Costa Rica Travel News – When researching anything about Costa Rica, the photographs that come up on my computer transport me to a National Geographic show. There are photographs in vivid detail showing Red Eyed Tree Frogs, brilliantly colored birds, and sloths with adorable faces. However, what will you really encounter when you arrive?
Most people envision stepping out of your hotel room and having an abundant supply of wildlife just waiting for you to come and gawk at them, but in reality, the tourist may encounter certain disappointments depending on where and when you go. Costa Rica has a land and water area of 51,100 square kilometers. According to the National Meteorological Institute, there are 7 Costa Rica Climate Zones: The Northern Zone, Central Valley, North Caribbean, South Caribbean, North Pacific, Central Pacific and the South Pacific, each of which are distinct and present a variety of local micro-climates.This country which is about the size of the U.S. state of West Virginia holds 5% of the world’s biodiversity and 27 different weather patterns!
Obviously, the time you visit can delegate which animals you will most likely see, and also the parts of the country you visit. My recent visit took me to La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio. These locations are pretty standard for most tourist packages and really gives a visitor a full, albeit brief look at many different climates and regions in the country. If you are traveling to these regions in the dry season; December-May, then these are the top 10 animals you will likely see:
- Mantled Howler Monkey
- Variegated Squirrel
- American Crocodile
- Black Ctenosaur
- Emerald Basilisk
- Cane Toad
- Keel Billed Toucan
- Blue Gray Tanager
- Sloths Two-toed Three-toed
- Red-legged Honey Creeper
I encountered more animals than what is listed here, but these are the most common and the mostly likely to be seen during that time. There are 894 bird species at various times over the year in Costa Rica. If amphibians and reptiles interest you, there are 15 species of amphibians, and 43 species of reptiles, while 200 mammal species also reside there. Insects and arachnids are also found in abundance. Insects win the count at 730,000 while there are 20,000 spider varieties. Costa Rica So, if you are coming to see animal life in Costa Rica, you won’t be disappointed!
By Stacey Dunahay
