{"id":26474,"date":"2013-03-18T06:00:31","date_gmt":"2013-03-18T11:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=26474"},"modified":"2018-03-05T15:38:08","modified_gmt":"2018-03-05T21:38:08","slug":"the-bucket-list-costa-rica-for-natural-wonder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2013\/03\/the-bucket-list-costa-rica-for-natural-wonder\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bucket List: Costa Rica for natural wonder"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Brace

Brace yourself: The hanging bridges in Costa Rica’s Arenal National Park are not for the timid. Photo: iStockphoto<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s that time again to reveal our monthly travel bucket list destination, and in March, as winter hangs on until the chilly bitter end, our hearts yearn for the tropical, lush confines of that tiny South American country we call Costa Rica<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Known for its multitude of diverse ecosystems and wonders (Cloud forests! Beaches! Volcanoes!) as well as its peaceful, laidback lifestyle, Costa Rica<\/a> is the dream found on every outdoor adventurer\u2019s bucket list. It\u2019s also a destination sure to catapult the average traveler\u2019s vita into a more respectable caliber of intrepidness. Exotic and lush to the extreme, natural and wild, still somewhat hidden but certainly gaining in popularity (and tourism with 1.5 million visitors yearly), Costa Rica\u2019s offering are still irresistible and pristine.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why you should knock this one off your bucket list this year:<\/p>\n

Natural wonders are what it\u2019s all about in Costa Ricaand, despite its small size, the country offers a rich slice of South America\u2019s amazingly varied topography. Most famous for its rainforests, fog-shrouded cloud forests and wildlife refuges, Costa Rica also delivers with abundant beaches fronting the Pacific and a list\u2014yes, a LIST\u2014of active and dormant volcanoes. Wildlife is abundant in every direction with over 500,00 species (four percent of the world\u2019s total estimated species), including howler monkeys, macaws, butterflies, lizards, poison dart frogs and the endangered Atlantic green sea turtle.<\/p>\n

At the 26,000-acre Monteverde<\/a> Cloud Forest Reserve, you can zipline through the canopies or strap on rain boots to explore totally-worthwhile trails. In Arenal<\/a>, speed down white-water rapids or stand in awe of the 5,357-foot Arenal volcano, now dormant since its last eruption in 2010. There\u2019s also Corcovado National Park, kayaking Cano Palmo in Tortuguero National Park, the world-famous Sloth Sanctuary and more.<\/p>\n

Did we mention the beaches and world-class surfing? There\u2019s Playa Arcos fringed by steep bluffs, Playa Ventanas near Ojochal, Playa Barrigona north of Samara, and countless others. No matter where you go, the smattering of blue water, crested white and beach sand framed by tiered jungles of green are spectacular.<\/p>\n

Another reason to visit; boutique hotels are hot and found everywhere from the jungle to the beach. A long-time favorite is Lapa Rios Ecolodge & Wildlife Reserve with its 16 treehouse bungalows near both Corcovado and the ocean, but newer accommodations include Oxygen Jungle Villas with its 12 all-glass rooms, Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens<\/a> in Arenal (Fortuna) with incredible views of the volcano from your own private deck, and the recently reopened Cala Luna<\/a> on the coast in popular Tamarindo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Considering your own Costa Rica adventure<\/a>? Get the best deals on Orbitz<\/a>!<\/em>\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cloud forests! Beaches! Volcanoes! We love this slice of South America.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":26480,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2660,304,2228],"class_list":["post-26474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-adventure","tag-beach","tag-hotels"],"acf":{"api_active":null,"api_title":null,"api_excerpt":null,"api_featured_image":null,"api_lob":null},"posts_api_cpm_point":[{"name":"","description":"","thumbnail":"","address":"Costa Rica","latitude":"9.748916999999999","longitude":"-83.75342799999999","icon":"\/images\/icons\/marker.png"}],"yoast_head":"\nThe Bucket List: Costa Rica for natural wonder | Orbitz<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2013\/03\/the-bucket-list-costa-rica-for-natural-wonder\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Bucket List: Costa Rica for natural wonder | Orbitz\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Cloud forests! Beaches! Volcanoes! 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