A guide to Costa Rica's 7 provinces.

San Jose.

Located in the Central Valley region of Costa Rica is the province of San Jose. It is where the country's capital since 1823 and where all economical and industrial activities are located. It has the largest population of the country appoximately 1.7 million inhabitants. 

This province is one of the two that don't have volcanoes in its region. San Jose is surrounded by 5 out of the 7 provinces, to put this into perspective there is a cross street where 3 differences provinces meet. It is both interesting and confusing at this corner if you are not familiar with this fact, the province of Alajuela, San Jose and Heredia meet at said corner and it is also one of the most driven by streets of Costa Rica. 

San Jose is the largest province of the country with 20 different cantons {think cities}. This region has the some of the coolest temperatures, it has only 2 seasons throughout the year: rainy season and dry season. Locals call rain season "winter" and dry season "summer". San Jose has the most rivers running throughout its territory, one of which is used the most to generate electricity this river is called Virilla. Even though it is the most utilized river, the Virilla river is also the most contaminated of the country. 

San Jose is home to many multinational companies: Intel, HP, Walmart, IBM, Amazon to name a few. It is also home to 2 national parks: Parque Nacional Chirripo which has the highest peak of the country and Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo. The Downtown area of San Jose is the perfect area for you to shop for beautiful artisan made souvenirs. 

Guanacaste.

Guanacaste is the second largest province of Costa Rica, it is also the westernmost state of the country. The province features lovely beaches and plains. Due to its prolonged dry season, this region is perfect for agriculture amongst the most important crops are rice, sugar cane as well as other grains and cattle farms.  

It is part of Costa Rica since 1824, when the Nicoya and Santa Cruz region {aka Partido de Nicoya} decided to voluntarily annex since it was not clear if the territory was part of Nicaragua or Costa Rica. This resulted in major growth in population and land for Costa Rica. In addition with the annex, the access to ports and tourism grew, positioning the country amongst the top beaches of the world. 

Culturally Guanacaste is rich in music and folk dances and tales that are now part of Costa Rican culture and history such is the case of the marimba. 

As you travel through the roads of Guanacaste you can't help but notice the differences it has to the central valley region, for starters it is much warmer and drier even though it is mostly bordered to the west by the Pacific Ocean. The main road connects through mountains to the most beautiful, most of them hidden from each other. In fact at most beaches you will see local touring companies offering daily 2-3 hours boat trips to see several beaches that may only be accessed by sea. 

Alajuela. 

It is one of the three provinces that is bordered by Nicaragua, it has 15 different cantons {cities} within it. It has just a little under a million inhabitants. Alajuela is home 2 active volcanoes: Poas which is 2,737 meters above sea level and Arenal 1,633 meters above sea level. 

Alajuela has the most varied weather, it is has cooler temperatures in the Poas Volcano and Zarcero region. Warmer weather and rainy in the northern plains, dry and hot weather in the Northern Pacific and hot in the central region. 

The Alajuela province is mostly an agricultural region, amongst the most important agriculture is: rice, beans, tobacco, sugar cane, sorghum and fruits. It is also a milk producing and cattle growing province. 

It is home to the main airport of the country, Juan Santamaria, although locals will always have an open debate if the airport belongs to San Jose or Alajuela since it is located in both provinces. 

Cartago.

Cartago is a historical province, it was the first one to receive news of Costa Rica's independence and it was the first capital of Costa Rica. It has suffered several natural disasters, due to this it has several ruins in its region. It is the coldest region in the country and by cold I mean temperatures average 60-70ºF year round. 

Cartago is home to the "Basílica de los Angeles", a catholic temple with Costa Rica's patron virgin "La Virgen de los Angeles" aka "La Negrita". Every August the "romeria" takes place, this is a major religious event in which people near and far pilgrimage to the temple some walking on their feet, others walking on the knees to pay homage to the Virgin. 

