Considered one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, Costa Rica's main attraction is its incredible wealth of flora and fauna. Within its borders, an exceptional park system represents thirteen per cent of the national territory.

As a reflection of a strong commitment to preservation, Costa Rica boasts twenty national parks, eight biological reserves, and a wealth of other protected areas that have captivated ecotourists for decades.

A passage

The Braulio Carrillo National Park was established on April 15, 1978. It is the largest park in the central zone of the country, and measures 117,757.12 acres. Many of the streams that provide water to the Central Valley originate inside the park. For this reason, it plays a major role in the protection of hydraulic resources.

The park's name comes from the third head of state Braulio Carrillo, who governed from 1837 to 1842. He promoted coffee as a major crop, and came up with the idea of connecting the Central Valley with the Caribbean region. His goal was to make transport of the crop to European markets easier.

In 1977, construction of the current San Jose-Guapiles highway began. Thanks to lobbying by environmental groups the area was declared a National Park, primarily to avoid settlement in the area of steep slopes, high mountains, and heavy forests.

Most of the park is primary forest. In contains about 6,000 species of plants, half the total for the entire country. The avifauna includes more than 500 species, including resident and migratory birds.

Historical heritage

Santa Rosa National Park is located 22 miles North of Liberia, Guanacaste. Four miles from the entrance, visitors will find the Casona Santa Rosa Historical Museum, a camping area and the administration of the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG).

The Casona was declared a National Monument in 1966, and in 1971, along with the surrounding areas, was named a National Park. The Santa Rosa Hacienda finds itself as an important part of the country's history. In March, 1856, the most important battle against American invaders, called filibusters, took place.

Several beaches are part of this national park. Naranjo Beach,7.5 miles away from the administrative area, is surrounded by mangroves. The beach can be accessed on a four wheel drive vehicle during the dry season, and hiking during the rainy season.

In the same direction of Naranjo beach, 10.5 miles from the administration area, is Nancite beach. This is one of the most important nesting sites on Central America's Pacific coast for the Olive Ridley Turtle. Given the ecological characteristics, access to Nancite is restricted. Other beautiful beaches are White Beach, 10.5 miles from the camping area. Santa Elena Bay and El Hachal Bay, both 3 miles from the camping area.

Santa Rosa preserves the most important portion of Dry Forest protected in Central America. High temperatures and a long dry season characterize this forest, that transforms itself during the rainy season.

Birdwatching

Costa Rica has long been famous among bird watchers. With almost 850 species of birds, more than in all of North America, packed into an area half the size of the state of Kentucky in the United States, it's obvious why the country is so popular.

The country's travel agencies provide experienced nature guides who make any bird watching expedition an educational experience . It's easy to move around from one habitat to the next. Visitors can go from rain forests, to mangrove swamps, beaches, cloud forest, or rivers. The best part is that many of the different environments are usually a very short distance apart.

The country's exemplary system of national parks and protected areas are the perfect places for birdwatching, but practically anywhere you look in Costa Rica, you can spot varied avian species.

However, those interested in bird watching will be able to see the resplendent quetzal, in the cloud forests of Monteverde, the Santos region and the Central Volcanic Mountain Range. The equally spectacular scalert macaw, can be found on the Osa Peninsula or in the area around the Carara Biological Reserve.

The highest peak

Chirripo National Park is on the Talamanca mountain range, Northeast of the town of San Isidro de El General. It occupies 126,000 acres and is part of La Amistad Pacifico Conservation Area.

The highest peak in Costa Rica, Chirripo mountain is here. At 1,164.34 feet above sea level, the upper reaches of the park are exposed to chilly winds, frost, drizzles and wide temperature variations. The lowest temperature registered at Chirripo, the coldest in the entire country, was -9° C.

One of the most interesting geomorphologic findings are the molded and varied glacier formations, such as U-shaped valleys, glacier terraces and lakes. They are evidence of the passing of large masses of ice about 126 miles long, approximately 25,000 years ago.

National parks: Guayabo Natural Monument Arenal Barra Honda Cahuita Corcovado Guanacaste Juan Castro Blanco Manuel Antonio Ballena National Marine Park Las Baulas National Park Palo Verde Rincon de la Vieja Tapanti Tortuguero Volcan Irazu Volcan Poas La Amistad

Biological reserves: Carara Guayabo Island, Negritos Islands and Pajaros Hitoy Cerere Caño Island Lomas Barbudal Cabo Blanco Absolute National Wildlife Refuges: Montes de Oro Protected Area Barra del Colorado Gandoca Manzanillo Golfito Ostional

A word of advice: in spite of its biological diversity, many animals living in Costa Rica are hard to observe because of their migratory or reproductive habits, because they are nocturnal or because the forest is too dense to see them clearly. Move quietly and sharpen your observation skills in order to better appreciate the wealth of the area.

Coco's Island:

Nature and History, Intertwined

Isla del Coco (Coco's Island) is located in the Pacific Ocean, 332 miles Southwest of Cabo Blanco. This national park was established in 1978, and was then declared a Humanity Heritage Site by Unesco, in 1997. Anyone traveling to the island must request permission from the Isla del Coco Marine Conservation Area.

The island was discovered in 1526, and in the 17th and 18th centuries it served as a hide-away for pirates along the Pacific coasts of Spanish America. There are stories of hidden treasures, such as the Lima Booty, consisting of tons of gold bars and sheets of gold that covered the domes of churches. There's also talk of William Davie's treasure, supposedly hidden in 1684; and Benito ''Bloody Sword'' Bonito's treasure, hidden in 1819.

These fabled riches have attracted over 500 expeditions of treasure hunters, including an official one from the government of Costa Rica that claimed the island in 1869.

Always green

Coco's island is considered a natural laboratory for the study of the evolution of species. An evergreen, dense forest covers the island's rugged terrain, which is frequently cloudy and showered by heavy rains.

Scientists have identified 235 species of plants and 90 fungus species. Also known are 362 species of insects, of which 64 are endemic; five species of reptiles, two endemic terrestrial species; 97 species of birds, twelve resident, three endangered and three endemic; 60 species of corals; and more than 250 species of fish. There's also an abundance of white-tipped sharks, the gigantic hammerheads, yellow fin tuna, parrot fish, mantes, and horse mackerel.