Costa Rica
Evocative images. Strong emotions. Such are Costa Rica's almost magical attractions
that soothe today's spirit weary traveler.
We live in a world filled with material goods; we are protected from the elements in our
safe cocoon of concrete, glass and steel but, somehow, something is missing.
Only when we escape this artificial environment do we recognize how strong is our
human need for contact with the natural world. There we find energy...for the soul.
Costa Rica has become a Mecca for travelers seeking to escape the stress and tedium
of the modern world and the monotony of more conventional vacation destinations.
Here they can slow down, immerse themselves in beauty and establish a link with nature.
Costa Rica is a small mountainous country on the narrow Central American isthmus. It is
only a day's drive from the northern border with Nicaragua to neighboring Panama in
south, and one could cross from ocean to ocean in only a few hours. But why hurry?
There's just too much to see in between.
Costa Rica is Central America's special jewel. The country's natural attractions, wildlife and
reputation for enlightened conservation draw tourists from all over the
world. Successive governments have made a real
effort to preserve the country's image as ecotourism heaven, making Costa
Rica one of the best places to experience the tropics naturally and with
minimal impact.
Costa Rica's stunning scenic heritage
unfolds in an ever-changing panorama of
steaming volcanoes, forested mountains,
dramatic skies and bucolic countryside.
Dark lowland jungles give way to rolling
savannas; Pacific surf crashes against
rocky headlands, in sharp contrast to the
tranquillity of palm-fringed Caribbean
beaches.
Located in the tropical latitudes, between the giant biological influences of North and
South America and boarded by two oceans, mountainous Costa Rica enjoys an
immense diversity of climates and ecosystems.
Twelve major life zones harbor an astounding amount of plant and animal life. 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.
Costa Ricans have preserved this invaluable biodiversity in protected areas covering
fully one quarter of the land and organized into major units called Conservation Arias.
No other country in the world has so much actively protected area per capita. Costa
Rica is often cited as a model for conservation in harmony with community development
and economic growth.
National parks and reserves are open to the public at government established fees.
Private reserves set their own entrance rates.
An impressive 22,647 miles (36,447 km.) of roads plus well-developed nature trail
systems give easy access to every habitat and all but the most remote areas. You can
drive to the very edge of a volcanic crater, through the heart of a mountain jungle, take
an aerial tram ride in the rainforest canopy and soak up sun on a deserted beach, all on
the same day.
 Costa Rica's nine active volcanoes vividly
remind visitors of the awesome power
contained by the earth's thin mantle. At Irazù
Volcano, it is easy to see why Neil
Armstrong said that its desolate landscape
looks like the surface of the moon. Anyone
peering into Poás mammoth crater with its
boiling, sulfurous lake, is reminded just how
tenuous is man's supposed dominion over the
world.
Arenal, most active and no doubt the
most studied of all Costa Rica's
volcanoes, booms and rumbles with an
unnerving consistency and its nocturnal
pyrotechnics have struck awe in the
hearts of thousands of observers. On the
lower slopes of Rincón de la Vieja, the
power is vented in boiling mud pots,
hissing fumaroles and thermal streams.
The non-volcanic Talamancas are ruggedly beautiful and contain two of the nation's
tallest peaks. The Inter-American highway, crossing the 11,453 ft. (3,491 m.) Cerro de
la Muerte, reaches over 9,843 feet (3,000 m.) passing through highland forests of Costa
Rican Oak and the only road-accessible "páremo" vegetation in the country. To see
evidence of the glacier that topped 12,533 ft. (3,820 m.) Chirripó, during the last ice
age, requires a 9 hour hike and cold weather camping. But it's definitely worth the effort.
The forests on the upper slopes of Costa Rica's mountains and volcanoes are frequently
draped in mist and clouds. Algae, mosses and lichens get a foothold on the constantly
wet surfaces, providing a places for orchids, bromeliads, ferns and innumerable other
plants to cling to. So prolific is these "epiphytic" growth in the cloud forest that bare
branches are virtually non-existent. Sometimes harsh conditions such as prevailing winds
and supersaturated soils cause the forest to be stunted - like the elfin forest at
Monteverde's continental divide or the gnarly, dwarf woods at the summit of Poás
Volcano.
The cloud forest captures the imagination of even the most cynical among us. It
emanates a sense of ancient and enduring life. Of peace. Sitting quietly overhead, its long
feathery tail swaying gently in the breeze, is a scarlet and emerald bird that seems to
embody the spirit of the cloud forest. Aptly named, the Resplendent Quetzal is
considered by many to be the most beautiful bird in the world.
|
In the foothills and lowlands of both
slopes, Costa Rica's rainforests harbor
thousands of known life forms and
thousands more yet to be described.
They are among the last strongholds of
biodiversity on earth. Resonating with the
songs of birds, at dawn. the rainforest is
quiet in the heart of the day, its stillness
punctuated by the insect-like call of
poison dart frogs, the rasping of cicadas
or the whistled notes of wrens and
antbirds. |
 |
The dark, cool interior of 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 time. The
modern world and all its stress fade into insignificance.
There are a multitude of activities available in Costa Rica.
The national parks offer a huge variety of hiking. The Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja is a volcanic wonderland of cones, craters, lagoons,
boiling mud pools and sulphur springs. The park can be explored on foot or
horseback, and visitors can bathe in the hot springs. There are long-distance hiking
trails in the Parque Nacional Corcovado which offer visitors the chance to
spend several days walking through lowland tropical rainforest.
Top bird-watching sites include the rainforests at La Selva,
Parque Nacional Tapanti, Parque Nacional Palo Verde, Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre
Cano Negro and the area around Tortuguero. Turtle-watchers
will enjoy Parque Nacional Tortuguero, where they can visit nesting sites and
watch the turtles lay their eggs.
Pavones, Playa Naranjo and Puerto Viejo are popular surf destinations. Windsurfers should check out the
artificial Laguna de Arenal, near the spectacular volcano. The Reserva Biologica Isla del Cano and the Parque
Nacional Isla del Coco are great for snorkeling and diving.
Fishermen head to Golfito for deep-sea fishing, and Parsimina for good offshore reef fishing.
The scenic Río Reventazon, is a favorite with river rafters and kayakers. Río Pacure is another breathtaking river
and offers the best white-water rafting through spectacular canyons clothed in virgin rainforest.
|
|
