35 Things Nobody Tells You About Visiting Costa Rica

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Vibrant macaws. Aromatic orchids. Lovable monkeys – wait, did that monkey simply steal my meals?? Costa Rica is a tropical, eco-friendly paradise, crammed with colourful wildlife and luxurious forest canopies simply ready to be explored on ziplines and hanging bridges. Visiting Costa Rica makes you need to get a “pura vida” tattoo and a lifetime provide of salsa lizano, and it’s a tough place to depart.

Which is why I’ve been again 4 occasions! My first two journeys to Costa Rica had been with my household. I used to be 8, and Costa Rica was probably the most magical place I might think about. I bear in mind galloping on horseback alongside the seashore, kayaking via rapids on a river, chewing sticks of recent sugarcane, befriending a child squirrel monkey, and plucking a candy starfruit from a tree. Our household journey was crammed with wildlife and journey, which cemented a lot of what would later turn into my most well-liked journey type. (Main props to my mother and father for selecting such a bada** trip spot.)

To at the present time, after I shut my eyes at evening and check out to go to sleep, I think about that I’m in Costa Rica, listening to the patter of rain and swinging gently on a hammock. To assist cement the phantasm, I’ve stuffed my whole home with tropical crops, regardless of residing in arid California.

Costa Rica has pulled me again a number of extra occasions since these first visits over twenty years in the past. Jeremy and I spent a number of weeks backpacking Costa Rica on our year-long honeymoon, and we returned once more this 12 months to rejoice our five-year anniversary.

Via all of my journeys, I’ve discovered a number of issues about Costa Rica. Like that you simply want REALLY good bug repellant (I swear by this mixed with this). Or that starfruit actually is the very best fruit ever. Hear: not all the pieces I’ve discovered is useful, OK?

From gallo pinto to scorching ziplining scientists to monkeys flinging poop, listed here are 35 issues no one tells you about visiting Costa Rica!

Psst: Planning a visit to Costa Rica? Take a look at a few of our different posts!

Issues No person Tells You …

… In regards to the Meals in Costa Rica

• “Soda” means one thing completely different than you’d assume.

And no, it has nothing to do with the beverage. In Costa Rica, a Soda is a domestically owned restaurant or cafe serving typical tico meals, often at very cheap costs.

Head right here to style conventional Costa Rican fare: actually, simply stroll into any soda crammed with locals having fun with their lunch. It can in all probability be scrumptious

Casado means married in Spanish, however you’ll be seeing that phrase in every single place – even in the event you’re not in your honeymoon!

In Costa Rica, a casado refers to a typical plated lunch consisting of rice, beans, plantain, salad, tortilla, and a meat. Supposedly it’s referred to as that as a result of that’s how married males eat at residence due to their hardworking wives, to which I say, should be good.

• You should have gallo pinto each morning for breakfast.

Gallo Pinto, Costa Rica’s most scrumptious and ubiquitous dish, is served just about in every single place. At its core, gallo pinto is rice and beans – but it surely’s a lot extra than that. It’s like, the very best rice and beans ever. In my life, all different rice and beans are held to the usual of gallo pinto.

Plus, it has a enjoyable title: gallo pinto means “noticed rooster,” so named as a result of the black beans in opposition to the white rice look kinda like a noticed rooster. Cute, proper?

• You’ll by no means get sick of consuming gallo pinto.

Each time we go to Costa Rica, I’m completely joyful consuming gallo pinto for breakfast, lunch and dinner, each single day. Gallo pinto with eggs. Gallo pinto with rooster. Gallo pinto with ice cream. (OK – possibly that final one isn’t precisely conventional, however I used to be hungry.) It by no means will get previous!

• You’ll uncover the key of gallo pinto, and you’ll convey a bottle of it residence with you.

The key to a scrumptious gallo pinto isn’t the chopped veggies and black beans blended completely with the rice, it’s the key sauce that offers all of it of its taste: salsa lizano.

What’s salsa lizano? It’s principally a tangy, salty, barely candy condiment – assume Worsterchershire’s means higher cousin. It’s made with sugar, salt, carrots, chili peppers, cucumbers, cauliflower, dry mustard, celery spice, turmeric, and molasses, and it’s the nationwide sauce of Costa Rica and in addition of my coronary heart.

