See the description of each region located below the map.
The North Pacific Region including the Nicoya Peninsula is Costa Rica's
hottest and driest zone. The rainy season starts later and ends earlier
here, and overall it's more dependably sunny in this region than in
other parts of the country. Many beautiful beaches are located here as
well as huge cattle ranches. The Palo Verde, Santa Rosa and
Rincón de la Vieja National Parks protect large areas of
tropical dry forests where trees drop their leaves during the dry
season and start flowering. The rainy months are from May through
October, even though there is a small period in July when the rain
ceases for a couple of weeks; this is called "Veranillo de San Juan?
(small summer). The dry season comes between December and March. The
rainfall increases in the mountains in the beginning and at the end of
the year. The wind direction is from east and northeast during the dry
season, which is important if you are planning on sailing or wind
surfing. June, September and October are the most humid and rainiest
months.
Beaches:
Isla Tortuga
Barra Honda National Park
Curú Wildlife Refuge
Cabo Blanco Biological Reserve
Ostional Wildlife Refuge
Tamarindo
Santa Rosa National Park / Guanacaste
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano & National Park
Tenorio & Miravalles Volcano
Palo Verde National Park
Cañas - "Las Pumas" - Rio Corobicí
South of Puntarenas down to Quepos / Manuel Antonio National Park, the
Central Pacific Region stretches along the Pacific coast line, forming
the transitional zone between tropical dry forest and evergreen humid
and rain forest.
Natural attractions:
Carara National Park / Río Tárcoles
Manuel Antonio National Park
Central Pacific Beaches:
Playa HerraduraPlaya JacóPunta Leona
The South Pacific Region stretches between Quepos in the North down to
the Osa Peninsula and border to Panama, bordered by the Talamanca
Mountain Range with its highest Peak in Costa Rica: the Cerro
Chirripó. The main parts of this region are just being developed
for tourism, with visitors mainly focusing in on Drake Bay and the
Corcovado National Park. Coastal Vegetation is dominated by lowland
rain forests reaching close to the vast and wild beaches, often
interrupted by huge oil palm, banana and pineapple plantations. To
visit the South Pacific Region, a domestic flight to Palmar Norte,
Golfito or Puerto Jiménez should be taken into consideration or,
interrupting the extensive drive from San José, one or two
overnight stops in the beautiful Valle de Dota, home of the largest
Quetzal populations in Central America should not be overlooked.
South Pacific Beaches:
Playa BarúPlaya MatapaloPlaya Dominical
Natural attractions:
Cerro de la Muerte
Chirripó National Park
Corcovado National Park / Osa Peninsula
Drake Bay
Isla del Caño
Bahía Ballena National Park
Piedras Blancas National Park / Esquinas Rainforest
Golfito
The Northern Region stands out internationally for the Arenal Volcano,
its Mountain Range of Tilarán, the Monteverde Cloud Forests and
the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. From January to the end of April
the temperature in the lowlands of this region reaches 32ºC (90ºF). The Northern Zone has high
rainfall levels even during the normally dry months of March and April.
The maximum temperature in some parts is 33ºC (92ºF) and the minimum
temperature in the highlands goes down to 21ºC (70ºF). The humidity
ranges between 82 and 89%. January, February, March and April
show the sunniest days in this region.
Natual attractions:
Rio Sarapiquí / Chilamate
La Paz Waterfall
La Selva Biological Research Station
Rainforest Lowlands of Rio San Carlos
Arenal Volcano National Park
Venado Caves
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Monteverde:
Cloud forestMonteverde / Sta. Elena Biological Reserves
SkywalkSkytrekButterfly Gardenetc.
The Central Valley is formed by the provinces of San José,
Heredia, Cartago and Alajuela. Even though it is the smallest region, it
has the highest population, the majority of it concentrated in the
capital city of San José. San José is located at 1,190 meters (3,900
feet) above sea level and its temperature ranges between 23ºC and 26ºC (75ºF and
80ºF). During the rainy season -specifically from May to October-
the rain is combined with fresh breezes coming from the Pacific Ocean.
This region is considered the heart of Costa Rica since the three branches of the Government,
all banking systems, the bigger hospitals, the
universities, the museums and the theaters are concentrated here.
San José - Museums and Attractions
Poás Volcano National Park
Barva Volcano National Park
Turrialba Volcano
Irazú Volcano National Park
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Rainforest Aerial Tram
Rara Avis Biological Reserve
Guayabo National Monument
Lankaster Gardens
Tapantí National Park & the Orosí Valley
The Caribbean Zone is located between the coast of the Caribbean Sea
and the borders of Nicaragua and Panama. The temperature in the coastal
areas oscillates between 23ºC (80ºF) and 32ºC (91ºF). The warmest days fall
between May and the end January, when the temperature easily reaches
30ºC (90ºF). In the Caribbean Coast, the dry season is divided
into two periods: February to March and September to October. Like the other regions there is a period when the rain ceases - Saint
John's Short Summer, in July. This region is different from the others
because of its people, many of which are direct descendents of immigrants from
other Caribbean nations. These people still portray the
particular culture characteristic of the Caribbean Islands. The
principal access to this zone is through the city of Limón
(consisting mainly of afro-Caribbean people since 1870), where
extensive banana plantations and port activities are of great
importance for Costa Rica's national economy. The Caribbean Zone is the
most humid region of Costa Rica because of the wind influence coming
from the Caribbean Sea.
Natural attractions:
Tortuguero National Park
Barra del Colorado Wildlife Reserve
Puerto Limón
Talamanca Mountain Range
Cahuita National Park
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve
Gandoca Manzanillo Nature Reserve
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