Revel in the Biodiversity

Revel in the Biodiversity

From its sultry, coastal mangrove swamps to its cool and precipitous cloud forests, the country holds a mosaic of natural landscapes that are packed with an amazing array of flora and fauna.

Rain Forests

Costa Rica has set aside some 15 percent of its territory for national parks and reserves. Yet deforestation takes place at an alarming rate, its old-growth forests falling victim to illegal logging, aided by a scarcity of resources to enforce environmental laws and the pressures of development. That said, Costa Rica's existing rain forests thrive. A typical hectare (2 1/2 acres) of forest might be home to nearly 100 species of trees. (Contrast that with a mere 30 in the richest forests of North America.) Go with a guide, both for your safety and the information they can provide. We forever marvel at their ability to spot a sloth at a hundred paces.

Braulio Carrillo National Park, Northern Plains. Though it's the closest rain forest to San José, this primary swath of jungle is difficult to access, with dense flora and tough trails. But determination yields impressive mammals, birds, and plants.

Corcovado National Park, South Pacific. If you don't mind the mud, you'll love the wild and wooly primary forests here.

La Selva Biological Station, Northern Plains. One of the best opportunities to see lots of wildlife without roughing it.

Manuel Antonio National Park, Central Pacific. Even a quick jaunt along the trails lets you see squirrel monkeys, white-faced coatis, and iguanas.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Northern Plains. The most famous of Costa Rica's cloud-forest reserves.

Volcanoes

Of Costa Rica's 300 or so volcanoes, some 230 are underwater and extinct. Of the 70 on dry land, 5 are active (listed below), 15 have been labeled "dormant" -- projected to spring back to life at some undetermined future date -- and the rest are extinct. Volcán Irazú got its second wind in 1963 after 30 years of inactivity. No one was more surprised than John F. Kennedy, who was here on a visit at the time and was sprinkled with ash like everyone else. Over four decades later, prediction is still an imprecise science.

Arenal, Northern Plains. The most famous volcano in Costa Rica, Arenal has a classic cone that forms an iconic backdrop to the town of La Fortuna. On clear nights you can see red-hot lava spitting from its summit.

Irazú, Central Valley. A cinch to visit as a day trip from San José, here you can walk right up to the edge of steaming craters.

Poás, Northern Plains. Like Irazú, at Poás you can get close to the crater, and it is also close to San José. We find Poás, with its beautiful crater lake, a bit more impressive.

Rincón de la Vieja, North Pacific. This moonlike landscape of steaming craters and fizzing fumaroles is worth the rugged drive and rough hike.

Turrialba, Central Valley. The least-visited of the active volcanoes, Turrialba rises 3,330 m (10,910) feet above sea level. You can see the Pacific on a clear day.

Beaches

Costa Rica has 1,290 km (799 mi) of coastline to choose from, most of it lined with beaches which are, by law, all public. Most are not the picture-postcard white strands of the Caribbean Islands or Mexico; the dark sand here is of volcanic origin and waters tend to be rough, not crystal-blue. Note that beaches near population centers get strewn with trash quite quickly. It's one of the great ironies of Costa Rica that a country renowned for its environmental achievements litters with such laissez-faire. Limited access tends to make for more scenic beaches. The following are some of our favorites.

Dominical, South Pacific. This is a hopping surfer town which does enhance the experience, and in that regard we recommend this as a great beach in a great beach town.

Malpaís, Central Pacific. Accessed via a steep gravel road, Malpaís is a quiet strand ripe for beachcombing and sunning.

Playa Flamingo, North Pacific. Though not very isolated, Flamingo is an example of how environmentally conscious communities can make their beaches sparkle.

Playa Grande, North Pacific. Conservationists have kept this beach pristine for nesting leatherback turtles.

Playa Pavones, South Pacific. The surfing is good at remote Pavones, a stunning combination of black sand, tropical forest, and glistening waters.

Punta Uva, Caribbean. The farthest from town of the Puerto Viejo de Talamanca beaches, and the most pristine.

Tortuguero, Caribbean. The turtle population here makes this isolated beach one of the world's top naturalist draws.