Nature in Costa Rica

Considered one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, one of Costa Rica's main attractions are its rainforests. Within the country's borders, an exceptional park system represents thirteen per cent of the national territory.

The rainforests in Costa Rica are filled with just about every type of bird, animal and insect known to the country - and many as of yet unknown. Scientists surmise that while Costa Rica covers a mere 0.03% of the planet's surface, the nation is endowed with over 5% of all life forms on earth. The country's rainforests resonate with the songs of birds at dawn and the evening's stillness is punctuated by the insect-like call of poison dart frogs, the rasping of cicadas or the whistled notes of wrens and ant birds.

The dark, cool interior of the primary rainforest is surprisingly free of entangling vegetation. Only where light manages to filter through the interlocking canopy to the forest floor does vegetation proliferate. Walking in the rainforest is like taking a step back in time. The modern world and all its stress fade into insignificance.

At the southern end of Costa Rica's Pacific Coast is the Osa Peninsula, widely recognized as the richest biological zone in Mesoamerica. The Corcovado National Park is an undeniably beautiful place, considered to be one of the most important natural preserves in the Americas; this virgin rainforest park invites superlatives from all who visit. At least thirteen distinct vegetation types in close proximity, including mangrove, palm swamps and blood weed forest make Corcovado and the Osa Peninsula a botanist's dream.