Costa Rica Tour Blog by Caravan Tours

Our Caravan Costa Rica travel blog provides a wealth of information on what to see and things to do when vacationing in beautiful Costa Rica. Learn more about Arenal volcano near La Fortuna or this country’s Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. From plantation and rainforest tours to turtle nesting beaches and Manuel Antonia National Park, Costa Rica is a Natural Paradise with so much to discover and explore!

Caravan All Inclusive Costa Rica Tour

A Caravan all inclusive Costa Rica tour is the ultimate tropical vacation with all the exotic trappings that you would expect and more.

The name “Costa Rica” means “Rich Coast” and the pure, untamed beauty of Costa Rica’s Pacific and Caribbean coastlines reveal unspoiled eco diversity like nowhere else on earth.

This diversity is possible partly because Costa Rica abolished the military decades ago and used that funding for the preservation of their natural heritage. Today, over 23% of Costa Rica is now protected in National Parks, refuges, and wildlife preserves.

In this article we will answer four of the common questions about our Caravan all inclusive Costa Rica Tour. Read more

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6 Facts About Costa Rica Oranges

There are numerous smaller Costa Rica orange farms but commercial production of Costa Rica oranges has been a major factor in the economy for decades. For example, the largest Costa Rica orange production company is Tico Fruit, which produces 75% of all Costa Rica orange juice.

Did you know that you can get your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C with just one single glass of Orange Juice? Read more

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Travel to Costa Rica – #1 for Tourism

Come travel to Costa Rica with Caravan Tours! You will soon understand why this peaceful and friendly little country (with a thriving democracy) was voted one of the best places in the world to live.

Costa Rica is one of those delightful places where you can truly enjoy your vacation, whatever your preferences may be. This tropical paradise is full of pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and incredible varieties of exotic flora and fauna, plus rare birds and wildlife. Read more

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Coffee Plantations In Costa Rica

Taking a Costa Rica coffee plantation tour is at the top of the list for most coffee loving tourists when visiting this small Central American country. Even those who don’t drink coffee find the guided coffee tour to be very informative and interesting.

Along with bananas, oranges, and pineapple plantations, Coffee is one of the most important sectors in the Costa Rican economy, rivaled only by tourism and various other agricultural products.

Did you know that Costa Rica coffee production now accounts for more than 10% of the country’s export business and Costa Rica ranks number fifteen out of the Top 20 coffee-producing countries?

In fact, hundreds of thousands of Costa Ricans are employed in the Costa Rica coffee industry; from planting, growing and harvesting to processing and exporting Costa Rica coffee. Read more

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Costa Rica Poás Volcano Facts

Although Poas volcano is not currently part of our Caravan Costa Rica tour, this post explores a few Poas Volcano facts plus information about sustainable tourism in Costa Rica.

Surrounded by lush tropical rainforests, Poás Volcano in Costa Rica is not only one of this country’s most important protected areas but historically, it has also been one of the country’s most visited tourist attractions.

Poás Volcano actually has two craters and has also become a very popular attraction for international visitors and tourists. Poás Volcano National Park is also just a short scenic drive (within an hour) from the capital, San Jose. Its close proximity attracts a lot of locals as well, who visit the area to escape the city on weekends. Read more

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Biological Curiosities of Costa Rica Cloud Forests

What Are Cloud Forests?

This information about a cloud forest Costa Rica location is provided by Caravan Tours.

A cloud forest (aka “fog” forest) is similar to a rainforest except that they have high humidity and less rain. Cloud forests can be found in nearly four dozen countries around the globe that have either tropical or sub-tropical climate conditions.

The cloud forest Costa Rica location exists in a forested mountain area with high humidity and is persistently shrouded in low-lying clouds (usually at the forest canopy level). This is usually caused when warm moist winds push up against mountain terrain. As the air rises and cools the cool air can’t hold as much moisture and clouds or mists are formed by the excess humidity.

Costa Rica cloud forests can be found in a number of locations throughout this small country. These cloud forest regions have the right combination of geography and weather and many are designated as national parks.

Places like Braullio Carrillo National Park, Irazu’ Volcano National Park, J. Castro Blanco National Park and Monteverde Biological Reserve all display the unique characteristics of cloud forests and are major tourist attractions. Read more

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Poás National Park Costa Rica

Is Poás National Park Open?

Is Poas National Park open? The answer is yes. Excluding holidays, the hours are between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

For years, visiting Poás Volcano has been a top highlight for many guests of Costa Rica tours by Caravan.

Located in the second most-visited national park in Costa Rica, Poás volcano normally enjoys over 250,000 visitors each year. Visitors came from all over the world to marvel at the two craters of Poás volcano, which are bordered by lush tropical rainforests and rises more than 8,000 feet above sea level.

However, in April of 2017, Poás Volcano National Park was temporarily closed to visitors due to increased volcanic activity. The park was only expected to remain closed for a couple of days but subsequent violent eruptions on April 22 and again on June 6, 2017, forced Poás Volcano National Park to be closed indefinitely.

When did Poas National Park open? It opened to the public again on August 21, 2018. However, the Park experienced a 2-day closure in February of 2019 due to ash emissions. Poás Park has since re-opened but with restrictions in place. Read more

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Mangrove Forest Costa Rica FAQs

Mangrove Forest Importance

In this blog post, Caravan Tours offers a number of interesting facts about the importance of mangrove forests in Costa Rica, which will help make your fully guided tour all the more enjoyable.

Our all-inclusive Cost Rica tour includes a guided Tarcoles River float trip through the Carara National Park mangrove forest in Costa Rica.

What is a mangrove forest?

A mangrove forest in Costa Rica consists mainly of mangrove plants. These are primarily salt-tolerant shrubs or small trees that live in the coastal intertidal zone. A Mangrove forest creates a unique habitat for migratory birds, mammals, Crustacea, and fish; like no other tree species can.

It is quite easy to spot the dense tangled root system of mangrove trees. Some even describe mangrove trees as looking like they are standing on stilts (actually roots) above the water. Read more

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View of the bay on a hike up Manual Antonio Park in Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio National Park Facts & FAQ

In this blog post exploring Manuel Antonio Park facts, Caravan Tours has also compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we get asked.

For instance, despite being Costa Rica’s smallest National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park remains a favorite must-see Costa Rica destination.

In fact, since Poas Volcano National Park Was Closed for a while due to recent volcanic activity, Manuel Antonio National Park is now the most visited park in Costa Rica, receiving 150,000 visitors each year, (on average, about 410 visitors each day).

You can also read a firsthand account of the Manuel Antonio National Park tour as told by a recent Caravan Tours’ guest. Read more

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Lagoon and sandy beach in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica

Rio Tarcoles Cruise & Manuel Antonio Tour Costa Rica

After leaving the JW Marriott Hotel in Guanacaste, our Costa Rica tour took us south towards the province of Puntarenas where we get to enjoy a guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. Along the way, we stopped to take a bird-watching riverboat cruise on the Tarcoles River (Rio Grande de Tarcoles), which was next to the Carara Biological Reserve.

Also known as the River of Crocodiles, this Tarcoles River area of mangrove forest is literally a bird watchers’ paradise for anyone who loves birds. Read more

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