The Irazú volcano one of the tallest volcanoes of the country standing high at 3,432 meters above sea level, is also located in Cartago. The Orosi Valley is also part of this lovely province, just a few miles South of the downtown area you will find hidden between the mountains the oldest standing church of the country.

Recently, Cartago has begun exporting tropical flowers to other countries, due to its weather and location you will find many different types of flora in many colors. 

Heredia.

It is the smallest province of Costa Rica, it has roughly 500,000 inhabitants. Home to the Barva volcano with a height of  2,906 meters above sea level. It is considered the perfect location for healthier living in the country due to its moderate temperatures.

The largest coffee producer Britt is located in this province as well as many other coffee producers. Next time you shop for Costa Rican coffee and see the word Barva -as in the Barva volcano- included in the name, you'll know it is from the Heredia province.

Most flower producers and exporters are also located in this lovely province, which is why it is called "flower country". 

Puntarenas.

It is the longest province of the country, home to one of the main import/export ports: Caldera. Before the Spaniards arrived it didn't exist, as it is the result of a geomorphic process {between rain, humidity, earthquakes, etc.}. It is bordered by Panama to the South and the provinces of Limon, San Jose, Alajuela and Guanacaste.

Puntarenas' name means sand point or in Spanish "Punta de Arenas" because it is mostly a coast. It is made up of peninsulas, mountains, valleys, ports and Islands. 

3 major seaports are in Puntarenas: Caldera, Golfito and Quepos. Caldera is used mostly for container shipment meaning imports/exports of goods, Quepos is mostly a recreational port. There are also many islands that are part of this province: Bejuco, Venado, San Lucas, El Caño, Los Negritos, Guayabo, Los Pajaros, Cabo Blanco, El Coco, Cedros y Chira. 

In Puntarenas you will find Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, this national park is one of the top best places to visit while in Costa Rica. It is rich in flora and fauna, you will see sloths, vipers, basilisk and more! It is one of our favorite beaches in Costa Rica. Parque Nacional Corcovado is another national park in Puntarenas. 

Limon.

It is the least populated province of Costa Rica, with a little over 400,000 habitants. In 1502 this province received the first visit of Christopher Columbus, it was the fourth trip to America. Limon which means lemon in English is the only region in the country with indigenous groups, the main group is called Bribri and they are found in the Talamanca region. They were able to avoid colonization by staying deep in the jungles. 

It is the only province of Costa Rica in the Caribbean and bordered by the two neighboring countries of Panama to the South and Nicaragua to the North. It is the most humid and rainy region of the country, due to the caribbean winds that bring in the moisture of the ocean. 

Limon has two very important national parks: Tortuguero, which is located in the most rainy area and is where you will find the most turtle population in the country and Cahuita National Park which was the first official national park and it is the only one with a coral reef that is protected by the government. Most of the beaches of Limon have white sands as opposed to the black sand on the Pacific Coast. 

Within Limon is Guapiles which is a banana producing region, all of the exported bananas, pineapples, cacao and coconut come from this area. It is also a petroleum rich area. Limon has a big afro-caribbean influence in its culture, it is where you can enjoy delicious rice and beans, pati {like an empanada} and live reggae/calypso music. 

Limon is beautiful because of its Caribbean beaches, however it is the poorest province of Costa Rica. 

La Paz Waterfall & Gardens {Costa Rica}

When thinking of Costa Rica it is easy to think of green and lush spaces, volcanoes, wildlife such as toucans, butterflies and frogs as well as waterfalls created by nature. All this and more is what makes Costa Rica a preferred destination in Central America. It's as if you are somehow connected to paradise and you never want to leave paradise.

Just a few minutes East of the Poas Volcano is the La Paz Waterfall and Gardens, a wildlife refuge and nature park that also has a boutique lodge for guests to enjoy a magical stay. We are lucky to have visited the La Paz Waterfall and Gardens twice, both times we have been in for a treat. Getting up close and personal with toucans, butterflies, hummingbirds and frogs.

