Costa Rica ecotourism vacation planner
Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a Republic in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south-southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Costa Rica was the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army.
Geography
Costa Rica is located on the Central American isthmus, 10° North of the equator and 84° West of the Prime Meridian. It borders both the Caribbean Sea (to the east) and the North Pacific Ocean (to the west), with a total of 1,290 kilometers (802 mi) of coastline (212 km / 132 mi on the Caribbean coast and 1,016 km / 631 mi on the Pacific). It is about the size of West Virginia and shares that state's reputation for excellent whitewater kayaking/rafting opportunities. Two of the country's most renowned rivers in that regard are the Rio Pacuare and the Rio Reventazon located near the city of Turriabla about 2 hours east of San Jose. Other notable whitewater areas are the Sarapiqui Valley area, several Pacific coast rivers near Quepos, and the southern Pacific drainage area around San Isidro de General.
Costa Rica also borders Nicaragua to the north (309 km / 192 mi of border) and Panama to the south-southeast (639 km / 397 mi of border). In total, Costa Rica comprises 51,100 square kilometers (19,730 sq. mi) plus 589.000 square kilometers of territorial waters.
The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripó, at 3,820 metres (12,500 ft), and is the fifth highest peak in Central America. The highest volcano in the country is the Irazú Volcano (3,431 m / 11,257 ft). The largest lake in Costa Rica is Lake Arenal.
Costa Rica also comprises several islands. Cocos Island stands out because of its distance from continental landmass (24 km² / 9.25 sq mi, 500 km or 300 mi from Puntarenas coast), but Calero Island is the biggest island of the country (151.6 km² / 58.5 sq mi).
Costa Rica protects 23% of its national territory within the Protected Areas system. It also possesses the greatest density of species in the world.
Tourism Industry
With a $1.7-billion-a-year tourism industry, Costa Rica stands as the most visited nation in the region. Eco-tourism is extremely popular with many tourists visiting the many protected areas around the country.
Foreign Affairs
Costa Rica is an active member of the United Nations and the Organization of American States. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the United Nations University of Peace are based in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican State is also a member of many other international organizations related to human rights and democracy.
Costa Rica's main foreign policy objective is to foster human rights and sustainable development as a way to secure stability and growth.
Flora and fauna
Costa Rica is home to a rich variety of plants and animals. While the country has only about 0.1% of the world's landmass, it contains 5% of the world's biodiversity. About 23% of Costa Rica is composed of protected forests and reserves.
One national park that is internationally-renowned among ecologists for its biodiversity (including big cats and tapirs) and where visitors can expect to see an abundance of wildlife is the Corcovado National Park.
The Clay-colored Robin is Costa Rica's national bird.Tortuguero National Park – the name Tortuguero can be translated as "Full of Turtles" – is home to spider, howler and white-throated Capuchin monkeys, the three-toed sloth, 320 species of birds (including eight species of parrots), a variety of reptiles, but is mostly recognized for the annual nesting of the endangered green turtle and is considered the most important nesting site for this species. Giant leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles also nest here.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is home to about 2,000 plant species, including numerous orchids. Over four hundred types of birds can be found here, and over one hundred species of mammals. As a whole, around eight hundred species of birds have been identified in Costa Rica. The Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBIO) is allowed to collect royalties on any biological discoveries of medical importance.
Butterflies and moths
Helconius Doris Linnaeus butterfly of Costa RicaThere are about 1,250 species of butterflies and at least 8,000 species of moths. Butterflies and moths are common year round but are more present during the rainy season.
Costa Rican butterflies and moths have made amazing adaptations to the environment. Some examples of these are the following:
Swallowtail caterpillars imitate bird droppings and many others have bright colours to warn predators of bodily toxins. What someone could easily mistake for a butterfly or a wasp in Costa Rica might be a moth engaging in Müllerian or Batesian mimicry.
Ecotourism is one of Costa Rica’s primary economic resources, and the country's butterflies add a lot to that. They bring life to rainforests, not only with the diversity in colour, but with the magnificence of the flowers that they help pollinate.
Some common butterflies and moths in Costa Rica include:
Thoas Swallowtail
Marpesia berania
Doxocopa laure
Banded Peacock
Zebra longwing
Morpho butterfly
Green Page Moth
Other invertebrates
Invertebrate species make up most of Costa Rica’s wildlife. Of the estimated 505,000 species, about 493,000 are invertebrates (including spidersand crabs. It is known that there are tens of thousands of insects and microscopic invertebrates in every land type and elevation level. However, they are largely unnoticed or unidentified.
