EUREKA COSTA RICA
Costa Rica is one of those countries that has it all, everything from beaches and volcanoes, to jungles and national parks with rich wildlife. Thanks to millions of years of history, this country is perfectly placed for discovery as The rainforests and jungles of Costa Rica contain more than 230 species. When venturing into the wilderness you will encounter monkeys swinging from the branches, sloths lounging in the trees, brightly coloured tree frogs, macaws and an amazing selection of reptiles, birds and butterflies.
In Costa Rica you can find places like the coastal area of Tamarindo which are packed full of beach bars and tour guides ready to take you zip-lining and quad-biking. Meanwhile, tranquil towns like Puerto Viejo, on the border with Panama, are perfect for laying around on the beach and feasting on seafood, however that’s not why most people go to Costa Rica…..
People flock to Costa Rica from across the globe to admire its natural beauty and wildlife hot spots in the Costa Rica National Parks. Costa Rica is “wild” and has protected about 25% of its natural terrain through jungles and national parks. In total, the country has 27 national parks teeming with wildlife including spider monkeys, sloths, and quetzal birds.
Zdenek Machacek
Nick Dietrich
Zdenek Machacek
Debora Tingley
Huge amounts of the nation are covered in rainforest, which forms the natural habitat for thousands of birds and animals.
Those who travel into the depths of the rainforest also have the chance to see jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, sloths, and crocodiles! Of course, in order to spot Costa Rica’s wildlife, you need to know where to go and you need to be with someone who knows what they are doing.
Here are some of the best places in the country for wildlife-spotting. Be sure and enlist a guide to help you seek out the rainforest’s inhabitants!
Caño Negro Wetlands National Wildlife Refuge
This park is a particular favourite with bird-lovers and from December through May, the whole area is teeming, the highlights include the laughing falcon, kingfisher, and toucan. The tours through the Caño Negro Wetlands National Wildlife Refuge are done by boat. With the formidable Arenal Volcano looming in the background, it makes for quite the adventure.
Zdenek Machacek
Zdenek Machacek
Zdenek Machacek
Carara National Park
Just outside San Jose, Costa Rica’s lively capital is Carara National Park. Its proximity to the city makes it one of the most accessible and therefore most popular parks in the country. It is a hub of ornithological activity and draws in thousands of amateur birdwatchers, many of whom will happily tell you about the birds you can see. Another attraction is the Crocodile Bridge, where you can see crocodiles swimming through the water or sunning themselves. With these large crocks just 50 feet away, this is certainly not for the faint-hearted.
Zdenek Machacek
Zdenek Machacek
Zdenek Machacek
Zdenek Machacek
Monteverde Cloud Forest
One of the main attractions of the park is the brightly coloured quetzals that live in the forest. People come from far and wide to admire these striking birds. The cloud forest is also home to butterflies, tree frogs, monkeys, deer, and tapirs. The misty haze that settles over the trees in Monteverde is what makes it such a magical destination. Whether you choose to explore the forest by walking along its hanging bridges, following its trails, or swinging on a zip line, you will be astounded by its beauty.
Dan Hadfield
Zdenek Machacek
Johannes Mandle
Juliana Barquero
Manuel Antonio National Park
The trails that run through the rain-forest wind through the trees, under the shade of the canopy, until they open up onto the pristine white sand beaches where you can soaking up the sunshine or seeking out the animals. Although the Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest of Costa Rica National Parks, it is one of the country’s best and most beautiful. The park’s abundance of sloths and monkeys is just one of its many attractions.
Tj Kolesnik
Philippe Dehaye
Sebastian Molinares
Miguel Bruna
and the Rest…
After you’ve explored the wildlife there is also plenty of other action and surfing is one of them. It seems like every surfer who visits the country agrees that Costa Rica is one of the best places in the world to surf; it’s no accident Costa Rica is the third most popular destination for this sport after Hawaii and Indonesia. The reasons are simple: beaches with excellent year-round waves, pleasant weather, warm water and friendly people.
For more information seek out https://www.visitcostarica.com