The 5 Best Things That Make Costa Rica Special

What do you think of when you hear the words ‘Costa Rica’? Chances are you’re imagining white beaches and blue seas, a tropical climate, and cold cocktails. But Costa Rica, as a place to live or visit, has so much more to offer than just the standard tourist trappings. 

Read on to find out the 5 things that make Costa Rica a very special destination, one that is worth putting on your must-visit list of countries.

Anyone for watersports?

Costa Rica is home to a huge number of watersports that appeal to a range of tourists, from total beginners who may enjoy some simple body surfing to experienced boaters taking part in races and hours of adrenaline-filled aquatic fun.

If you’re looking for an active, sporty holiday, look no further. Companies such as volcano.cr can cater for all your watersports needs.

From wakeboarding to tubing, from wakesurfing to waterski, Volcano Watersports has got it covered, and all this at the foot of the legendary Arenal Volcano providing a stunning backdrop to your adventure.

You can check out Health-Conscious Packing: Must-Have Items for Your Travel Kit.

Eco-tourism and conservationism

Although Costa Rica is a small country with a population of under 5 million people and a surface area of just over 51,000 square kilometres, it actually contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity.

This is due to its commitment to preserving its stunning natural beauty and its rich and thriving ecosystems. It has no less than 4 areas inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list (one is cultural and three are natural), 29 national parks, 19 wildlife refuges and 8 biological reserves.

If you’re looking for a holiday in a place that values its natural resources highly and wants to keep them pristine for future generations, then Costa Rica is the destination for you. It is, incredibly, the first country in the world to reverse deforestation.

The land of volcanoes

With its 6 active and 61 dormant or extinct volcanoes, Costa Rica is a country that invites the more adventurous tourist.

When visiting volcanoes, please bear in mind that they can create sudden ash clouds and landslides, so caution is advised.

Nevertheless, hiking up to a crater or zip lining over the volcanic terrain remains a firm favourite for many travellers to Costa Rica.

In fact, according to the official figures of the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo, more than a third of the visitors to this country will at some point visit a volcano.

Pura Vida

In Spanish, ‘pura vida’ means simple or pure life. In Costa Rica, it can also be taken to mean all things good and enjoyable, from the weather through to the friendliness of the people, who will delight you with their hospitality and warmth.

Coffee

It may astound you to learn that Costa Rica has nearly 400 million coffee trees growing in the country, with more than 300 varieties of Arabica coffee originating here.

In fact, since a law was passed in 1989, it is the only country in the world where it is illegal to produce any type of coffee other than 100% Arabica, guaranteeing top quality of the coffee beans.