Playa Uvita, a Beautiful Place to Get Away from It All
Playa Uvita is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. It is located in the south western area of Costa Rica and has plenty of beautiful beaches and fantastic views. Of the many spectacular beaches found here, Playa Uvita is among the most stunning beaches. It is situated in the southern Puntarenas province, about 16 km south of Dominical, a surfing hotspot. It is inside the Marino Ballena National Park. This marine park is very popular because between the months of December and April Humpback, whales migrate here to the warm waters off the coast to mate before returning up north. Costa Rica car rental 4×4
In recent years, this small fishing village has been transformed into a popular beach town with a fun vibe, and at times, dynamic nightlife. Uvita has gained it’s newly found popularity mainly through the surfer community that flocks to this area because of its world known consistent and large surf breaks. Costa Rica car rental Company
During the months of May to October, it may be possible to witness olive Ridley and Hawksbill sea turtles coming ashore to nest. A great place to watch this occur is inside the protected area of Marino Ballena National Park, located just to the south. It is even possible to watch majestic Humpback whales migrate through the waters just offshore between the months of December and April.
Playa Uvita is a great white sand beach, perfect for swimming and surfing. Kayak tours are offered to check out the wealth of mangroves and estuaries surrounding Uvita. There are many stunning waterfalls nearby, some of which have been described by tourists as being the best in the country. Horseback riding, scuba diving, snorkeling and hiking finish off the list of favorite activities found here.
Uvita offers a tropical, moist climate. From December through April, one can expect temperatures to reach a high in the low to mid 90′s and a low in the 70′s with limited rainfall. From May through November, one can expect temperatures to reach a high in the upper 80′s and a low in the 70′s with more rainfall. The rainfall in Uvita during this time of the year is generally limited to late afternoons and early evenings. Nevertheless it can rain at any given time.
There are tours available for adventurers, nature lovers or those that just want to relax and let the captain do the sailing. One can experience everything from rappelling down rain forest waterfalls to canopy exploration to dolphin and whale watching before watching a magnificent Pacific sunset from one of the many pristine beaches in this paradise.
There are several options for hotels. This diverse beach town offers everything from standard hotels for the adventurer on the go to bed and breakfasts.
Going for a long leisurely walk along the beach is an activity that all visitors enjoy. The waters are excellent for swimming, snorkeling and diving offshore. At low tide make sure to visit Punta Uvita to the south of town, just be sure to consult with a tide chart so that you can make it back safely.
Come to this beautiful beach and have fun!
Tortuguero, a Different and Unique Place in Limón
Tortuguero is located inside the wonderful Parque Nacional Tortuguero in Limón province. The tiny town of Tortuguero is truly a magical destination. It is considered the most important turtle nesting site on the entire western half of the Caribbean for the Green Sea Turtle. It sits along a network of narrow canals some 70 miles north of Puerto Limon, the capital of the Limon province. Costa Rica car rental
The beaches around Tortuguero are key nesting sites for four species of sea turtle, including two critically endangered species. The National Park is also host to incredible biodiversity of insects, resident and migratory birds, and mammals, including jaguar and four species of monkey. Accordingly, there are four biological stations — the John H. Phipps Biological Field Station, the Caño Palma Biological Research Station, the ASVO station (ASociación de VOluntarios para Servicio en Areas Protegidas) and the GVI Jalova Biological Station — which operate from the area immediately around the village and concentrate on research and conservation of the local ecology, particularly the turtles. Rent a car in Costa Rica
The main reason why most people travel to Tortuguero is to see turtles lay eggs on the beach. Turtle watching tours are offered by nearly everyone during the egg laying season, which spans April to May for leatherback turtles and July to October for green turtles.
The tours leave in the evening and last 1–4 hours. Scouts find the turtles; you wait with your tour at the edge of the beach and are escorted to the right spot when a turtle is found along with all the other groups.
This “turtle spotter program” is for the protection of the turtles themselves, and is 100% funded by sticker sales. Tourists are encouraged to buy a sticker for $4. You are required to use the spotters whether you pay or not, so it is strongly suggested that you buy the sticker. Although the likelihood of seeing at least one turtle is extremely high in season (late July to mid September), there’s no guarantee or refund. You must be accompanied by a local guide to see the turtles.
It is a quiet destination, and there are several lodges, cabinas and hotels that cater to tourists on a budget as well as those who have plenty of cash to spare. With a number of guides and tourist centers operating in town, make sure to make, hotel and tour bookings in advance to avoid any problems. This is because in the summer many visitors come to Tortuguero
The canals of Tortuguero gave the town its nickname of “Costa Rica’s Amazon”, and are a fantastic opportunity to see wildlife. Many guided boat tours leave Tortuguero and the surrounding lodges at 6am to see the wildlife, jungle, and canals. Most of the lodges offer tours which use large boats with big motors and cannot get very far into the canals. A better option is a canoe tour. Canoes are basically silent and can go where the motorboats can’t, allowing you to get away from the seemingly countless motorboat tours and see more of nature. Several people in the village offer canoe tours, you just have to ask around.
