Costa Rica ( República de Costa Rica ). A voyage to Costa Rica, Central America - spot wildlife, cloud forest, sandy beach...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVDe-sujvWA/TyqnErsFhOI/AAAAAAAABoc/aRGwkLFOZrE/s1600/Costa+rica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVDe-sujvWA/TyqnErsFhOI/AAAAAAAABoc/aRGwkLFOZrE/s640/Costa+rica.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>  <br /><div class="destinationMapLink clearfix"><a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText"></span></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JZYlXeb1S74/TyqnH6mMEjI/AAAAAAAABos/dMDFDsiQHJk/s1600/Costa+rica+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JZYlXeb1S74/TyqnH6mMEjI/AAAAAAAABos/dMDFDsiQHJk/s320/Costa+rica+5.jpg" width="320" /></a>Mention Costa Rica and people think paradise. The country’s Disneylike cast of <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/wildlife/overview" target="_self">creatures</a> – ranging from howler monkeys to toucans – are populous and relatively easy to spot. The waves are prime, the beauty is staggering and the sluggish pace seductive. A peaceful oasis in a tumultuous region, this tiny nation draws 1.5 million visitors every year.</div><div class="MsoNormal">What’s on tap? The question is what isn’t? Active travelers can surf, hike, snorkel and <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/travel-tips-and-articles/42/1544" target="_self">spot wildlife</a> for starters. The incredibly varied topography means you can cruise the <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/northwestern-costa-rica/monteverde-and-santa-elena/sights/453487" target="_self">cloud forest</a> one day, visit an <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/northwestern-costa-rica/la-fortuna-and-around/sights/467488" target="_self">active volcano</a> the next, and finish relaxing on a <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/travel-tips-and-articles/42/1543" target="_self">hot sandy beach</a>. Adrenaline junkies have a <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/travel-tips-and-articles/42/1545" target="_self">myriad ways to make mothers worry</a> – among them zipping through canopy lines hundreds of meters long and riding the rough surf of the Pacific. Choice and variety name the game.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQRVcmeWeuA/TyqnN96HEiI/AAAAAAAABpE/0q2tsZwR1QQ/s1600/Costa+rica+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQRVcmeWeuA/TyqnN96HEiI/AAAAAAAABpE/0q2tsZwR1QQ/s320/Costa+rica+9.jpg" width="320" /></a>Of course, the frenzy to snatch up a piece of Shangri-la has its consequences. Since the boom, tourism is more chic and less cheap. Classic destinations are now crowded destinations and local culture is often lost or cast aside. Lucky for Costa Rica that its do-gooder fans, ranging from ecologists to proud Ticos (Costa Ricans), are vocal and vigilant. Nature here suffers its blows, like everywhere, but at least it is taken seriously.<a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText"></span></a><a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText"> </span></a><a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText"></span></a><a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText"></span></a><a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText">Show in Lonely Planet</span></a></div><br /><b>Ready to go? Our recommended tours make it easy:</b><br /><ul class="inBody"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVnv8qin2sc/TyqnJ5x3VvI/AAAAAAAABo0/Ogkk2PUvGlg/s1600/Costa+rica+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVnv8qin2sc/TyqnJ5x3VvI/AAAAAAAABo0/Ogkk2PUvGlg/s320/Costa+rica+7.jpg" width="320" /></a><li>Cycle<a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/central-america/tours/active/cycle-nicaragua-costa?lpaffil=fbta1"> Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama</a></li><li>Whitewater Raft on the<a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/northwestern-costa-rica/activities/river-rafting-tubing/whitewater-rafting-on?lpaffil=fbta1"> Corobici River </a></li><li>Go on a daytrip to the<a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/northwestern-costa-rica/activities/day-trips/costa-rican-wildlife?lpaffil=fbta1"> Palo Verde National Park</a></li></ul>Want more? Browse all our recommended<a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/tours?lpaffil=fbta1"> Costa Rica tours</a><br /><div class="relatedLinks clearfix"><h3 class="themeHeading"> More about Costa Rica </h3><ul><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c4fiTyRSjAQ/TyqnMOmTPGI/AAAAAAAABo8/gMsSTrxSI1s/s1600/Costa+rica+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c4fiTyRSjAQ/TyqnMOmTPGI/AAAAAAAABo8/gMsSTrxSI1s/s400/Costa+rica+8.jpg" width="400" /></a><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/places">Places in Costa Rica <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/weather">When to go & weather <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/transport/getting-there-away">Getting there & around <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/practical-information/money-costs">Practical information <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/history">History <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/work-study-volunteering/work">Work & study <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/wildlife/overview">Wildlife <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/travel-tips-and-articles">Tips & articles <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/">Hotels</a></li></ul></div><div class="relatedLinks clearfix"><h3 class="themeHeading"> Make it happen</h3><ul><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/shopSearch?q=costa+rica">Shop for travel guides</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/">Search hotels</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bookings/flights.do">Cheap flights</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bookings/insurance.do">Travel insurance</a></li></ul></div><div class="mpuWrapper " id="mpuSponsorLrg"><div class="mpuInner"><div class="adContainer" id="adContainer_mpuSponsorLrg"><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v8/3c0f/0/0/%2a/m;44306;0-0;0;56852950;33734-479/303;0/0/0;;%7Eokv=;ctt=central-america;cnty=costa-rica;thm=adventure-travel;tnm=overview;tnm=sponsor-large;rsi=J08781_10159;rsi=J08781_10291;rsi=J08781_10287;rsi=J08781_10052;rsi=J08781_10205;%7Esscs=%3f" target="_top"><img alt="Click here to find out more!" border="0" src="http://s0.2mdn.net/viewad/817-grey.gif" /></a> </div></div></div><h3> </h3></div>

Costa Rica ( República de Costa Rica ). A voyage to Costa Rica, Central America - spot wildlife, cloud forest, sandy beach...

  Mention Costa Rica and people think paradise. The country’s Disneylike cast of creatures – ranging from howler monkeys to toucans...

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