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Costa Rica truly is a "rich coast." Its neotropic climate, advantageous position between North and South America, and its various temperate zones yield unbelievable treasures for the nature lover. No trip to Costa Rica would be complete without taking in the local wildlife - and in fact, that is often the primary reason why people from all over the world venture to this tropical paradise.
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Costa Rica holds two very important titles: first in the Happy Planet
Index and most "green" country. In fact, Costa Rica plans to be carbon
neutral by 2021. Costa Ricans, or Ticas as they call themselves, are
enormously proud of their country and fiercely committed to keeping it
healthy and vital by protecting its incredible array of wildlife
specimens. Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the
world, home to some 500,000 species, many of which you can see for
yourself at Manuel Antonio National Park, Santa Rosa National Park, as
well as the country's other beautiful parks. Osa Peninsula is
particularly rich in wildlife. What can you see?
Scarlet macaws, leaf-cutter ants, quetzals, frogs, marine turtles, bats,
toucans, hummingbirds, monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, slots, anteaters,
snakes (watch out; some of the most dangerous snakes in the world live
here), dolphins, whales, sharks, jellyfish, manatees, starfish, and an
explosion of exotic plant life await. Some species, like the jaguar and
tapir, are elusive and rarely seen, but you can catch a glimpse of their
tracks.
Having a naturalist guide is wonderful because they are trained to pick out the tough-to-spot animals, like sloths, that you may otherwise miss.
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One could make a vacation of butterfly-watching alone. With over 1,250
species of butterfly and 8,000 species of moths, these creatures play a
crucial role in Costa Rica's biodiversity. They also give an intriguing
look into how animals and insects adapt to their surroundings:
swallowtail caterpillars, for instance, disguise themselves as bird
droppings to foil predators. Butterflies add color to the rainforest,
both in their brilliance and in the flowers they pollinate.
While wildlife lovers flock to CR to witness nature at its best, they
also encounter another of the country's abundant inhabitants: insects.
Of Costa Rica's half million species, how many are insects? Answers vary
from 35,000 to 100,000 to 300,000. In any event, that's a lot of
insects! While these may be fascinating in theory, they can be
irritating in practice. Make sure to pack appropriate bug repellent
before your foray into the forest.
A country which presents an experience like no other: take advantage of
your time to see the native wildlife of Costa Rica.