Costa Rica Travel and Vacation

La Mona en Seda’s, Nature of Costa Rica

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Enjoy the natural diversity of Costa Rica’s West Coast. The limited capacity of 33 cabins aboard the MV Temptress Voyager provide the intimacy to capture the natural beauty of Costa Rica’s West Coast. This small ship is able the maneuver in and out of the waters of the West Coast. The passengers will be treated to lunch or dinner on-shore surrounded by the natural environment. Excursions each day provide the guests with adventure deep into the heart of the rainforest and bring you face to face with the flora, monkeys, birds and iguanas. Tour the tropical forest of Costa Rica Corcovado National Park. Botanical Garden excursion offers the most extensive collection of orchids and other tropical vegetation. The picturesque white beaches of Drake Bay provide a photo opportunity to last a lifetime. Enjoy a horseback ride on safe and well marked trails or swim in a mountain pool. Water sports are a large part of the Temptress experience with gear available on board for water skiing, kayaking, and snorkeling. Manuel Antonio National Park offers the underwater adventure in calm warm waters.

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Nature in Costa Rica is everywhere. I visited primarily to see the nature of this Central American country and was not disappointed. Pleasantly, because the wildlife leads to so much ecotourism in Costa Rica, the local people are generally very supportive of the nature there and work fiercely to protect it.
Currently, scientists calculate that around 25% of Costa Rica is now protected in the form of National Parks or privately-owned nature reserves. Conservationists from around the world flock to Costa Rica and have been of great help to the Costa Rican people in protecting the habitats and animals of Costa Rica.
There are currently 35 National Parks covering every habitat in Costa Rica and animals and plants can be seen almost countrywide. Without exception you have to pay a small fee to enter any of the parks – $10 seems like an average sum though some can be considerably higher or lower and of course taking a guide for the day will likely add an additional $20-30 onto the cost of your day out.
However, this money is spent in the right places and helps to support the environment and local communities.
Due to differences in altitudes and rainfall (plus having two coasts – the wetter Caribbean coast plus the drier Pacific coast) there are huge differences in the habitats present for nature in Costa Rica which not surprisingly affects the animals and plants you may see there.
Whilst wildlife can be seen anywhere there will always be certain areas that are better than others. So the first question really to consider when it comes to nature in Costa Rica is what it is that you’d actually like to see in particular? Or would you like to just generally see some animals?
If you make a “hotlist” of the animals you’d like to see, the next aspect is grabbing some of the wildlife guide books available (Field Guide To The Wildlife Of Costa Rica by C. Henderson is my personal favourite) so you can work out the best places to actually see the animals you’re after.
To give you some ideas of what you may see, here is just a sampling of what I saw in Costa Rica last time: mexican spiny porcupine, anteater, monkeys, macaws, iguana, caimen, tarantulas, quetzals, coatis and agoutis. As I say, this is just a tiny sampling of all the amazing creatures there.
Top wildlife spotting areas if you are in need of some inspiration are Monte Verde, Manual Antonio and Corcovado, though be aware this last option is to remote that it can be difficult and expensive to get to, and facilities once you get there are likely to be basic at best. Even an Internet connection or reliable electricity may be too much to ask for in the far south of Costa Rica where jaguar and tapirs roam free.
Monte Verde and Manuel Antonio make a far more civilized start to seeing Costa Rican natural history where you can spend your daytime sweating in the rainforest, and your evenings relaxing in a bar, restaurant or, if you’re lucky, by a resfreshing pool.

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While a zoo definitely has it’s place in animal watching, it doesn’t compare to seeing animals in their own natural habitat. After a recent visit to Yellowstone National Park, this felt especially true for me. A traffic jam caused by young buffalo calves and their mothers crossing the road is an experience not to be missed. It made me wonder about other places that would be conducive to viewing wildlife in a natural setting. From my research I have come up with a list of some of the best places to visit if viewing animals in nature is your objective.

In the United States, national parks are the best place to start. For viewing sea animals, the best places include the Channel Islands off the coast of California. The islands are surrounded by sea lions, seals, gray whales and humpback whales. There are also numerous tide pools that house creatures such as sea urchins and anemones. Another area great for water animals is Glacier Bay in Alaska. Humpback whales and sea lions are in abundance off shore and on land bears and moose are often times available for viewing. For a different spin on water creatures, visit the Florida Everglades, the last remaining everglades on the planet. There you will see crocodiles and alligators co-exists along with turtles, dear, manatees and bobcats. The everglades contain large viewing towers that are devoted especially to wildlife watching or you can be a bit more daring and take a canoe ride in croc-infested waters.

