Other sights in Central America
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Refugio de Vida Silvestre Ojochal
South of San Marco de Colón, the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Ojochal is a private wildlife reserve within the pristine Sierra de la Botija mountains along the Honduras–Nicaragua border. Precious few travelers make it here; those who do are rewarded with gorgeous pine and tropical forest brimming with wildlife, especially white-faced monkeys. There are no organized services for the refuge, and trail maintenance is uneven. The best way to visit is to contact Dr Ángel Enrique Sándoval López and family, who own La Esquisita restaurant. Travelers may be able to stay the night in the family’s home, or camp on the grounds. From Duyusupo, it’s a two- to three-hour downhill hi…
reviewed
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Turu Ba Ri Tropical Park
The Turu Ba Ri Tropical Park is a collection of botanical gardens reflecting each of the topographic zones native to Costa Rica. As you walk along impeccably manicured trails, you’ll pass through palm forests, pasture lands, herbariums, cactus fields, bamboo groves, bromeliad gardens, orchid beds and a loma canopy. The gardens are accessed by an aerial cable car, which is included in the price of admission.
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, there is also a canopy tour (adult/child US$55/40) that has you swinging through the trees, as well as opportunities for horseback riding and rock climbing. If you’re traveling with the little ones, they’ll be content for hours either …
reviewed
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Lankester Gardens
The University of Costa Rica runs the exceptional Lankester Gardens, which was started as a private garden by British orchid enthusiast Charles Lankester in 1917, but was turned over to the university for public administration in 1973. Orchids are the big draw at this tranquil 11-hectare spot, with more than 1100 at their showiest from March to May. There is also a new Japanese garden, as well as areas full of bromeliads, palms, heliconias and other tropical plants. There is a good gift shop (this is one of the few places where foreigners can legally purchase orchids to take home) and a cafe was in the works at the time of research. Guided tours in English and Spanish can…
reviewed
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Catie
About 4km east of Turrialba, Catie consists of 1000 hectares dedicated to tropical agricultural research and education. Agronomists from all over the world recognize this as one of the most important centers in the tropics. You need to make reservations for one of several available guided tours through laboratories, greenhouses, a seed bank, experimental plots and one of the most extensive libraries of tropical-agriculture literature in the world. You can also easily pick up a map (or print one off their website) and take a self-guided walk through the gardens to a pond, where waterbirds such as the purple gallinule are a specialty. You can walk to Catie or get a taxi (₡1…
reviewed
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Amigos de las Aves
Three kilometers to the southeast, in Río Segundo de Alajuela, is this important and successful green and scarlet macaw breeding program, housed on a 3-hectare finca also known as Flor de Mayo. Founded in 1992 by Richard and Margot Frisius, the organization is working to revive endangered macaw populations in collaboration with the Minae, the government ministry that oversees the national park system. They also have volunteer opportunities (from US$15 to US$18 per person per day). See the website for details. Two-hour guided tours of the breeding center and refuge can be arranged by appointment in advance. It’s tricky to find; get directions.
reviewed
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Parque Eco-Arqueológico de Los Naranjos
On the northwest side of the lake, the Parque Eco-Arqueológico de los Naranjos is a Lencan archaeological site dating to approximately 700 BC. The ruins themselves are not terribly interesting; they’re made of clay so have only been semi-excavated (to protect them from environmental damage). The main reason to visit, however, is the wildlife. The park has 6km of trails that wind through the forest over hanging bridges and on a lakeside boardwalk, providing fantastic opportunities for spotting birds. A small museum at the visitors center gives a general overview of Lencan civilization, which is mildly interesting. The park is 5km south of Peña Blanca.
reviewed
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Yübu – the Garífuna Experience
Yübu – The Garífuna Experience is an utterly artificial cultural center that was built as a tourist trap for cruise-shippers, and which seems to be working its magic perfectly well. The experience begins with a 30- to 35-minute historical talk about the Garífuna’s beginnings and their brutal passage to Roatán. After that, a dance demonstration ought to be uplifting, but the dancers are obviously not having much fun. You can also shop in the gift shop, learn to make casabe (a traditional yucca flatbread) or eat Garífuna specialties at the small comedor, but the food, like the overall experience, is pretty bland.
reviewed
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Fortaleza de San Fernando de Omoa
Omoa’s claim to historical fame is the Fortaleza de San Fernando de Omoa. Located on the main street to the beach, this fort was built under King Fernando VII of Spain between 1759 and 1775 by enslaved Indians and, later, by enslaved Africans. It was constructed to protect the coast and the region’s treasures – gold, silver and indigo – that were shipped out from there. The plan only worked for four years; in 1779 the fortress was captured by the British after a two-day battle. It’s still in good shape today, and features 31 rooms, a small museum, about three dozen cannons and hundreds of cannonballs. It’s way overpriced for your average indie traveler.
