Costa Rica

Photography  Painting  Wildlife

This Central American state is perhaps chiefly famous for having no army (it was the first country in the world to abolish its armed forces) and for being a retirement home for elderly US citizens. However it is much more than this; being recognised as one of the world's foremost ecotourism destinations.

Few come just to visit San Jose, the capital. The true attraction of Costa Rica lies outside the cities, where the scenery and the wildlife are the real draw. Some 23% of the country is designated as a Protected Area; a network of forest and reserves that are home to a myriad collection of fauna, from howler monkeys to toucans. The terrain is covered by mountains (Mount Chirripo is the highest at 11,257 feet) and volcanoes (Irazu the highest at 12,500 feet). The rivers too are an attraction: white water rafting is possible, for example, on the Rio Pacuare and the Rio Reventazon, near Turrialba, some two hours from San Jose. And then there is Lake Arenal

The country is dotted with National Parks. Corcovado National Park offers the chance to see big cats and tapir; Tortugero National Park offers monkeys, sloths, reptiles and turtles; whilst Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve claims to offer some four hundred bird types (out of eight hundred within the county as a whole). If all that wildlife spotting seems to suggest a spot of relaxation, then there are the beaches of the Peninsula of Nicoya and at Manuel Antonio, the latter also being a National Park. One further positive feature of the country is that Costa Rica has a good road network, making most of the destinations of interest a relatively short and comfortable journey from San Jose.

All the above parks and reserves make the country a natural destination for our WILDLIFE, PHOTOGRAPHY and PAINTING groups.
If Central America appeals, but the thought of difficult and uncomfortable conditions once you are there does not, then Costa Rica may be the destination for you and your group.

We have over 60 years experience in worldwide group travel. If we've whet your appetite, and you would like to make an enquiry, please contact us on 0208 504 2672