| The Caribbean island of Costa Rica is a popular tourist | | | | first aerial walkway in Central America and reaches |
| destination. Along with the many resorts, hotels and | | | | 25 stories tall at its highest point. The area around the |
| beaches, tourists have opportunities to enjoy beautiful | | | | bridges is spectacular with rainforest trails that wind |
| scenery and exquisite shopping. However there are | | | | along streams and to glorious waterfalls. |
| many natural and manmade Costa Rica tourist | | | | 4. Rainforest Aerial Tram. This is a train that moves |
| attractions that you should have on your itinerary when | | | | along the canopy of the rainforest. There are 22 cars |
| you visit this island. | | | | in the train, each of which can carry five passengers. |
| 1. Arenal Volcano National park and Observatory. This | | | | A naturalist guide points out sights of interest and |
| is an active volcano located in the San Jose area of | | | | explains the workings of the rainforest as well as the |
| Costa Rica. The tours usually start in the afternoon | | | | names of the birds and animals that you may be able |
| and involve about an hour's walk through lava rocks | | | | to see. |
| before reaching the place where you can view the | | | | 5. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. This |
| volcanic eruption. The sight of the eruption and the lava | | | | type of forest is usually cloudy and humid because of |
| flow from the observatory is spectacular and is a sight | | | | its high altitude. There are eight different ecological |
| that will remain in your memory for years to come. | | | | zones within this reserve with over 400 species of |
| The best time to see the eruption is after dark when | | | | birds, 110 species of amphibians and lizards, 100 species |
| the glowing lava lights up the sky. If you visit on a | | | | of mammals and over 2500 species of plants. Some |
| cloudy day, you may not see anything. | | | | of the hiking trails could be a bit muddy so visitors are |
| 2. Our Lady of Los Angeles Church. This is the most | | | | advised to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. |
| famous church in the Cartago Region, if not in all of | | | | 6. Santa Rosa National Park. This is one of the oldest |
| Costa Rica. The focal point of the church is the statue | | | | parks in Costa Rica. It covers almost 100,000 acres of |
| of the Virgin Mary, called La Negrita. As legend has it, | | | | land on the Santa Elena Peninsula. The numerous hiking |
| this statue was discovered at the site of the present | | | | trails offer breathtaking scenic views and the possibility |
| church in 1635 and reappeared miraculously after it | | | | of seeing many type of native wildlife. It is the largest |
| was removed. This is a destination for thousands of | | | | dry tropical rainforest in Central America and is one of |
| pilgrims each year, especially on August 2. | | | | the best camping places in Costa Rica. It is the home |
| 3. The Rainmaker. This is a series of suspension | | | | of a sea turtle sanctuary as well as fabulous beaches |
| bridges on the Pacific Coast of the island. It was the | | | | for swimming and surfing. |