Other national parks that make the list for best wildlife viewing are Denali National Park in Alaska, Glacier National park in Montana, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Denali, Glacier and Rocky Mountain offer animals such as dall sheep, grizzlies, caribou, wolves, mountain goats, elk, dear, bighorn sheep and marmots. Theodore Roosevelt is a less well known park and therefore offers great viewing of bison, wild horses, deer and elk without all the crowds.

Outside of the US, there are more exotic animals available for viewing at places such as Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica, the Komodo Islands in Indonesia, Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo, Polar Bear Observation in Canada, and of course a Kenyan Safari.

The Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica is a brilliant rain forest that contains over 100,000 acres of land and 5,000 acres of marine habitat. The park is home to 116 species of amphibians and reptiles, 139 species of mammals and more than 400 species of birds. There are no roads into the park, only hiking trails. Unless you are an avid hiker and have excellent map-reading skills, a guide is recommended. In addition to the trails, there are also viewing platforms built atop massive ajo trees.

The Komodo Islands in Indonesia house the world’s largest population of Komodo dragons. These animals can grow to be over 300 pounds and up to nine feet in length. These islands are now an Indonesian national park and permits and tour guides are required, but they make the experience much more user-friendly (Komodo dragons aren’t in petting zoos for a reason). In addition to land tours, you can also take a sea kayak around the park and see coral reefs, fish, dolphins, whales and sea turtles.

Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo is one of the last places to see orangutans in their own natural habitat. Through an elaborate network of hiking trails, you can see the orangutans up close, swinging from branch to branch, suckling their young, or building nests to sleep. There are also orangutans in captivity which can be viewed. They are being rehabilitated before being returned to the wild. There are other jungle species as well that can be viewed in the orangutan jungle, including clouded leopards, civets, Malaysian sun bears, deer, numerous species of birds, and butterflies.

Nowhere can you see polar bears so up-close and personal as you can in Churchill, Manitoba. When Hudson Bay freezes, between October and November, this town is overrun with polar bears as they travel their migration path. In early winter, they even stop to dine on the region’s seal population. For more up close views, you can take a tundra buggy (a converted school bus) into the migratory packs for a quick day-trip. For longer exposure, there are tundra lodges that provide all day exposure to the bears in their native environment.

One of the most famous places to view wildlife is Kenya, and what better way to see it than on a safari. Safari’s can take you through the likes of Masai Mara National Park, Amboseli Game Reserve and Mt. Kilimanjaro to view lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, flamingos, black rhinos, giraffes and elephants. Safari’s range from less expensive options starting around $500. 00 for an 8 day excursion to very luxurious safaris costing up to $9,000. Either way, you get to see what you like most. . . animals.

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Costa Rica is one of the few regions in the world that has an amazing diversity of flora and fauna. Situated in Latin America, Costa Rica has some of the most beautiful and mysterious wild life living in the tropical forests or rain forests.
Some of the tropical mammals that you will find here include sloths, monkeys, tapirs, and then there are the wild cats like jaguars. There are over 850 species of birds, 200 species of animals, 35,000 species of insects, 200 species of reptiles, and 9,000 species of plants.
25% of the country landmass is considered as a protected area and there are several national parks like the Rara Avis Reserve, Whale Marine National Park, Santa Rosa National Park, and Corcovado national park among many others.
Why Volunteer In Costa Rica
Volunteering in Costa Rica is a part of a more beautiful experience, one that you can’t compare with any other experience you have had so far. As a volunteer in Costa Rica, you will get to become a part of their vibrant and unique culture, which will provide you with the base for fostering a meaningful working relationship with the local community.
Costa Rica offers different types of volunteer projects but a larger number of programs deal are focused on the conservation aspect. As a volunteer in Costa Rica, you will get an opportunity to be a part of their environment and take back home more than just a certificate of completion.
Types Of Projects Available.
As a part of volunteering in Costa Rica, you will get to choose the kind of project you are interested in. The different types if projects available include:
Teaching: There are many schools in the rural areas of Costa Rica who don’t have enough funds or resources to facilitate a good education system. As a volunteer, you will get the opportunity to share your learning over the years with the students of these schools.
Subjects can vary from teaching English to science, arts, sports and others. There are plenty of opportunities in far off regions like the Guanacaste province.
Wildlife Conservation: Wildlife conservation is one of the integral conservation projects in Costa Rica. There are several species of wildlife that are considered endangered including the Jaguar.
As a volunteer, you will get an opportunity to work with wildlife rescue centers in the Alajuela or Guanacaste provinces in Costa Rica. Depending on the type of conservation projects, you will get to work on marine turtle research, research on Jaguars using camera traps, research on migratory birds etc.
There is no technical experience required. The important thing is that if you love to work with and around animals then you will be fine and might have a better time in the rainforest than in a crowded city.
Orphans: Working with orphaned children can be demanding as well as satisfying. As a volunteer in Costa Rica, you will get to work with orphaned children and this can include everything from taking care of them to imparting education and take them on an adventure tour.
Street Children and Youth: There are several youth programs in Costa Rica that you can volunteer for. These programs are targeted at making life better for the troubled youths and the street children who have experienced every form of depravity.
As a volunteer, you will be living with these children and share a part of their life. You will help them to change their lives.
Volunteer Requirements
Age: The minimum age for volunteering in Costa Rica should be 18 or older. For conservation projects, the maximum age limit is 50.
Duration: The standard duration of most projects is 5-8 weeks although they can also vary from 1-2 weeks or 9-12 weeks.
Fitness: A high level of fitness is required for working in wildlife and conservation projects.
Fee and Other details
There is a fee attached to each of the projects that you volunteer for. The fee is charged in advance and is charged for the following:
1. Accommodation
2. Emergency evacuation services
3. Food/meals
4. Travel insurance
5. Transportation within the region
6. Emergency support
7. All types of training material
8. Supervision by local staff
9. Orientation on arrival
10. Local sightseeing & recreational activities
Conclusion
Volunteering in Costa Rica will bring you closer to nature and wildlife and also the warm people who are ever ready to help you become a part of them. As a volunteer, you will get to enjoy the limitless opportunities and attractions that Costa Rica has to offer.