Fortunately, this scrumptious sauce isn’t exhausting to search out: it’s received a everlasting residence in just about each soda, restaurant, grocery retailer, or memento store. Which is nice information, since you’re going to want to convey some residence with you (or spend years attempting to make it, so to make correct gallo pinto, solely to finally surrender and order a bottle on-line, which is rather more costly than in the event you would’ve simply picked some up with you and introduced it residence within the first place. Can we communicate from expertise? Perhaps.)

• There may be glorious gallo pinto within the San Jose airport, of all locations.

Each time we fly via San Jose we cease at Restaurante Malinche. There’s a location proper outdoors of customs when you exit the airport, and one inside after safety. It’s straightforward to write down it off as a typical airport cafe, however don’t, as a result of it has actually good gallo pinto.

Conveniently, the post-security location can also be the place some shuttle buses choose up vacationers, so that you may get fortunate and have an excuse to get pleasure from gallo pinto when you wait!

… About Visiting Costa Rica

• Don’t be afraid of visiting throughout Costa Rica’s wet season.

Costa Rica’s wet season typically lasts from Might to November. But it surely isn’t a monsoon, with continuous heavy showers. It’s only a wetter-than-usual time of the 12 months! Which means all the pieces is extremely inexperienced and luxurious, waterfalls are flowing, and you may anticipate a rainshower every day throughout your go to (so pack accordingly).

Personally, I really like an excellent rain – and an excuse to spend a number of hours enjoyable on a hammock and listening to it! Plus, “wet season” tends to scare away vacationers, which suggests decrease costs and fewer crowds – win/win.

• Plan a visit throughout “Little Summer time” to get pleasure from excellent climate in the course of the low season.

In mid to late July, Costa Rica experiences a climate phenomenon in the midst of their moist season bringing largely dry, sunny climate! It’s referred to as “Little Summer time,” and it’s the proper time to go to as a result of it’s nonetheless the vacationer low season.

We occurred to plan our final journey in the midst of Little Summer time fully on accident, however we extremely suggest doing it on function

• Don’t throw your rest room paper in the bathroom.

Like many different international locations in Central and South America, Costa Rica’s plumbing system doesn’t reply properly to rest room paper. So, you’ll must throw your rest room paper away within the trash can (if there isn’t any trash can, and no indicators instructing you to make use of it, you possibly can in all probability assume it’s protected to throw it in the bathroom.)

In the event you’re not used to this, you may at first be just a little grossed out, however don’t fear: restrooms in most locations are cleaned typically. A well mannered factor to do is to wrap any extra- gross rest room paper bits (you understand what I imply) in additional rest room paper, so no one has to see …properly, you understand.

• It’s by no means a nasty thought to convey alongside some backup TP.

Once in a while, you’ll come throughout a rest room with out TP within the stall. It’s often out entrance, in your means into the stalls. However I’ve actually by no means observed this earlier than I’m reaching for it. So, I’ve gotten within the behavior of protecting just a little bit of bathroom paper with me always. I hold a bit folded up and tucked away in a pocket of my passport holder or cash belt, and hold it stocked up every time I can. 

• Ziplining was invented in Costa Rica.

Right here’s a enjoyable reality for nerds like us: zip-lining was truly invented as a analysis software to assist scientists examine the tops of forest canopies. I used to be skeptical of the concept of groups of scientists careening at prime velocity throughout the treetops, frantically attempting to document measurements as they move by, however facts are facts.

The inventor of scientific ziplining – who was a younger, enticing man, a reality which I discover solely barely related however nonetheless notable – went on to write down a fascinating book about his experiences and learnings, and was the first guide for the 1992 film “Drugs Man,” that includes Sean Connery flying via the cover on ziplines amassing plant specimens to treatment most cancers. YASS, scorching adventurous scientists, yass!

• Costa Rica arguably has the very best zip lining on the earth.

(And sure, we’re ready to argue about it.)

Lengthy after its origins within the realm of hot-scientist analysis, ziplining was became an adventurous exercise for vacationers. The very first business zipline was within the cloud forest of Monteverde, Costa Rica.

… However quickly, there was main drama. The man who “invented” ziplining (however undoubtedly simply ripped it off of Scorching Scientist) filed a patent for his “creation,” after which proceeded to sue everybody else who dared to function comparable cover excursions in Costa Rica.

