Curu (Reserve)
Curu Reserve: Spend a morning exploring the Curu National Wildlife Refuge—a private reserve of which two-thirds is preserved as primary forest. The reserve includes 4.5 kilometers of coastline, with tiny coves and three beautiful white-sand beaches. Although it is small, there is an abundance of wildlife to be seen in this reserve—including up to 200 species of birds! There is good swimming and snorkeling close to shore, where lobsters and conches are plentiful. Be on the lookout for capuchin and howler monkeys, as well as sloths and anteaters.
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Golfito
This charming town on the Golfo Dulce is the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the Corcovado National Park, the black-sand beach at Zancudo and other Costa Rican wonders.
Playa Flamingo
Playa Flamingo in the tropical dry forest region of Guanacaste is a sport fishing mecca and a jumping off point for exploring the area’s diverse national parks and waterways. For wildlife, float the exotic Corobici River; or swing from tree to tree under the canopy of the rainforest. Click on Port Tips for information regarding the new Robert Trent Jones Jnr. golf course experienece at Melia Playa Conchal!
Puerto Caldera
Adventure awaits in the land of perpetual springtime. From Puerto Caldera, venture to the Carara Biological Reserve to see iridescent blue butterflies, scarlet macaws, and the slowest creature on earth, the sloth. A visit to San Jose is a day trip, and the intricately painted oxcarts you'll find in Sarchi have been elevated from a pragmatic form of transportation to a coveted, if capricious, artform.
Puerto Limon
Surrounded by nearly half of all the animal species on earth and 8,000 species of plants, marvel as you take the chance to tour tropical flower farms or ride a Mawamba boat through the jungle canals near Puerto Limon. Explore the capital city of San Jose, where museums beckon and markets burst with luscious local tastes—mangoes, bananas, pineapples, papayas.
Puerto Moin
Port of Moin near the town of Limón. The port city of Limon is Caribbean flavor all the way. Capital of the Afro-Caribbean culture in Costa Rica, Limon possesses dialects based on the English that have survived thanks to the natural barriers between the Central Valley and the Caribbean Coast. If a stop in Limon produces a little culture shock, it's a good equalizer for the journey ahead.
Puerto Quepos
Quepos is a gateway to Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. There are numerous bars and restaurants in the city and a vivacious nightlife. Located less than 100 miles from San Jose, on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, are the very popular towns of Manuel Antonio and Quepos.
Quepos, a former banana shipping port now is a large producer of palm oil and the current sport fishing mecca of Costa Rica.
Quepos
The former banana-exporting town of Quepos is your basecamp for a day of rainforest adventure. Take a walk along trails that weave up to waterfalls, or ride horseback to a beautiful jungle pool. A float trip through a mangrove swamp populated by monkeys, crocodiles, egrets, and herons is also available. Or you may choose a nature walk through Manuel Antonio National Park, with its lovely beaches, easy trails, and animal life.
Tortuga Island
Tortuga Island is actually two islands – uninhabited and picture perfect– that lie just off the Nicoya Peninsula. Characterized by palm-fringed beaches and lush tropical flora, Tortuga is pretty and peaceful and offers terric sheltered swimming and snorkeling in warm waters. Nearby, Curu Biological Reserve is small and privately owned. Easy walking paths within the forest might reveal an ocelot, an anteater, or a colony of capuchin monkeys. Isla Tortuga lies three kilometers offshore. The ship relocates there after lunch for you to enjoy the beautiful beach and the ship’s watersports.
