| In Central America, just south of Nicaragua and | | | | largest active craters in the world. In addition, |
| north of Panama is Costa Rica. Costa Rica has the | | | | Arenal volcano, in the northwestern region, |
| Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean | | | | delights thousands of visitors each year to a |
| on the west side. Therefore, the majority of | | | | constant stream of red, hot lava rocks tumbling |
| Costa Rica's borders, sixty-five percent, are | | | | down its slopes. |
| coastline. | | | | Picturesque forests grow in the crater of the |
| Although a relatively small area, about the size of | | | | dormant Barva in Heredia. Arenal, a young volcano |
| Vermont and New Hampshire combined, it has | | | | in the northern part of the country is constantly |
| everything one could want in a vacation. Beautiful | | | | active (and is the site of a spa with natural hot |
| white sand beaches, great surf, active volcanoes, | | | | springs). The country's highest peak, Mount |
| natural hot springs, and towering rain forests are | | | | Chirripó, is not volcanic; it measures 12.412 |
| just some of the sites in Costa Rica. Site seeing in | | | | feet. On a clear day one can see both the Pacific |
| the area is relatively simple via rental car or public | | | | and Atlantic oceans from atop Mt. Chirripo. |
| bus. | | | | The capital of Costa Rica is San José and is |
| A number of the principal mountain ranges are | | | | a good starting place for exploring the country. It |
| volcanic, and visitors can easily visit many of | | | | is conveniently located in the center of the |
| these areas. In the province of Cartago, for | | | | country and all the bus lines stop here. The port |
| example, which is not far from the capital of San | | | | of Limon on the Caribbean Coast has quite a |
| José, you will find Irazú volcano, which | | | | different atmosphere from the capital. Life is easy |
| erupted in the early sixties. Poás volcano, | | | | going on the Caribbean coast compared to the |
| located in the province of Alajuela, has one of the | | | | city life in San Jose. |