By Marina Kuperman
Central America Travel Expert, about.com
By now, I am sure, most of you know about the beauties of Costa Rica. It is famous for the largest amount of national parks and ecosystems of Central America that can be explored here. It is also heaven for wildlife and adventure lovers. About 25% of its territory is protected and can be visited for a small fee.
All of those parks offer hiking trails that will take you to all of the best places.
[post_ads_2]
5 Amazing Hikes in Costa Rica:
1. Arenal Volcano National Park
This park was created on 1991 and encompasses Arenal volcano as well as Arenal Lake. It protects 12 different ecosytsems and life zones. The park is opened from 8 am to 3 pm to anyone who wants to visit it for a hike.One of the reasons that makes it so popular is the great opportunities it offers for bird watching with about 850 species living inside the park. Those who love seeing different kinds of plant life will be delighted with the local flora that includes different kinds of orchids.
[post_ads]2. Corcovado National Park
You will find this park on the Osa Peninsula, on the south western coast of the country. This is the largest park in Costa Rica and is known as one of the most bio diverse places in the world. This means that while walking on its trails you can expect to see a wide variety of different animal species as well as habitats.Its trail will also take you to gorgeous white sanded beaches where you can spend some time.
Because it is so big and not easily explored in one day they offer the chance to sleep in it, either camping in an approved area or in one of their ranger stations.
3. Rio Celeste Waterfall & Tenorio Volcano
They are both part of the Tenorio Volcano National Park. To get to the river you must do a moderate hike of about an hour through the rain forest. What you will see is the result of two rivers that come together, producing a gorgeous light blue color of the water.Within the park, there are also trails that will take you to a waterfall and some others to naturally heated hot springs.
4. Manuel Antonio National Park
This is another park on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and was created in 1972. This is the smallest of the parks in the country but one of the most popular. It so beautiful that Forbes named it one of the most beautiful beaches and hiking trails in 2011. It is also the second most visited park in the country.It is famous for its gorgeous and amazing white sanded beaches and the beautiful coral reefs off of its coasts. Its trails offer an easy to moderate hike that are loved by all visitors, especially birders and eco tourists.
5. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
This reserve is part of the Tilaran Cordillera and consists of six ecological zones. It was created in 1972 to protect its unique wildlife and flora. The reserve is known as one of the places with most orchids species in a single place.[post_ads_2]
It is extremely friendly to visitors, so much that there is even a bus service being offered and has a lodge within it. The trails are easy, well maintained with hanging bridges. The trails can also be visited on horseback.