reviewed
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Bat Jungle
Learn about echolocation, bat-wing aerodynamics and other amazing facts about the (incredibly cute) flying mammal, the bat. The stellar Bat Jungle, a labor of love realized by biologist Richard Laval, has terrific exhibits including a free-flying bat habitat, beautiful sculptures and a lot of bilingual educational displays. The Bat Jungle makes up part of the new Paseo de Stella visitors center, a modern hacienda-style building that also houses a cafe specializing in Argentine chocolate, a museum of Monteverde history and an art gallery. The wide terrace of the building is a wonderful spot to stop for coffee and a handmade truffle.
reviewed
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Lancetilla Botanical Garden & Research Center
One of the largest tropical botanical gardens in the world, Lancetilla Botanical Garden & Research Center spans some 1680 hectares and has 1200 species of plants from four continents. The garden has hundreds of bird species – migratory species are present from November to February – and generates 60% of Tela’s fresh water. Well-marked trails wind through the main garden and arboretum areas. The trees are divided and labeled according to their major characteristic: ornamental, medicinal, fruit-bearing, timber and poisonous. At the far end of the garden is a long tunnel formed by an arch of bamboo, leading to a swimming hole.
reviewed
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Aguas Termales Presidente
The hot springs at Aguas Termales Presidente are one of Gracias’ main attractions. Four kilometers southeast of town, the hot springs have several pools at various temperatures. You can walk there in one to 1½ hours: take the road to La Esperanza until you reach the right-hand turnoff for the Aguas Termales, then follow the road or take the first right onto a footpath, which is a shortcut but requires fording a (usually) small river. You should be able to hitch a ride back – everybody does. Cabs don’t usually come here; hiring a private truck costs around L$200, with an hour at the springs (ask at Hotel Guancascos).
reviewed
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INBioparque
About 4km to the southeast of town, in the neighborhood of Santo Domingo, is INBioparque, a wildlife park and botanical garden run by the non-profit INBio (National Biodiversity Institute), which catalogs Costa Rica’s biodiversity and promotes its sustainable use. Visitors can admire 531 species of plant, creatures such as sloths, boas and tarantulas, and visit a livestock and a butterfly farm. On weekends there is children’s theatre, plus the park is wheelchair-accessible. Closing times are when the last guests are admitted; the park itself doesn’t shut until sunset. See the website for a list of specialty naturalist tours and directions.
reviewed
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Parque Nacional Jeannette Kawas
Standing on the beach at Tela, you can look to the west and see a long arc of land curving out to a point. This point, Punta Sal, is part of the Parque Nacional Jeannette Kawas, one of the most scenic places on the North Coast. The park has several white-sand beaches, the prettiest and most popular being Playa Cocalito. From Cocalito, a number of trails, both marked national-park trails and unmarked ones, lead to less- visited beaches, including Puerto Caribe and La Ensenada; you may spot howler monkeys on the way. Offshore are coral reefs that make for fine snorkeling. .
reviewed
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Catedral Metropolitana
To the east of the Parque Central is the Renaissance-style Catedral Metropolitana, built in 1871, after the previous cathedral was destroyed in an earthquake. The interiors, in keeping with the period, are graceful neoclassic, with colorful Spanish tile floors, stained-glass windows, and a Christ figure (near the main entrance) that was produced by a Guatemalan workshop in the late 17th century. On the north side of the nave, along the passage to the Capilla del Santisímo (Chapel of the Holy One), a recumbent Christ that dates back to 1878 draws devout Ticos, who arrive here to pray and deposit pleas scribbled on small slips of paper.
reviewed
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Parque Metropolitano La Sabana
Known simply as Parque La Sabana, this 72-hectare green space at the west end of the Paseo Colón was once the site of the country’s main airport. Today it is home to two museums, a lagoon, a fountain and a variety of sports facilities. It is also home to the Estadio Nacional (National Stadium), where international and Division-1 soccer matches are played (it will soon be replaced by a bigger stadium that, at the time of research, was under construction in the northwest corner of the park). During the day, it’s a great place for a stroll, a picnic or a relaxed jog. On weekends, it is packed with picnicking families and kids playing ball.
reviewed
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Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción
The Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción is a colonial gem. Built between 1685 and 1715, it contains fine art in the Renaissance, baroque and neoclassic styles, both inside and out. The impressive three-paneled altar is similar to that of Tegucigalpa’s cathedral; both are believed to have been made by the same unknown artist. The clock in the iglesia tower is the oldest in the Americas and one of the oldest in the world. The Moors built it around 1100 for the palace of the Alhambra in Granada. It was donated to the town by King Phillip II of Spain.
reviewed
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Parque Nacional Tapantí-Macizo Cerro de la Muerte
This 580-sq-km national park protects the lush northern slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca, and has a rainy claim to fame: it is the wettest park in the country, getting almost 8000mm of precipitation a year. In 2000 it was expanded to include the infamous Cerro de la Muerte – otherwise known as the ‘Mountain of Death.’ This precipitous peak is the highest point on the Interamericana and the northernmost extent of páramo, a highland shrub and tussock grass habitat that’s most commonly found in the Andes and is home to a variety of rare bird species.
