Costa Rica Field Trip

With two tropical oceans (Pacific and Caribbean), Costa Rica can certainly be a beach-fun sort of place, for families. However, it's better known for eco-tourism holidays.

Small wonder: with visit-able active volcanoes, mangrove swamps, lowland jungle, rainforests, cloud forests... All with the most stable political climate in Latin America. Lonely Planet calls Costa Rica "Central America's special jewel".

Total territory is less than 20,000 square miles-- over a quarter of which is protected. National parks cover almost 12% of the land; biological reserves and wildlife refuges can be visited too. The country has more than 850 species of birds, 600 species of butterflies, and such exotic mammals as three-toed sloths, tapirs, coatis, giant anteaters, peccaries, and jungle cats.

Costa Rica Attractions
The highlights of Costa Rica fall into four regions:
Near San Jose: Tapanti National Wildlife Refuge
-Poas Volcano (active and visitable)
Highlands:-Monteverde Cloud Forest
-Arenal Volcano National Park
The Pacific Coast: -Carara Biological Reserve (rainforest)
-Corcovado National Park
-Las Baulas Marine National Park
-Santa Rosa National Park
-Palo Verde National Park

Caribbean Coast & Northern Lowlands:
Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge
-Rara Avis
-Tortuguero National Park (visited by waterways, not roads)