Costa Rica Travel Pictures, Information

Poas Costa Rica Botanical Gardens, Waterfalls, La Paz Volano

Day tours from San Jose to Poas and area is a great bargain for those who want to see a lot in a short time!

There's the Volcano La Paz that tops out right in the cloud deck, so visitors who get to actually see into the volcano crater are indeed lucky!

The nearby botanical gardens, a hike down to some wonderful waterfalls, an aviary with many tropical birds, a small zoo with tigers, a snake area, butterfly conservancy, and a restaurant for a great buffet lunch make this a great day trip!

Coffee Plantation Doka Estate - Popular stop on tour from San Jose Costa Rica

On the way to La Paz at Poas, we first stopped to see coffee plants in the field of the plantation, then pick a ripe red bean and see the moist white raw coffee bean inside.

Then the tour takes you into the plant wehre coffee beans are hulled, washed, sorted and sent to the  drying areas. See Coffee Beans Growing page , and Coffee of Costa Rica.

The onsite restaurant was our stop for breakfast (included) -- a Tico special with Gallo Pinto (black beans and rice), scrambled eggs, tortilla, fruit, juice and coffee.

Punta Leona Resort on Pacific Coast Beach, Costa Rica

This wonderful beach at Punta Leona is one of hundreds that line the Pacific coastline of Costa Rica!

I came to Punta Leona on another day trip from San Jose that included a stop for breakfast on a hillside overlooking a vast valley.

On to the crocodile and wildlife viewing on a river boat ride, then on to Punta Leona resort for lunch and to spend the afternoon on the beach, or in one of the resort pools, or taking the shuttle a short distance to the more open surfing beach. Meals were included, and wonderfully tasty!

Costa Rican Wildlife a Big Draw for visitors 

Costa Rica teams with wildlife, like this monkey spotted on the roof of the dining room at Punta Leona near the Pacific coast.

Elsewhere, I saw crocodiles in the wild, many birds along the river side, a bandicoot (like a  raccoon) at Volcan Irazu, butterflies and a wonderful aviary, including a hummingbird feeding station at Poas.

Many more tours are available, which means a return trip to Costa Rica for me, to see the active volcano Arenal and the nearby hot springs day spa, and Tortuguero, the national park on the Caribbean coast.

Cartago Costa Rica Cathedral and Irazu Volcano 

Sunday morning worshippers packed the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles in Cartago, Costa Rica, south east of San Jose.

Cartago was the first capital of Costa Rica, and this area is the breadbasket of the Central Valley, with farmers' crops planted up the steep slopes of Irazu Volcano.

On the road up to Irazu, we crossed the Continental Divide.

Welcome Sign at Entrance to PN Volcan Irazu, Costa Rica

The half day trip southeast from San Jose took us through Cartago and up the winding switchback road to the top of the Irazu Volcano, at more than 11,000 feet (3353 meters).

At the top of Irazu, and even before, you're higher than the cloud deck, and the views are of an undercast valley, three craters, two lagoons and the (closed, active) Volcan Turrialba.

Costa Rica International Airport at San Jose 

Airports at both San Jose (SJO) and Liberia (LIB) are undergoing expanison and renovation. Only passengers are allowed into the SJO terminal which has only check in counters, ATMs to change money or withdrraw funds to pay the departure tax, and a washroom.

Security checks passports, ID  at the entrance, and again as you line up to check in, and again as you head to security. See Costa Rica Travel information page . . .

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