Few places in the world find nature so exuberant, or the tropical range of color and variety of plants and animals so extensive as in Costa Rica.  With minimal advertising, this ecological haven has become extremely popular with over 1 million tourists each year, with diverse interests, from all over the globe.  Costa Rica’s terrain ranges from pine covered mountains to lush rain forests; from drier low land areas to flowing rivers, lakes and waterfalls; from mountain ranges to vast expanses of jungle;  from majestic active and inactive volcanoes to spectacular beaches - with ecologically diverse flora and fauna, making it one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Some folks say the beauty of Hawaii without the cost. 

Slightly larger than the state of West Virginia, or a little smaller than the size of Switzerland, Costa Rica covers less than ½% of the earth’s surface, but it has about 6% of the planet’s bio-diversity, encompassed in 12 distinct ecological zones.  Scientists throughout the world have even referred to this beautiful counrty as the living Garden of Eden. 

Costa Rica has made a huge commitment to environmental protection.  More than 25% of the country’s land is protected by one of the best developed conservation systems in all of Latin American, including national parks, private reserves and refuges.  This was accomplished from the efforts of a number of successive government administrations. 

With all the conservation efforts under way, Costa Rica is home to:  

•  58 Wildlife Refuges
•  32 Protected Zones
•  26 National Parks
•  15 Wetland Areas
•  11 Forest Reserves
•    8 Biological Reserves

The incredible bio-diversity found in Costa Rica includes:  

•    10,000 different kinds of plants and trees
•     3,000 butterfly species
•     over 1,000 species of fresh and salt-water fish   
•     850 indigenous and migrant bird species
•     over 800 species of orchids
•     220 species of reptiles
•     over 200 species of mammals
•     160 species of amphibians

Many of these species are protected by law.  A country in harmony with nature, ideally situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean, this tropical paradise is a natural wonder.

In addition, Costa Rica offers areas of geological and geophysical interest which include: 

• Active and inactive volcanos
• Hot Springs
• Rock formations, plate movements
• Magnificent coral formations