Costa Rica Sights

Costa Rica - an unusual country. In a small area there is a concentrated number of different natural systems, not just how many times you will find in the many times the big countries. Within a few hours you can see forever green rainforests and volcanic wasteland, stretching hundreds of kilometers of savannah and rain forest mountain slopes, extensive beaches and extensive coffee banana and coffee plantations - all this justifies the country's name ( "Costa Rica" in translation from Spanish - "Rich Coast"). There are numerous national parks, caves (including underwater), a variety of historical sites and architectural monuments, archaeological sites and ancient Indian settlements, as well as waterfalls, scenic mountains and river valleys, abundantly scattered throughout the country - are the main attractions of the country.

San Jose
The capital, San Jose, was founded in 1737 Located at an altitude of 1155 meters above sea level, the city is famous for its pleasant climate. The appearance of the city is a patchwork of different styles - from traditional Spanish architecture to the ultra-modernist trends. In the heart of San Jose is a beautiful area of the Plaza de la Culture, which is surrounded by a unique Gold Museum of pre-Columbian era (Myuzeo de Oro-Prekolombino), ICT and the Information Center of the National Theater. Nearby you can find an impressive building of the National Museum (1887) in the building of the former barracks of Bellavista and the Plaza de la Democracia, colorful buildings of the Legislative Assembly and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( "Casa Amarilla"), the magnificent Museum of jade in the area of Barrio Otoya, and Park-España (Parque de la Ekspreson), where on Sunday by local artists.
Deserve special attention Cathedral of San Jose (Catedral), Museum of Natural History in Sabana Park, the National Theater (historical monument of national importance), Tower Hotel Aurora and the National Bank, Centro Nacional de culture with art museum, zoo Simón Bolivar, Children's Museum and the Museum of prison authorities in a complex Kostarisense Centro de la Siensa (located in the building of the former prison of San José), Park La Sabana with colorful buildings of the old airport (now here is the Costa Rican Art Museum) and commercial area of Paseo Colon, skyscrapers ICE (Institute Costarricense de Electricidad) and INS (Institute Nacional de Seguros), insect museum, the Museum of History and the Museum of Criminology of the press, colorful markets, Mercado Central (Central Market) and Mercado-Borbon (Market of carts) as well as museums Philately, Railway and Photos.

Around the capital you can visit the second-largest city - Alajuela (here the interesting farm breeding butterflies and Juan Santamaria Museum in a former prison), Poas Volcano (2705 meters) - one of the most visited volcanoes of the country, zoo and children's entertainment complex "El Bosque Encantado, "La Garito, a farm for breeding butterflies La Guácimo in the eponymous town (one of the largest in the world)," the cleanest city in Latin America "- Gres with scenic" red church ", the center of the production of handicrafts made of wood in Sarchi, the old Spanish fortress Fortin in Heredia, Museum of coffee in SZN Pedro de Barva and the Institute of coffee in San Pedro de Heredia.

Cartago
Cartago Province is located southeast of San Jose and is famous for green valleys, covered with coffee plantations and sugar cane. The town of Cartago was founded in 1563, and until 1823 was the capital of Costa Rica. Nowadays it is the largest religious center of the country, although its former glory almost did not survive to the present day (the historical city center was completely destroyed by earthquakes 1841-1910 gg.). The glorious past of the city resemble a cathedral and the famous basilica of Cartago, Nuestra Senora de los Angeles (Our Lady of Angels "). Every August for the basilica attracts thousands of pilgrims, passing 22 km. from the capital to pay homage to a patron of the country. You can also visit the Ethnographic Museum, which houses an extensive exhibition of objects of pre-Columbian era and the colonial period.

South-east of Cartago is located Mirador-Sanchiri - the center of the famous valley Oros, which is a continuous cover is beautifully green vegetation, dominated by coffee trees. In the town Oroshi worth visiting the small museum of history of religion and antiquities, located near the church of the early XVIII century. Nearby, in Ujarrás, you can find the ruins of the oldest churches in the country (1681-1693 gg.). About Turrialba is world-renowned center of learning and cultivation of tropical crops Centro-Agronomiko-Tropical de Investigasion-and-Ensenyansa "(CATIE). 31 km. north-west of Cartago is an active volcano Irasu (elevation 3432 m), around which is self-titled National Park, and 19 km. north - the National Archaeological Monument Guayabo.

North Costa Rica
The northern part of the country, adjacent to the Nicaraguan border, is markedly different from their natural complexes from the center of the country. The main element of the landscape here - tropical plains "lyanuras, overgrown with high evergreen vegetation. This area is little visited by tourists and is subject to flooding, but this does not detract from its merits. The main attractions of this region are Venado caves, forest reserve Caño Negro (Refudzhio Nacional de Vida Silvestre--Caño Negro), waterfalls of La Paz and San Rafael, Sarapiqui region, with its forest tourist camps and research stations of La Selva and Rara-Avis, as well as the zone of archaeological excavations in Kutris.

