Delta Air Lines is adding 30 percent more capacity to Latin America and the Caribbean next winter with more flights to popular destinations from Costa Rica to San Juan.
21.07.2023 - 07:39 / roughguides.com
San Jose is probably your first glimpse of one of the world's most beautiful countries. Costa Rica is a nature lover's paradise, with a biodiversity found nowhere else in the world. And the great thing is, many of those stunning landscapes are within easy reach of San Jose, making them the perfect day trip. Here are the best day trips from San Jose, that can be reached in under three hours.
Just over an hour's drive from San Jose, La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a beautiful nature park with waterfalls, gardens, and an animal sanctuary. You can walk through a butterfly garden, see jaguars, puma’s, monkeys, and spot hummingbirds. In fact, it’s the largest animal sanctuary in Costa Rica.
It's a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of San Jose. There are great walks that you can follow with a number of viewpoints. You can even stay the night if you don’t like driving back and forth.
La Paz waterfall © Shutterstock
Jaco Beach is one of the best beaches in Costa Ricaa, renowned for its surfing, sport fishing, and nightlife. It is nestled between lush green hills and just an hour away from the capital city of San Jose, making it the perfect day trip.
Along with great waves to grab your board and go, Jaco Beach also offers numerous opportunities for adventure lovers – take a guided tour on horseback through nearby trails to witness some breathtaking scenery or hike up to the famous Carara National Park to find exciting wildlife.
Jaco Beach Costa Rica © Shutterstock
One of the most popular day trips from San Jose is to Poas Volcano National Park, where you can see the active Poas Volcano crater and hike through the cloud forest. The park is about an hour and a half's drive from the city.
It is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America and a major tourist attraction. Lying near to the Pacific coastline and part of the Cordillera Central mountain range, it is 2,697-metre (8,848 feet) high and its peak gives breathtaking views. It has experienced three major eruptions: 1827, 1952 and 2010. From an observation point, you can get up close to its acid lake, an amazing sight in itself, as well as spotting green fields below them which indicate areas of high fertility due to the volcanic ash they contain.
The crater on Poas Volcano © Shutterstock
The Sarapiquí Valley is a lush and verdant region located in the northern part of Costa Rica. This area is known for its stunning natural beauty, with dense rainforests, winding rivers, and abundant wildlife. The Sarapiquí River, which runs through the valley, is a popular destination for whitewater rafting and kayaking. Perfect for adrenaline junkies!
It’s also home to some of the most diverse wildlife habitats in the world, from jaguars to toucans to the endangered
Delta Air Lines is adding 30 percent more capacity to Latin America and the Caribbean next winter with more flights to popular destinations from Costa Rica to San Juan.
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