Diving in the North Pacific of Costa Rica

Costa Rica not only offers virgin rain forest, volcanoes and fascinating solitary beaches but also an impressive submarine life mainly in the north Pacific. At a distance of 2 to 15 miles off the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula in the north-west lies the archipelago of the Catalina Islands. It consists of about 20 rocks of different sizes. A little further north, there are the Murcielago islands. Due to the exposed location of these islands, the abundant variety of underwater life is hardly found anywhere else. For some reason - not even explored - Catalina Island and Murciélago is a point where you can meet very different submarine species and fishes of all kinds that usually are not found together in other places. With good luck, you can see up to Whale Sharks in the Islands of Murcielago.

Visibility: is around 18 to 75 feet. Strong currents are presented from time to time. But you will be highly recommended to go there to see a spectacle that will not allow you even a minute of boredom: huge banks of snappers, sharks, mantas, turtles and barracuda are waiting for the diver, like an immense variety of tropical fish and other reef life. The giant manta rays can be seen between from November and May and the sea turtles can be seen throughout the year.

Water temperature: It’s between 75 and 85 ° F; diving season is all year, because there are no large rivers that may carry rocks and mud during the rainy season and thus affect visibility. Between late November and late February trip to the diving island of Murcielagos might not always done, because at this time of year there is a strong wind that could prevent the boat leaves the dock. In that case you should go to other places such as Catalina Island. In the waters of the north Pacific is easy to see spectacular specimens of marine life. The best months for diving in the Catalina Islands are December to May, where it had been up to 50 Manta Rays with a wingspan of 14 to 20 feet in a single immersion.

Marine life around the islands Bat: The best months for the long trip to the Murcielago Islands are March to November. Here will be the impressive bull sharks from 8 to 15 feet long, banks of all kind of little fishes, eagle rays and horse-eye jacks, Spade fish, pompano, snapper and Wahoo.

Marine life at the local dive sites: The local dive sites offers many sharks fin tip white huge banks of grunts and yellowtails, spotted eagle rays, turtles, giant stingrays, angel fish, octopus, sea horses, starfish sea, frog fish and several species of eel. With some luck you will see whale sharks up to 35 ‘long and spinner dolphins, humpback whales, pilot whales, orcas and false killer whales.

Costa Rica Car Rentals

Explore for yourself and have a great experience of a beautiful and amazing country with amazing scenery and culture, a beautiful piece of land called Costa Rica located in Central America that is dedicated to preserve their natural areas. Here you can explore the contour of active volcanoes and walk through rainforest with one of the best nature in the region. For that reason renting a car and uncover Costa Rica for your own account may be a good option for the green season. All that is needed is a minimum of sense and taste for a little adventure.

To be able to rent a car, you have to have at least 21 years; also you need to present a valid passport and a driver record that has been in force for at least a year before renting. You will also need a credit card to make a substantial deposit (sometimes up to $ 500 USD). Is important to have particular attention to additional charges that might appear in the account or when you return the vehicle that can appear in the statement of the account of your card when you receive it. Make sure that the rent includes unlimited mileage. Vehicle insurance is required when driving in Costa Rica and most of the car rental agencies, including the subsidiaries of American companies do not accept insurance issued outside Costa Rica.

If you are an adventurous person and will drive through steep mountain roads or unpaved areas, one vehicle (4×4) is absolutely necessary. On the other hand, if you are taking only the main roads to places like the Arenal Region (La Fortuna), the beaches in the North Pacific or Manuel Antonio (Central Pacific), then you can use a regular vehicle, which is much more economically.

The rates vary according to the vehicle from $ 38 USD for the smallest car to $ 50 USD for a medium car and $ 60 USD to $ 90 USD for 4×4 vehicles. If you plan to go exploring off the roads, it is essential to rent a vehicle best suited to such use.
Most companies that hire vehicles in Costa Rica offer only vehicles with manual transmission. You can also find cars with automatic transmissions, but in smaller amounts.

