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Costa Rica is truly an oceangoing enthusiast’s dream come
true. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to
the west and provides plenty of marine variety. Costa Rica gets high winds due
to it’s location within the intertropical convergence zone, and there are also
many ocean currents that converge here. There is a series of lush coral reefs,
volcanic tunnels, caves, massifs, and deep waters.
There are also several beautiful islands off the coast. Cocos
Island, not to be confused with the Cocos Islands south of Sumatra, is
extremely attractive to the more adventurous of divers. This island is home to
many large marine species such as hammerhead sharks, white tips, whale sharks, rays,
different types of sea turtles, and dolphins. It is a mountainous volcanic
island with rich acidic soil. The island is covered by rainforest and dotted
with natural streams, pools, and rainforests.
Calero Island is the largest island in Costa Rica and is
very similar to Cocos Island. It is more heavily populated and is home to
several large luxury resorts. This, and other areas of Costa Rica, is home to a
variety of protected areas both on land and in the sea. You can find many
parks, waterfalls, whitewater streams, rainforests, reefs, and open water that
looks like it has been virtually untouched by man.
One of Costa Rica’s main attractions is the legendary
surfing conditions. With locations like Boca Barranca, Caldera, Playa Jaco and
Playa Hermosa it is easy to see why the area is celebrated as one of the best
surfing spots in the world. Who wouldn’t want to visit the famed pink beaches
and cerulean waters, surfing or otherwise?
The yachting itinerary here is much more active than the
pleasure cruise that some are associated with. In Costa Rica, most companies
offer a variety of sports like surfing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking or
rafting rivers and whitewater rapids, wakeboarding, ecotours, etc. Very unique
to Costa Rica are the “learn to surf” charters. Guests cruise around to
different famous surfing spots and get surfing lessons from your Captain or
other onboard surfing expert. Also, for the nature enthusiasts among us, Cost
Rica possesses the greatest density of species in the world.
Costa Rica was the world’s first country to abolish its
army. The country is ranked 48th in the Human Development Index and
5th In the Environmental Performance Index and strives to be carbon
neutral. Costa Rica is one of the safest Latin American countries and is
currently the least impoverished Spanish speaking countries.
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