costa rica holidays

about costa rica holidays

 

Costa Rica is renowned as a nature lover’s paradise with beautiful beaches, diverse jungles and dramatic volcanoes. This beautiful country is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and offers a wealth of attractions. The capital San Jose has a welcoming cosmopolitan charm, while the national parks and reserves that protect nearly 25% of the land are home to an abundance of wildlife. To see the jungle from its richest perspective enjoy an unforgettable tour of the rainforest canopy or soak in the thermal springs while watching hummingbirds in the forest around you. Costa Rica’s Tortuguero beaches attract sea turtles each year from June – October and the golden beaches and reefs of Manuel Antonio are perfect for snorkelling and diving. If you want more action then why not try river rafting, sport fishing or some of the best trekking in Latin America? Whatever your aspirations may be, rest assured that you are in the hands of the experts. The Holiday Place have over 15 years experience in arranging personalised itineraries that combine the highest calibre of staff and guides to ensure you have the experience of a lifetime.

important holiday info

Climate:	Tropical	Time Zone:	GMT(-6)
Language:	Spanish	Current Times:
Currency:	Colon	costa rica: 9-Feb-10 4:44 AM
Temperature:	25°C/35°C	UK: 9-Feb-10 10:44 AM

arenal holidays

our hotels in arenal

Costa Rica is about beautiful beaches, lush rainforest and the spectacular Arenal Volcano. The Arenal Volcano is Costa Rica’s only constantly active volcano and is considered one of the most picturesque volcanoes in the world. You can see eruptions and glowing red lava almost every day providing fantastic views both day and night. The landscape of Arenal has two contrasting faces, one is covered with lush rainforest and the other is of lava tracts and ash from the constant eruptions. The surrounding national park has hiking trails through the rainforest, some trails even cross lava fields. Lake Arenal is one of the area's main attractions, perfect for fishing or waterskiing and is well known as the windsurfing centre of Costa Rica. Other attractions in the area include the stunning 70-meter La Fortuna Waterfall and Venado Caves. The nearby Tabacón Hot Springs are the perfect place for visitors to relax in the warm waters surrounded by tropical forest.

guanacaste holidays

our hotels in guanacaste

Visitors to Guanacaste are treated to beautiful beaches, fabulous national parks, and dramatic volcanoes. Enjoy long summer days on a secluded beach or discover the rich natural ecology of the area. The spectacular rainforest comes to life in the ‘green season’ with an explosion of colour and fragrances. Enjoy bird watching in Palo Verde National Park, spot wildlife in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park or see turtles nesting at Playa Grande. Explore the rivers and ravines in the cloud forests of Orosi and Cacao volcanoes or bathe in the warm thermal springs. This region has rich marine life and is great for snorkelling and diving. Those looking for an active holiday can try horse riding, kayaking, windsurfing, hiking and mountain biking. Guanacaste has countless surf breaks scattered along the coast and many towns offer surf lessons. This region also has a vibrant rural community famous for its many fiestas and local cowboys, the Sabaneros. Fantastic hotels, natural beauty and plentiful sunshine make Guanacaste an ideal holiday destination for nature and beach lovers alike.

monteverde holidays

our hotels in monteverde

In Spanish, Monteverde means ‘green mountain’ and this area is one of the most interesting and popular destinations in Costa Rica. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the Americas. The reserve protects more than 100 species of mammals and over 400 species of birds including the unique Resplendent Quetzal, the Emerald Toucanet, the endangered Bellbird, and 30 species of hummingbird. We recommend stopping at the Hummingbird Gallery and the butterfly and frog gardens.

Santa Elena Reserve is located near Monteverde and while it is not as famous, it still has a wealth of wildlife and pristine cloud forest. There are a number of exciting activities available in the area including horse riding, white-water rafting, and night hiking to see the nocturnal animals. A favourite activity is taking a Canopy Tour, where you can walk or fly over the cloud forest on elevated walkways and zip-lines. For nature-lovers Monteverde is an ideal holiday destination.

quepos and manuel antonio holidays

our hotels in quepos and manuel antonio

Located just under 2 hours from Costa Rica’s capital San Jose, Quepos and Manuel Antonio are blessed with stunning beaches fringed by forested green hills. This picture postcard setting boasts wildlife refuges, national parks and nature reserves. The long sand beach Playa Espadilla runs between Quepos and Manuel Antonio and is one of Costa Rica’s most popular beaches. Inside the Manuel Antonio National Park, visitors will find pristine white sand beaches perfect for swimming and sun bathing. You can also hike the rainforest trails to more remote beaches spotting sloths and other wildlife along the way. If you are lucky you can even spot a rare squirrel monkey. The waters around Manuel Antonio are excellent for diving and snorkelling with coral reefs and abundant marine life. Other activities in the area include white-water rafting, horse riding, sports fishing, dolphin watching, and sunset cruises. For those who want to explore further afield, a scenic coastal highway connects Quepos to Caldera and other towns and reserves in the region. A highlight of any holiday in Manuel Antonio is to watch the picturesque sunset over the Pacific Ocean from Cathedral Point and reflect on the charms of Costa Rica.

san jose holidays

our hotels in san jose

San Jose is Costa Rica’s modern capital that welcomes visitors with its cosmopolitan charm. Founded in the colonial era, 1737, San Jose was a small quiet town until around the 1890's when El Teatro Nacional was built. Considered Central America’s grandest theatre, Teatro Nacional was built to emulate the Paris Opera with funding raised by a tax on coffee. The city is dotted with grand plazas and parks it also boasts many museums. The Gold Museum offers a rare look at the different gold artefacts of ancient Latin American civilizations. The Mercado Central is an enormous maze of food markets showing a snap-shot of every-day life and the street craft market at Plaza de la Democracia is perfect for those looking for souvenirs. You can find many good bars, shopping centres, restaurants and a lively nightlife in San Jose making it a great stopover on your Costa Rican holiday.

tortuguero holidays

our hotels in tortuguero

Tortuguero is one of Costa Rica's most popular ecotourism destinations with rainforest, lagoons, wildlife and beaches. The long beaches of Tortuguero are washed by the warm waters of the Caribbean sea and during the summer months, July - September, thousands of endangered green sea turtles come ashore lay their eggs. Tortuguero National Park is the most important turtle nesting ground in the Western Caribbean with leatherback and hawksbill turtles also choosing to nest here. Tortuguero is called ‘Costa Rica's Amazon’ thanks to the network of scenic lakes, waterways, lagoons and interconnected channels running through the jungle. These navigable waterways allow a great diversity of wildlife to be observed including caiman, iguana, monkeys and sloths in the forest canopy. The rainforest is also home unique plants including the Raphia Palm with the largest leaves of any plant. The town of Tortuguero is a small car-less village set on the main island where visitors can find souvenirs, bars and little local restaurants. Tortuguero offers an eco-friendly holiday experience in secluded natural surroundings.