This is one of the places I mentioned in my 11 fun things to do with kids in Costa Rica list and it's for obvious reasons I've included La Paz in the list. It's a one stop to make sure you see most of the wildlife you have in your Costa Rica list plus see gorgeous waterfalls and enjoy a fun filled day learning about Costa Rica and how Costa Ricans are working hard to preserve their natural green scenery and wildlife. They have rescued 

The park has roughly over 100 species of animals, there is a hiking trail to see the 5 different waterfalls in addition they have a delicious buffet style restaurant overlooking the hummingbird garden and another restaurant overlooking the man made trout lake with waterfall at the top of the mountain. 

What will I see? 

You will most likely also see the Morphos Butterfly, don't let the dark brown on the back of its wings fool you, when it flies away you will see the blue hues of its wings. 

Birds are everywhere! Our favorite was the hummingbird garden in which we suggest you sit or stand still and enjoy the birds flying around you left to right. 

The Frog exhibit is also magnificent! They have blue jeans frog, due to its blue legs. The colorful red eye leaf frog and the green and black poison dart frog. You are not allowed to touch the blue jeans and the green and black poison dart frog for obvious reasons {they're poisonous}, but you can ask the exhibit ranger if you may hold the red eye leaf frog in your hands and he will help you. 

The last time we visited was my birthday and I had been wishing I could hold a red eye leaf frog, my wish was granted. Shortly after the frog with on my hand and we took this picture it jumped onto my daughter's face which completely caught her by surprise and of course she began jumping and waving her hands after a few seconds the frog jumped off her face onto a leaf, that is when I captured the picture above on the left. 

The toucan exhibit is one of a kind, you will see the always colorful keel billed toucan and you will be allowed to hold or have it placed on your shoulder. I took advantage and pet mine to make him feel even more comfortable. You can also feed the toucans. On exhibit there is also the chestnut-mandibled toucan which has a dark brown beak. 

There's also a jungle cat exhibit, in this exhibit we were able to see the very majestic jaguar. Which kept posing for us and walking around following my kids around the exhibit. They also have an ocelot that is very playful. 

Ever wondered what a typical Costa Rican home looked like before electricity? La Paz Waterfall and Gardens has a traditional casita in which you will be able to try traditional snacks and drinks and be able to sit and enjoy the peacefulness of being away from it all. In front of the casita you will see the traditional ox-cart. Lovely isn't it?

Straight across from the casita you will see a hiking trail that leads to the 5 waterfalls, the highest one being 120 feet tall. There are several look out points from which you will be able to feel sprinkles of water on your face. This is what the trail looks like on the way to the waterfalls.

The prize at the end of the trail, roughly a 20 minute walk from the Casita to the main waterfall. 

At the end of the Waterfalls trail you walk up steps to reach a gift shop and the bus stop, the bus is included with your admission and they will drive you back up to the main entrance to the park/parking lot. 

There are monkeys and there is a snake exhibit too. You will learn about the deadliest and most poisonous snakes that Costa Rica has and believe when I say they're all there. 

What should I know before I visit?

When you visit we suggest you take comfortable walking shoes since you will walk a lot, both up and downhill. We also suggest you take your rain gear be it an umbrella or light jacket since you will be outdoors walking in the rain and cloud forest, dressing in layers is a great way to ensure you are comfortable in weather changes. Strollers can be used, but honestly we don't recommend you use one since you walk up and down and floors are a bit moist making it slippery at times. 

There is private parking with a security guard, please drive carefully since you are up in the mountains it is likely you will see wildlife crossing the road such as the stick bug my husband saw a few yards away. 

What is the admission cost and what about restaurants? 

Adults     $38.00 USD 

Children  $22.00 USD (3 - 12 years old)

Buffet Lunch is an additional $13.00 USD per adult and $7.00 USD per children, it is a good restaurant with a delicious basil based salad dressing and several options to eat. 

If you are a resident of Costa Rica your admission is $22.00 USD per adult and $13.00 USD per child. Make sure you have your proof of residency ready to show, as they will ask for it at the ticket desk. 

