Where To Go, What To Do
Costa Rica's national parks offer visitors a myriad of things to see and do. The trails offer visitors the chance to spend several days walking through lowland tropical rain forest to frost covered mountain peaks. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife.
Bird Watchers should head to the rain forests at La Selva and to the Parque Nacional Tapanti (southeast of Cartago), Parque Nacional Palo Verde (at the head of the Golfo de Nicoya), Refugion Nacional de Vida Silvestre Cano Negro (east of Upala) and the area around Tortuguero.
Turtle Watchers should visit Playa Grande (20 minutes from Playa Potrero). Different species of turtle lay their eggs at different times of the year.
Witches Rock and Playa Negra on the Pacific Coast reportedly have some of the best surfing in Central America.
Windsurfers should check out Lake Arenal, near the spectacular volcano. There are snorkeling and diving possibilities at the Catalina Islands and in the Parque Nacional Isla del Coco.
Playa Flamingo is a center for deep-sea fishing, and there are plenty of opportunities to charter boats for several days or more.
Golfers should not miss the new ocean side Robert Trent Jones II golf course at Playa Conchal (2 miles away).
Rio Reventazon is one of the most exciting rivers and a favorite for rafters and kayakers. The river is navigable year-round, but June and July are the best months. Rio Pacure, the next major river valley east, is perhaps even more scenic and offers the best white-water rafting in the country through spectacular canyons.
