Being environmentally conscious isn’t just about waste reduction and carbon offsets. Admiring our planet’s aesthetic beauty and complexity plays an important role as well – it gives us a reason to keep it intact.
Today, ecotourism in Costa Rica is thriving. Ecotourism continues to be Costa Rica’s largest foreign exchange earner, surpassing other exports such as pineapples, bananas, and coffee. Tourists from around the world travel to Costa Rica to visit the country’s many national parks and beaches.
It’s no wonder – Costa Rica has the largest percentage of protected land in the world. 25% of the country is dedicated to preservation, which is especially important, as Costa Rica contains almost 5% of the world’s biodiversity (over 500,000 species!) A large number of these species live in Costa Rica’s incredible cloud forests and rainforests, the main attraction for many tourists.
Costa Rica – Sustainability
If you couldn’t tell already, Costa Rica cares about sustainability. Even in remote areas (which is really everywhere except for San José and Liberia, the country’s two largest cities), recycling is still an option. Recently, they announced plans to close all zoos. And unlike their neighboring country, Nicaragua, Costa Rica enforces their laws regarding preservation, shark finning included.
Last month, I packed my suitcase and took the trip. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Simply put, visiting Costa Rica makes you appreciate what nature has to offer. Between the wildlife, the canopy tours, and the beaches, there was a lot to admire. And don’t worry, I took pictures.
Costa Rica – in Photos
A toucanet, pictured above, is a near-passerine (tree-dwelling) bird.
Motmots move their tails back and forth like a pendulum.
One of the only shots I could get of the replendent quetzal, widely considered to be one of the most beautiful birds in the world.
The three-wattled bellbird is known for its distinct sound.
Not the best photo, but this is a common agouti. They are related to guinea pigs, but are much larger.
Spotted an iguana on a beach in Tamarindo.
Howler monkeys are the loudest mammal in the "new world," emitting howls that can travel for up to three miles.
I found this scorpion inside my room in Tamarindo. It's on the smaller side, though.
Poison dart frogs, also known as blue jean frogs, are smaller than you'd think.
Found this huge moth outside my room in La Fortuna.
Porous walkways on trails allows for groundwater infiltration.
This "She Kong" plant is a big food source for hummingbirds.
Everywhere you go, seeing a butterfly is inevitable. They're everywhere; even the beaches.
There are over 300,000 species of insects in Costa Rica.
The Arenal Volcano is an active volcano in La Fortuna. The top of the volcano is seldom seen, due to the cloud cover.
This is one of the nicer houses in Costa Rica. Many locals live in tin shacks.
This is another species of millipede.
Lake Arenal is a man-made lake; it was enlarged to provide hydroelectricity.
Horseback riding is a popular tourist attraction in Costa Rica.
Suspended bridges let you see the canopy from above.
This is the ecolodge I stayed at in Monteverde. There was no air-conditioning, but it was surprisingly comfortable!
Strangler figs grow around trees, ultimately killing them. Once the tree disappears, the strangler figs retain their shape, making this hollow structure.
This species of millipede is poisonous. It sprays hydrogen cyanide at its attackers.
There were 20 or so hummingbirds flying around in the area where I shot this.
There are 52 species of hummingbirds in Costa Rica.
I saw this cow while traveling up rocky, unpaved road to Monteverde. Livestock in Costa Rica isn't fed a corn-based diet, but some don't have a lot of room to roam.
