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Sarapiqui Costa Rica

Sarapiqui is a part of the province of Heredia in Costa Rica. Sarapiqui recently became a popular destination among tourists who seek the adrenaline adventure of whitewater rafting on the Sarapiqui River. Cruising down this river is a rewarding experience for those who enjoy outdoor activities and direct contact with nature. You will see sandy beaches on river banks lined with thick vegetation and tall lush trees. It is common to see groups of monkeys and numerous exotic bird species. In Sarapiqui you will find several protected zones such as a part of Braulio Carrillo National Park, La Selva Biological Station and Sarapiqui Protected Area, combining different types of tropical rain forest in a small segment of Costa Rica. Sarapiqui has been recognized for the production of different crops such as coffee corn, cocoa, cardamom, bananas, tropical foliages, heart of palm and various roots and fruits. In Sarapiqui you will also find amazing eco tourism amenities that will show you Costa Rica at its best. The area has nature lodges, hotels and scientific research stations nestled deep in the lowland rain forest and on the banks of the scenic Sarapiqui River.

The first inhabitants in the Sarapiqui area where the Voto indigenous group and then Spanish colonizers showed up who where looking for access to the San Juan River. During Colonial times this town was Costa Rica’s main port due to the river’s proximity to the San Juan River. Thanks to the development of tourism in the area, the surge of hotels and lodgings and the paving of the road that connects Puerto Viejo and Guapiles, Puerto Viejo changed from a small village to a small city. An interesting thing to do when you visit Puerto Viejo of Sarapiqui is to drive up to the harbor and take a boat ride down the River. Locals gather here with their motor boats and offer a good price for a rewarding trip. Many have been drawn to the seclusion and peace and quiet that can be found in the area and desirablereal estate is still affordable. Adventurous visitors can raft down the verdant Sarapiqui River, while others can take a lovely boat ride on a tame wildlife spotting excursion. The picturesque town of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui is the major village of the area. In Puerto Viejo you will find modest but comfortable accommodations, restaurants, bars, a bank and ATM machines. The Sarapiqui region consists of 237.5 square miles (693 sq km) and 3 main districts: La Virgen, Horquetas and Puerto Viejo. The humid temperature ranges between 82º F and 86º F (28ºC and 30ºC). At night you can expect lower temperatures in the area of 77ºF (25ºC). This unspoiled region is the home breath taking scenes of coffee plantations and reforested lands that have been planted in an attempt to preserve the tropical moist forest of Costa Rica.

Sarapiqui is well known as a region for conservation activity due to the presence of La Selva, an international biological research station managed by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS). La Selva works closely with the surrounding community by involving them directly in the research that is being carried out. They do this by using their farms as study sites while at the same time educating them in new conservation techniques, new viable native species for reforestation and other methods of enhancing the environment. La Selva also offers a course to train Costa Ricans as naturalist guides. These people will later earn a good income from tourist activity and will have the tools and knowledge to preserve the environment. About 73% of La Selva is covered by primary forest. The OTS purchased the land in 1968 and it was declared a private station and biological reserve. Since then, La Selva has been considered the world’s most important location for studies of the tropical moist forest. About 240 scientific articles are published each year about research carried out in the Costa Rican reserve.