And simply in case suing wasn’t sufficient, he additionally marched proper into the forest with a pair of clippers to chop down everybody else’s zipline ties, accompanied by the very lady from the Worldwide Property Rights Registry who had granted his patent. The DRAMA!

After all, he was preventing a shedding battle – ziplining caught on sooner than he might reduce down wires, and at present, there are many superior ziplining excursions all through Costa Rica (and the remainder of the world, for that matter).

On our most up-to-date journey, Jeremy flew on a one-mile lengthy Superman tour throughout the cloud forest cover in Monteverde. I don’t know if he managed to gather any specimens to treatment most cancers, however he did have a implausible time.

• There’s an excellent probability you’ll be taking a ship to get someplace in some unspecified time in the future.

A number of locations in Costa Rica are solely accessible by boat, so there’s an excellent probability you’ll end up taking a river taxi or shuttle boat in some unspecified time in the future. There’s additionally an excellent probability your boat experience shall be accompanied by crocodiles (if in a river) or dolphins (if on the ocean).

Don’t be stunned if there are some difficult waves to navigate or a moist touchdown, both (actually, anticipate it). However don’t fear: these large waves that seem like they’re going to journey over your boat are in all probability no massive deal to your skilled boat captain. Pura vida, amirite?

Journey Tip: I like to recommend packing dramamine and a pair of sturdy water-friendly sandals or water shoes.

• In the event you are likely to get ear infections, possibly be additional cautious round rivers in Costa Rica.

That is possibly only a genetic curse, however each my dad and I had been with horrible ear infections after getting Costa Rican river-water in our ears. 

For my dad, it was on my first journey to Costa Rica. I used to be 8 years previous, and all I bear in mind is that we went kayaking and he took it means too critically. I don’t bear in mind he if flipped the kayak or I simply imagined he did, however both means, he ended up with a nasty ear an infection that he claims took years to totally go away.

For me, it occurred on a white-water rafting journey throughout our year-long honeymoon. I didn’t even get within the water, however water received on me, and inside 24 hours, I used to be writhing in excruciating ache. It took every week and a few heavy steroids to clear up – I’ve by no means had an ear an infection like that in my life. And I’ve had ear issues my entire life, though they’ve solely gotten worse since then.

These days, I persist with the ocean in Costa Rica. And if I’m going wherever close to river water, I jam a few swimming earplugs into my ears and hope for the very best.

• The healthcare in Costa Rica is implausible.

One small upside to getting the worst ear an infection of my life throughout my third journey to Costa Rica was that I had the pleasure of being handled by a number of native medical doctors. (I imply, I used to be in horrible ache the complete time, however hey, they had been nice!)

Due to my World Nomads insurance coverage coverage, I used to be linked to a small physician’s workplace in a rural space, in addition to a giant hospital in bustling San Jose, the place I had the unlucky expertise of getting a painful shot in my butt (which sucked, however not less than it cleared my ear an infection proper up.) 

Every little thing was tremendous quick, environment friendly, and clear, and billing was a snap. And though the entire thing was surprisingly cheap – due to Costa Rica’s Common Healthcare system – I used to be in a position to get my declare processed with World Nomads with no subject (together with the additional 3 nights I needed to spend writhing round in ache earlier than the medical doctors cleared me to fly safely). 

So, lesson discovered: don’t go within the water, however in the event you DO occur to share my household’s genetic predisposition to terrible ear infections from Costa Rica, not less than you understand you’ll be properly taken care of! (Oh, and be sure to choose up a World Nomads insurance policy, too. It was a HUGE assist!)

• There may be superb woodworking in Costa Rica.

Stroll via any memento store in Costa Rica, or an out of doors patio at a restaurant, and even only a random farm, and you’ll shortly flip right into a part-time Ron Swanson, drooling over a very juicy slab of live-edge wooden or an intricate chevron sample. You’ll end up admiring the hand-carved animal shows, saying issues like “wow, take a look at that dowel joinery,” and looking out sadly at furnishings when you cram as many slicing boards and coasters into your carry-on baggage as you possibly can.

… Or possibly it’s simply because Jeremy picked up woodworking as a pandemic interest and reads Nick Offerman’s woodworking guide as a bedtime story.

However in any case, Costa Rican woodworking is totally lovely and provides you with a brand new appreciation for woodcraft. They actually know their means round timber there – I imply, there are even eating places actually in timber, like this one.

Simply you should definitely depart some room in your suitcase for picket souvenirs!

