Costa Rica has become one of the top destinations for tourists and travelers seeking close contact with nature, pristine beaches, National Parks and tropical rain and cloud forests. It is well established as one of the best countries to visit for biological diversity, primary forests, coral reefs, endangered species and enchanting white sand beaches, with outstanding surfing and scuba diving. Yet there is even more to Costa Rica; and here is a list of the Top 10 Unknown Tourist Destinations in Costa Rica.

PUERTO VIEJO DE SARAPIQUI

Who has not heard of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, in the province of Limon, on the Caribbean coast? It is an exciting place to visit without a doubt, and is of rare beauty with a vibrant Caribbean culture. Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui on the other hand is virtually unheard of, yet it offers one of the most interesting riverboat trips in Costa Rica. There is no guide, however you will find that the locals are more than happy to show you around or to take you out on their own boats. The trip takes several hours during which time you will see many beautiful birds, monkeys, sloths and even the occasional crocodile. There is a beautiful lodge in a small village called La Trinidad that is absolutely enchanting should you wish to stay in this fascinating area. Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui can be reached via two different ways. You can either go through Sta Clara, in Heredia from where you follow the direction to Tigre, or you take the road to Barva, pass the Poas Volcano from where you just follow the signs to Puerto Viejo. Either way is just as picturesque and the roads are in perfect condition.

LANKESTER BOTANICAL GARDENS

On the Eastern side of San Jose, as you are on your way to the Irazu Volcano, make sure to make a detour to the Lankester Gardens. Located 3.7 miles east of Cartago on the road to Paraiso, these gardens are most definitely worth a visit. The collection of Orchids that you will see there is the most outstanding in the country. Naturalist and botanist Charles Lankester West originally established the gardens in 1917. In 1973 the gardens were donated to the University of Costa Rica for continued research and to make them accessible to the public. These gardens hold over three thousands indigenous and rare specious of orchids spread over 26 acres. Many of these species grow in the canopy and bloom once or twice a year, these gardens therefore give visitors the chance to see beautiful flowers that are otherwise almost impossible to observe. The gardens also have a collection of cacti, succulents and bromeliads and an enchanting butterfly garden. Today the Lankester Botanical Garden can be counted amongst the most important botanical gardens of the Inotropic.

THE BARRA HONDA NATIONAL PARK

The Barra Honda National Park is a true wonder of wildlife with its unique flora and fauna in Costa Rica; it is often overlooked by tourists as they rush past on their way to the beaches of Guanacaste and Nicoya; their main attraction are the stalactites, stalagmites and other calcareous that form the 40 limestone caverns that are only accessible with professional climbing gear and guides. It is also probably the only place in this country where you can find accommodation actually within a National Park. Additionally it also has camping grounds. As you are on your way to the caverns you will see some of the most exceptional tropical dry forest of the planet along the trails. This is probably the only place or Earth where you can see capuchin monkeys and cactus together. You can also watch howler monkeys, kinkajous, raccoons, peccaries, agoutis, deer and huge anteaters.

LA SELVA BIOLOGICAL STATION

La Selva is an area of 1600 hectares of tropical rain forest located in the Caribbean lowland in the northern region of Costa Rica. Indeed 75% of this area consists of primary tropical rain forest. Dr. Leslie Holdridge established La Selva in 1954; it was just a farm at first where she could conduct experiments with mixed plantations for the study of natural resources management. In 1968, the Organization for Tropical Studies bought it and declared it a Biological Reserve. It is today one of the most important sites for research on tropical rain forests. La Selva Biological Station is actually an extension of the Braulio Carillo National Park and is like a corridor that descends from almost 3000 meters on the Barva Volcano to just 35 meters at La Selva, the whole area includes four tropical life zones and habitats, with over seven hundreds species of trees and five thousand species of plants. It is home to large predators like the Jaguar, the bushmaster and the puma, various types of monkeys and other mammals, and four hundred species of migratory and resident birds that represents almost half of the birds present in Costa Rica.

SANTA ROSA NATIONAL PARK

About 20 years ago, a couple called Daniel Janzen and Winnie Hallwachs began work on a campaign that eventually resulted in what is the first National Park of Costa Rica: Santa Rosa National Park. It was given this name in memory of the Hacienda Santa Rosa and a historical battle that took place in 1856 between a somewhat ragtag Costa Rican Army and the American forces. It is today part of the Guanacaste Conservation. For more details and a map, please check this link: costarica-nationalparks.com . What makes Santa Rosa unique is that it has ten distinctive habitats that are not normally found within the same area: Oak forests, mangrove swamps, deciduous forest, evergreen, littoral woodlands, marshlands and savannah that are home to over 115 species of mammals, 250 species of birds, 10,000 species of insects, and over 100 species of reptiles and amphibians. You will see Olive Ridley turtles, Leatherback turtles, Peccaries, Jaguars, whitetail deer, jaguarondis, coatimundis and more. While lush and green during the rainy season, the park turns into a dry forest during the dry season. Its outstanding beaches, turquoise blue sea and gorgeous flora and fauna make it one of the most interesting and remarkable places to visit in Costa Rica. Concealed in the park is the notorious La Casona, an old mansion with an interesting display of photographs, pictures and drawings as well as some military equipment that commemorates the battle of Santa Rosa. Throughout the park there are many trails leading to waterfalls and particularly stunning forests. Try and see Playa Nacite and Playa Naranjo, white sand beauties; Playa Naranjo is home to Witches Rock, a dream destination for some of the best surfers of the world.

