Destination EcoTourist: Costa Rica

If your idea of the perfect trip is getting real up close and personal with nature, then you should consider visiting Costa Rica; a true dream destination for the ecotourist. Considered to be among the most biodiverse countries on the planet, this beautiful country is divided into 20 national parks, 8 biological reserves, and has many protected areas which captivate all kinds of ecotourism lovers.

Costa Rica is host to misty cloud forests, lots of rivers, thick rainy forests, black sand beaches, and many others, all which offer many outdoor activities for nature enthusiasts and active travelers. Costa Rica is also well known for its’ diversity of plants and animals, and you will find an array of creatures, including sea turtles, monkeys, sloths, jaguars, crocodiles, poison dark frogs, jaguar, among others. Costa Rica basically offers something for every type of wildlife traveler and ecotourist lover.

In Costa Rica’s diverse ecosystems and habitats, there are about 13 thousand plants species, 4 500 butterfly species, 2,000 moths, 220 types of reptiles, 163 amphibian varieties 1,600 species fish, over 870 bird varieties. The vast landscape has different kinds of forests, including, but not limited to; cloud forests, mangrove swamps, palm groves, rain forests, moors, herbaceous ponds, swamp groves and oak woods. Costa Rica actually possesses the highest density of species on the planet, and about 25% of its’ national territory is fully protected by systems of conservation areas, along with national parks.

Things To Do

• You can visit the Tortuguero National Park; this is one of the more popular destinations for sea turtle nesting. Here, the green turtles normally nest along the sandy beaches. In fact, many hotels in Tortuguero National Park operate night tours in order to observe the sea turtle nesting. The National Park also has protected species like crocodiles, manatees, among otters.
• If you are into scuba diving, Costa Rica offers the best scuba diving in the whole of Central America. Diving can be done in the Caribbean, the Coco Islands, and the Pacific coasts, guaranteeing something for all types of scuba enthusiasts.
• One wonderful activity for tourists who love getting up close to the natural world, is bird watching. In Costa Rica, you can enjoy watching all kinds of birds, in many different areas. Due to its’ great diversity of forest types, climates and temperatures, there’s a wide variety of birds with more than 800 species.
• Among Costa Rica’s many environmental wonders, are the incredible volcanoes, some of which are active and tend to produce some relaxing hot springs (like Arenal). You will also find deep caves which you can explore, along with some pre Columbian settlements.

Costa Rica truly has an extraordinary wealth of exciting things to do, however, regardless of your particular travel interests, you should consider spending some time on any one of the country’s beautiful beaches. Costa Rica has some of the most magnificent beaches on the face of the earth.

Best Time To Visit Costa Rica

Well, the best time for an ecotourist lover to visit Costa Rica is between mid December and April. This is the dry season, when the days are filled with sunshine giving you enough time to explore this majestic country.