Top Highlights - Costa Rica
Costa Rica is bordered to the north by Nicaragua, to the north-east by the Caribbean, to the south-east by Panama and to the west and south-west by the Pacific Ocean.
San Jose:
Costa Rica’s capital is the perfect base to explore the nearby volcanoes, rainforests, cloud forest national parks and the Pacific Ocean. San Jose has a number of plazas and parks, a range of dining, entertainment and shopping options to suit all budgets. Recommended places to shop are Mercado Central for hammocks and t-shirts, and Mercado Artesanal for handicrafts. A popular place for dining is the residential areas of Los Yoses and San Pedro which offer an array of dining choices, from bars and restaurants to night clubs.
Recommended Museums to visit:
The Museo Nacional de Costa Rica which offers an insight into the country’s history and pre-Columbian artefacts; and the Museo de Oro Precolombino / Museo de Numismatica house a glittering collection of pre-Columbian gold artefacts. The city’s most impressive building with its columned neo-classical façade and lavish lobby is the Teatro Nacional (national theatre) which opened in 1897.
Tortuguero National Park:
Located on the Caribbean Coast, the Park is vital to the survival of the green sea turtle. The park is home to nearly 30,000 green sea turtles - the largest breeding population in the world. Visitors to Tortuguero have the rare opportunity to watch the turtles dig their nests on the beach. The height of the nesting season comes in May and June. Of the eight species of marine turtles in the world, six nest in Costa Rica.
Natural and man-made canals are the main mode of transportation in Tortuguero, and this unique network of waterways allows up-close and personal exploration of this diverse region.
The waterways are home to a variety of animals, including sloths, crocodiles, toucans, monkeys and butterflies.
Arenal Volcano:
The 1633 metre high active cone rises out of the western end of the San Carlos plains. Its periodic eruptions of ash and molten rock, are accompanied by thundering blasts, and are an unforgettable experience anytime, but become extremely spectacular after dark as the glowing red igneous rocks are ejected into the night sky.
Monteverde Cloud Forest:
The 150,000 acre forest has gained international renown as one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the tropics. It contains an extremely high biologically diversity, including over 2,500 plant species, among them 420 different kinds of orchids, 750 species of butterflies, 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptilian and amphibian species, and thousands of insects.
Sarapiqui:
Located at the confluence of the Sarapiqui and Puerto rivers, Sarapiqui has been the centre of conservation activity in Costa Rica for many years, originally due to the presence of La Selva international biological research station. A ‘must do’ is a boat trip through Sarapiqui’s crystal-clear river, spotting hundreds of different species of wildlife. The Braulio Carrillo National Park occupies the heart of Sarapiqui and is home to thick virgin forest, countless waterfalls, swift rivers and deep canyons, and is only 30 minutes from San Jose.
Manuel Antonio National Park:
This very popular park is located on the Pacific Coast, 132 kms from San Jose. An evergreen forest grows right up to the high tide line of the white sand beaches. There is a varied fauna with 109 species of mammals and 184 of birds. The beaches are covered with coconut palms, a truly unique tropical paradise and resorts are tucked away into the forested strip. The area offers nature hikes, nature boat tours, sports fishing, dolphin watching and more.
The six geographical areas of Costa Rica:
Central Valley:
The country’s most developed region, serving as the country’s economic and government centre, and home to the capital, San Jose.
Northwest:
Costa Rica’s newest paradise, home to hundreds of miles of pristine beaches, white sand and palm tree-lined coves. Guanacaste offers a host of accommodation ranging from quaint beachside boutique hotels to five star resorts. Guanacaste is known for its extensive nature reserve that houses an incredible concentration of flora, fauna and natural beauty. And is also the place to spot sabaneros trotting through town on their horses, just like the Wild West.
Main points of interest:
Arenal Volcano; Palo Verde National Park (a bird-watcher’s and nature-lover’s paradise). The region also offers canopy tours, river rafting, horseback riding, forest hiking and biking, sailing, surfing, diving, snorkelling, fishing and turtle watching.
Central Pacific:
Due to it’s proximity to San Jose (1 1/2 to 3hr drive) it is a popular destination. The area has some of the world’s best beaches, outstanding surfing, primary rainforest reserves and is popular with off-the-beaten-path travellers who seek adventure. The highlight is the coast, as spectacular beaches border lush rainforests, and Manuel Antonio National Park.
Southwest:
Known as Central America’s last frontier, as most of the region is covered in primary rainforest, bringing travellers into close contact with nature without taking them out of their comfort zones. A visit to Corcovado National Park, called ‘the most biologically diverse place on the planet’ by National Geographic, is a must on any visit. The Park is home to the largest population of scarlet macaws, along with animal and plant species including jaguars, toucans and snakes.
Caribbean Coast:
One of the country’s most unique destinations, divided into North and South Caribbean. The North is mainly natural and man-made waterways surrounded by towering virgin rainforests. Accommodation is limited to a few lodges. The South offers golden beaches and colourful coral reefs with nature reserves. Here you find the Jamaican influence, which is evident in the music, food and language. The provincial capital Puerto Limon is a major port and where cruise ships dock.