Known simply as Tapantí, the park also protects wild and mossy country that’s fed by, literally, hundreds of riv…
reviewed
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TEOR/éTica
On Amón’s northern limit lies TEOR/éTica, a contemporary art museum housed in a vintage mansion, each of its elegant rooms featuring cutting-edge works by established and emerging figures from Latin America (such as Costa Rican artist Priscilla Monge, who is well known for her wry embroideries). This young museum features the private collection of the TEOR/éTica foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports Central American art and culture. It is an important gathering spot for regional artists, who arrive to attend lectures, workshops and other events.
reviewed
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St Herman’s Blue Hole National Park
The 575-acre St Herman’s Blue Hole National Park contains one of the few caves in Belize that you can visit independently. The visitors center (where flashlights can be rented for BZ$5) is 11 miles along the Hummingbird Hwy from Belmopan. From here a 500yd trail leads to St Herman’s Cave. A path leads 300yd into the cave alongside an underground river. To explore deeper in the extensive cave system, with its huge caverns and classic Maya ceremonial chambers containing calcified skeletons and artifacts, you must have a guide. Ask at the visitors center.
reviewed
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Ecomuseo de las Minas de Abangares
OK, so the terms ‘eco’ and ‘mining’ don’t exactly go together like bees and honey to us either, but it’s still worth visiting the small Ecomuseo de las Minas de Abangares, which has a few photographs and models depicting the old mining practices of the area. In the grounds outside the museum are a picnic area and children’s play area, and there’s a good system of trails that pass by old mining artifacts, such as bits of railway. There’s also good bird-watching (and iguana-ing) along the trails, and monkeys are occasionally sighted.
reviewed
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Cuevas de Taulabé
The Cuevas de Taulabé, located alongside the highway, 25km north of Siguatepeque, were discovered in 1969 when the highway was being built, and have been explored to a depth of 12km, with no end in sight. The first several hundred meters have lights and a cement pathway; guides lead you on a 30-minute tour, describing the formation of the cave and pointing out stalagmites and stalactites with recognizable shapes (Jesus, Buddha etc). Tipping the guide is customary; for a bit extra, they’ll take you to deeper, less-visited areas.
reviewed
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Plaza de la Cultura
For many Ticos, Costa Rica begins here. This architecturally unremarkable concrete plaza in the heart of downtown is usually packed with locals slurping ice-cream cones and admiring the wide gamut of San José street life: juggling clowns, punk-rock teenagers and pop-lite Christian bands. It is perhaps one of the safest spots in the city since the entire plaza serves as the ceiling of the Museo de Oro Precolombino y Numismática, which is located one level down, and is therefore considered private property (this gives security guards the right to shoo away ‘unsavory’ characters).
reviewed
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La Paz Waterfall Gardens
This garden and hotel complex is host to 3.5km of hiking trails and five scenic waterfalls, the largest one of which – La Catarata de la Paz (Peace Waterfall) – is probably one of the most photographed sights in Costa Rica. Visitors can also tour a butterfly conservatory, an aviary, an orchid display, a serpentarium and a historic Tico farmhouse that dates back to 1900. It’s an ideal spot for active seniors and small children (there are even special children’s activities), since many of the trails are smooth and well-maintained.
reviewed
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Zoo Ave
About 10km west of Alajuela, you’ll find Zoo Ave, a well-designed animal park boasting more than 15 species of reptile and 115 species of birds – all on colorful, squawking display in a relaxing 14-hectare park. In addition, you’ll find all four species of Costa Rican monkey, as well as many other critters. Though technically a zoo, it is also an important breeding center that aims to reintroduce native species into the wild. There is also a cafe. This is an excellent place for families.
reviewed
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Aguas Termales de Azacualpa
Here, superheated water spits and boils out from the ground – one spot whistles like a teapot. A natural stone arch over the site conveniently contains the thick sulfurous steam, and there’s a makeshift sauna if you really want to sweat. The water streams into the nearby Río Jaitique, forming shifting semi-hot pools. Upstream are large swimming holes flanked by high stone cliffs that are perfect for cooling off – there’s even a wee sandy beach. Parking costs around L$50.
reviewed
