Costa Rica is a small mountainous country on the narrow Central American isthmus. It´s only a day´s drive from its northern border with Nicaragua to neighborring Pannama in the south, and one could cross from ocean to ocean in only a few hours. But why hurry? There´s just too mucht to see and do in between.

Costa Rica´s stunning scenic heritage unfolds in a ever-changing panorama of steaming volcanoes, frested mountains, dramatic skies and bucolic countryside. Dark lowland jungles give way to  rolling savannas; Pacific surf crashes against rocky headlands, in sharp contrast to the tranquility of palm-fringed Caribbean beaches.

The climate is idylly. In the lowlands - which are dry in the Pacific northwest and humid elsewhere - daytime temperatures range in the eighties to nineties F° (high twenties to mild-thirties C°). Usually in the seventies F° (low to mid-twenties C°) at middle elevations, the mercury can fall as low as the forties and fifties F° (five to mid-teens C°) at the top of the mountains. Even nigth time frost is not an uncommon occurrence on the highest peaks. Within each elevational range, temperatures remain relativly constant year-round.

Rainfall, on the other hand, is subject to annual and regional patterns. The northwest has a fairly well-defined dry season (“verano” or summer) from November to April. The dry season is a month or two shorter along the southern Pacific coast. July also tends to be dry month on the Pacific slope. Welcome rains during the balance of the year about a general greening and freshens the countryside. Rains usually come in afternoon cloudbursts, leaving the mornings sunny and the night sky filled with stars. This period is called “inverno” (winter or rainy season) or “temporada verde” (green season). Rainfall on the Caribbean slope is more evenly distributed throughout the year, with marked dry periods in May-June and again in September-October.

Each year, Costa Ricans welcome thousands of visitors to share the peaceful beauty an natural treasures of their country. In Costa Rica, tropical nature has reached its greatest expression.

Located in the tropical latitudes, between the giant biological influences of North and South America and bordered by two oceans, mountainous Costa Rica enjoys an immense diversity of climates and environmental regions. Twelve major life zones harbor an astounding amount of plant and animal life. While Costa Rica covers a mere 0.03% of the planet’s surface, the nation is endowed with over 5% of all life forms on earth.

Costa Ricans have preserved this invaluable biodiversity in protected areas covering fully one-quarter of the land and organized into major units called Conservation Areas. No other country in the world has so much actively protected area per capita.

Costa Rica is often cited as a model for conservation in harmony with community development and economic growth. National parks and reserves are open to the public at government established fees.

Private reserves set their own entrance rates. An impressive 22.647 miles (36.447km) of roads plus well-developed nature trail systems give easy access to every habitat and all but the most remote areas.

You can drive to the very edge of volcanic crater, through the heart of a mountain jungle, take an aerial tram ride in the rainforest canopy and soak up sun on a deserted beach, all on the same day in all but the most remote areas.