Costa Rica Vacations (Central Pacific Region)
A Costa Rica vacation to the Central Pacific Region offers incredible scenic beauty and an abundance of fun activities from surfing and sport fishing to canopy tours and scenic golf courses. One of the most visited National parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonia, is located here. In this postcard perfect Central Pacific region, jungle blanketed mountains teeming with wildlife meet long stretches of white sand beaches and rocky coastlines, making this one of the most scenic Costa Rica trips on any itinerary.
Quepos
Puerto Quepos, a town on the tropical inlet surrounded by primary rainforest, is a great stop on any Costa Rica vacation. Especially of interest to many is the fact that Costa Rica offers some of the best year-round sport fishing in the world and one of the best known places for reeling in the big ones is Quepos. Quepos is also the gateway to Costa Rica's famous Manuel Antonio National Park. The Park includes forest, mangrove swamps, lagoons and beach vegetation that are home to 109 species of mammals and 184 of birds. Scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking are all ways to explore this amazing Costa Rica National Park.
Quepos is well known for its friendly people who are prone to dancing in the streets; in fact their Festival del Mar in February lasts an entire month, making February a fun time for Costa Rica trips. The village center of Quepos offers a beachfront square of restaurants, bars, hotels, bakeries, art galleries and gift shops. The more adventurous Costa Rica Traveler may want to experience one of the White water rafting excursions on the Savegre (class ll-lll) and Naranjo (class lll to lV) Rivers. With extensive coral reefs and marine wildlife that includes humpback whales, sea turtles, giant rays, and a vast array of tropical fish, Manuel Antonio is a scuba divers dream beach vacation destination as well as a great location to get PADI certified.
Puntarenas
Once a bustling port town, Puntarenas had seen a decline in the economy the previous decade. But in recent years there has been vast improvement and the town is once again flourishing and tourism is here to stay. Today, it is the port of call for the cruise lines and where you can participate in many of the onshore activities, dine at open air cafes serving exceptional seafood or catch a ferry to the Nicoya Peninsula, home to nature reserves and refuges. Just south of Puntarenas is the bustling beach town of Jaco.
Jaco
Costa Rica surfing. Need we say more? Along with southern neighbor Playa Hermosa, this is the surfing mecca of the Costa Rica's Central Pacific region. If surfing or surfing lessons are on your Costa Rica travel agenda, then Jaco will surely please. Jaco is one of Costa Rica's most popular beaches. Nearby attractions are to be found at Manuel Antonio National Park, where you can you can experience the famous forest aerial tram, go horseback riding or go on a waterfall hiking tour.
Playa Hermosa
This town offers one the best surfing beaches in Costa Rica, as well as great nightspots, nice hotels, five star resorts, and incredibly scenic golf courses, including one championship golf course. Here, you can also catch a catamaran cruise to the enchanting Tortuga Island where you can take snorkeling tours in turquoise waters and relax on a pristine white sand beach. Another fun Playa Hermosa activity is the canopy tour that guides you from tree to tree along suspended platforms and hanging bridges in one of Costa Rica's transitional rainforests.
Dominical
The main attraction in this small town that lies 28 miles south of Quepos is surfing. Those looking for a quieter beach vacation experience than the more popular Playa De Hermosa will find it here. While the town is so small you don't need a vehicle, the beach's lifeguard program is top rate, making it a good destination for family Costa Rica vacations. Other popular Costa Rica activities are fishing, waterfall tours, canopy or zip line rides, horseback riding and hiking. The town also offers several restaurants with Costa Rican and international cuisine.
Costa Rica Travel Tips (Central Pacific Region)
Because the Central Pacific region is more mountainous than Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, it provides a dryer climate. However, still plan on bringing a rain jacket just in case, and if your Costa Rica vacation includes other regions as well, be sure to bring a variety of clothing. As always, when planning to travel to any of our best beach vacation destinations, it's smart to book ahead to avoid sell-outs and letting you get the most out of your Costa Rica Vacation.
Activities:
• Hiking
• Sport Fishing
• Horseback Riding
• ATV
• Canyoning/Canyoneering
• Golf
• Suring
• Snorkeling
• Rafting
• Wildlife Fun/Sightseeing