The roads throughout the country have maintenance problems. Only 14% of the 28,800 km (18,000 miles) of roads are paved. During the rainy season, many of the roads are virtually inaccessible, while during the dry season, the roads in Nicoya are Guanacaste are most of all dust. Many of the Costa Rican drivers are risky and lacking in consideration and because that there is a considerable incidence of fatal accidents. You need to drive slowand alert. Also keep in mind that there are additional dangers such as loose livestock, people who walk along the route, and long stretches of road that resembles a table to wash given the shocks that your body will have to support them.

Quepos City in Puntarenas - Costa Rica central pacific

The bay where is located Samara is among the Ticos and outsider tourists a very popular destination, the average age of visitors to Samara is a little older than the rest of the destinations of the country.

Because the reef that is located in Samara this beach is one of the most secure not only of the Nicoya peninsula but throughout Costa Rica. This is why Samara is a suitable destination for family vacations during all the year. Samara and the surrounding area offer to the tourists the perfect place to relax and have a nice and interesting vacation. There are a variety of rare plants and animals that can be found in the 3 kilometers of the strip of beach in Playa Samara and along some spectacular coral reefs. The island of Chora is situated opposite the bay and is a destination for kayaking and scuba snorkel.

This beach has a length of 3 kilometers and in some sections there are palm trees that allow to rest at certain times of day when the sun is very strong. Here you can find one of the best sites for surfing and to practice all kind of water sports from around the country. Also you can practice other activities such as horseback riding, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, visits to waterfalls and canoe tours.

Quepos City in Central Pacific Costa Rica

Surf lessons are offered in Samara and its waves are perfect for beginners, but too small for more experience surfers. The people of the surf schools in Samara will be able to indicate where to find bigger waves to experts.

Many luxurious homes in Samara belong to famous citizens of Costa Rica. The current president of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, is one of them. In 1987 he was honored with the Nobel Prize for his peace plan for Central America. This document can be viewed at the National Museum in San Jose.
In the rested town of Samara, which is situated in the center of the bay, you’ll find restaurants, souvenir shops and tour operators for planning your activities in the area.

Pelicans, toucans, parrots and iguanas swarm in the vicinity. Especially during the winter months, humpback and gray whales frequent the waters near Samara. You will be able to see its enormous fins and water jets from the beach. In the village you can find everything from a supermarket until a large number of gift shops, bars and nightclubs. It is the ideal place to stop to go to the nearby national parks and reserves, is also perfect for a holiday or a quiet night away from home.

Samara is a destination easily accessible by car, all the way from San Jose or Liberia is done in asphalt road. Even a small airport is located four kilometers south of the village. This little airport has connections from multiple points of the country like San Jose and Liberia.

Dominical Beach in Costa Rica

Dominical Beach in Costa Rica is a village located opposite the beach, on the southern Pacific coast, just 45 kilometers from Manuel Antonio / Quepos in a southerly direction, and 35 miles west of San Isidro de El General. Originally a fishing village, Dominical is now home to a thriving and friendly community. With big waves throughout the year, Playa Dominical is a paradise for surfers from around the world. In addition, the area’s natural beauty and variety of activities and local services which converge in this town make it a great destination for any tourist.

In the past Sunday was a small fishing village, but eventually became a site known for surfers and travelers (backpackers). It is a point for national and international surfers travelers in Costa Rica. There are many places for accommodation for surfers on Dominical and if you do not bring your table to find a rent there, either at a store or on the beach there are places where you can rent surfboards.

In fact Dominical Beach is not a place for surfing for beginners, there are powerful waves that regularly broken the surfboards. Swimmers should not dismiss the waves or currents. The beaches in the southeast of Dominical are the most appreciated by the swimmers, the reef Dominicalito is a perfect place if you want to spend your day swimming in a beautiful beach because its calm water.

Dominical Beach in Costa Rica

There are many attractions, among which is important to mention the nearby Whale National Marine Park, there are also a myriad of things to do in this area, including hiking and camping in the forest, wildlife observation and excursions on horseback, among others. In addition, the beach is beautiful, every afternoon with stunning scenes of the spectacular sunsets.

In the opposite direction, northeast of Dominical beach, we found a good place for bird-watchers, many rare species of birds gather at the estuary of the River Baru.
Occasionally it is possible to see whales and dolphins from the beach. For those who want a closer look of the underwater world of Costa Rica just have to register at a school for diving in Dominical where there are many places for diving in the vicinity and you can also make a trip to the Isla del Caño where there can be found variety of species such as barracuda, king angel, clown fish turtles, big reef sharks and a variety of moray eels.

