welcome to mojo travels and today we're
counting down our picks for the top 10
reasons costa rica should be your next
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for this list we're looking at a few of
the most compelling arguments as to why
costa rica should be at the top of your
travel bucket list
number 10 weather for many travelers an
international trip is a calculated
opportunity to get away from less than
ideal weather back home if you fit that
description then costa rica is a great
choice for you the weather is warm
year-round with a hot dry season from
december to may and a rainier season
from may to november the sporadic
showers might not be ideal but they tend
to bring out the local wildlife and
mitigate the heat so it's a worthy
trade-off for some now because the
country contains so many microclimates
the weather varies drastically from one
region to the next so check the weather
before you leave your accommodations as
you'll be seeing throughout this video
you're going to be spending a lot of
time outdoors during your trip to costa
rica making the excellent weather a
crucial part of the equation
number nine national parks with 30
national parks to its name costa rica
has distinguished itself as a leading
example of how to prioritize and protect
the environment and it's doing it in
such a way that it actually bolsters the
economy as a result of sustainable
nature-centric tourism you can't
realistically see them all in a single
trip which is a shame but there's such a
wide variety of environments to discover
from cloud forests to coral reefs to
rainforests brownio carrillo national
park located in the central lowlands
boasts a wide variety of wildlife some
great hiking and the beautiful san
fernando waterfall tampon tea national
park offers cloud forest with the added
bonus of natural swimming holes if
you're looking for something a little
different consider isla del coco
national park off the mainland to see
hammerhead sharks or bayena marine
national park for its beautiful beach
and coral reef also on the list of must
visit destinations is tenorio volcano
national park speaking of which
number eight volcanoes if you're looking
for a destination that really makes a
lasting impression costa rica certainly
fits the bill with such an abundance of
natural attractions there's no shortage
of sites to remind visitors that much of
costa rica remains wild and untamed
chief among these attractions are the
country's 60 or so volcanoes some are
dormant others extinct but they each
make for an impressive sight because the
country is home to so much geothermal
activity hot springs are relatively
common offering unique opportunities for
rest and relaxation to balance out all
the hiking and physical activity the
aforementioned tenorio volcano is a
popular destination though the volcano
itself tends to get overshadowed by the
park's celeste waterfall if you want to
park where the volcano is really the
starring attraction you'll want to add
poas volcano national park to your
itinerary another popular option is
arenal volcano national park which is
very active and has got some great hot
springs
number seven coffee costa rica is a
country that really knows how to
stimulate the senses an active volcano
is a surefire way to make you sit up and
pay attention but coffee is a bit more
convenient and costa rica just so
happens to be one of the premier coffee
destinations on the planet a major
exporter of quality beans costa rica is
also a nation of serious coffee drinkers
with locals averaging an estimated six
cups a day all the volcanic soil paired
with the climate makes for truly ideal
growing conditions this is a selling
point that you needn't go out of your
way to enjoy grab a coffee with
breakfast and you can bet it's local if
you want to go deeper though many
plantations both large and small offer
tours where the farmers will walk you
through the process it's a fascinating
education in coffee the people who grow
it and its importance to both the local
economy and culture
number six wildlife costa rica is a
relatively small country encompassing
just under twenty thousand square miles
it makes up less than one percent of the
world's land mass and yet it's home to
over five percent of the world's
biodiversity given that 25 to 30 percent
of the country is protected wilderness
it's become one of the top destinations
for travelers looking to reconnect with
nature both the various environments and
the creatures that call them home there
are over a half million different
species in costa rica some of the
country's most iconic creatures include
howler monkeys margays sea turtles
scarlet macaws capuchin monkeys sloths
tree frogs and more it's also a premier
destination for hummingbirds given that
it's home to roughly 50 different
species of the eye-catching speedy
little birds
number five excursions and adventure in
case it hasn't become obvious from our
previous entries costa rica is all about
the great outdoors whether you're
looking to immerse yourself in nature or
get your adrenaline pumping there's no
shortage of activities to fit the bill
rafting is extremely popular especially
the class three and four rapids of the
pacquate river just one of the many
spots worth checking out prefer to keep
your feet on dry land costa rica's
seemingly endless wilderness and diverse
terrain has made it a global destination
for trekkers tour companies also offer
horseback riding rock climbing four
wheeling tubing zip lining fishing
excursions and more along the coast sea
kayaking surfing scuba diving and all
manner of water sports offer a distinct
change of pace and scenery costa rica is
a real choose your own adventure sort of
destination
number four food is costa rica your
typical foodie destination
no it's not it's not setting any records
for michelin stars that being said
quality ingredients and local traditions
are increasingly attracting top talent
and inspiring a new generation of chefs
to get creative with classic recipes if
that's your scene visit san jose to
experience all the exciting new things
happening in the capital city the thing
is you don't need to go out of your way
to eat well in costa rica the locals
have been perfecting their dishes for
countless generations rice and beans are
staples of the local diet and will
feature in many preparations like gallo
pinto but the wide variety of fruit and
vegetables yield countless tasty dishes
to try casado is a hearty and filling
lunch while fresh costa rican ceviche is
an absolute must try
number three resorts and ecolodges
backpackers who want to take a budget
approach to costa rica will find no
shortage of affordable accommodations as
they navigate this beautiful central
american country if you're looking for
something a bit more luxurious however
booking a place at one of the country's
resorts will make for a truly
unforgettable experience beach resorts
spas built up around natural hot springs
and classy eco lodges each have
something special to offer travelers
seeking out comfort the el salencio
lodge and spa in the bajos del toro
cloud forest rio perdito hotel in
bagasses and pacquade lodge are just a
few of the country's most noteworthy
options if sustainability is at the top
of your list of priorities you should
also consider o las vegas the danta
corcovado lodge or hotel villas gaia
number two beaches with two beautiful
coastlines largely made up of protected
maritime zones costa rica is blessed
with a truly astonishing number of
beautiful beaches to discover the
aforementioned beach resorts are few and
far between but that commitment to
conservation means that the vast
majority of the shore front is entirely
untarnished in many places you stand
with your feet in the ocean and still
spot local wildlife in the tree line
behind you the country also benefits
from the fact that it has two distinct
coastlines the pacific on its west coast
and the caribbean to the east as such
which beaches you visit will really
depend on your priorities if you're
curious to spot sea turtles from a
respectful distance and do some surfing
tamarindo is a great choice manuel
antonio beach which is downright
stunning is another great option
number one pura vida costa rica is a
country that has a lot going for it but
above all else it's the local people who
really steal the hearts of travelers
it's impossible to visit once and not
fantasize about a return trip people
here are warm welcoming and most
importantly laid back the term pura vida
translates to pure life and it's the
governing philosophy throughout the
country locals believe in living life to
the fullest and not sweating the small
stuff this isn't a concept they just
play up for tourists it's deeply
ingrained in the local culture and given
that costa rica consistently ranks among
the happiest countries on earth it's
clearly working does it mean that bus
schedules are loose and service can be a
bit slow at times absolutely but lean
into that mentality and you might just
find your own pura vida
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