• There’s a very completely different tradition between Costa Rica’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

It’s tough to go to each of Costa Rica’s coasts on one journey – getting in between the 2 isn’t terribly straightforward. And every coast has its personal number of sights for guests, barely completely different climate, and so forth. There are many useful comparability guides to assist guests resolve which coast to go to on their journey (like this one). However one factor that’s typically ignored or not talked about is the distinction in tradition.

Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast is essentially outlined by Jamaican descendants, who got here to Costa Rica within the late 1800’s to farm bananas and construct railroads. Over the many years, Afro–Costa Ricans – which incorporates one of many largest communities of Jamaicans outdoors of Jamaica – have retained their tradition and blended it in with Costa Rican tradition.

The result’s a novel mix of tradition, meals, music, and even language. Visiting the Caribbean aspect of Costa Rica, you’ll seemingly hear reggae or Calypso music enjoying in cafes and locals talking Mekatelyu/patois or Creole. You’ll style Caribbean Tico meals made with Carribbean flavors like coconut, ginger, curry, allspice, cinnamon, and chili peppers.

… About Speaking in Costa Rica

• There are lots of distinctive Costa Rican slang phrases and phrases.

We’re fairly OK at fundamental Spanish. I like to elucidate my private stage of Spanish aptitude as “Taxi Spanish,” which means I can have a reasonably first rate dialog with taxi drivers. Jeremy’s Spanish aptitude stage is “Restaurant Spanish,” however he’s making good headway on “Hostel Spanish.”

However that every one flies out the window in relation to Tico Spanish. There are such a lot of Spanish slang phrases and phrases which might be fully distinctive to Costa Rica (like “tico” itself, which by the way means Costa Rican). Bomba means fuel station, and birria, which is each a Mexican dish and a Spanglish try and say beer, truly does imply beer.

Need to study some Tico slang? Chiva! Here’s a list. And another one. There’s additionally one at the bottom of this page.

• Pura Vida is greater than a saying in Costa Rica: it’s a way of life!

Pura Vida, or “pure life/easy life,” represents the Tico life: joyful, low-stress, worry-free, and crammed with gratitude. You recognize, simply residing in paradise with sloths for neighbors, principally.

As anxiety-prone vacationers, we’re not often the sort to wander round carefree. We’re extra prone to be present in a state of fixed panic, dripping with sweat and chugging water 20 minutes behind no matter group we’re with.

However Costa Rica has a novel impact on us: it’s as if Pura Vida seeped into us via the gallons of lizano we’re consuming at breakfast each morning. Oh my god, is THAT the key ingredient?!

• …However Pura Vida can also be a saying.

Pura Vida is the right response to actually each query in Costa Rica, particularly in the event you don’t communicate Spanish. You should utilize it for whats up, goodbye, thanks, or simply to say you’re having a good time (otherwise you’re having a horrible time however need to be well mannered). To cite a track a few completely different and fully unrelated phrase, “it means no worries, for the remainder of your days.”

Pura Vida can also be applicable in a variety of situations. Like, you understand that feeling you get if you’re hanging out on the seashore and feelin’ actually good? It is a good time to exubarantly shout Pura Vida! Or if you’re about to dive off a cliff to swing out a mile into the tree cover beneath? Undoubtedly an excellent time for an exclamation of Pura Vida (even higher in the event you shout and leap on the identical time). Or when a howler monkey flings poop at you? Yep: Pura Vida!

It could actually imply something from “no matter, I’m nonetheless having a good time” to “I’m truthfully having a horrible time, however I’m in Costa Rica so all issues thought-about, I assume I’m nonetheless doing fairly OK!”

For us, it serves as a reminder to specific gratitude and appreciation for all times’s easy joys and for the straightforward act of residing. Pura Vida.

• You don’t want to talk Spanish in Costa Rica, however it is going to definitely assist.

There are many locations the place not talking the language will make your travels very tough, however in Costa Rica, you’ll be OK even in the event you don’t communicate a lot Spanish. Though Spanish talking will certainly make your journey simpler, English is quite common – particularly amongst guides and at accommodations.

Simply be sure to know a number of phrases, like “please” and “thanks.”

Or, when unsure, simply say pura vida.

• 

… About Conservation & Politics in Costa Rica

• Costa Rica is a pacesetter in conservation, eco-tourism, and moral wildlife tourism.