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Costa Rica is a small, beautiful, and peaceful country and was the world’s first country, which constitutionally abolished the army. Among the many Latin American nations, Costa Rica ranks fourth in terms of the Human Development Index of 2007. The country is ranked first among the Americas and fifth in the world in terms of the Environmental Performance Index for 2008. The Costa Rican government has declared that it wants the country to be a carbon neutral nation by 2021. With all its natural beauty and excellent governance, the country is fast becoming the first choice of investors and people looking for home to live in after retirement. You can find beautiful homes for sale and great Costa Rica deals that suit every budget and requirement. As an investor you can search for real estate and homes in the countryside or along the coast and Playa Costa Rica. For retirement, one can find excellent neighborhoods and homes to plan retirement and spend the rest of the life comfortably and peacefully. Even if there are a few years left for your retirement, you can invest in a home in Costa Rica and pay for the upkeep of the house or pay for the loan and mortgage by renting out the house to vacationers for a part of the year or for the whole year. Many people may hesitate to invest in a home in tiny Costa Rica and miss out on great Costa Rica deals just because it is a small Latin American nation. But Costa Rica is not only a stable, democratic nation; its political situation too is fairly solid. Homes for sale and Costa Rica deals in real estate is an excellent option when you are looking for property to invest in, even if you do not intend to live in the house immediately or ever intend to live there. You can rent out your property to tourists, vacationers who are on holiday to the tropical paradise and Playa Costa Rica, or for family and friends as a holiday getaway. It is quiet easy to find a reputable and established property management company that will take care of the reservations and upkeep of your Costa Rica home and property. Investing in a Costa Rica has many advantages, especially if you decide to retire and live in Costa Rica. The obvious advantage is the weather and the climate, which is moderate and for nature lovers, the best place to live. The living is cheap and the local people are warm, friendly, and helpful. The pension money will last longer and provide more in Costa Rica than it will do in another country like the United States.

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Costa Rican Luxury – If your vacation dreams have ever included a villa in the Costa Rican jungle – you’ll relish the new Brisas del Paraiso/Paradise Breezes. Brisas del Paraiso/Paradise Breezes is a 10 acre luxury vacation villa destination on Costa Rica’s central pacific coast. The villas are set overlooking the pacific coast surrounded by lush tropical jungle just 1 km (as the Toucan flies) from the beach at Dominical, Costa Rica . Visit us at www.paradisebreezes.com

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Rafting in Rio Pacuare in Costa Rica with Costa Rica Expeditions.
Roberto Miranda Filmmaker.

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1 mile long zipline in Costa Rica!
You can reach 55 m.p.h.
- Sensational Cable: Measuring a kilometer long and with a maximum height of 315 feet, guests will reach a top speed of 55 miles per hour. The trip lasts an average of one minute.

For reservations: info@turubari.com or visit our websites: www.turubari.com / www.costa-rica-adventure-tour.com

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Marine Biologist Kim Holland talks about the huge gatherings of Hammerhead sharks seen in this incredible footage from BBC wildlife show Hammerhead.

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