Costa Rica is among the hottest locations for nature lovers coming from the USA or Canada, for good purpose. There are only a few nations on the planet that pack a lot wildlife and biodiversity into such a small space. Due to 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 generally wild and guarded, dotted with giant parks and preserves the place the wildlife of Costa Rica can run free.
This isn’t the Costa Rica that almost all “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 properly with shy creatures, particularly in the midst of the day. In Manuel Antonio, the issue is the alternative: 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 straightforward handouts, it is advisable go deeper into nature, into the locations that require slightly extra effort to succeed in. You possibly can accomplish this with out giving up your creature comforts although by one among two strategies. You possibly can keep in a luxurious lodge that’s subsequent to or in a nature reserve, or you may 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? Properly, loads of fascinating rainforest vegetation, in fact, a few of them used for hundreds of years as medical cures. You received’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 photographs 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 sluggish sloths, varied monkeys, and colourful birds are a unique story.
Mammals in Costa Rica
Whereas the locals won’t even discover when a coati or agouti ambles by, to international eyes these are unique animals and also you’re virtually certain to see just a few 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 straightforward strolling trails.
Tapirs are steadily noticed as properly, with the Baird’s Tapir typically reaching a dimension of 250 kilograms. It’s not onerous to seek out the wild pig species often known as collared peccary. You’ll typically hear them snorting loudly earlier than you get to a clearing and see them.
Anteaters are available two varieties: large 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 every thing they do, so if a information noticed one two weeks in the past, he can in all probability 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 commonest 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 isn’t so scary up shut because it sounds from a distance, nevertheless. This one I noticed appeared lots mellow:
Tougher to identify are the 2 variations of spider monkeys, smaller and fewer prone to rise up near people. They’re normally leaping between tree branches beside waterways or within the jungle.
Additionally noticed recurrently are two sorts of armadillos, a number of bats, and the weasel-like tayra.
The Birds of Costa Rica
If you recognize anybody who’s a severe 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 high to backside in an hour. Tiny Costa Rica has extra birds than the entire USA and Canada added collectively.
Round 200 kinds of birds dwell in each locations although: they are going to migrate right here when it’s chilly up north and can then return within the hotter months. The massive marquee birds to see listed here are tropical. Whereas toucans appear fairly unique to guests from up north, they’re fairly widespread in lots of jungle areas right here, particularly within the Osa Peninsula close to Lapa Rios. Parrots, motmots, and 39 kinds of hawks are widespread too.
I’ve additionally noticed extra scarlet macaws than I can depend in several areas of the nation, typically whereas simply taking a stroll alongside the coast. The massive jabiru stork is tough to overlook and also you’ll see many giant 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 full of all types of lizards and amphibians together with 74 species of frogs, a lot of them fairly colourful. You don’t need to decide them up although: some excrete a strong 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 large: this species will eat something it might probably digest it appears, from mice to bugs to greens.
5 of the world’s seven styles 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 may watch a hatching because the infants head to the surf or you may take part in a managed launch that goals to up their odds of survival.
You’ll absolutely 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 big inexperienced iguanas lumbering alongside the bottom or climbing a tree.
You’ll need to keep away from a number of the snakes, particularly the lethal and aggressive fer-de-lance, which lives all through the nation. The eyelash viper and varied coral snakes are additionally venomous. See a whole record right here, with figuring out photographs.
Different Kinds 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 have been so thick. The massive 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 house, one thing you’ll absolutely discover at evening by your home windows and out of doors lights in the event you’re sleeping within the jungle.
This record protecting the wildlife of Costa Rica doesn’t depend the large 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 reasonably than swimming by. For those who 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 info, see our luxurious Costa Rica journey part on the journal facet of our website. There’s a hyperlink from there to opinions of the highest lodges within the nation.
Article and all photographs by editor Tim Leffel.
