Costa Rica is located in Central America between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Its varied landscape and mild climate make this small yet enchanting country the perfect escape for a spectacular vacation.
The country is divided by a backbone of volcanoes and mountains, an extension of the Andes-Sierra Madre chain which runs along the western side of the Americas. Costa Rica has four distinct cordilleras or mountain ranges - Guanacaste and Tilaran in the north, Central and Talamanca in the south. Costa Rica is part of the Pacific "Rim of Fire" and has seven of the isthmus's 42 active volcanoes plus dozens of dormant or extinct cones. Earth tremors and small quakes shake the country from time to time.
Costa Rica is a tropical country which contains several distinct climatic zones. There is no winter or summer as such and most regions have a rainy season from May to November and a dry season from December to April. Temperature is more a matter of elevation than location with a mean of around 72 degrees in the Central Valley, 82 degrees on the Atlantic coast and 89 degrees on the Pacific coast.
Costa Rica Culture
Homogenous and Pleasurable Costa Ricans. Extremely friendly, full of hospitality, love to dance and jump at any opportunity to celebrate. Family-oriented, peaceful and fun loving. Combined with its amazing natural beauty, diverse landscape and unlimited fun, it's the Costa Rican people and blending culture that makes Costa Rica a perfect vacation destination.
About Arenal
Before 1968, the Arenal Volcano was considered extinct. It was known as the Arenal Hill. It was not until July 29th 1968 when it initiated its active period, opening three craters towards the west flank. Crater A, at 1,000 meters, made an explosion, emanating a piroclastic flow (Blaze cloud), that devastated 12 square kilometers, provoking the disappearance of the towns Pueblo Nuevo and Tabacón killing approximately 87 people.
In September of that same year it began to emit lava flows from crater A, and stayed active until 1973. The lava flow migrated towards crater C to a height of 1450 meters. This crater has stayed active until present day; it is characterized by permanent lava flows, of andesite basaltic composition; explosions of piroclastic materials and constant gas emissions.
The Arenal volcano, with its beautiful conical silhouette, is one of the most active of the world. Without a doubt, its enchantment is accentuateed every night when its colorful eruptions and lava rivers are appreciated.
Flora and Fauna
The Arenal National Park Volcano is a living laboratory, given its great geological and geomorphologic wealth and its complexity in the development of the biological processes, from pioneering vegetation to a primary forest.
It presents a very diverse flora and fauna, including four biological life zones: Tropical Very Humid forest (transition), Pluvial Forest Montano, Pluvial Forest Montano low (transition), Forest Very Humid Premontano (transition).
Main Flora
Among the most conspicuous species, we find: Guayabo de Monte, Cebo, Ceiba, Cirri, Laurel, Higuerones, Pilón, Guarumo, Balsa, different species of Palms, Heliconias, Orchids, Helechos and Bromelias including the endemic species: Pitcaimia Funkiae.
Main Fauna
Tepezcuinte, Danta, venado, Jaguar, Sahíno, Pizote, Congo Monkeys, Colorado and Cara blanca, variety of Serpents. Birds: Loras, Sargentos, Oropéndolas, Urraca parda, Pericos, Colibríes, Pájaro campana, Quetzales.