Wildlife in Costa Rica: How to Discover the Animal World Up Close

Breathe in fresh mountain air, stroll through dense rainforests - or relax in a secluded bay. Costa Rica is a nature paradise. About a quarter of the country's territory is officially protected. Even private individuals are increasingly buying wilderness to preserve it. The country is a leader in environmental protection. But it wasn't always that way: almost a third of Costa Rica's forest area was once deforested. Today, that's unimaginable. Instead of cleared forests, there are now 30 national parks with diverse wildlife and plant species - 26 percent of the country's area are protected zones: Costa Rica covers just three-thousandths of the Earth's surface. Yet, it is home to 6.5 percent of the world's animal and plant species. We will tell you where you can observe flora and fauna especially well.

In the far southwest of the Nicoya Peninsula is Cabo Blanco - one of the first protected parks in Costa Rica. The Swede Nils Olaf Wessberg is one of the most important pioneers of the country's national park system and founded the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve: In 1955, he came with his wife to Costa Rica, bought a farm on the Nicoya Peninsula, and had to watch as the jungle on the peninsula was being cleared bit by bit. What happened next? The Swede raised money and bought 1,200 hectares of land to protect it - Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, which still exists today. In the past, the area wasn't even allowed to be entered.

Today, the park is open five days a week - but is somewhat off the beaten tourist paths in Costa Rica. Anyone willing to take the gravel road to the reserve is rewarded with nature away from the hustle and bustle: More than 150 different tree species, numerous mammals, and coastal and seabirds inhabit the park. Various hiking trails lead through Cabo Blanco - including ones to pristine beaches. So, don't forget your swimwear!

Costa Rica is an animal paradise - that's clear. There is no guarantee of spotting green macaws, quetzals, jaguars, or leatherback turtles. It requires a bit of luck - and the right strategy. The dense foliage of the forests provides animals with excellent protection and hiding places. If you want to see a specific animal species, it's best to find out in advance where in Costa Rica they're most likely to be encountered.

For example, wild scarlet macaws are best seen along the northern border of Costa Rica, in the Boca Tapada region. Sloths, on the other hand, mainly live along the southern Pacific coast.

Many animals are most visible in the early morning hours - so if you visit a national park, it's best to start early. Tip: Accompanying a local guide increases the chances of spotting animals. For other types of animals, like frogs, you have to venture out at night to see them. Also, breeding seasons - for birds or turtles, for example - can increase your chances of spotting an animal. And: A pair of binoculars allows you to better scan the surroundings.

Here you will find more information about Costa Rica's wildlife and plant life:

A day like in the Jungle Book can be experienced in Corcovado National Park. The park is located in the far south of Costa Rica on the Osa Peninsula and covers an area of 445 square kilometers. Here you'll find the largest lowland rainforest in Central America, and many wild animals thrive amid the trees, vines, and buttress roots. Corcovado National Park is therefore the ideal place to observe as many of them as possible. For example, you can spot stout tapirs with their dense fur and short trunk. Also burro monkeys, capuchin monkeys, toucans, and parrots - and the Scarlet Macaw can be seen here.

Jaguars and ocelots also live in the national park. The Osa Peninsula receives quite a bit of rainfall. If you want to visit the national park, the best time is between January and April - because the rain can sometimes make roads impassable. Visiting the park is only possible with a guide, so make sure you arrange one in advance. Tip: Some ranger stations offer overnight accommodations. Spending a night in the rainforest under the starry sky is a special experience.

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Wanting to see wild turtles at least once? In Costa Rica, this dream comes true. Of the seven sea turtle species in the world, five come to lay eggs on Costa Rica's beaches, between July and October. This means that if you want to observe turtles, it's best to visit during these months - which is the off-season (Green Season) in Costa Rica. But don't worry - you can usually count on sunshine even during this time, and it's less crowded compared to the peak season. An excellent place to watch turtles is Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast - 'Tortuga' means turtle in Spanish.

The Green Sea Turtle, and occasionally Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles, come to the shores of Playa Tortugero between July and October, and from September to November, the young turtles hatch. In Tortuguero is the largest nesting colony of Green Sea Turtles in the Caribbean. Up to 1,000 turtles can come ashore at night. Other places where you can observe turtles are Ostional and Las Baulas National Park. Important: To protect the animals, you should only go to the beach with a certified guide so the animals are disturbed as little as possible.

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