One final tip, bring your camera and battery fully charged as I'm sure you will take many pictures. This is the place to get up close with wildlife that you wouldn't be able to hold in the outdoors. 

Manuel Antonio National Park & Beach {Costa Rica}

You know those pictures you see about Costa Rica beaches, with the cristal clear water that suddenly looks turquoise and surrounded by a jungle and wildlife? That image is the one I have always had about Costa Rica even before we moved here.

Since moving here our only beach reference was in Puntarenas and locals don't consider it their best beach! Last December right between Christmas and New Year's while my parents and sister were visiting we planned a day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park, now if you've never been to Costa Rica this is one of the places I've included in my list of fun things to do with kids in Costa Rica.

Since we didn't all fit into one car and rental SUV's were scarce we decided to hire a private shuttle service. We had heard about this company through friends and were so happy to have found a shuttle and driver available for us, they picked us up at our doorstep early in the morning and we didn't have to worry about getting lost, traffic or driving. The chauffeur was very helpful and resourceful when we needed to stop for potty breaks. The shuttle fit all 7 of us comfortably plus the driver and his co-pilot and we still had space for more people. Here's what the shuttle looked like:

On the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica in the province of Puntarenas next to Quepos is Manuel Antonio National Park, this park has 4,800 acres of land for you to explore and is rich in flora and fauna. To give you more an idea on the wildlife in the park there are about 350 bird species {amongst them is the toucan, }, 109 mammal species {three and two toed sloths, monkeys, howling monkeys, raccoons, squirrel monkeys, coatis to name a few}, reptiles {such as basilisk lizards, iguanas, eyelash yellow snake and more}. Here is some of the wildlife we saw during our day there:

A few things to keep in mind when visiting Manuel Antonio National Park:

* The park is open to the public from 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday {holidays included}. Admission is: 

$10.00 U.S. Dollars per person {non-residents}++

¢3,500 Colones per person {locals/residents} 

* Entering the park can be a bit tricky since during Costa Rica's high season {December - April} locals and foreigners head to Costa Rica's beaches to enjoy the dry weather with lots of sun. I mean tricky because to enter Manuel Antonio National Park there is a limit on how many people can be inside, so for us arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning meant we were in line to get in for almost an hour standing in the bright sun and humid weather not the best combination with kids. We had to wait for people to leave the park so the line would move and we could finally go in.

* You can't bring alcohol into the park or beaches, we saw many locals and even foreign tourists asked to dump their alcohol, even if it was not opened. Smoking is also prohibited. However you can bring food and drinks, you can also bring an ice chest and chairs we saw families dragging little carts with their belongings to the beach. 

* Keep your belongings at a close distance from you, I'm not kidding there are raccoons that come down from the trees to take your stuff and believe me you'll never find it. Ever. Once they had someone follow some raccoons to where they took the items they "stole" and they were surprised to find cameras, passports, wallets, clothes and even sunglasses! These animals are not afraid of getting too close to humans and if you try scaring them off they will throw whatever they find around them at  you. Exhibit A:

* Make sure your camera is fully charged and has enough memory to take pictures, this park has howling monkeys, sloths, lizards, birds, snakes and many more animals. You'll want to capture with your camera to remember how beautiful it is.

* Bring your own beverage and snacks as there are no vendors inside the park, it is very common to see family's lugging a cooler full of ice, snacks, drinks and even food. There are several picnic tables to enjoy your food. Make sure you don't have glass containers, since they are not allowed. This helps preserve the natural beauty of Manuel Antonio and its wildlife

* There are 4 different beaches inside the park: Espadilla Sur, Manuel Antonio, Escondido and Playita, we went to Manuel Antonio which considered the prettiest one. This beach is a shorter walking distance from the entrance and has restrooms nearby. My husband went once before us and couldn't access one of the beaches because there was a crocodile sighting. It is common that the beach is closed due to crocodile sighting since there are several swamps nearby. 

* There is no lifeguard on duty {at least when we went I didn't see one} so be mindful when entering the water. 

