Costa Rica

Eden at its most pure

Costa Rica’s territory is so tiny that, even though it comprises just 0.03 % of Earth’s surface, it’s amongst the twenty most biodiverse countries in terms of species density.

In addition to the most well-known jewels, like Tortuguero, Manuel Antonio or La Fortuna, the visitor cannot miss other enchanting corners bursting with unique treasures.

Seven jewels in Costa Rica

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Known in English as the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, it’s one of the jewels of Costa Rica since it’s one of the few patches of this type of forest that still remains on Earth and also one of the most internationally known due to the scientific research carried out in the area. It’s located in the Sierra de Tilaran and is home to 2.5 % of the world’s biodiversity and approximately 10 % of the flora is endemic.

Talamanca mountain and Indian reservations of Bri

The Talamanca mountain range is located in the south of Costa Rica, a magical place that still retains its original virtues. It’s adjacent to La Amistad National Park, one of the few parks in the world shared by two nations, in this case by Costa Rica and Panama. Amidst its dense vegetation, the secrets of those indigenous groups who maintain their culture and traditions remain hidden. The area’s largest indigenous group is the Bri, divided into various clans amongst different Indian reservations in the area.

Samara beach

Samara beach is a bay approximately four kilometres long, with white sand, gentle waves and an area rich in mangroves. It is known as one of the safest and most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. On its horizon we can find Chora Island, just in front of Punta Indio, from where an area of coral reefs can be seen. The area’s vegetation is coastal, with trees like the manchineel tree, coconut, and creeping plants such as the hairy cowpea.

Orosi valley

Orosi, located in the province of Cartago, is a valley of lush natural beauty, criss-crossed by rivers and thermal waters. In the town centre of Orosi we can find the colonial museum-church, built in 1743 by Franciscan missionaries and which became one of the few colonial buildings in Costa Rica that remains in good condition, declared a National Monument in 1985. The area is also one of the rainiest in the country and its water wealth is protected by the Tapanti National Park.

Bajos del Toro Amarillo

The area of Bajos del Toro, located at 1442 metres above sea level, holds natural treasures, including the Toro Amarillo and Río Agrio waterfalls. The biggest one is Toro Amarillo (“yellow bull”), with ninety metres high and formed from three rivers: Toro Amarillo, Desagüe (“drain”) and Agrio (“sour”, named for its lemony taste), all with a high mineral content. The most outstanding feature of its landscape lies in its unique mixture of rivers, waterfalls, hydroelectric projects, natural reserves and agricultural landscapes.

Savegre river

The Savegre River is born in the Cerro de la Muerte (“mountain of death”) and runs down several kilometres into the Pacific. It has become the cleanest river in Costa Rica and some may venture to say that it’s even the cleanest of Central America, since only a thousand people are living on the banks of river and there aren’t industrial developments nearby that could contaminate it. The inhabitants of the high part of the river, in San Gerardo de Dota, have been concerned with keeping it clean and protecting the surrounding forests. The river flows through several national parks and natural reserves, therefore it’s home to certain animals like tapirs, jaguars and many species of birds including quetzal.

Isla del Caño