Seeing new and exotic things has always been the appeal of traveling. Yet traveling itself, although grown more convenient and reliable, has grown to become more costly. It would be prudent to settle into a locale where one still enjoys the joy of discovery without the burden of costly travel.

New cities and cultures will always be intriguing, but none can strike as much awe as the pure beauty of natural wonders. When it comes to natural wonders, nothing compares to a city nature itself has created.

When you mention rainforest, images of tall canopies above misty green expanses come to mind. Often, one of the first things you'll think of the mighty Amazon River that traverses through South America. Indeed the rainforest is host to a large number of flora and fauna. Yet the Amazon isn't the only place you can go to for a taste of natural beauty.

Home to a rich variety of plants and animals is Costa Rica. It may contain only 0.1% of the world's landmass, but in the 0.1% thrive 5% of the world's biodiversity - that's the greatest density of species in the world. That's quite a lot of wildlife for a country so small. This is because 25% of the nation is composed of protected forests and reserves. Even though Costa Rica is a small country, Costa Rica is famous for year-round adventure tourism and outdoor activities. And if you're a frequent visitor of the country, having your own Costa Rica real estate will allow you to lengthen your stay and enjoy these activities more.

Costa Rica has an area of 51,100 square kilometers (slightly larger than Switzerland), making it relatively quick to travel from point to point, not taking more than a couple of hours' travel. A visit to a couple of the country's national parks gives visitors unique wildlife experiences that can easily rival anything the Amazon can offer.

The Corcovado National Park is internationally-renowned among ecologists for its biodiversity. Visitors can expect to see an abundance of wildlife like big cats and tapirs, aside from engaging in eco-tourism activities like zip lines through the canopy, or even just an elevated walkway for the faint of heart.

With a name meaning "full of turtles," Tortuguero National Park also boasts of a wide variety of animals. Spider, howler and white-throated Capuchin monkeys, the three-toed sloth, 320 species of birds (including eight species of parrots) and a variety of reptiles all reside here. Of course, Tortuguero is more popularly known for its turtles. The endangered green turtle makes this park its annual nesting grounds, making this the most important nesting site for this species. Rare species like the giant leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles also nest here.

For those with a green thumb, there is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. This park hosts two thousand plant species, including numerous orchids. Over four hundred types of birds can be found here, and over one hundred species of mammals. As a whole, around eight hundred species of birds have been identified in Costa Rica.

Because of the area's sheer biological diversity, several pharmaceutical companies conduct extensive experiments on its plant life in hopes of finding new cures and remedies for modern ailments and diseases. Some scientists even speculate that a number of new species of plants and animals have yet to be discovered here. Who knows, you just might discover one yourself.

By: Jedd Sullivan
Costa Rica real estate

The cost of a Costa Rica family vacation depends on where you want to stay and eat. Budget lodgings cost between $5 and $15 per day, while deluxe lodgings will cost you over $25 per day – very inexpensive by most country standards. Meals run in the same price ranges although most tourists do not like Costa Rican food because it is too salty. Resorts and tourist destinations do cater to families and try to provide meals that are more North American in nature.

With a Costa Rican family vacation, families can choose to stay at a beach resort that not only has access to a sandy beach, but also has swimming pools for children and exercise facilities. Many vacation packages include day trips to various locations in Costa Rica, including the wildlife parks and the volcanoes.

The most popular Costa Rica family vacation is one that lets you experience as much of Costa Rica sights, sounds and culture as possible. Most packages available from tour companies and travel agencies includes a trip to the rainforest to see the exotic animals, a chance to see nesting turtles on one of the beaches, nature walks, swimming and boat excursions on the small canals.

The best Costa Rica family vacation to choose is an all-inclusive. All the meals and hotel bill are paid for before you arrive, so all you have to bring is spending money for shopping and sightseeing. If you book a complete package, the cost includes the tour guides and ground transportation to and from the various locations. They offer an unhurried chance for you and your family to see and do everything you want.

By: Ken Wilssens
For lots of information on Costa Rica vacation packages and other Costa Rica travel related topics, visit About Costa Rica Travel at http://www.aboutcostaricatravel.com.