Some notable insects in Costa Rica are stingless bees, ants such as leaf-cutter ants and army ants, Hercules beetle, and many katydids
Amphibians of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is home to around 175 amphibians, which include frogs. Frogs in Costa Rica have interesting ways of finding fishless water to raise their young in. Fish, of course, will eat tadpoles and eggs. Poison Dart Frogs put their eggs in water pools in bromeliads. Other methods include searching ponds before laying eggs, and laying eggs in wet soil.
There are 35 species of Elutherodoctylus frogs, 26 species of Hyla frogs and 13 species of glassfrogs.
Notable frog species in Costa Rica include Red-eyed Tree Frog, a few species of Poison Dart Frogs, the semitransparent Glass Frogs, and the large Smokey Jungle Frog.
Some notable toad species in Costa Rica include the ten species of Bufo toads, and the Giant toad a huge toad known for its wide appetite. It has been documented eating almost anything, including vegetables, ants, spiders, any toad smaller than itself, mice, and other small mammals.
Birds of Costa Rica
894 bird species have been recorded in Costa Rica (including Cocos Island), more than all of the United States and Canada combined. More than 600 of the Costa Rican species are permanent residents, and upwards of 200 are migrants, spending portions of the year outside of the country, usually in North America. Seven of the Costa Rican species are considered endemic, and 19 are globally threatened.
Culture
Inside of the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica, the Costa Rican national theatre.Main article: Culture of Costa Rica Costa Ricans often refer to themselves as tico (masculine) or tica (feminine). "Tico" comes from the popular local usage of "tico" and "tica" as diminutive suffixes (e.g., "momentico" instead of "momentito"). The phrase "Pura Vida" (literally "Pure Life") is a ubiquitous motto in Costa Rica. Some youth use mae, a contraction of "maje" (mae means "guy/dude"), to refer to each other, although this might be perceived as insulting to those of an older generation; maje was a synonym for "tonto" (stupid, ass).
Costa Rica boasts a varied history. Costa Rica was the point where the Mesoamerican and South American native cultures met. The northwest of the country, the Nicoya peninsula, was the southernmost point of Nahuatl cultural influence when the Spanish conquerors (conquistadores) came in the sixteenth century. The center and southern portions of the country had Chibcha influences.
The Atlantic coast, meanwhile, was populated with African workers during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Most afro Costa Ricans, however, derive from nineteenth-century Jamaican workers, brought in to work on the construction of railroads between the urban populations of the Central Plateau and the port of Limon on the Caribbean coast. Italian and Chinese immigrants also arrived at this time to work on railroad construction.
Costa Rica Travel
In a relatively small area, Costa Rica has everything one could want in vacation paradise. There are secluded white sand beaches with great surf and amazing SCUBA diving. There are active volcanoes and towering rain forests. And, eco-tourism is a speciality of the house. Getting around is easy via rental car, plane, or public bus, and the warm and friendly people make travel safe and fun.
Some of the principal mountain ranges are volcanic, and visitors can easily access many of these areas. In the province of Cartago, for example, which is not far from the capital of San José , you will find Irazú volcano which erupted in the early sixties. Poás volcano, located in the province of Alajuela, has one of the largest active craters in the world. And, Arenal volcano, in the northwestern region, treats thousands of visitors each year to a constant stream of red, hot lava rocks tumbling down its slopes.
Beautiful forests grow in the crater of the dormant Barva in Heredia. Arenal, a young volcano in the northern part of the country, is constantly active (and is the site of a spa with natural hot springs). The country's highest peak, Mount Chirripó, is not volcanic; it measures 12.412 feet (On a clear day one can see both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans from atop Mt. Chirripo).
The bulk of Costa Rica's borders, sixty-five percent, is made up of coastline. Costa Rica has some of the world's most beautiful and idyllic beaches. Although the coast is not heavily populated, a variety of tourism projects provide access to a great deal of the nation's beach areas... Within Costa Rica, the longest distance you will ever have to travel to get to a beach is 75 miles. So in a way, the country is like a large tropical island.
The capital of San José is the starting place for exploring the country. It is conveniently located in the centre of the country and all the bus lines stop here. The port of Limon on the Carribean Coast has quite a different atmosphere from the capital. Life is more laid back; reggae is the favorite kind of music. It is a good starting place to explore some of the beaches on the Carribean. San José is located in the Central Valley region of the country. Evenings in San José can be cool due to the high altitude, but you won’t forget that you’re in a tropical place even in this bustling city. The city itself is busy and filled with traffic. There are many things to do, but travelers often miss these sites, choosing instead to head straight from the airport to beaches or rainforests. Although San José is not the most beautiful city in the world, it is generally safe and has a lot to offer tourists.
To See
Costa Rica is world famous for having an incredibly high level of biodiversity throughout its tropical forests (this covers what you may hear referred to as rain forests, cloud forests, and dry forests). There are tropical mammals such as monkeys, sloths, tapirs, and wild cats as well as an amazing assortment of insects and other animals. There are many many birds (both migratory and resident) - more on that below. With 25% of the country being national parks and protected areas, there are still many places you can go to see the abundant wildlife and lush vegetation of the country. Just like anywhere, the farther you get off the beaten path, the more likely you are to see a wide variety of flora and fauna.
