TOP 4 THINGS TO DO ANDSEE IN COSTA RICA

by Mickael Marsali

With the winter quicklyapproaching, many people are

looking to escape the cold. Thereare a number of tropical

paradises where one can travel todo this, but Costa Rica is one of

the best.

In fact, U.S News ranksCosta Rica the number 1winter vacation spot. Ifyou want to enjoy warm

weather, beautifulbeaches and amazing

wildlife, you’ll want tohead to Costa Rica this

winter.

Here are a few ofthe best

attractions inCosta Rica:

NicoyaPeninsula

With its stunning beach-centrictowns and dense forests, NicoyaPeninsula’s 80-mile shoreline is

a must-visit.

The peninsula’s western edgeis lined with the powdery

sands of Nosara Beach, whilethe area east of the coastline

has fishing and cattle-ranching communities.

A number of restaurants andhotels have popped up on the

coast after a rise in tourism thatstarted in the 1970s.

Whether you’re a surfer or youjust love the beach, you’ll want

to take in Nosara Beach’scolorful fish, awe-inspiring

sunsets and turquoise waters.

If you’re going to take a walk onthe beach, sunset is the ideal

time, as there is minimal shadeand the coast can get very hot

during the day.

San José

Costa Rica’s bustling capital ofSan José is most likely the firstplace you’ll want to go before

exploring the rest of Costa Rica.

Roam through theinterconnected districts, calledbarrios, and take in the sights oftall apartment buildings, offices

and museums.

You may also want to headdowntown to explore the Pre-

Colombian Gold Museum and theJade Museum.

At both of the these museums,you’ll be able to see rare and

beautiful pre-Colombianartifacts.

Guanacaste

Unlike the misty rainforestsfound in other parts of the

country, Guanacaste is knownfor its dry, sunny savannas.

Look to the east and you’ll beable to see stunning volcanoesthat make up the Cordillera de

Guanacaste.

Often referred to as Costa Rica’s“Gold Coast”, Guanacaste has

beautiful secluded beaches thatare perfect for relaxing.

The coast extends all the way tothe Nicaraguan border and

features white sands, remotefishing villages and a number of

hotels.

One of the best attractions inGuanacaste is Rincón de la ViejaNational Park with its beautiful

waterfalls and hot springs.

ArenalVolcano

Standing at more than 5,000feet high, Arenal Volcano is one

of the world’s most activevolcanoes.

The volcano was dormant for anumber of years until it became

active again on July 29, 1968,creating a thunderous

earthquake and an explosion oflava that wiped out three

villages.

The volcano reentered a non-active state in 2010, but

travelers still look at the volcanofrom an observatory.

At the Arenal ObservatoryLodge, tourists can see the

beautiful volcano from an idealviewing spot.

The best time to see Arenal isbetween February and April, as

it is often covered by a thicklayer of fog during other parts of

the year.

There are so many incrediblesights in Costa Rica that it’s hardto see them all during a vacation.

But perhaps this can be yourexcuse to say a little longer. If

you want to travel to a beautifuldestination and stay away fromthe cold of winter, Costa Rica is

the place to go.