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The Costa Rica beaches are called 'playas' that is the Spanish word for the beach. These Costa Rica beaches are considered to be the world's most heavenly and exotic beaches.

What makes the Costa Rica beaches exclusive is the variety. There are rocky beaches as well as sandy ones. You will also find Costa Rica beaches with a border of palms. The sand of the Costa Rica beaches ranges from golden and gray to black and even pink. You may even find vast stretches of white sandy beaches too. The picturesque coastline of Costa Rica can be a feast for the eyes.

Playa Conchal issituated only two kilometers far from Playa Brasilito. This amazing beach is also a stones throw away from the famous Playa Flamingo and Tamarindo. Together with Playa Brasilito, this beach is separated by a rocky headland known as Punta Conchal, which gets its name from the sand found here that is composed of hundreds of millions of tiny crushed shells.

It looks as if you are walking on normal sand, but when you look down, you discover in astonishment that the shiny white sand is actually made of tiny crushed shells! Playa Conchal is a tropical beach in every aspect. Beautifull shells, green scenery, hot sun and the best, the water. It's only when swimming in Playa Conchal when you trully undestand why this beach is so special. The crystal clear water of the sea is so soft, it feels like swimming between layers of silk.

What is more, the water in this beach area is so clean, you can see all the little fishes swimming next to you. That makes Playa Conchal a favourite spot for divers and snorkelers, especially around the corners rocks and cliffs of Brasilito.

This four kilometer beach stretch is accessible by air from San Jose to Tamarindo Airport, from where you can take a 10-minute taxi ride into town. Still, you can also get here by taxi from the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, but it is around a 45-minute drive. If you love traveling, you can enjoy a lovely scenic drive from San Jose to Playa Conchal, which takes around 4 hours.

The impressive resort of Paradisus Playa Conchal is situated close to the beach and it is one of the best hotels on the coast, offering a fantastic array of marine life on display that you can enjoy and even swim with the many tropical fish that dwell here and catch a glimpse of stingrays that swim in the area. For the more adventurous, deep seas fishing, scuba diving, and other water sports are offered as well.

If you get tired of the beach, Playa Conchal is also close to several national parks and natural reserves and nearby there is a small estuary as well. Surrounded by a number of cattle ranches, Playa Conchal also has quite a few areas where one can camp out and sleep under the stars.

By: Charles Kassotis
For more information about Costa Rica visit In Costa Rica Guide. Visit more beautiful Costa Rican Beaches at In Costa Rica Guide; Costa Rica Beaches.

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You will be regaling your friends and family with tales of your Costa Rica adventures long after you return from your vacation. Whether you travel to the Caribbean or Pacific coast of this country, you are in for the thrill of a lifetime with everything that you can see and do. Although the Pacific coast is visited less by tourists than the Caribbean side of the island, it does offer many remote beaches and impressive wildlife.

Costa Rica adventures include many different activities designed to suit all tastes. You can choose to go backpacking in the Chirripo Mountains or go white water rafting. If you prefer quieter adventures there are many opportunities to explore the virgin rainforest and see the impressive array of wildlife and exotic creatures up close. The Arenal volcano is an active volcano and when the peak is not shrouded in cloud you may be able to see an actual volcanic eruption. Taking a dip in the healing waters of the Tabacon will help to restore some of your youthful vigor.

Golfing, surfing and deep sea fishing are some other Costa Rica adventures you can take advantage of. There are many pistine beaches where you can relax and get a glorious golden tan. Some of the best surfing in Central America is available at Payones on the Pacific Coast. Many tourists delight in seeing the big turtles at the National Park in Torteguero where they can visit nesting sites and see the turtles lay the eggs.

One thing you need to have for all your Costa Rica adventures is mosquito repellent. The Aedes aegypti mosquito transmits dengue fever, a disease for which there is no vaccine. They are very plentiful during the day, especially in areas where there are lots of people. Before you travel to Costa Rica, you do need to be vaccinated against cholera and hepatitis and you do have to be careful with the drinking water.

By: Ken Wilssens
For lots of helpful information on Costa Rica tourism and related topics, visit Costa Rica Vacation Info at http://www.costa-rica-vacation-info.com.

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