Costa Rica

Home About Mara Belize Botswana & Namibia Brazil Costa Rica Italy Morocco New England Poland Russia



Destination: Costa Rica 

Excerpt from Lonely Planet Costa Rica, 7th edition. Buy the book here.  

The low guttural bellowing of the howler monkeys echoes across the treetops and you wonder if it was wise to venture out into the jungle at the crack of dawn. You spot the black furry creatures in a nearby fig tree, feasting on fruit. You make your way out to the deserted beach, where the magnificent frigate birds are circling high overhead. Less-than-sonorous squawking gives away a pair of scarlet macaws, alighting from an almond tree. Morning has broken in the coastal rain forest.

Similar scenes are unfolding across Costa Rica: from the dry tropical forest along the Pacific coast to the misty cloud forest at higher altitudes, this wildlife wonderland is coming alive. More than 27% of the country's area is protected in one form or another, creating a haven for countless species of flora and fauna.

The value of this natural resource is unquantifiable: annually Costa Rica attracts more than one million visitors eager to catch a wave, bathe under a waterfall, spot a sloth or otherwise partake of paradise. Tourism is the country's top source of employment and investment.

It's never easy to maintain the delicate balance between preserving natural resources and cashing in on economic opportunity. But most Ticos are proud of their natural heritage, and they recognize that the goals of environmental conservation and economic prosperity are not mutually exclusive. This is the enlightened approach that has earned Costa Rica its reputation as the paradigm of eco-tourism. 

It's no wonder that the Ticos extend such a warm welcome to travelers. This peace-loving people is eager to share - the staggering scenery, the bountiful biodiversity and the complete contentment that comes with pura vida, the `pure life' of Costa Rica.

 

 

Mara Vorhees is a writer and photographer who blogs about food, music and adventure around the world.She has written guidebooks about Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Morocco, New England and Russia for Lonely Planet. Click here to read more about Mara.