivative sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing rely primarily on wind for power, yet all of these tools may as well be used to ride waves.
In tow-in surfing (most often,but not exclusively, associated with big wave surfing), a surfer is towed into the wave by a motorized water vehicle, such as a jetski, generally because standard paddling is often ineffective when trying to match a large wave's higher speed.
● National Parks of Costa Rica .
Costa Rica national parks, reserves and refuges account for an astounding 14,000 sq. km or 28 percent of the country's territory! They protect numerous of species of wildlife including over 800 species of birds, 250 mammal species, 225 reptiles, 175 amphibians and thousands upon thousands of species of plant and tree life. The various ecosystems are spread between 12 unique climate and life zones which cover everything from tropical mangroves to cool cloud forests higher than 10,000 feet in elevation. Click on the links below to read more about Costa Rica national parks.
● Sport fishing in Costa Rica
Big-game fishing is fishing from boats to catch large open-water species such as tuna, sharks and marlin . Sport fishing methods vary according to the area being fished, the species being targeted, the personal strategies of the angler, and the resources available, ranging from the aristocratic art of fly fishing, to the high-tech methods used to chase marlin and tuna.
The recreational fishing industry consists of enterprises such as the manufacture and retailing of fishing tackle, the design and building of recreational fishing boats, and the provision of fishing boats for charter and guided fishing adventures.
Costa Rica is the ideal tropical paradise for your vacation.
Tourists can enjoy the pristine beaches and see whales and dolphins play.
For Nature lovers there is a great variety of exotic wildlife and tropical plants. Butterflies and orchids, crocodiles and sharks, turtles and
Toucans´ are everywhere. The rainforest covering the mountains are a paradise for eco tourism.
Life is good in Costa Rica, a friendly, democratic and peaceful country. For action vacation you can surf, hike, do rafting, canopying, diving, deepwater fishing and snorkeling. You can go with a low budget or seek the more exclusive resorts.For relaxation there are beautiful unique golf courses and luxury spas. The hotels have all the modern comforts in the most private and secluded environments.
National Parks of Costa Rica .
1.Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Isla Bolaños
2.Parque Nacional Santa Rosa y Guanacaste
3.Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja
4.Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro
5.Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Barra del Colorado
y Parque Nacional Tortuguero
6.Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas de Guanacaste.
7.Reserva Biológica Lomas Barbudal.
8.Parque Nacional Palo Verde.
9.Parque Nacional Barra Honda.
10.Refugio Silvestre Peñas Blancas.
11. Póas Volcano National Park.
12.Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo.
13.Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional.
14. Cocos Island National Park.
15.Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco.
16.Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Curú.
17.Reserva Biológica de las Islas Guayabo,
Negritos y de los Pájaros
18.Reserva Biológica Carara.
19.Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú.
20.Monumento Nacional Guayabo.
21. Manuel Antonio National Park.
22.Parque Nacional Marino Ballena.
23. La Amistad International Park.
24.Parque Nacional Cahuita.
25.Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo.
26.Reserva Biológica Isla del Caño.
27.Parque Nacional Corcovado.
28.Parque Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Golfito.
29.Parque Nacional Juan Castro Blanco.
30. Arenal Volcano National Park.
31.Parque Nacional Tapantí.
32.Reserva Biológica Hitoy Cerere.
Tourism in Costa Rica is one of the fastest growing economic sectors of the country and by 1995 became the largest foreign exchange earner. Since 2004, tourism earns more foreign exchange than bananas and coffee combined.
The tourism boom began in 1987, with the number of visitors up from 329,000 in 1988, through 1 million in 1999, to 1.9 million foreign visitors in 2007, allowing the country to earn $1.9-billion in that year.
Costa Rica national parks, reserves and refuges account for an astounding 14,000 sq. km or 28 percent of the country's territory! They protect numerous of species of wildlife including over 800 species of birds, 250 mammal species, 225 reptiles, 175 amphibians and thousands upon thousands of species of plant and tree life. The various ecosystems are spread between 12 unique climate and life zones which cover everything from tropical mangroves to cool cloud forests higher than 10,000 feet in elevation. Click on the links below to read more about Costa Rica national parks.