As accountable vacationers, it’s extremely vital to us that the cash we spend as vacationers, and the companies we help as journey writers, align with our values. (You may study extra about what which means, and learn how to be a extra accountable vacationer, in our ethical tourism guide).

Costa Rica is likely one of the few locations on the earth (together with the Galapagos Islands) the place we all know with confidence that each single tour we guide will observe moral and accountable tourism tips.

No tour guides will attempt to feed wild animals to make them come nearer. No person in our group shall be allowed to get too near an animal simply to take a selfie. No wild animals, even in sanctuaries or Rescue Facilities, shall be bred for revenue. And the cash we spend on our tour, and as guests to Costa Rica, will play an element in reforestation and environmental conservation.

Why? As a result of it’s the regulation. A number of legal guidelines, truly, just like the Biodiversity Law and the Wildlife Conservation Law. A number of issues are unlawful in Costa Rica which might be merely “tips” elsewhere, akin to touching or disturbing plant and animal life, protecting wild animals as pets,

Costa Rica’s dedication to conservation and the atmosphere isn’t only a advertising and marketing hook: they stroll the discuss, they usually pull different international leaders alongside, too. They’re aiming for total decarbonization by 2050. They’ve established a fossil fuels tax and a water utilization tax. And at present, they’re pushing for a world dedication to biodiversity insurance policies. Costa Ricans play a significant function in worldwide environmental politics

• Costa Rica discovered its classes about wildlife conservation the exhausting means.

Between the Nineteen Forties and Eighties, a lot of Costa Rica’s lovely and biodiverse forests had been destroyed and changed with cattle farms and crops. In simply over 4 many years, rampant deforestation stripped away practically 80% of Costa Rica’s lovely forests. The nation shortly degraded from lush and inexperienced to a tragic, arid panorama.

And whereas the rise in farming led to financial improvement, it was short-lived: within the late 70’s, the worth of espresso dropped and the worth of oil rose. Out of the blue, espresso farming as a major supply of earnings for Costa Rica didn’t make sense anymore.

However the story doesn’t finish there: the nation took motion and fully modified course, shortly pivoting away from agriculture. Within the early 90’s, deforestation was made unlawful. The forests grew again with astonishing velocity (as a result of nature is superb), and Costa Rica invested its efforts into different sources of earnings.

In the present day, eco-tourism is likely one of the major sources of income for Costa Rica!

• Costa Rica doesn’t have a military.

Costa Rica has had a reasonably peaceable existence as a rustic. Though they had been colonized by Spain together with the remainder of Central and South America, they had been the poorest of the Spanish colonies, with no gold or minerals for grasping conquistadors to combat over. No person put up a combat once they overthrew Spanish rule and established a democracy

And with little to impress battle, the nation has existed peacefully, preventing no wars in its 180-year historical past.

The military was abolished in 1948 following a brief however violent Civil War, and the nation has had peace ever since. And like, how extremely superior is that?!!

• Costa Rica has 12 completely different political events, however all of them typically agree in relation to environmental conservation.

Since 1948, the nation has had peace. That political stability has allowed long-term visions for the nation to proceed, slightly than change with every new administration.

Which is wild when you think about what number of political events there are in Costa Rica (like, a lot). How do they get something performed? Easy: all of them agree on a number of vital issues, like conservation and eco-tourism.

And that, my associates, is the way you turn into a world chief in sustainable tourism. Easy, proper?

• Costa Rica has an outstanding Nationwide Parks system.

We’re large followers of our USA National Parks, however Costa Rica’s National Parks system actually offers us a run for our cash. From the tidy boardwalks at Manuel Antonio to the lowlands of Tortuguero and the rugged shoreline in Corcovado, the nationwide parks in Costa Rica are epic.

Along with the jaw-dropping surroundings, every park is properly organized, with clear loos, maintained trails, clear maps, and professional guides to soundly lead guests out and in of the parks (and ensure they respect the native wildlife).

And, to our delight, there may be additionally a transparent emphasis on accessibility: lots of the parks and reserves we visited had wheelchair-accessible paths or provided excursions by golf cart for differently-abled guests.

… About Wildlife in Costa Rica

• There may be at all times a sloth close by.