There is such biodiversity in Costa Rica not only because it's a land bridge between North and South America, but also because the terrain is so varied and there are weather patterns moving in from both the Pacific and Atlantic/Caribbean. There are impressive volcanoes, mountain areas, rivers, lakes, and beaches all throughout the country. There are many beautiful beaches - most of the popular ones are are on the Pacific side but the Caribbean has many excellent beaches as well.
Bird Watching - One of the most wonderful activities for people who love nature is bird watching. You can enjoy bird watching in many areas of Costa Rica. Due to the great diversity of climates, temperatures and forest types in Costa Rica, there is a wonderful variety of birds, with over 800 species. Your experience will be greatly enhanced by having on hand the book "Birds of Costa Rica" by F. Gary Stiles and Alexander Skutch published by Cornell University Press or An Illustrated Field Guide to Birds of Costa Rica, illustrated by Victor Esquivel Soto. You can find these books at certain bookstores in San José or before you come to Costa Rica. They are both heavy books; many people tear out the plates of the Stiles & Skutch book to carry into the field and leave the rest of the book in their car or room. Plastic cards with the most common birds are available for many areas, sold at gift shops. Most hotels, as well as tourist information centers, will provide bird watching guides, maps and other essentials for bird watching. Unless you are an experienced neotropical birder, it can be a lot more productive to go out with an experienced birding guide. Do not forget to bring a hat, rain gear, boots, binoculars and camera. In hot areas, an umbrella can be more useful than a poncho or jacket. The best option for bird watching is in the southern Costa Rica area.
To Do
Wind surfing in the Tilarán area is some of the best in the world rafting, fishing, scuba diving, kayaking, mountain biking and boating are all available. Latin Trails offers tours and itineraries to the active Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest.
Surf:
Costa Rica has many surfing hotspots.
The Pacific coast, particularly in central Puntarenas and Guanacaste, has some of the best surfing in Central America. Tamarindo is a perfect beach to learn to surf, whilst Playa del Coco offers advanced surfers the chance to surf at Witches Rock and Ollie´s Point.
On the Caribbean side, there are beautiful beaches but limited surfing prospects.
The southern Costa Rica area has two very good spots for surf: Dominical and Pavones Beach. Provones Beach has thick heavy waves. Consistently barrels and gets big- real big. Little known, but picturesque and untamed. Definitely not for the light hearted.
Learn how to surf , Costa Rica & Tamarindo Surf School and Surf Camp
Biking:
Costa Rica has great mountain biking routes, particularly near Irazu, Turrialba and Arenal Volcanoes. There is popular dirt road that connects Irazu Volcano and the foothills of Turrialba Volcano that is perfect for mountain biking, as it traverses the mountain and presents great views of the Cartago Valley (weather permitting, of course).
The area around Lake Arenal is also a great spot to bike. You can circle the lake in one long day, or break up the ride in two sleeping in Tilarán or Nuevo Arenal. The use of mountain bikes is a must, since the southern shore of the lake is unpaved.
The Nicoya Peninsula also has great riding, particularly the stretch between Sámara, Puerto Coyote and Malpais. There is a coastal road that connects these three beachtowns.
Pedal and Sea Adventures offers adventure tours through Costa Rica that include biking and white water rafting, with nights at fine Costa Rican resorts.
Horseback riding:
Costa Rica it is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world and has a famous history of being a destination for horseback riding. Monteverde is famous for horseback riding.
Beaches, weather and wildlife
The coasts of Costa Rica are known for strong currents and rip-tides. There are no signs indicating an unsafe beach due to riptides, so take precaution and listen to the locals on where it is safe to swim. There are some active volcanoes in Costa Rica and they are dangerous, so follow the warning signs posted. The slopes of the Arenal volcano invite visitors to climb closer to the summit, but there have been fatalities in the past with unseen gas chambers. Also be wary of the climate of Costa Rica. It is very hot in the daytime, but in the morning and evening it becomes very cool, so you should bring a heavy jacket.
Crocodiles are quite common in certain parts of Costa Rica and, although not as dangerous as the Nile or Saltwater species, are still considered occasional man-eaters and can grow to lengths of up to 20 feet. Great care should be taken when swimming or snorkeling, especially near areas where fishing is common or near river mouths.
While large, the beautiful Jaguar is extremely rare and even most locals have never seen the very large predatory cat, leaving there very little risk of attack- they appear to be very shy and elusive.
Bull Sharks share much of the same territory as the crocodiles and probably account for more shark related attacks in the world than any other species.
