A popular day trip to see volcanoes and tropical forest from Guanacaste is Rincon de la Vieja National Park. The most visited entrance of this park by far is Las …
Hiking the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
At the end of the road, south of Puerto Viejo on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, you’ll find the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Mixed Wildlife Refuge. This protected land is the ideal place …
Tortuguero Canals by Boat
Many years ago, we paddled through Tortuguero National Park’s waterway canals in a tipsy canoe. Gliding through the wetlands, we snuck up on birds, river turtles, and caimans. On our …
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve: Uncrowded Nature
Last Updated: May 9, 2024 Monteverde has several nature reserves where you can hike through lush cloud forest. There’s the popular Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the Curi Cancha Reserve, and …
Cerro Tortuguero: Hike and Viewpoint
If you are visiting Tortuguero in the northeastern corner of Costa Rica, you will notice that the landscape is very flat and wet. Tortuguero, after all, is in the middle …
El Jilguero Ecotourism Project: Hiking and Fumaroles
If you’re headed to the Lake Arenal area and want to do an off-the-beaten path hike, El Jilguero Ecotourism Project may be the perfect fit. This little-known ecotourism project is …
Madre Verde Nature Reserve in Palmares
Costa Rica’s protected forests are the heart of its environmental splendor. But the country’s network of national parks don’t do it alone. Dozens of private reserves combine to safeguard an …
The Wildlife of Manuel Antonio National Park
Costa Rica holds about 25% of its land in protected areas. There are 32 national parks and many more private reserves. These vast stretches of jungle, mountain, mangrove, and other …
The Truth About Visiting Poas Volcano
Last Updated: August 18, 2022 Poas Volcano is one of Costa Rica’s most iconic volcanoes. At almost a mile (1.5 kilometers) wide and 900 feet (300 meters) deep, this crater …
Curu National Wildlife Refuge – Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Curu
Sitting casually along the roadside on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is the Curu National Wildlife Refuge. Marked by a few simple signs, most travelers race past this reserve on their …