Page 55 - World of Animals - Issue #36

Wild Costa Rica

Travel expert
Sarah Meils’ natural curiosity about the world inspired her to pursue a degree in Map key
tourism and she is now a travel writer for Costa Rica Experts
1 Tortuguero National Park
Costa Rica has so many unique opportunities to see animals in their 2 Santa Rosa National Park
natural environment. Its year-round tropical climate is a hotbed of 3 Chirripó National Park
biodiversity ideally suited for regeneration and renewal. From the 4 Arenal Volcano National Park
gregarious wildlife of the rainforest canopy to the migrating marine life 5 Corcovado National Park
that frequents the coast, scientists and wildlife enthusiasts from around
the world flock to catch a glimpse of the perplexing animal behaviours and sophisticated

ecosystems of Costa Rica. Hike through the remote rainforests of the Osa Peninsula, West Indian manatee
where nearly one-tenth of the mammal species in the Americas can be found including Otherwise known as the 'sea cow' because
the rare jaguar and tapir. Go birding in the Monteverde Cloud Forest in search of the of its grazing habits, this enormous aquatic
elusive resplendent quetzal bird. Explore Marino Ballena National Park, where humpback mammal can be found in estuaries and
whales come to breed and raise their young. Finally, don’t miss Tortuguero, home to the slow-moving rivers on the Caribbean side,
mass annual sea turtle nesting known as arribada. but given that they can hold their breath
for 12 minutes at a time, don't hold yours
Coatimundi for an immediate sighting.
This adaptable member
of the raccoon family
makes itself at home in Blue jeans frog
almost every wooded A common sight in
environment Costa Rica Caribbean-facing
has to offer – from oak to reserves such
lowland rainforest. A strong as La Selva and
climber, this diurnal species Tortuguero, this
rests in crudely-built nests poison-dart frog
high in the canopies.
is unmistakable

with its fire-engine
red body and blue
Leafcutter ant legs (and while
These enterprising ants can be seen carrying toxic, fortunately
pieces of leaves many times bigger than contact is not
themselves to their nest, where they use it to lethal to humans).
grow a fungus, which they in turn feed on.

You'll find them everywhere in Costa Rica –
even in the cities!
Scarlet Macaw
This gregarious, noisy
What you need to know bird is the largest
parrot species in the
When to go Americas, and in
We recommend visiting during high season Orca Costa Rica is largely
(December-April) as many national parks Some 25 species of whale restricted to the
are off the beaten track, and rainfall can and dolphin can be seen in forests of the Osa
render rural roads impassable. Costa Rica's waters. Drake Peninsula. They flock

Bay, on the north side of the in large numbers,
How to get there Osa Peninsula, is a hotspot; travelling long
You can travel direct from London to here you can find orcas, distances in their hunt

either the capital, San Jose, or Liberia – short-finned pilot whales and for fruits and nuts in
the former of the two is more central and bottlenose dolphins. the rainforest treetops.
offers better access to the Osa Penisula.
What the weather will do
It rains a lot throughout the year, even
in high season, but temperatures are
consistent year round; a pleasant average
of 22-26 degrees Celsius, peaking in May.
What to take
A change of clothing and waterproof bags.
Insect repellent is essential. Costa Rica is
not in a high-risk malarial zone, but there
are occasional zika virus outbreaks.

What you’ll see
Costa Rica crams an incredible number of
ecosystems into a small strip of land, and
often you’ll encounter spots where pristine
rainforest and endless beaches intersect.

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