North Central Mountains and Lowlands:
Known as 'the heart of Costa Rica' it showcases some of the most scenic countryside and small towns, and is only a two hour drive from San Jose, with its agricultural communities and cattle ranches.
Top Highlights - Panama
Panama borders Colombia, Costa Rica, the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. The two oceans are linked by the man-made Panama Canal, cut into a gap between the Cordillera de Talamanca and the San Blas mountain range and stretching for over 65km.
Panama City, the capital, is a curious blend of old Spain, modern America and the bazaar atmosphere of the East. In the old part of the city with its narrow, cobblestone streets, most of the interesting sights are to be found. These include the Plaza de Francia and the President’s Palace, the most impressive building in the city. The Panama Canal to the west of the city itself naturally attracts many visitors. An average transit takes eight hours to complete.
Panama City:
The capital of Panama is a modern, thriving commercial centre stretching 8km along the Pacific coast from the ruins of Panama Viejo to the edge of the Panama Canal. Casco Antiguo is an area of decaying colonial grandeur, striking architecture, peeling paint and decrepit balconies.
Boquete:
Known for its cool, fresh climate and pristine natural environment, the small alpine town of Boquete is nestled into a craggy mountain valley 38km north of David. It's a fine place for walking, bird-watching, horse riding and enjoying a respite from the heat of the lowlands. Flowers, coffee and citrus fruits are grown in the area and the town's Feria de las Flores y del Café is a popular annual festival held for ten days each January.
Isla Grande:
It would take all the exotic Caribbean clichés ever minted to describe this remote and beautiful island off the Caribbean coast near Portobelo. Only 7 sq km in size, it's inhabited by 300 people of African descent who make their living from fishing and coconuts. Visitors are often attracted by local festivities, which include San Juan Bautista on 24 June, celebrated with canoe and swimming races; the day of the Virgen del Carmen, on 16 July, marked by a land and sea procession; and Carnaval, before Ash Wednesday, fêted with Calypso dancing and songs.
Panama Canal:
The Canal is both an engineering marvel and one of the most significant waterways on earth. Seeing a huge ship nudge its way through the narrow canal, with vast tracts of virgin jungle on both sides, is an unforgettable sight. Stretching 80km from Panama City on the Pacific coast to Colón on the Atlantic side, it provides passage for nearly 14,000 ocean-going vessels per year. The easiest and best way to visit the Canal is to go to the Miraflores Locks, on the north-eastern fringe of Panama City, where a platform offers visitors a good view of the locks in operation.
Top Highlights – Belize
Belize is situated at the base of the Yucatán Peninsula in Central America and borders Mexico and Guatemala, with the Caribbean Sea to the east. The coastal strip is swampy with mangroves, salt and freshwater lagoons and sandy beaches crossed by a number of rivers. To the south and west rises the forested Maya mountain range.
Belmopan:
This is the country’s capital city, carved out of the jungle in the centre of Belize, near the Maya Mountain foothills. The imposing National Assembly building on Independence Hill is patterned with an ancient Mayan motif. Near the town of San Antonio, located in the Toledo District, is the Mayan site of Lubaantum, where the famous crystal skull was discovered in a temple vault.
Belize City:
Belize's colourful former capital is the country's only settlement of any size. The ramshackle town is at the mercy of tropical storms that have long damaged its aging wooden buildings. They also flush out the open drainage canals, redolent with pollution, which criss-cross the city. When there's no storm, Belize City bustles, steams and swelters. Few people come to Belize City for a holiday or to see the sights but it's the transportation and commercial hub of the country.
The Cayes:
At 290km long, Belize's barrier reef is the longest in the western hemisphere. To the west of the reef are numerous cayes basking in warm water. The two most popular with travellers are Caye Caulker for the low-budget and Ambergris Caye for the more cashed-up resort-oriented. Caulker's reef is smaller but arguably nicer. Just a short boat ride from the eastern shore, it offers some of the world's most exciting diving, snorkelling and fishing. Underwater visibility can be an astonishing 60m and the coral and tropical fish are spectacular.
Community Baboon Sanctuary:
The Community Baboon Sanctuary is spread over 32km of tropical rainforest, with the Belize River winding though its middle. The sanctuary is home to around 1200 rare Black Howler Monkeys, known locally as 'baboons', as well as an extraordinary variety of birds. You can hike through the park, or see the baboons and birds, lazily, from a canoe.
Lamanai:
This impressive Mayan site is located in its own archaeological reserve. Its 60 significant structures include a grand 34m high late Preclassic building, a small temple and a ball court. Lamanai ('submerged crocodile', the original Mayan name of the place) was occupied from 1500 BC and became a major ceremonial centre long before most Mayan sites.
Xunantunich:
Xunantunich (Stone Maiden), set on a levelled hilltop near the Belize River, is the archaeological pride of Belize. The site flourished as a ceremonial centre and is thought to have been abandoned after an earthquake damaged it around 900 AD. The site's tallest building - El Castillo - rises an impressive 40m above the jungle.