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EcoTourism Costa
Rica
Colombia Ecuador Mexico
Peru Puerto
Rico
Paraguay Dom.
Rep.
Costa Rica Ecotourism
- Costa Rica's country motto is Pura Vida - "Pure Life"
Want to see a monkey
in its natural habitat? Spot a tiny brightly colored
 poison dart
frog along a trail? Stand beneath a giant tropical tree loaded
with epiphytes? See a big blue butterfly too beautiful to believe?
Would you like to observe toucans, quetzals, and scarlet macaws?
How about a crocodile basking on the riverbank or a dolphin
arching from the sea? Do all this and more in Costa Rica.
San Jose
Costa Rica
The chance for a close encounter of the natural kind with the
tropical biodiversity found in this small, friendly country lures
tends of thousands of visitors each year. And they must like what
they find because many return again and again to explore the
varied habitats: rain forest, dry forest, cloud forest, oak
forest, high - mountain paramo, and wetland, mangrove, and other
aquatic habitats.
What is out there? More than 850 species of birds, 209
mammal species, 13.000 plant species (including 1.500 trees and
1.400 orchids), 220 species of reptiles, and 163 species of
amphibians. As for the usually diminutive world of arthropods -
creatures with segmented bodies and jointed limbs, such as
insects, spiders and crabs - look out: more than 365.000 weird and
wonderful species have been identified so far.
Many of the habitats where all this life flourishes are under
protective status, with about 16 percent of the country in more
than 30 national parks, wildlife refuges, and biological reserves
that are open to the public. Another 11 percent is in forest
reserves, Indian reserves, and protected zones. In addition,
individuals have established reserves for conservation purposes.
So, there are protected habitats, more than half a million known
species doing their thing in the ecosystems, and tens of thousands
of human visitors who hope to watch them doing it. How can this
play out in harmony? Ecotourism offers sustainable strategies.
Ecotourism means responsible travel to natural areas, tourism that
has low impact on the environment and on local culture while
generating income to help conserve natural resources and
benefiting local people. Unless benefits reach the local
populations, conservation is not sustainable.
Ecotourism in Costa Rica
- Ecotourism is hugely popular in Costa Rica. Over half
of the country’s visitors travel to biological reserves or
national parks. Many of Costa Rica’s tourists are attracted to the
exotic and diverse wildlife found in the various ecosystems.
Flora - Scientists and researchers have found
over 10,000 plant species in Costa Rica and new species are being
discovered every year. The national flower, called Cattleya
Skinneri, is one of the most famous of the 1300 orchids species
found in Costa Rica. This flower usually blooms in March. Each
ecosystem has its own native plant life, with the tropical
rainforests having the most diverse collection.
Fauna - Over 850 species of bird have been
recorded in the country. There are more bird species in Costa Rica
alone than any one of the continents of Europe, Australia or North
America. The country is also home to more than 260 mammal species,
about 180 species of amphibians, 235 species of reptiles and 835
species of fish.
Natural Parks and Reserves - There are 26
national parks, 8 natural reserves and a number of other areas
that are protected by the State. The national park system began
in the 1960s and now covers almost 11% of the country. Between
national parks, wildlife refuges, biological and forest reserves
and other protected areas, about 27% of the country is protected
by the government. There is also a fair amount of privately held
land that is protected by private citizens. All of these
protected lands offer beautiful nature in its raw form.
San Jose
Costa Rica
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