Costa Rica extends majestically from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea with a width distance of barely 200 miles. Its land portion occupies only 20 thousand square miles.
The variations in landscape and climate from province to province are truly amazing.
Costa Rica is one of most highly valued tourism destinations on this planet. This small piece of land has all the necessary components to intrigue and continually satisfy the millions who visit each year. Costa Rica has extensive tourism offerings, including rainforests, volcanoes, rivers traveling through the mountains, beaches, national parks and forest reserves.
The distance between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea is 200 miles.
The diversity of landscapes and microclimates that can be enjoyed in one day make this country a paradise destination.
In our territory travelers can find: sun and beaches, adventure, nature and culture , all necessary components to satisfy the demands of thousands of tourists who encounter an ideal vacation in Costa Rica, which combines nature and the warmth of its honorable and hard-working people.
In addition to its personal warmth and cultural traditions, this destination is internationally recognized for its nature, possessing about 5% of the world's biodiversity.
Costa Rica, which pioneered the concept of ecotourism, has become one of the most visited destinations in Central America by adventure lovers, thanks to its beautiful and intense natural landscapes.
Mountains, valleys, volcanoes, beaches, lakes, caves, forests, national parks, natural springs, hot springs, and countless species of flora and fauna are just some of the natural options available for tourists to enjoy during visits.
Twenty-six percent of the national territory is protected, and because of its abundance of wildlife, the National System of Conservation Areas protects wilderness areas and national parks across the country with the aim of preserving its natural resources, sources of life and tourism attractions.
Puntarenas Province
Known as the Pearl of the Pacific, Puntarenas is the largest province of Costa Rica, with an area of 11,276 Km2. The main attraction is its Pacific coastline, extending more than 500 miles down to the Panamanian border.
This vast province offers a variety of beaches, national parks, and natural reserves of an extraordinary ecological importance, since it is a transition area between the dry tropical lands of Guanacaste and the green forests of the Central Pacific.
The Port of Caldera and the City of Puntarenas in season receive hundreds of visitors daily from cruise ships which make port calls on its coasts. Some of these ships are traveling with the Panama Canal as the destination, which allows passengers to disembark and explore Costa Rica's inland, only to meet their cruise ship some days later at the port of Limon, in the Caribbean.
Carara's Biological Reserve constitutes one of the best showcases to the natural heritage of Puntarenas. This reserve includes an extension of 11,600 acres of forests and mangroves. Today, only some portions of the reserve are available to visitors, but professional guides, who are allowed to explore some restricted areas, may be hired.
Manuel Antonio National Park is another destination in the province of Puntarenas. With its impressive white-sand beaches, blue waters of the Pacific and hundreds of hectares of rainforest, this park is one of the smallest in Costa Rica, but at the same time, one of the most highly visited.
Manuel Antonio is one of the few places in Costa Rica where the squirrel monkey (titi) still lives. Within the park there are over 100 species of mammals and an equal number of bird types.
Also belonging to Puntarenas is the Corcovado National Park - located south and constituting the habitat of important endemic species such as the gold frog. The exotic Tarcoles River is here also, whose banks are guarded by hundreds of American crocodiles.
Good food especially seafood as well as the well-known carnivals held each summer, and the warmth of its people, are some of the nice surprises awaiting visitors in this province.
Photo by:Devon Hawkins/on/Unsplash / Photo by:Zden'k Mach'ek/on/Unsplash
