Latin Routes

With over 25% of its land protected, Costa Rica is a paradise for nature lovers. Here are five national parks and reserves that deserve a place on your travel wish list.

🐒 Manuel Antonio National Park
One of Costa Rica's most accessible parks, located near Quepos on the Pacific Coast. Home to beautiful beaches such as Manuel Antonio Beach and Espadilla Sur Beach, alongside rainforest trails where sloths, monkeys, iguanas and toucans are commonly spotted.

🌋 Arenal Volcano National Park
This area combines volcanic landscapes, lava fields and lush rainforest. Explore trails around the iconic Arenal Volcano, walk across hanging bridges, visit La Fortuna Waterfall, cruise Lake Arenal, and spot coatis, howler monkeys and over 500 species of birds.

🌴 Corcovado National Park
Corcovado protects an incredible 2.5% of the planet's biodiversity within just 164 square miles. Its dense rainforests are home to endangered Baird's tapirs, giant anteaters, pumas, all four species of Costa Rican monkey, elusive jaguars, and the world's largest and healthiest population of scarlet macaws.

☁️ Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Located high in Costa Rica's misty mountains, this unique cloud forest is known for its hanging bridges, elevated walkways and rich biodiversity. Keep an eye out for the resplendent quetzal, colourful hummingbirds and hundreds of orchid species.

🐢 Tortuguero National Park
Accessible mainly by boat, this network of canals, lagoons and rainforest is famous for nesting sea turtles. Along the waterways, you may also encounter caimans, manatees, monkeys and a variety of tropical birdlife.

If you had one week in Costa Rica, which of these experiences would make your must-do list?

✓ See a sloth in the wild
✓ Watch a volcano at sunrise
✓ Swim beneath a waterfall
✓ Spot a toucan
✓ Walk through a cloud forest
✓ Watch a Pacific sunset

How many have you already done?

Save this post for your future Costa Rica adventure.

One of the most memorable experiences in Chile’s Lake District is waking up to the scenery surrounding the city of Puerto Varas: the calm waters of the lake, the snow-capped Osorno volcano, and the fresh mountain air that you can only find in a truly unspoiled place.

From there, you can explore Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, go kayaking on Lake Llanquihue, and take scenic drives through the forests to Petrohué Falls, where the bright turquoise water seems almost unreal.

If this is the kind of place you’d like to visit, check out our travel guide to Chile’s Lake District here: https://www.latinroutes.co.uk/inspiration/chilean-lake-district-travel-guide

As Product Executive at Latin Routes, Oliver spends time discovering the destinations, experiences and hotels that make Latin America so special. Chile is one of the countries he most enjoys returning to, thanks to its incredible mix of landscapes, from deserts and wine valleys to glaciers and Patagonia. In this article, he shares some of his favourite regions, along with the hotels and experiences that help bring each destination to life.

https://www.latinroutes.co.uk/inspiration/exploring-the-regions-of-chile