Atlantic Coast
The eastern part of the country - a zone, winding canals, forests and picturesque mountain ranges and the identity of the people. Here, talk to a strange mixture of Spanish, English and Indian languages, listen to reggae, they grow cocoa and rice, and the indigenous inhabitants of the country live in forest reserves, where access is restricted to tourists.

Lemon
The most colorful city of the eastern part of the country - Lemon. Not the safest and most are not the cleanest city in the country, he is famous for its markets, the ethno-historical museum, Carnival (October 12), a luxurious beach Playa Bonita, as well as large communities originating from Jamaica, with all the relevant attributes. Noteworthy Reserve Estrella, Park Itoy-Cerere (part of an international fleet of La Amistad), coral reefs, the famous black sand beach in Cahuita National Park and the self-titled, rafting through the jungle from among Tortugero to Barra del Colorado, a reef of La Salsa Puerto Viejo Brava (one of the best places in the country for surfing), "banana country" Bribri, numerous Indian reservations in the territory of the international fleet Itoy-Cerere (La Amistad), as well as the magnificent beaches Pirikiki Playa, Playa Chiquita, Punta Cocles and Punta Uva.

The northern part of the Atlantic coast is absolutely flat and dotted with a network of channels. Rainfall (more than 5000 mm. Per year), this area is one of the first places in the world, so the climate here is quite heavy for such conditions unsuited to Europeans. But here there are splendid fishing, vast tracts of rainforest and a huge number of wild animals.

Northwest
The most attractive for the majority of tourists are the north-western part of the country. The climate is milder, and dodey less than the rest of the country. Luxury beaches here stretch for many hundreds of kilometers, and the concern of the Government of the ecology of visible most clearly - in recent years, the efforts of the authorities here, in parallel with the development of tourism infrastructure, is the introduction of environmentally sound technologies, which makes the cleanest beaches in Central America, and the natural complexes - one of the most unusual in the country.

In addition to the beautiful tourist complexes peninsulas of Nicoya and Osa `D, which can transfer the clock, here are worth visiting Reserve Kourou, whale bay Bahia Balena, rocky coves and waterfalls near Montezuma, Wilson Botanical Garden (part of the Park La Amistad) protecting sea turtles Reserve Ostonal and the country's first Wildlife Refuge Cabo Blanco, Corcovado Park and Caño Island, the picturesque bay of Bahia Drake (Drake Bay), Reserve Marenco, a free trade zone Golfito National Park, Santa Rosa, a resort town Hako and the National Reserve forest fauna Isla Bolaños. Here are one of the most attractive cities in Costa Rica - "white city" in Liberia, Guanacaste National Park with volcanoes Oroshi (1486 m) and Cacao (1660 m), numerous mud volcanoes and sulfur springs in the National Park Rincon de la Vieja, Arenal Volcano and the lake of the same name (incidentally, popular among windsurfer), Tabakon hot springs, waterfalls Katarata de la Fortuna, Monteverde rain forest reserve, nature reserve "Forest Santa Elena, Karara Biological Reserve, National Park Manuel Antonio and the famous "Turtle Island" Tortuga.

The country is ideally suited for active types of recreation. The most well known for it among the surfers who have long favored the local bank. On the Atlantic coast suitable for this sport beaches can be found in the area of Puerto Viejo (Salsa Brava, Playa Cocles) and Lemon (Playa Bonita). Much more popular Pacific coast near Mal Pais, Santa Teresita, Playa Grande, Playa Hako, Playa Carrillo, Playa Hermosa, Playa Esterrilos-Oeste, Dominican Bay and Playa Pabones, as well as calmer water in the area of Playa Tambor, Playa Naranjo, Playa Herradura and Playa Manzanillo. The best time for the "big wave" is considered here from July to August.

Windsurfing is cultivated on Lake Arenal, located at an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level. The lake is deservedly considered one of the best places in the world for this kind of sport - the wind is quite strong and constant, especially in the period from April to December.

The best place for scuba diving are inaccessible island Isla del Coco and Caco Island, the beaches of Playa Flamingo, Playa Hunkiyal, Nosar and Playa Lapite. His underwater world famous area of Marine National Park Balla, district Bahia Drake, and, of course, Guanacaste, with its famous coral reef, which is part of the same name of the National Park.

Pacific coast, from the Gulf of Papagayo to Golfito, is known for its excellent sites for sports fishing. Sailer, marlin, tuna and wahoo - traditional objects of local trophy fishing. Channels Tortugero and the area around Barra del Colorado are known for excellent catches of freshwater fish, and trout caught in many mountain rivers of the country.