Costa Rica

You could probably best describe the county as blissful. Costa Ricans or Ticos and Ticas as they call themselves, are noted to be among the happiest people on earth. And why wouldn’t they be given that they are also one of only a handful of nations in the world where longevity is the norm. That aside, as a Spanish speaking nation, the catch cry of the country is Pura Vida meaning ‘pure life’. They live the dream with 99% of Costa Rica’s energy resources coming from renewables.

With a population of almost five million, the main concentration of people lives in the country’s capital city, San Jose (1.4 million). The city is smack bang in the middle of the country making it the perfect base for travellers wanting to spread their wings and see as much of the place as possible. Like veins, countless mountain rivers and streams flow through the city, feeding the Caribbean Sea on the east coast while to the west quenching agricultural lands before draining into the Pacific Ocean. The rich volcanic soil and tropical climate ensure everything flourishes with ample sunshine and rain. About a third of the land is used to grow the crops that are the staples of the country’s economy such as coffee, sugar, pineapples, bananas, and a wide range of other agricultural produce. In fact, Costa Rica is the second largest banana exporter in the world. With water on both sides, fishing is also a major industry. But the big attraction is the country’s natural assets. Millions of visitors each year travel to Costa Rica to explore its natural wonders, making tourism one of its key economic drivers.

As one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, an astonishing five per cent of the world’s species is found here. To give you just a taste of what we’re talking about, there are 2 species of sloth, 50 species of hummingbirds, 1300 species of orchids, more than 300,000 species of insects, and the list just keeps going on and on.

With more than 25 per cent of land given over to national parklands and wildlife refuges, you can take your pick of places to see and discover wildlife in their natural habitat. To put a finer point on it, Costa Rica has 32 national parks, 51 wildlife refuges, 13 forest reserves, and eight biological reserves. You could spend years exploring and hardly scratch the surface. So, to narrow it down somewhat, the parks that attract most attention are the tropical rainforests of Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve - northwest of San Jose, the Manuel Antonio National Park - southwest of San Jose and Corcovado National Park - southwest of Buenos Aires.

Parks often surround volcanoes; both extinct and active. There are 67 volcanoes scattered across the rugged peaks that divide the east and west coasts; six are active while the rest are dormant. Again, to narrow things down, the easiest of the volcanoes and their respective parklands to access from San Jose, fortunately, include some of the best. Included are Arenal Volcano, which parkland includes the spectacular Arenal Lake, Poás Volcano, and Irazú Volcano, where from the peak on a good day you can see the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Gifting Owl has some fantastic experience gift ideas for those travelling to Costa Rica. As guided adventures, our gifts are designed to showcase the natural wonders of Costa Rica in exciting and often thrill-a-minute ways that your friend or loved one will cherish forever.

Sunseekers wanting to make the most of the tropical climate are spoilt for beautiful beaches. On the Pacific Coast, you’ll find some of the best beaches in the world. In the far northeast Conchal beach at the luxury resort town of Brasilito and neighbouring Flamingo beach are top spots for those wanting to relax and lap up all the best things about this Central American Shangri la. Further south Tamarindo and Grande beaches also make the beach hotlist. And if travel itineraries include a visit to Manuel Antonio, they should definitely include a dip in the aqua blue shallows at Manuel Antonio beach.

You need sustenance with all this adventure at hand and Costa Rica’s cuisine is at the ready to fill your belly with hearty and delicious dishes. Black beans and rice are the staples of every mealtime whether it’s Gallo Pinto for breakfast, Casado for lunch and Olle de Carne for dinner. Gifting Owl food tours include all kinds of speciality options from organic dining to chocolate delights, served up with sides of sightseeing and cultural experiences that take your giftee deeper into the local culture and community life.