HITOY CERERE RESERVE

The Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve serves as a sort of guardian of the Talamanca Mountain Range on the Bronca Region of the Caribbean. The whole area is intertwined by many rocky rivers and rapids as well as mesmerizing waterfalls reaching 20 or 30 meters in height. The name of the reserve comes from the Bri-Bri indigenous language, Hitoy describing the moss that typically covers the stones while Cerere means clear water. The trees are very tall, up to 50 meters, and include the silk cotton trees, the crab wood trees, the wild tamarind, the nargusta and the possum-wood. The animal life is rich and extremely varied, and includes the three-toed sloth, the collared peccary, the howler and the white-faced monkeys, the jaguar and the tiger cat to name just a few. Hitoy Cerere is also home to one hundred and fifteen species of birds, including the chizo parrot, the Montezuma oropendola, and many types of hummingbirds. You will find the reserve in Cahuita, in the province of Limon.

MARINO BALLENAS NATIONAL PARK

The Marino Ballenas National Park, located on the southern Pacific coast in Puntarenas Province, was created to protect the whales that come to mate off the shores of Costa Rica between the months of December and April. It is also a stunning place to visit, just for itself and is wonderful for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and surfing and for simply enjoying the true beauty of nature. Its peaceful and serene atmosphere is maintained simply because it is seldom visited and is perfect for those seeking direct contact with nature. Green marine iguanas that like to bask in the sun live on the white sand beaches. There you will also find a mangrove habitat and the largest and most impressive coral reef on the Pacific side of Central America. Olive Ridley turtles make their nests on the shore. The park provides a truly memorable visit and is not to be missed, unique in Costa Rica.

LAS CRUCES BIOLOGICAL STATION

Founded in 1962 by Robert and Catherine Wilson, Las Cruces Biological Station serves primarily as an experimental farm and as a botanical center and nursery. The organization for tropical studies, http://www.ots.ac.cr, acquired it in 1973 and made sure it followed its original purpose. It has now gained a worldwide reputation and is one of the pioneers in conservation and restoration. It is located in Coto Brus country, in the south of the country, just 10 kms before you reach the border with Panama. Today it offers refuge to an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, including 113 mammal species, 400 species of birds and over 2000 species of plants. The station is incidentally also home to the Wilson Botanical Gardens, a haven for palms and ferns, notably Bromeliads, Heliconias, various ferns and palms, ginger and aroids. This is a must for nature lovers, biologists, scientists and explorers alike. Las Cruces is located near San Vito; you reach it by taking the Pan American highway to Perez Zeledon, then follow signs to San Vito, and then follow signs to Agua Buena.

PALO VERDE

Palo Verde is considered to be the most important sanctuary for migrating birds and resident waterfowl in Central America. Located in Nicoya, it is a great place to stop while on your way to the wonderful beaches of Malpais and Sta Teresa on the Pan American highway. It can still be considered to be a hidden jewel, as it thankfully receives very few visitors; if this was not the case, the natural balance would be skewed and the birds would stop coming. Palo Verde has some camping areas where the ground is well drained, as well as a few basic outhouses and outdoor showers. This is the ideal destination for those with a taste for adventure and who don’t mind roughing it a bit. With its 15 different habitats, Palo Verde offers the green foliage of wetlands set against tropical dry forests, a contrast that again reminds us of the biodiversity of Costa Rica. Magnificent boat tours are on offer at paloverdeboattours.com, the perfect way to discover this lost land and its vibrant wildlife. During most of the year the marshes can easily be seen from the station from where one can spot storks, egrets, ibis, ducks, geese, herons, jacanas and many other migrating birds.

GANDOCO MANZANILLO WILDLIFE REFUGE

The secluded and exotic Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is located in one of the most magnificent areas of Costa Rica. Past the Caribbean little town of Puerto Viejo, past Punto Cocles, Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva, you keep going until the end of the road and there you reach Manzanillo, a quiet little fishing village where nothing, it seems, has changed in a very long time. It is a stone’s throw from Panama but this is where your journey ends. This refuge is home to some of the most uncommon and endangered species of Costa Rica, including the Ocelot, the Jaguar and the Manatee. You will also see some flamboyant and colorful birds, while from above the howler monkeys will always keep an eye on you! Manzanillo Gandoca is classified as a humid tropical rainforest and out-of-this-world mangrove oyster beds resting on magnificent coral reef are also concealed within it. The white sand pristine beach and the calm blue sea will however lure you and you will also learn the art of relaxing, letting go and enjoying life. Manzanillo is also a nesting ground for certain marine species of turtles, caimans, dolphins, tarpons, without of course forgetting the manatees. The nesting season is in between March and May, an excellent time to visit this magical area. Kayaking and surfing are extremely popular, and if you fancy a bit of Caribbean nightlife, Puerto Viejo is just round the corner!