Guanacaste is famous for its spectacular beaches in the Pacific coast with more than 125 miles of extension. The beaches of Guanacaste are blessed by the good climate and their crystalline waters. To fish, to swim, to dive, surf or alone to take sun those are some of the so many things that the tourists can do. The visitors can also eat delicious sea food picked up by the local fishermen and enjoy them in a dinner under a starry sky, or simply in a lunch with a reconfortant breeze.

Guanacaste beaches are ideal for surfing, even more, the area is one of the five good known points of the world for the practice of this sport. The fishing in high sea is also excellent since they are carried out championships of this discipline annually. Most of the Guanacaste beaches have white sands and a dense vegetation. Some of these beaches are ancestral places where the turtles spawn their eggs. It is said that Guanacaste has so many beaches that you could end up surprising of them...

This region of Costa Rica is particularly attractive for tourists who are looking forwards to beautiful beaches and exciting extreme adventures, such as white-water rafting and other similar sports.

In this region, the coastline offers spectacular beaches. Some of these beaches are crowded, full of action and recreations, but other are quiet and hidden, thus offering tourists a chance to relax from city life.However, most beaches are located o­nly two hours away from the capital city of San Jose.

The Central Pacific zone also offers great chances for surfing and many natural reserves where to match animals and plants. o­ne particularly beautiful location is Tortuga Island, famous for its white sand beaches and turquoise waters: the perfect place for swimming and snorkeling.

In this area, Puntarenas is the largest city. It is located o­n a narrow sandbar in front of the Gulf of Nicoya and it was Costa Rica's major port for most of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It has a 17 kilometer long black sand beach, attractive for those looking forward for a chance to do wind-surfing and body-boarding.The city and its beaches are usually the center of national and international triathlons and other sport activities.

Then there is Jaco, o­ne of the favorites Central Pacific beaches. There is the town of Jaco in front of the beach and it offers excellent restaurants, hotels, and clubs, as well as the typical, inexpensive "sodas" or local restaurants where you can sample delicious Costa Rican typical dishes.

Along the road departing from Jaco to Quepos, o­ne may observe the long rows of African oil palm plantations. The palm fruit produce oil used in food and cosmetics.Once in Quepos, you may rent a small boat to visit the beautiful island located along the shore, or you may stay in the mainland and visit the beautiful Manuel Antonio beaches and the Manuel Antonio National Park, described below.

Far away in the Pacific Ocean there is the fascinating Cocos Island, which belongs to Costa Rica. This island is famous for stories of hidden pirate treasures. However, scientists like Jacques Cousteau have shown the world that the real treasure is the island's biodiversity. It is also o­ne of the world's greatest places for scuba diving in the company of dolphins, sharks and ocean fishes.

This region also has other areas of great tourist and scientific interest, such as Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez, and four national parks> the Corcovado N.P., the Chirripo N.P., the Ballena (Whales) Marine National Park, and La Amistad (friendship) International Park, and the Isla del Cano Biological Reserve.Only at the Corcovado N.P., in the Osa Peninsula, o­ne will find over 500 species of trees, that is, o­ne fourth of all known Costa Rican tree species.No wonder this park is o­ne of the parks with more biological diversity in the world.

This is really an oasis of enchantment, with all its exotic fauna, diversity, friendly people and amazing natural views. The region also counts with important national parks, numerous private wildlife reserves, beautiful natural beaches and many acres of virginal rain forest.

Forests are full of every imaginable kind of birds, insects and other animals, very well known or perhaps unknown. Scientists ponder that even though Costa Rica takes o­nly 0.03$ of the planet's surface, it holds over 5% of the all life forms.

This region also has other areas of great tourist and scientific interest, such as Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez, and four national parks> the Corcovado N.P., the Chirripo N.P., the Ballena (Whales) Marine National Park, and La Amistad (friendship) International Park, and the Isla del Cano Biological Reserve.Only at the Corcovado N.P., in the Osa Peninsula,o­ne will find over 500 species of trees, that is, o­ne fourth of all known Costa Rican tree species.No wonder this park is o­ne of the parks with more biological diversity in the world.

Everything you have always expected from a tropical destination is presented to you o­n a golden tray at Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. Here, Nature is exuberant and people are friendly.Runningfor almost 200 kilometers, the coast ranges from the Nicaraguan border down to Panama.

To get there o­ne must take the "Braulio Carrillo" highway, which connects San Jose to the city of Limon. During the trip, you will enjoy the breeze and the tropical beauty of banana plantations, beautiful plants and the fruits of"pejibaye", a native delicacy, which are sold along the road. o­nce in Puerto Limon, from their central park you will have the Caribbean Sea in front of you, and you can watch, just a mile away, Uvita Island, where Columbus set foot in 1502 when he discovered Costa Rica. The little island is inhabited by seabirds and has o­ne of the most beautiful coral reefs in the country.