As with any other outdoor adventure in Costa Rica bring sunblock, a change of dry clothes, towel, sunglasses, hat, comfortable and light clothes because along the coast temperatures are higher and so is humidity. 

Leaving Manuel Antonio we felt very happy at all the animals we saw, not to mention many butterflies that were not captured due to my camera's battery running low. However once back at our shuttle I was able to hook up my phone to the power outlet and managed to get this image of the sunset that day, truly stunning to say the least.

++There has been speculation that the admission price for non-residents will be increased to $16.00 USD per person. I would double check if possible, if not make sure you have enough cash on you just in case.

+++Please note that the picture of the basilisk lizard, the eyelash pit viper snake and the sloth were taken by my traveling niece Damaris P. Reyes. 

Places to visit in Cartago Costa Rica with kids

As promised on my list of fun things to do with kids in Costa Rica I am sharing all about Cartago today. Costa Rica has 7 provinces or states:

Alajuela

Cartago

Guanacaste 

Heredia 

Limon 

Puntarenas 

San Jose 

Located in the Central Valley is the province of Cartago, within the province is the City of Cartago, it was the capital of Costa Rica until 1823 when San Jose was named the new capital. Cartago is also known as "the old metropolis", the City is beautiful and has lots of history, it is also home to several landmarks.

The Ruins

In the downtown area where Plaza Mayor is located are the ruins of the temple of the Santiago Apostol Parish, he was the first patron saint of Costa Rica. Sadly each building that ever sheltered the temple was always destroyed by earthquakes {there have been 3 major earthquakes to this area: 1822, 1841 and 1910}. We had the opportunity of visiting the ruins of the temple which remains unfinished since the last major earthquake of 1910 called Santa Monica. The Ruins show a roman influence in the structure and now house beautifully landscaped gardens and a small pond in which visitors throw coins while making a wish. Admission to the ruins is free.

The Basilica

Last August we had barely just arrived 2 months prior to Costa Rica and were fairly new to the culture, however on the last week of July we began seeing posters about the pilgrimage from all over the country to the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles in Cartago. To put this into perspective in 2013 they had over 2 million pilgrims walk to the Basilica from all over Costa Rica. On August 2 each and every year Costa Ricans walk on their feet and some on their knees in hopes of a miracle and/or to thank her for a miracle they had asked for, this is commonly called "La Romería".  

The Virgin of the Angels a.k.a. "La Negrita" was found by an indigenous girl in 1635 the story says she found a statue of the Virgin and brought it home several times although it would mysteriously reappear at the place the girl had found her which was a large rock. The rock is located in the back of the Basilica and is considered sacred. When you visit you will see visitors praying and maybe even leaving a little charm to represent the miracle she did for them.

Costa Ricans also visit the Basilica to collect holy water. The Basilica is a beautiful site, on a sunny day it is stunning with its colonial style architecture although there is also byzantine influence too. Admission to the basilica is free. 

The Irazú Volcano

Costa Rica has 6 active volcanoes, the Cartago province has 2 of those 6: Irazú and Turrialba. Irazú which in indigenous dialect means "mountain of the thunder and earthquake" is located high atop the mountains surrounded by clouds. From downtown Cartago the volcano is a short 30 mile drive, it is the tallest volcano in Costa Rica {11,259.84 ft above sea level!} allowing you to see on a clear day both the Pacific and Caribbean Coast from its summit. When we visited it was a partly cloudy day, sadly we couldn't see the two coasts.

The drive up is pretty easy and smooth a little curvy though with stunning views of downtown Cartago, when you arrive to the main crater area there is a short walk to the main viewing point in fact you can see the parking lot area from there.  There is also another viewing point which is higher, you have the option of driving to it or walking however this road is in very bad condition with huge pot holes. We tried driving so I could take pictures but halfway there decided the road was in such bad condition that was not worth it. I would've walked but for me the altitude had a bit of an impact as I kept feeling queazy and the earth moving, but the kids loved it.

