The Costa Rica Guide

**Dear Steemians**

Already 3 times I was in Costa Rica.

In 2016 I fell in love with this beautiful country. Three years later, I was there for the fourth time.

I used to tell myself that I didn't want to go anywhere twice before I haven't seen everything else, but I didn't know Costa Rica then.

This beautiful nature, the world of the animals and the people fascinated me immediately and until today the love continues.

Also the mentality of the Ticos (how the Costa Rican people are called) is simply great and all are very friendly and have an extreme joy of life. According to the motto PURA VIDA

In Costa Rica there are two seasons, dry and rainy, and there are countless microclimates, so the climate is always different depending on where you are.

The dry season is probably most pronounced in Guanacaste, in the northwest of the country. Because there it really doesn't rain for months. I was there last September, through the rainy season and it was all beautiful, juicy green. And when I came back in February I was a bit shocked how dry everything is.

There is no dry and rainy season in the Caribbean. Because the climate is really like in the Caribbean. It rains all year round, but mostly only for a short time and there are also months like September and October with the fewest rain showers.

In the central highlands like San José, Monteverde etc. it rains also during the dry season and it is clearly cooler than at the coasts.

Now that I have experienced both within 4 months, I would probably only fly to Costa Rica during the rainy season, as everything is much more beautiful green.

In Costa Rica there is a lot to discover and even after 4 times I haven't seen everything yet.

But what have I seen so far and what do I like best?

San José

In my opinion, you can save yourself the capital city. There is really nothing beautiful to see.

During my last visit I went up to Poas.

La Fortuna/Arenal

I think the area around La Fortuna is beautiful. Because it rains there all year round it is actually always beautiful green and there is a great flora and fauna.

Don't miss the waterfall and the hot springs. There are Hot Springs like sand at the sea. Because it gets a bit cooler there, a great way to relax.

Unfortunately I have never seen the Arenal volcano without clouds.

Also the La Fortuna waterfall is quite nice to look at

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Monteverde

Monteverde or better said Santa Elena is in the middle of rain and cloud forests.

You can do zip lining, for example, or look at the great suspension bridges. Or go on a tour at night.

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Playa Samara

Samara is located on the Pacific coast on the Nicoya Peninsula.

It is definitely one of my favorite places.

Everything is quiet, slow and just relaxed, on one of the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica.

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Santa Teresa

More of a hippie town in the south of the Nicoya Peninsula. I was there only once during the low season and therefore I can't say much about it. I didn't like it so much. During the rainy season the waves are so high that swimming in the sea is almost impossible and a lot of restaurants are closed.

But the beach itself is beautiful.

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Montezuma

Or also called Montefuma. An incredibly small village with a beautiful beach. Here everything is hippie and stoned.

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Manuel Antonio

Probably the most visited national park in Costa Rica.
I've been there twice, it's just totally overcrowded in high season, but the chances to see a sloth are pretty high there. We even saw one that crossed the road.

Otherwise Manuel Antonio is full with expensive restaurants.

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Uvita

In Uvita there is this great beach which looks like a whale fin at low tide.
It's beautiful, but be careful! There are many thieves on this beach. The signs are not for nothing everywhere you should not take valuables with you.
When I was there someone even pulled a backpack under the head of a french Woman.

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Corcovado National Park

One of my favorite parks in Costa Rica.
It is not very easy to get there and therefore it is less touristy.
You can hike through the park, go snorkeling or kayaking.

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Tortuguero National Park

The name says it all. Here you can see a lot of turtles laying eggs or hatching during the right season.
But the park also has a lot to offer.
The journey is a bit more complicated, because you can only get there by boat.
But once you are there, you can go hiking in the park or take a boat trip in the canals, where you can see a lot of animals.

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Cahuita

Arrived in the Caribbean. The Caribbean coast feels very different from the Pacific. There are black people here and reggae is everywhere.

Cahuita has a beautiful national park right on the beach. So you can swim and watch animals in one.

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Puerto Viejo

My absolute favorite place in Costa Rica.
Here you have a real Caribbean feeling.
A small place with the perfect mixture of tourists and locals.
The best thing is to rent a bike and ride it to all the beaches on the way to Manzanillo.
My favourite is Punta Uva/Arrecife.
And in the evening there is always a party somewhere.

Go and discover this Beautiful country
PURA VIDA

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