Costa Rica is among the hottest locations for nature lovers coming from the USA or Canada, for good cause. There are only a few nations on the planet that pack a lot wildlife and biodiversity into such a small space. Because of its slender footprint on a land bridge between the Americas and its progressive environmental insurance policies, this small nation hosts 5 p.c of all animal species on the planet.
From the highest of the border with Nicaragua to the underside on the border with Panama, this nation’s land is usually wild and guarded, dotted with massive parks and preserves the place the wildlife of Costa Rica can run free.
This isn’t the Costa Rica that the majority “solar and enjoyable” vacationers see, nevertheless. In crowded spots like Monteverde Cloud Forest and Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park, the crowds that arrive by the busload don’t combine nicely with shy creatures, particularly in the midst of the day. In Manuel Antonio, the issue is the other: monkeys which are so accustomed to vacationers that they’ll snatch your bag or go digging in your pockets for meals.
To see the Costa Rica wildlife that’s not hooked on simple handouts, you have to go deeper into nature, into the locations that require slightly extra effort to achieve. You’ll be able to accomplish this with out giving up your creature comforts although by considered one of two strategies. You’ll be able to keep in a luxurious lodge that’s subsequent to or in a nature reserve, or you possibly can join with an excellent tour firm like Sundowner Holidays that units up luxurious safari holidays in Africa and upscale wildlife excursions in Latin America.
Questioning what you would possibly see in your nature trip in Costa Rica? Effectively, loads of fascinating rainforest vegetation, after all, a few of them used for hundreds of years as medical cures. You gained’t have to go looking very onerous for animals both although, so right here’s a sampling of what you could possibly spot in your journey journey journey, with some authentic images of our personal from earlier journeys.
Some animals are fairly elusive, particularly the massive cats like jaguars and pumas roaming Corcovado Nationwide Park, however the gradual sloths, numerous monkeys, and colourful birds are a distinct story.
Mammals in Costa Rica
Whereas the locals may not even discover when a coati or agouti ambles by, to overseas eyes these are unique animals and also you’re virtually positive to see a couple of while you go to Costa Rica. On par with possums and raccoons up north in numbers, these creatures are sometimes wandering the grounds of the resorts or seen on simple strolling trails.
Tapirs are incessantly noticed as nicely, with the Baird’s Tapir typically reaching a measurement of 250 kilograms. It’s not onerous to seek out the wild pig species often known as collared peccary. You’ll usually hear them snorting loudly earlier than you get to a clearing and see them.
Anteaters are available two varieties: big and “silky.”
Sloths are an emblem of Costa Rica and it’s a uncommon journey to any dense wooded space while you don’t spot one. They transfer very slowly in all the pieces they do, so if a information noticed one two weeks in the past, he can most likely take you again to the identical spot and rating a sighting. Some have two toes on their toes, some have three.
Costa Rica boasts 4 species of monkeys, with the most typical being the white-faced capuchin. The one you’ll hear most frequently, nevertheless, is the loud howler monkey, which appears like some scary monster able to wreak havoc.
The howler monkey shouldn’t be so scary up shut because it sounds from a distance, nevertheless. This one I noticed appeared lots mellow:
More durable to identify are the 2 variations of spider monkeys, smaller and fewer prone to stand up near people. They’re often leaping between tree branches beside waterways or within the jungle.
Additionally noticed repeatedly are two sorts of armadillos, a number of bats, and the weasel-like tayra.
The Birds of Costa Rica
If you understand anybody who’s a critical birdwatcher, odds are they’ve been to this nation a number of occasions. Few nations can boast so many species of birds inside their borders, particularly a rustic the place you could possibly fly from prime to backside in an hour. Tiny Costa Rica has extra birds than the entire USA and Canada added collectively.
Round 200 kinds of birds stay in each locations although: they may migrate right here when it’s chilly up north and can then return within the hotter months. The massive marquee birds to see listed below are tropical. Whereas toucans appear fairly unique to guests from up north, they’re fairly frequent in lots of jungle areas right here, particularly within the Osa Peninsula close to Lapa Rios. Parrots, motmots, and 39 kinds of hawks are frequent too.
I’ve additionally noticed extra scarlet macaws than I can depend in numerous areas of the nation, typically whereas simply taking a stroll alongside the coast. The large jabiru stork is difficult to overlook and also you’ll see many massive sea birds and wading birds like cormorants, stilts, boobies, and oystercatchers. The resplendent quetzal is elusive and primarily confined to the cloudforest areas.
Simpler to seek out on land are the quite a few hummingbirds, the quail-like tinamous, and noisy chachalacas.
Lizards and Amphibians
This nation is stuffed with every kind of lizards and amphibians together with 74 species of frogs, a lot of them fairly colourful. You don’t need to choose them up although: some excrete a robust poison, the type utilized in poison arrows for looking within the days earlier than firearms.
Going frog-spotting is a well-liked pursuit from the Costa Rica jungle lodges and also you would possibly see a red-eyed tree frog, one of many semi-transparent glass frogs, or one of many colourful poison dart frogs.
Toads are additionally quite a few and a few of these are fairly fascinating too. The large toad will do no matter it takes to remain big: this species will eat something it will possibly digest it appears, from mice to bugs to greens.
5 of the world’s seven kinds of sea turtles lay their eggs on the seashores of Costa Rica and most seashores are off-limits to any automobiles in order that the nests are protected. At some resorts and on some excursions, you possibly can watch a hatching because the infants head to the surf or you possibly can take part in a managed launch that goals to up their odds of survival.
You’ll certainly spot some lizards scampering throughout a path or bobbing their heads on a ledge. Some are small however fascinating just like the basilisks which are dragon-like, you then’ll see large inexperienced iguanas lumbering alongside the bottom or climbing a tree.
You’ll need to keep away from among the snakes, particularly the lethal and aggressive fer-de-lance, which lives all through the nation. The eyelash viper and numerous coral snakes are additionally venomous. See an entire record right here, with figuring out images.
Different Forms of Wildlife
This nation is a haven for butterflies too, with greater than 1,250 species of them fluttering round—greater than 10% of all butterflies worldwide. I needed to decelerate my rental automotive when driving to Punta Islita within the Nicoya Peninsula so I didn’t hold whacking them as a result of they had been so thick. The big Blue Morpho butterfly is probably the most dramatic, however others create a riot of colour round flowers they’re pollinating.
Greater than 8,000 kinds of moths make this Central American nation their dwelling, one thing you’ll certainly discover at night time by your home windows and out of doors lights in the event you’re sleeping within the jungle.
This record masking the wildlife of Costa Rica doesn’t depend the massive number of creatures you’ll discover within the water off the coasts. I’m not together with them right here since we’re speaking about what’s discovered in Costa Rica moderately than swimming by. If you happen to get out on the water or go diving, nevertheless, you would possibly spot a number of whales, manatees, sharks, sea lions, seals, and sailfish.
For extra data, see our luxurious Costa Rica journey part on the journal facet of our web site. There’s a hyperlink from there to evaluations of the highest lodges within the nation.
Article and all images by editor Tim Leffel.