The beautiful Nauyaca Falls are located a little more inland, near the town of Platanillo. It is possible to swim beneath the waterfall of these two waterfalls of 60 meters in height. The Nauyaca Fallas can be reached on foot or by horseback riding, the tourist just need to take the route to the town of Libano in Platanillo. The Nauyaca Fallas are also known as Don Lulo or Holy Christ and is a beautiful place that you have to enjoy if you are visiting Dominical.

Herradura beach in Costa Rica - Central Pacific

Herradura beach in Costa Rica is located just 30 minutes from Jaco in Costa Rica and is renowned for having quite luxurious hotels, some of them famous in the country. The beach is protected by its own shape of horseshoe, for that reason the waves are small making it a good place for swimming. The town of Herradura is not very impressive but it has its own accommodations.

Herradura is fully equipped for marine sports such as sport fishin, also some of the largest private yacht in Costa Rica anchor in Herradura Bay. Due to its central location and proximity to San Jose, this is one of the most popular beaches for day trips. Many tourists who come to fish in Costa Rica are housed in hotels and resorts near Herradura and used fishing boats at their disposal to enjoy one of the best experiences of fishing that you can find in the country. In addition, Jaco with a lively and interesting nightlife is just a few minutes away by car.

The ocean is calm in Herradura beach and good for swimming as mentioned before, ideal for the family. The central Pacific region, where is located the Herradura beach, offers something different for each tourist, so is impossible to get bored in this place because there are a lot of things to do. These activities includes: swimming and the practice of surf (in Jaco beach), coastal villages, sports fishing, wildlife, outdoor activities and a beautiful national park.

Pelicans and other marine birds in Herradura Beach, Costa Rica

Herradura nearby areas are precisely in the transition zone where the Amazon and Mesoamerican biological environment meet each other, and is the meeting place for species from both environments. One of those areas is Carara, a famous national park that protects an evergreen forest of great complexity and density, with abundant wildlife, including the American crocodile, spider monkeys and frogs, and is also one of the best places to observe birds throughout all Costa Rica.

The 1492 film with Gerard Depardieu as Christopher Columbus was filmed on the Herradura beach in Costa Rica. The film was recorded on the Pacific coast, but the place where it happened the historical arrival of Columbus in reality was on the Caribbean coast. Several buildings and an Indian village were built for the film in which it was worked 10 weeks in this location. In the past Herradura was a sleepy village of fishermen, this has changed a lot. The bay is dominated by luxury condominiums and a golf course. Many owners of these condominiums are Americans and Europeans. With its tranquil waters, Herradura beach in Costa Rica remains as a major holiday destination for those seeking a quiet atmosphere.

Braulio Carrillo National Park in Costa Rica

Braulio Carrillo National Park in Costa Rica bears the name of meritorious Dr. Braulio Carillo, a benefactor and the third national president elected in Costa Rica. The park is located in one of the most difficult region to access in the country; almost all land is made up of skyscrapers Mountain of volcanic origin.

The flora of the park is composed by green and thick vegetation, with a very complex structure. The composition of the forest changes depending on environmental conditions, such as terrain, drainage, temperature and precipitation levels.

Braulio Carrillo National Park is considered of great importance because it protects many of the streams that are born and flows through the Central Valley. With its high and rugged mountains, lush forests, two extinct volcanoes, beautiful waterfalls, winding rivers and its wonderful rain forest, the travel trough this park can be an unforgettable experience for those who love nature.

The park is habitat for more than 500 species of birds, 6000 species of trees and plants and over 135 species of animals. The Braulio Carrillo National Park is the home of the magnificent Quetzal and also the habitat of two almost extinguished species of trees, the palm tree and the tepezcuintle. The toucans, iguanas, eagles, jaguars, tapirs and monkeys are some of the birds and animals that can be seen throughout the park. You can also find in this park the Bushmater, the most poisonous snake in Central and South America.

Braulio Carillo National Park is located 20 kilometers north-east of San Jose, the most visited section is in the south of the park, accessible by road to the Atlantic coast or by the town of Siquirres. It has an area of 45,899 hectares.