Emerald Land, Sapphire Sea: You Must Head Off To Costa Rica

If you are a nature lover, then you need to visit Costa Rica. Nothing is comparable to the beautiful natural landscapes and landmarks that this country boasts. A lush, tropical paradise located in the heart of Central America holds the key to the vacation of your dreams. The beautiful land of Costa Rica is there for the discovering.

In Central America, Costa Rica nestles itself between Panama, Nicaragua, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. If you've been looking for a place to take your family, Costa Rica will not let you down. A natural paradise with new adventures around every corner, Costa Rica is a lush and verdant vacation spot where you can sit back and relax, or take the adventure of a lifetime. Around a fourth of Costa Rica's land area is protected natural areas, keeping it protected from the touch of development and the logging industry. Raw, untouched Costa Rican rainforests are something that needs to be witnessed first hand, and all you need is a passport. Their beauty is unmatched and gives Costa Rica world renown.

Costa Rica's expansion of jungles houses Corcovado National Park, world-renowned by ecologists and animal lovers alike. National Geographic has called it "the most biologically intense place on Earth." Corcovado is the only place where you can see Costa Rica's four species of monkeys. It also is called home by numerous large, prowling cats like the ocelot, the puma, and the mighty jaguar, the endangered Harpy Eagle, anteaters, and sloths. Visiting Corcovado guarantees you will get up close and personal with some of most interesting animals on Earth. Grab your camping gear and spend a night under Corcovado's dense canopies.

Visit one of Costa Rica's many picturesque beaches or grab your surfboard and hit Pavones, the most famous surfing town in Costa Rica. Known for its perfect waves, Pavones has been frequented by both professional and recreational surfers alike. Even kids can take their boogie boards and experience some of Pavone's beautiful waves for themselves. Or, if you prefer more mellow aquatic activities, grab your snorkel or scuba gear and explore one of Costa Rica's coral reefs. If you're feeling very adventurous, grab your diving gear and head to Cocos Island, the Island of the Sharks. See schools of hammerheads and monstrous moray eels and brace yourself for the incoming adrenaline rush.

Arenal, Costa Rica's Adventure capital, will provide days and days of activities for you and your family to try out. If you're feeling brave, you can try bungee jumping, or if you want to experience a wilder, more untamed side of Costa Rica, try white water rafting. Go horseback riding along the water and witness some of Costa Rica's natural beauty. After that, relax all your muscles in a volcano heated hot spring and soak up the tropical sun.

Whatever you decide to do, Costa Rica is a beautiful place to escape to. With dense jungles and brilliantly blue waters, Costa Rica has something exciting for you and your family to experience. The beach is waiting for you in Costa Rica.