Costa Rica is a magical wonderland crammed with sloths, and as an enormous sloth fan, I’m by no means not on #slothwatch. As I write this from Monteverde, Costa Rica, there are in all probability like, 18 sloths within the forests surrounding me, simply chillin with their little claws consuming leaves and stuff. They’re in every single place. 

But it surely’s exhausting to identify them! They have a tendency to seem like bundles of leaves, completely blended in with the timber. Lovable leaf bundles with cute little snouts hanging the other way up bein’ the cutest little tree muffins ever! I really like sloths a lot, y’all.

If I’m not with a information, wanting in the identical path as a gaggle of individuals with higher eyesight than me, or actively on the lookout for sloth butts in timber with my journey binoculars, I often can’t see one until it actually crosses the street in entrance of me or, in a single memorable occasion in Manuel Antonio, does just a little shimmy transfer on {an electrical} pole straight throughout from the window of my hostel room. (Sure, I spent the following 5 hours watching it very slowly transfer its means from {the electrical} pole again right into a tree, the place it promptly vanished from sight. It was superb.)

• Most of Costa Rica’s wildlife is nocturnal.

It’s just about unimaginable to depart Costa Rica with out seeing a TON of wildlife.

It’s not uncommon to see a blue morpho butterfly dancing flitting by a toucan whereas a monkey tries to steal your breakfast since you’re distracted by watching the butterfly and toucan.

As you lay by the pool, you’ll watch macaws fly overhead yelling their majestic very recognizable WHAAAAAAT whereas Jesus Christ lizards scamper over the pool water a coati ambles by your chair. That’s simply a mean day in Costa Rica!

So it is perhaps exhausting to consider that 60% of Costa Rica’s wildlife is definitely nocturnal. But it surely’s true: in the event you’re solely on the lookout for wildlife within the daytime, you’re lacking out!

We extremely suggest taking an evening tour to see the rainforest come alive – they’re provided at most of Costa Rica’s rainforest locations. You’ll meet so many extra of Costa Rica’s resident tree frogs, lizards, snakes, bugs, and spiders (so. many. spiders).

Then once more, in the event you’d slightly not know what number of spiders are quietly snoozing throughout you ready the solar to go down, possibly simply persist with daytime wildlife recognizing.

• There are 4 sorts of monkeys in Costa Rica, they usually’re all completely completely different.

Capucin monkeys, aka white-face mokeys, are brown with a tan/white head and shoulders, identical to a foamy cappuccino (therefore the title). They’re SO freakin’ cute, however they’re additionally wiley, and glorious jumpers.

Years in the past – earlier than strict meals guidelines had been put into place at Manuel Antonio – we watched a monkey leap onto an unsuspecting vacationer, snatch their lunch from a backpack, and escape into the timber earlier than the man even observed.

Spider monkeys are large, with lengthy limbs and a really lengthy tail (like a spider). They use their lengthy tail like a fifth limb, they usually can transfer via the forest canopies sooner than any of the opposite monkeys.

Squirrel monkeys, aka mono titi, are the cutest monkeys on the planet and I really like them. They’re teeny tiny, with a black snout and a white face on prime of a yellow physique. They’re sadly endangered, however you may be capable of see them on the Osa Peninsula.

On my very first go to to Costa Rica, one climbed on me and sat on my head. I used to be 8 years previous and it was the best second of my whole life (it would nonetheless be).

Howler monkeys sound like King Kong himself is careening via the jungle on a mission to kill. They’re LOUD! However regardless of sounding completely terrifying, they’re all bark and no chew: howler monkeys are tremendous lazy, and are more likely to fling poop at you from the timber than bodily assault. (That mentioned, if a gaggle of howlers is above you screaming, transfer away shortly, as a result of poo and pee come subsequent.)

• In the event you take a selfie with an animal, you possibly can be breaking the regulation.

Animal selfies have lengthy been a contentious topic for moral wildlife vacationers, as a result of typically an animal selfie is made attainable by feeding or touching an animal or getting too near it. That’s. not OK, and it’s not moral.

However Costa Rica takes issues a step additional: animal selfies should not allowed in any respect of their nationwide parks. The federal government has even created a #stopanimalselfies campaign filled with moral animal selfie ideas. Use the hashtag to share your (moral) wildlife images!

… In regards to the Flora & Fauna in Costa Rica

And hear, I’m not solely saying that as a result of “don’t contact” is a core tenet of moral wildlife tourism.

