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Costa Rica
rightfully should be called "Costas Ricas" because it has two coasts,
one on the Pacific Ocean and one on the Caribbean Sea.
These two coasts are as different from each other as are the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts of North America.
Costa
Rica's Pacific coast is characterized by a
rugged (although mostly accessible) coastline where forested mountains often
meet the sea. It can be divided into three distinct regions -- Guanacaste and
the Nicoya Peninsula,
the Central Coast, and the Southern Coast. There are
some spectacular stretches of coastline, and most of the country's top beaches
are here. This coast varies from the dry, sunny climate of the northwest to the
hot, humid rainforests of the south.
The Caribbean coast can be
divided into two roughly equal stretches, one of which is accessible only by
boat or small plane. The remote northeast coastline is a vast flat plain laced
with rivers and covered with rainforest. Farther south, along the stretch of
coast accessible by car, there are uncrowded beaches and even a bit of coral
reef.
Bordered by Nicaragua
in the north and Panama in
the southeast, Costa Rica is
only slightly larger than Vermont and New Hampshire combined.
Much of the country is mountainous, with three major ranges running northwest
to southeast. Among these mountains are several volcanic peaks, some of which
are still active. Between the mountain ranges are fertile valleys, the largest
and most populated of which is the Central Valley.
With the exception of the dry Guanacaste region, much of Costa Rica's coastal area is hot
and humid and covered with dense rainforests.
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Guanacaste & the Nicoya Peninsula
The northwestern corner of the country near the Nicaraguan
border is the site of many of Costa
Rica's sunniest and most popular beaches.
Because many Americans have chosen to build beach houses and retirement homes
here, Guanacaste, in particular, is experiencing quite a bit of new
development. Don't expect a glut of Cancún-style high-rise hotels, but condos,
luxury resorts, and golf courses are springing up like mushrooms. That's not to
say you'll be towel-to-towel with thousands of strangers. On the contrary, you
can still find long stretches of deserted sands. That might not be true for
long, however: Now that the new international airport in Liberia is up and running, travelers can get
here on daily direct flights from North America.
With about 65 inches of rain a year, this region is by far
the driest in the country and has been likened to west Texas. Guanacaste province sits at the
border of Nicaragua
and is named after the shady trees that still shelter the herds of cattle that
roam the dusty savanna here. In addition to cattle ranches, Guanacaste boasts
semiactive volcanoes, several lakes, and one of the last remnants of tropical
dry forest left in Central America. (Dry
forest once stretched all the way from Costa Rica
up to the Mexican state of Chiapas.
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Where the Gold Coast and Coldwell Banker Beach Properties of Costa Rica are located.
Click here to read more about the Gold Coast and to find properties in this area.
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San
Jose & The Central Valley
The Central Valley is
characterized by rolling green hills that rise to heights between 900 and
1,200m (2,952-3,936 ft.) above sea level. The climate here is mild and
springlike year-round. It's Costa
Rica's primary agricultural region, with
coffee farms making up the majority of landholdings. The rich volcanic soil of
this region makes it ideal for farming. The country's earliest settlements were
in this area, and today the Central Valley (which includes San José) is densely populated, with decent
roads, and dotted with small towns. Surrounding the Central
Valley are high mountains, among which are four volcanic peaks.
Two of these, Poás and Irazú, are still active and have caused extensive damage
during cycles of activity in the past 2 centuries. Many of the mountainous
regions to the north and to the south of the capital of San José have been declared national parks
(Tapantí, Juan Castro, and Braulio Carrillo) to protect their virgin rainforests
against logging.
The Northern Zone
This region lies to the north of San
José and includes rainforests, cloud forests, hot
springs, the country's two most active volcanoes (Arenal and Rincón
de la Vieja), Braulio
Carrillo National
Park, and numerous remote lodges. Because this is
one of the few regions of Costa
Rica without any beaches, it primarily
attracts people interested in nature and active sports. Lake Arenal
boasts some of the best windsurfing in the world, as well as several good
mountain-biking trails along its shores. The Monteverde Cloud Forest, perhaps Costa Rica's
most internationally recognized attraction, is another top draw in this region.
The Central
Pacific Coast
Because it's the most easily accessible coastline in Costa Rica, the
central Pacific coast boasts the greatest number of beach resorts and hotels. Playa
de Jacó is the most popular destination here, a beach within a few hours' drive
of San José
that attracts a large number of Canadian and German charter groups and plenty
of Tico tourists on weekends. Manuel Antonio, the name of a popular coastal
national park as well as the resort area that surrounds it, caters to people
seeking a bit more tranquillity and beauty. At the same time, this region is
home to the highest peak in Costa Rica
-- Mount Chirripó -- where frost is common.
The Southern Zone
This hot, humid region is one of Costa Rica's most remote and
undeveloped regions. It is characterized by dense rainforests and rugged
coastlines. Much of the area is protected in Corcovado
and La Amistad national parks. There is a wealth of wonderful nature lodges
spread around the shores of the Golfo Dulce and along the Osa Peninsula.
There's a lot of solitude to be found here, due in no small part to the fact
that it's hard to get here and hard to get around. But if you like your
ecotourism challenging, you'll find it to your liking.
The Caribbean Coast
Most of the Caribbean coast
is a wide, steamy lowland laced with rivers and blanketed with rainforests and
banana plantations. The culture here is predominantly Afro-Caribbean, with many
residents speaking English or Caribbean
patois. The northern section of this coast is accessible only by boat or small
plane and is the site of Tortuguero
National Park, which is
known for its nesting sea turtles and riverboat trips. The towns of Cahuita,
Puerto Viejo, and Manzanillo, on the southern half of the Caribbean
coast, are increasingly popular destinations. The coastline here boasts many
beautiful beaches and, as yet, few large hotels. However, this area can be
rainy, especially between December and April.
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