In both Costa Rica and Panama visitors can see some of the most beautiful wonders of nature, lounge on the tropical beaches or spend some time in the wilderness while partaking in adventurous activities. Both places are so ecologically diverse that many environmentally conscious travelers plan to vacation in either country. A trip to Costa Rica or Panama surely won’t disappoint.
The Many Natural Wonders
Costa Rica
Monteverde National Park receives more than 70,000 visitors each year. It is known for its cloud forest, more than 500 blooming orchards and its many different plant and animal species.
Poas Volcano is only about 30 minutes from San Jose International Airport. It features the largest volcanic crater in the world.
Arenal Volcano is one of the most active volcanos in the world. Visitors can see some of the lava that is constantly flowing and partake in activities like sticking their toes in the hot springs, horseback riding or windsurfing.
Tortuguero Park is huge and consists of more than 77,000 acres. Visitors can see around 30,000 sea turtles and a cluster of small islands and beaches.
Cerro Chirripo is Costa Rica’s highest mountain. From the top, climbers can see glacial lakes, both the Pacific and Caribbean oceans if it’s clear and even a monkey or two.
Panama
Darien National Park is Central America’s largest national park. It contains the Pirre mountain range as well as part of the coastline of the Pacific Ocean.
Bocas Del Toro is very popular among tourists. Visitors can go snorkeling or scuba diving to see some of the local reefs.
The Panama Canal is 48 miles long and is a popular route for ships that want to pass between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. Because of its length, it takes a little more than half a day for ships to cruise down it.
The San Blas Islands are made up of about 378 islands. They are located to the east of the Panama Canal and are a popular spot for sailing.
Chiriqui Highlands is the biggest dormant volcano in Panama. Visitors can see the rainforest and cloud forests.
Diverse Wildlife When visiting either Costa Rica or Panama you are bound to run into wildlife that you may have never seen before. The best way to ensure that you see a lot of different types of wildlife while you are in either country is to participate in a variety of different outdoor activities.
Costa Rica has around 205 different species of mammals, over 850 types of birds, over 200 different reptile species and 150 types of amphibians. Favorites among tourists include moray eels, waved albatross and red-eyed tree frogs.
Panama has about 218 different species of mammals, over 940 types of birds, over 226 different reptile species and 164 types of amphibians. Commonly seen wildlife include sloths, jaguars and bottlenose dolphins.
Activities For Adventurers
There’s no shortage of activities for those looking for an adventure. Both countries offer opportunities to not only have fun, but to see the many sights of Costa Rica or Panama.
Costa Rica
Mountain biking is pretty popular in Costa Rica. Parque Nacional Santa Rosa and Parque Nacional Corcovado both have excellent mountain biking opportunities.
Canopy tours started in the beginning of the 90’s and have gained popularity ever since. Some of the best canopy tours can be found in Monteverde.
Hiking of some sort is done by almost anyone who visits Costa Rica. For those that want an extensive hiking experience, Mount Chirripó is an excellent place to go.
Surfing is pretty popular in this country. Year round surfing can be found at several beaches including Tamarindo, Hermosa and Naranjo.
Panama
Zip lining is a great way to get a bird’s eye view of Panama. Bocas del Toro has many great spots for zip lining.
Kayaking allows participants to see foliage and animals that may not be easily visible on land tours. A favorite place to kayak among travelers is on the Panama Canal.
Scuba diving is particularly pleasant in this country as the waters tend to be warm. Portobelo Underwater National Park has an immense amount of biodiversity.
Rock climbing in Panama is for the ultimate adventurer lover. Boquete has many rock climbing opportunities available for travelers.
