The Costco Connection - December 2015

By Christina Guerrero

WITH VOLCANOES, RAIN forests, cloud forests, beaches, mountains, valleys, rivers and hot springs, it is no wonder Costa Rica is considered one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.

“[There are] more than 200 different spe-
cies of mammals, 300 different species of
birds and 200 different species of reptiles,”
says Jonathan Soto Morales, office manager
for Destination Services for Guanacaste,
Costa Rica, which hosts excursions for visit-
ing Costco members. “It’s a country of huge
diversity of flora and fauna.”
Guanacaste, one of the seven provinces
located in northwestern Costa Rica, is at the
top of the list of places for nature lovers to
visit, since exploring this eco-friendly country
is easy with professional certified guides.

“We try to make the people see Costa
Rica through the eyes of the local people,”
Soto says. “If a client wants to see something
we don’t have in our program, we can create
that for them.”
Several highly recommended destinations
and excursions give travelers special in-touch-
with-nature experiences, such as Rio Perdido,
Palo Verde River Ride, Arenal Volcano and
Hot Springs, and Discover Nicaragua.

The Rio Perdido excursion combines adventure activities, such as a canopy tour, with the beauty of a natural river surrounded by a forest located on the foothills of the Miravalles Volcano, one of four volcanoes located in Guanacaste province.

The Palo Verde River Ride is a half-day boat-ride excursion in search of wildlife on the Tempisque River in the Palo Verde National Park.

The trip to the Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs allows travelers to interact with Costa Ricans by visiting cultural landmarks, such as one of the oldest colonial-architecture-style houses in the rain forest.

Discover Nicaragua is a day trip to the country of Nicaragua, with history lessons and visits to colonial houses in Granada, the oldest city in Central America.

Other activities available in Guanacaste include bird-watching, photography, sampling local cuisine, sport cycling, hiking, horseback riding and diving.

Travelers may come to Costa Rica for the flora and fauna, but quite often it’s the people they meet who keep them coming back. The phrase “pura vida” (pure life) is frequently heard in Costa Rica, and the locals often use it as a greeting in lieu of hello and good-bye.

“Costa Ricans are a warm and welcoming people and are genuinely happy to meet newcomers,” says Jolene Schuerman, buyer for Costco Travel.

Guanacaste is home to several deluxe hotels and all-inclusive resorts offered by Costco Travel, many of which are located along the coast and provide easy access to wildlife refuges.

In addition to the beach, resorts often
provide numerous activities, such as snorkel-
ing, surfing, scuba diving, sport fishing and
boating, as well as bicycle and kayak tours
guided by friendly and knowledgeable staff.

The nearby wildlife refuges provide travelers with the opportunity to interact with dozens of species of birds and a variety of creatures, such as howler monkeys, coati-mundis, iguanas and more.

When traveling to Costa Rica, pack your sense of exploration, your curiosity about stunning wildlife and your appreciation of extraordinary scenic splendor, and you won’t be disappointed. Wherever you wander and whatever you choose to do, your list of don’t-miss experiences will be a long one. C

The Costco Connection

Costco Travel offers packages to Costa Rica as well as many other exciting destinations around the world. For details, click “Travel” at Costco.com or call 1-877-849-2730.