We were excited to see the lake the main crater has as we'd read it changes colors from deep emerald to dark red, unfortunately due to the rising temperatures of the main crater today the lake is non-existent we were told by a park ranger that the pictures we've seen are from 5 years ago which means that it has been dried up for a while. All we could see was different formations around the crater and a very thin and loose dirt film all around us, it felt almost sand like.

We walked in the Playa Hermosa area too which is located in the middle of the park and at the moment is dry except when you dig a little in the dirt you can see a bit of humidity, while walking in it we found several lava rocks that did not weigh at all! The kids were very excited to pick up rocks and find out if it was a heavy or weightless rock.

During our time at the volcano it got cloudy, then sunny and then cloudy again. We could see the clouds roll in with the winds. It is fascinating to us how quick you can see clouds move from side to side, we've always enjoyed watching clouds drift by but for some reason here in Costa Rica it seems they move quicker. 

Since moving to Costa Rica our family had only visited the Poas Volcano until this past weekend when we finally visited the Irazú Volcano. Temperatures are similar at all volcanoes the are around 14ºC - 17ºC which is about 57ºF - 62ºF it may seem like it is warm specially if you are visiting from a cooler area, however when the average temperature in Costa Rica is in the 80s this drop feels even stronger. We suggest you dress in layers because for some it feels like the perfect weather but for others it is a bit cooler. We also highly suggest you wear sunblock, as this is higher and even with clouds you can get sunburned.

The Irazú National Park has a picnic area and a little shop in which you can purchase snacks, souvenirs and coffee/hot chocolate or if you prefer you may bring your own food and enjoy it at the picnic area with the view of the main crater. There are restrooms and a park ranger office with a first aid team in case of emergencies.

All national parks/volcanoes are open 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. daily. Just keep in mind that any volcanic area could be closed without previous notice if the park ranger feels you could be in danger as some of these volcanoes are still active. Admission to the Irazú National Park is as follows:

¢1,000 Nationals and Residents*

¢400    National and resident children ages 6 - 12*

$10 USD Non-Residents

$1 USD non-resident children ages 6 - 12

Mi Tierra Restaurant

As our day in Cartago was coming to an end, it was time to enjoy a delicious Costa Rican meal. We had asked friends of ours what restaurant they recommended and they all agreed on Mi Tierra which is located on the road up to the Irazú volcano. We arrived to our destination easily and were overwhelmed with all the delicious meal choices we found in the menu, this restaurant is family friendly with it's small indoor playground to entertain kids while parents enjoy live marimba music. 

The only thing to keep in mind when visiting this restaurant is that the bathrooms locks are hard for kids under 10 to unlock, we had a little incident where our 4 year old ran back to the bathroom and locked himself in.

* ¢ is the symbol for the national currency in Costa Rica, which are called Colones. 

11 Fun things to do with kids in Costa Rica

When we first found out we were moving to Costa Rica I began searching online for fun things to do while living here, we day dreamed of weekend trips to sites around us and even crossing the border to Panama, Nicaragua and possibly a trip down South to Argentina, Chile maybe even the Galapagos too {fingers crossed!}.

Nine months later {yes it's been 9 months} we have taken trips but still have a long bucket list. We still have items that haven't been crossed out, not because we don't want to mostly due to all the challenges we've faced since moving here such as being without a car for a little over a month, then most recently my husband's health, but now that we've overcome all these obstacles I am ready to share places we've visited and places we'd love to visit -err I'd love to visit hehe. 

1.- Manuel Antonio National Park. This is THE beach to visit while in Costa Rica, we've traveled to the Caribbean and to Hawaii and I've been to Canada and Italy so to me this beach is the beach that gave me the a-ha moment I was looking for in Costa Rica. It is rich in colors, has lots of wildlife and  the views are breathtaking.

2.-  Poas Volcano. This is the volcano that most recently had some activity and is located nearest to our home {only 55 km} in addition it is the one we keep visiting because of all its beauty. 

