Rainforests and Jungle Tours

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Rainforests are the most evolutionarily advanced and complex ecosystems on earth. They are the foundation of Costa Rica ecotourism.  Costa Rica Connection's highly experienced Guides and Staff can help you design the right Costa Rica nature tour for you.

The diversity of life is greater in rainforests than in any other terrestrial habitat. More colorful birds, odd mammals such as sloths and anteaters, and interesting creatures such as poison dart frogs, giant blue morpho butterflies, and leaf-cutter ants are found in and around these forests than anywhere else. No Costa Rica nature tour can be considered "complete" without a visit to one of these remarkable rainforests.

Corcovado National Park on the rugged south Pacific coast is in one of the world's biologically richest areas and one of our favorite destinations in the country. This is the only Costa Rica national park that contains all four monkey species. The park protects old growth forest where huge trees are common. A Corcovado nature tour is a day's drive, or one hour flight from San José. Outstanding lodging can be found north of the park in the Drake's Bay area or south of the park near Puerto Jimenez. Visitors seeking a near-wilderness experience should consider a visit to Corcovado.

Tiskita Jungle Lodge is in the biologically rich south Pacific region of Golfo Dulce (see more about the Lodge under Favorite Destinations). Tiskita is a private reserve of 600 acres set on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean and protects a large tract of old-growth rainforest. Tiskita has a tropical fruit orchard with 100 different tree species collected from around the world. Bird and animal life is abundant here. One can see scarlet macaws, sloths, parrots, toucans, monkeys and more right outside each guest's cabin door. Perhaps most importantly, this property protects a large population of the southern race of the rare Central American Squirrel Monkey which is found only along the coast in southern Costa Rica and possibly into Panama (see the June 1999 issue of Smithsonian magazine). This is an outstanding Costa Rica nature tour destination for those who seek a quiet getaway surrounded by nature.

The Sarapiqui area north of San José in the Caribbean zone offers some of the best rainforests for hiking in several private reserves close to the nation's urban center. We recommend the OTS La Selva, Tirimbina and Selva Verde, especially if your personal Costa Rica package vacation has limited time for a nature tour.

Tortuguero National Park is the place for the perfect Costa Rica jungle tour. This park in the northeast is unusual in that no roads lead into the heart of the park. Travel is confined to boats along a network of rivers and canals. Visitors relax in comfortable boats powered by quiet 4-stroke motors to view the abundant birds and wildlife in the rainforest along the waterways. Tortuguero beach is the most important site of the endangered green turtle in the Western Hemisphere. Giant leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles also nest here. Several excellent lodges with swimming pools serve guests visiting this "Little Amazon" of Costa Rica (see more about Tortuguero in Favorite Destinations).

Cloudforest

In northern Costa Rica, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve likely contains the best example of a tropical cloud forest in the world. Of stunning beauty, this lush, cool mountain forest is dominated by old growth forest where most large trees are nearly completely covered by thick green mats of tiny plants. Dense fog often blankets the forest in the afternoons and at night adding a sense of mystery to the experience of visiting here. This private reserve is also a permanent or seasonal home to a variety of spectacular birds, including the resplendent quetzal, black-faced solitaire, blue-throated emerald toucanet, and three-wattled bellbird. This world-famous reserve has an excellent network of level and well-maintained footpaths, and is a great Costa Rica nature tour for visitors interested in natural history.

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