Costa Rica

This small, beautiful country located on the narrow isthmus between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean is renowned for the greatest bio-diversity in Latin America and has an enlightened approach towards conservation.

Approximately 25% of the land is protected by National Parks or Wildlife Refuges. Take time to explore the rainforest, marvel at the volcanoes and soak in their thermal springs, spot exotic birds and flowers, and relax on the wide Pacific beaches. We have outlined here some of the services we offer but please tell us if you have any specific requirements. We can book many different hotels and lodges, some off the beaten track.

Add to the above tropical dry forest, mangroves, wetlands and coral reefs and you begin to see the huge variety of life zones available. There are so many fascinating National Parks, but some of our favourites are Monteverde, Tortugero, Arenal, Manuel Antonio, Corcovado and Rincon de la Vieja which we mention on these pages. However, please let us know if you are interested in any other parks.

A country without an army

Central America has had more than its fair share of civil wars, political turmoil and bloodshed but Costa Rica has been a stable democracy for over 100 years. In the 1920's the president described Costa Rica as a country "with more teachers than soldiers... a country that turns military headquarters into schools."

The army was eventually disbanded in 1948.

Last Updated: Tuesday February 06 2007