Going down South, we will find the small towns of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo. Manzanillo is famous for its great concentration of different marine ecosystems. For example, you will find there over 35 different species of coral; 147 species of mollusks; 123 species of sea and fresh water fish, and 128 species of marine algae. Puerto Viejo is world-famous among surfers who want to ride the "Salsa Brava", the local waves that may reach 40 feet high. However, there are also other great locations for surfers in the nearby beaches of Playa Bonita, Westfalia, and the Uvita Island.

Also in the same area, you may find the beaches of Punta Uva, Cocles, and Gandoca-Manzanillo, where o­ne can spot dolphins and many migrating birds. Watching wildlife might take away your stress and provide you with calm and relaxation.

All of the above tropical locations may be reached taking the road from Puerto Limon, which always runs parallel to the coast. o­n the way, you may also spot estuaries and lagoons, surrounded with beautiful and lush tropical vegetation.People like to talk about the great positive energy o­ne finds in these quiet and peaceful beaches. Energy that goes deep into your soul.

For fishing fans, here your will find excellent conditions for catching tarpon, robalo, wahoo, dolphin-fish, Spanish fish, mackerel, jack crevalle, and barracuda.

La región central del caribe de Costa Rica cubre el sector comprendido entre las bocas de los ríos Matina, Pacuare y el limite de la Boca del Río Parismina. Aquí se protege el último bloque de bosque que queda en esta zona. En la playa, hacen sus nidos las tortugas marinas, incluyendo la baula (Dermochelys coriacea). También abundan aquí las tortugas de río. Los canales de Tortuguero atraviesan esta región.

Actualmente la región central del caribe de Costa Rica no ha sido explotada comercialmente, es una zona que ha permanecido sin cambios en los últimos 20 años, los habitantes de la zona son los propietarios que tienen más de 50 años de habitar esta región o filántropos que han adquirido tierras para conservar los bosques y la protección de los animales como las tortugas, cocodrilos y los manatíes.

En la boca del Río Pacuare se encuentra la Reserva Biológica del Pacuare y la Laguna Madre de D-ós, existe un poblado con su escuela y su salón de actividades, así como un campamento de tiendas de campaña para estudiantes y cabañas para familias que se llama Lirio Lodge www.liriolodge.com , se puede ir tambien en los tours regulares de un día que organiza la empresa Tortuguero Expeditions ( www.tortugueroexpeditions.com ).

Es el lugar ideal para el descanso, lejos del ruido y el tumulto.

Aquí también hay lugares excelentes para pescar tarpón, róbalo, wahoo, dorado, español y macarela, jack crevalle y barracuda.

Tortuguero National Park is o­ne of the 'must" places of the surroundings. This park is the center of scientific research and observation of the green sea turtle and crocodiles. It is a great attraction for both scientist and eco-tourists.

This National Park is located o­n the Caribbean coast, 84 kilometers northeast of Limon. This is the most important green turtle nesting area of the whole Caribbean basin. There are also other species of turtles, such as the leatherback and the yellowbill.It is also famous of the variety of plants, among which you may find "yolillo" palms and the "cativo" tree, very conspicuous and always bordering the canals and waterways.

The forest of Tortuguero is a tropical rain forest crossed in all directions by natural lagoons and artificial canals where you can travel by boat, among the beautiful and luscious vegetation, you may encounter many wild animals such as the tapir, and the manatee, the jaguar, crocodiles, many types of crustaceans, many species of monkeys (white-face monkey, howling monkey, spider monkey), otters, the fishing bat (one of the largest bats), the poisonous frog or red toad, which has a toxic skin.

Actually more than 57 species of amphibians, 11 species of reptiles, 309 species of birds, and 30 species of freshwater fish inhabit the area, including the famous "gaspar" fish, plus 60 species of mammals.

The flora is represented by many tree species such as, (with their local Spanish names): cedro macho,gavilán, pilón,javillo negro,fruta dorada,alcanfor,cativo,manú,maría,palma yolillo,palma suita, palma real , and choreja or water lily.There are three life zones in which tropical forests are divided: The Pre-Mountainous, the Humid-to-Basal transition forest, and the Tropical Humid Forest. There eight types of major biological associations (among trees, bushes and weeds) and three minor associations (mostly weeds and grasses).

Tortuguero is o­ne of country's locations with the highest rainfall rates, between 5.000 and 6.000 mm per year. There are, however, two types of rain: the local brief rainstorm, which are the most frequent, and the typical Caribbean rainstorm which may last 15 days and are mainly caused by the North and Northeast trade winds.

Tortuguero National Park is a shelter for the region's flora and fauna. Many of the species found there are endangered. The Park also offers facilities and chances for research and investigation for many scientists, and the park also fosters all kinds of environmental education program.

For fishing fans, here your will find excellent conditions for catching tarpon, robalo, wahoo, dolphin-fish, Spanish fish, mackerel, jack crevalle, and barracuda.