Introduction

When you hear the title Jurassic Park our minds dart straight to the iconic film from 1993 but what you may not realize is that this iconic film comes from the novel, Jurassic Park. And always, the book is always better than the film. Today, there is a whole film franchise and without this book that wouldn’t be possible. The story takes place on the fictional island of Isla Nublar where the characters have to use their wits and bravery to survive the theme park gone awry. But where might this Isla Nublar be located you ask? Well, in the novel it is a small island right off the coast of Costa Rica but in reality the island doesn’t exist. It’s a shame but it’s probably for the best as there probably would be a real life Jurassic Park there by now. Luckily, the country of Costa Rica which inspired the setting of both the film and novel is the perfect location for a Jurassic Park Sparked Travel guide. This country is truly spectacular and gives a feeling of old Mother Earth with dense green forests and looming volcanoes. 

Jaco

Travelers should fly into San José where they must rent a car as it is necessary for this adventure. From there, just like in the novel our adventure will kick off as we head for the beach. In the novel, they mention the Cabo Blanco nature preserve but in our adventure we will be headed to the beach town of Jaco. It has all the makings of a Jurassic Park experience as well a classic beach town atmosphere. Not to mention, it is two hours from San José as opposed to the three hours to Cabo Blanco. As you near Jaco be sure to stop at the bridge crossing of the Rio Grande de Tárcoles. Nicknamed the Crocodile bridge, you will be able to walk to the middle of the bridge where you will be greeted by some real life dinosaurs below. Watch as these ancient creatures bask in the sun making you realize that you just might be in Jurassic Park.

In the novel, scientist Doctor Martin Guiterrez heads to the beach in search of evidence of the unidentified lizard that had bit Mike Bowman’s daughter. Naturally, the beach is described to have a variety of wildlife in the beachy jungle with sightings of howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys, sloths, and coatimundis. On our first excursion, travelers will drive to Playa Mantas where they will be able to park their car, enjoy the beach, and search for some Costa Rican wildlife. It’s recommended that you get an early start as the white-faced monkeys are most active in the mornings. You may also see gorgeous Macaw’s gliding through the blue skies. This was honestly one of the coolest experiences of the trip as we walked the beach listening to the calmness of the early morning ocean waves. Don’t give up hope if you don’t see the white-faced monkeys right away. Despite a great morning, we turned back to the car a little disappointed with no monkey sightings but as we stepped on the trail, our hearts skipped as we saw the white-faced monkeys frolicking amongst the trees.

There are far more adventures to be had in Jaco. Check out Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park. This park really has all the thrilling adventure tours you could imagine. They have anything from horseback riding tours, ATV tours, ziplining, and more. Finish off the day walking the downtown beach area of Jaco where they have plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from. Unwind from the day of excitement with some delicious Patacones and the views of the beach.

La Fortuna

For the next leg of the journey, travelers will be driving into the mountainous rainforest of Costa Rica. As you drive deeper into the mountains you will begin to realize that the area is similarly described to Isla Nublar. The drive from Jaco to La Fortuna is about 3 hours and 30 minutes through mountainous roads. Some points of the road can be a tight squeeze so stay vigilant and drive carefully. La Fortuna is a quaint town that sits beneath one of Costa Rica’s most famous volcanoes, Volcán Arenal. This volcano is definitely how readers would expect the Jurassic Park volcano to look with a grand conical peak reaching towards the sky. As of right now, the Arenal Volcano is considered to be in a resting phase with very little activity as of late but remains the county’s most active volcano. 

The area offers many adventures and surprisingly some great opportunities for some relaxation. Given the area’s intense geothermal activity, there are many healing hot springs to dip your toes in. I would recommend the Baldi Hot Springs as it boasts the largest hot springs in the world which will surely provide the most immersive experience. This resort has 25 different thermal pools offering various experiences and some even having a bar within the waters. Once you find yourself rejuvenated from the volcanic waters, it’s time to explore the jungle and with luck you will see some wildlife that look as if they belong in Jurassic Park. Check out some of the best rated trails where travelers will be able to find the best hike suited for any traveler. Costa Rica is one of the premier countries in ecotourism and offers an experience like no other and without the life threatening dinosaur encounters. If you have any questions about traveling to Costa Rica be sure to leave them in the comments below!