3.- Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort. I love going to day spas, in fact when we traveled to Las Vegas I always visited a different spa for the day to relax that is until I visited the Qua at Caesar's Palace {which is heaven to me!}. While my family visited last December they had the opportunity to visit Tabacón and my 8 year old tagged along with them. The 4 of them wouldn't stop talking about Tabacón and all the grand time they spent there. I saw pictures they took, my third grader still raves about Tabacón and so I've been following all their social media just to catch little glimpses of what I look forward to enjoy someday soon. 

4.- Monteverde National Park. The year round cloud forest, this where I will finally get to see the majestic quetzal bird with it's long feathers and deep emerald green color. It is also where you can walk across a long hanging bridge and see even more wildlife. I've read that they have glowing mushrooms, it would be interesting to see one and photograph it. 

5.- Sarchí. This is an artisans town in which you will see the largest oxcart ever! It is the perfect place to shop for souvenirs and get a feel for true Costa Rican culture and delicious food. We love taking day trips here and stop along the way at Zarcero. It is also in the Central Valley and you will see many mountains covered in rich green grass in which cows roam. 

6.- Río Celeste. They say the water is a deep turquoise hue, it is located inside the Tenorio Volcano National Park. It is said that the water from 2 different rivers combine into one mixing sulphur and calcium carbonate make the blue hue. I've read tips about what to take when going to see rio celeste and I think I may need to get some rain boots but will definitely visit it. 

7.- La Paz Waterfalls. This park is located around the Poas Volcano National Park, it is a refuge for wild animals which also has them on exhibit. It's where I finally got to hold a Toucan on my arm and shoulder and got to experience what Costa Rica is all about {no artificial ingredients}. It is also where I saw beautiful waterfalls cascading through the rain forest.

8.- Guanacaste. I've heard they have the best beaches in the country, perfect for surf and beautiful sunsets. Each beach has it's own gem to enjoy. Just to put this into perspective, the Pacific side of Costa Rica has roughly 300 different beaches... that's one beach to visit per day for 10 months! I would be happy just visiting Bay Ballena, Playa Conchal, Malpais, Bahia de los Piratas and Tamarindo. 

9.- Cartago. This is what used to be the capital of Costa Rica, it is now a beautiful quaint town East of San Jose. We have visited here more than once and still enjoy discovering new places to stop and enjoy a traditional Costa Rican meal in addition to see temple ruins in the middle of the downtown. Most recently we visited the Basilica of the Virgen of the Angels, it is truly beautiful. 

10.- Tarcoles. The tarcoles river has many crocodiles roaming around and in it, in fact there are several boat tours that take you all around it to see them. There is one in particular that I'd like to take, the man gets out of the boat to feed the crocodiles! How do I know? because I follow them on instagram and every day they post a new image.

11.- Tortuguero National Park. Turtles, manatees, caimans, basilisks, frogs and peacocks roaming around? I'm so in! For some reason I am fascinated by basilisks perhaps it is the image of one running across water as a cartoon? This place is way out of my comfort zone, yet I am intrigued to go see it. You can only access it by plane or boat. 

And to this list I'm adding 2 more that you just can't miss {consider this a bonus!}:

Ferry Ride in Puntarenas. A week ago we packed our bags for the weekend and left early in the morning in our car to Puntarenas, there we took the ferry boat that took us across the gulf to Tambor beach where we spent the day swimming like mermaids until our skin got all wrinkled up. It was a wonderful weekend in the middle of nowhere. 

Zip Lining. The first week after we moved here my husband had the opportunity to zip line -twice! He is the only one of our family who's done it and he loved it. The kids and I can't wait to do it even though I might chicken out but I'm planing on being brave and doing it! 

As you can see there is a lot to do in Costa Rica with kids and this list doesn't even cover it all! I have other items that I've been reading on and hope to add to our long bucket list. Have you visited Costa Rica? If so what would you add to this list? Stay tuned as I prepare to write posts in detail of each fun thing we've done. Pura Vida!