Right here’s the factor about touching timber in Costa Rica, even by chance: you’re going to remorse it. Between the spiders, lizards, and snakes who make their residence within the foliage, and the spines and thorns on the bark, the timber in Costa Rica combat again. Very like Ents. Was Tolkien impressed by Costa Rica??

Though this warning was shared with us by a number of guides, like many issues in life, I needed to study my lesson the exhausting means: I touched one of these trees for about 2 seconds whereas mountaineering (not on function -I tripped and my hand simply flew out, searching for something to seize on it). The tree, which is roofed in inch-long spines, straight up punctured my hand.

I spent the remainder of the hike watching the place I used to be going, nursing my bleeding palm, and wishing I’d introduced trekking poles. Journey Tip: convey trekking poles!

Aspect Notice: Apart from having insanely sharp loss of life spikes, the pochote tree additionally has some of the pleasant smelling flowers I’ve ever sniffed! Simply … sniff rigorously.

• Costa Rica has each cloud forests and rainforests.

Rainforests are humid, tropical forests with a dense cover which obtain a ton of rainfall. Cloud forests are humid, tropical forests with a dense cover which obtain a ton of rainfall. Wait, cling on – so what’s the distinction??

The distinction between a cloud forest and a rain forest is elevation. Rain forests are positioned at a low elevation, like sea stage. That is why in all of my seashore footage from Costa Rica, there’s a looming rainforest actually steps away from the ocean. In the event you go to Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero, or Corcovado Nationwide Parks, you’re visiting a rain forest.

In the meantime, cloud forests are positioned in increased elevations, akin to within the mountains. Due to the upper elevation, the temperature is far cooler. Mixed with the humidity, you’ll often discover cloud forests lined in a dense mist or fog (which made us really feel proper at residence coming from the the foggy Bay Space.) In the event you’re visiting La Fortuna or Monteverde, you’ll be visiting cloud forests.

Each rainforests and cloud forests are residence to myriad critters and engaging eco-systems. However personally, I believe I favor cloud forests. There’s one thing concerning the nice temperature, the hanging mist, and the enormous, looming strangler figs (so named as a result of the tree grows round different timber and slowly starves them to loss of life, leaving a hole middle) that jogs my memory of the redwood forests again at residence in California! Besides, like, with monkeys.

• There are lots of of forms of avocados rising right here. Together with cinnamon!

Was anybody else’s thoughts blown once they discovered that cinnamon comes from the bark of a sort of avocado tree? Simply me?!

Anyway, there are lots of of types of avocado timber native to Costa Rica – and the type that people eat is only one of them. They arrive in all sizes and colours, they usually make a yummy, nutrient-rich meals supply for birds and monkeys!

• Houseplant lovers: litereally each tropical plant grows right here.

I’m fairly positive Jeremy received sick of me shrieking each time I noticed an infinite monstera or big alocasia, however I couldn’t assist it: Costa Rica makes me need to flip my embarrassingly giant modest plant assortment right into a full-blown indoor jungle.

Besides I do know my calathea won’t ever be as joyful in my California toilet as they’re within the moist, tropical forests of Costa Rica. *cries in plant mother*

• The key of the magic of Costa Rican forests is epiphytes.

So, right here’s the factor: forests in Costa Rica aren’t identical to, crammed with timber. They’re not *simply* dense, tropical forests with a thick cover and shade-loving vegetation masking the bottom and offering a house to hundreds of joyful critters.

As a result of rising on each single tree trunk, department, and limb, are epiphytes.

What are epiphytes, you ask? They’re principally aerial crops that develop on different crops. Besides in contrast to aggressive vines, they don’t harm the crops they develop on in any respect – they develop symbiotically, sharing assets with their host crops, probably not needing a lot soil or water, and beautifying completely all the pieces they develop on.

A couple of examples of epiphytes which might be freakin’ EVERYWHERE in Costa Rica, notably within the cloud forests, are orchids, bromiliads, ferns, mosses, and monsteras.

The older the tree, the extra it will likely be lined in epiphytes, and the extra it is going to seem like a murals.

It’s exhausting to explain the great thing about a complete forest crammed with bushy ferns, flowering bromeliads, drooping moss, and brightly coloured orchids all rising on the trunks and limbs of huge timber, in order that the very forest flooring appears to be climbing all the way in which to the cover.

You merely need to go to Costa Rica see it in individual!

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