Costa Rica Vacations at the Northern Regions
The Northern Territories of Costa Rica are perfect for relaxing and enjoying the wonders of the tropics. The areas of Monteverde and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, as well as the famous Arenal Volcano and its surroundings, are excellent destinations for nature lovers.
The summit of the Arenal Volcano, rising 1,633 meters above sea level and continuously active since 1968, towers far above the northern plains overlooking a wind-swept lake and pristine cloud forest reserves sheltering an incredibly diverse population of wildlife.
The weather in this particular region, tends towards warm daytime temperatures (low to mid 80s) and relatively high humidity. There are intermittent rain showers that usually pass quickly. From late February to early May, the rain lessens in frequency which allows for fantastic landscapes during sunrise and sunset.
Two miles to the north, before the Nicaraguan border, the wondrous and remote Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge awaits to captivate the adventuring traveller. This refuge is in the low-lying northern plains of Costa Rica, just two hours from La Fortuna town (Arenal area), and is considered to be one of Costa Rica’s richest wetlands of biological diversity.
Surrounded by the Arenal conservation area, there is Monteverde, a cloud forest reserve that has earned its fame as one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the New World tropics. Positioned atop the Continental Divide in western Costa Rica, the Reserve extends down both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes. The result: a combination of climatic and geographic factors creating temperature and humidity gradients that change dramatically over relatively short distances.
There are over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 120 species of amphibians and reptiles and 2,500 species of plants (among them 420 different kinds of orchids), as well as tens of thousands of insect species. In addition to the natural beauty of the Reserve, the tiny, progressive Quaker community of Monteverde is, in itself, worth visiting. Quakers from North America came here in 1951, drawn by Costa Rica’s disarmed environment.
A wide variety of accommodations are offered, such as cozy mountain lodges or 5-Star hotels providing
superb spa treatments such as the world-renowed Tabacon Grand Spa Resort.