Come to Tortuguero and enjoy its canals, its wildlife and its turtles!
The Spectacular Toucans
These exotic birds are known for their shape, and brilliant coloring. When they are seen in the wild it is always an extraordinary experience. Toucans are generally first noticed flying from treetop to treetop in small groups. Their most distinctive feature is definitely their colorful, disproportionately large bill. This bill is very light and hollow, and is used for cutting down and tree fruit. Car rental Costa Rica airport
There are 42 neotropical toucan species and Costa Rica has six of them. They are the most extravagant of all Central American birds.
The gregarious keel-billed toucan inhabits lowland and mid-elevation forests throughout the country except the Pacific southwest. It has a jet-black body, blue feet, a bright yellow chest and face, beady black eyes ringed by green feathers, and a rainbow-hued beak tipped by scarlet. Rent a car Costa Rica
The chestnut-mandibled toucan is the largest of the group as it can grow up to 60 cm long–with a two-tone yellow-and-brown beak. It is found in moist forests below 2,000 feet, notably along the coastal zones, including the Pacific southwest.
There are also two species of toucanets, which are smaller: the green emerald toucanet, a highland bird with a red tail; and the black yellow-eared toucanet, found in the Caribbean lowlands.
Aracaris are smaller and have more slender beaks. Both the collared aracari and fiery-billed aracari have olive-black bodies, faces, and chests, with a dark band across their rust-yellow underbellies. The former has a two-tone yellow-and-black beak; the latter’s beak is also two tone–black and fiery orange.
Toucans are usually seen in flocks of 3 to 12. They are known for being playful, grasping each other’s bills and tossing fruit to each other. Occasionally individual fruit trees are defended by a mated toucan pair from other toucans or other bird species that are also frugivorous.
They can live in different regions depending on its species, except where there is an extensive deforestation. It is important to mention that none of the toucan species that live here are threatened. Nevertheless some toucans like the chestnut mandibled have suffered important population declines in deforested areas in Central America.
The hollow trees are also very convenient as a protection from predators. Toucans in a group will often organize a strident chorus of noise whenever a predator approaches the flock.
As frugivores they like fruits and nuts, but they might also eat insects and small lizards as well. They prefer the darkest, so ripest, fruit. Their long bill lets them perch on heavier, stable branches and reach a distance for hanging fruits. They snip the fruit off, hold it at the tip of the bill, and then, with a forward flip of the head, toss the fruit into the air and into their throats.
Their nests are usually raided by snakes and lizards. The toucan’s natural predators include hawks, jaguars and margays.
Toucans play an important role in the ecosystem because they spread fruit seeds. When they eat the fruit seed, it passes through their stomachs unharmed. Many trees grow where these birds drop the seeds, consequently they are responsible for the position of many of the trees in the forest.
Come to Costa Rica and learn more about the toucans and all the other birds that inhabit this diverse territory.
The Biologically Intense Carara National Park
The Carara National Park is known for protecting the river basin of the Rio Grande de Tárcoles, near Orotina, Puntarenas, on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. There are primary and secondary rainforest, lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Additionally pre-Columbian archaeological sites are disseminated throughout the area. Costa Rica Car hire
The word “Carara” comes from an indigenous word that means “river of crocodiles”. The area in which the reserve is located was occupied by an indigenous group according to experts allied with groups located in the Central Valley from 300 B.C. to 1500 A.D. Extensive tomb sites have been excavated here, and the burial places of people of high status are notably complex.
Several endangered and threatened species live and breed here, such as the American crocodile. Carara is also considered a haven for the exotic Scarlet Macaw, the park’s symbol which is on the endangered list. In the park there are about 200 couples which live and breed in complete freedom. Renting a car in Costa Rica
Carara National Park is a great place for those interested in tropical biology. Its high species diversity and ease of access make this a wonderful trip from San José, or on the way to points further south. The park is located between the dry forests of the north and the humid ones of the south. Due to this situation it is an “ecotone” or melding area that gives Carara its diversity. There are trails that go through both zones where visitors can appreciate the forest’s richness.
There are two hiking trails in Carara National Park. One-half mile south of the Rio Grande de Tárcoles bridge, as you head towards the ranger’s station, there is a parking area on the left. The 2.7 mile Araceas Nature Trail that begins here parallels the Río Grande de Tárcoles and has short branches to the Laguna Meandrica and marshes. At the Quebrada Bonita Ranger Station you will find a 1/2 mile loop trail.
The best way to enjoy this park is to have a guided tour which can be arranged in either San Jose or Puntarenas. March and April are the best months to visit as there is little to no rain. Be sure to use repellents and wear long pants in order to avoid being bitten by the many insects that live here. There is a visitor center in the park as well as exhibition halls and an auditorium. Keep in mind though that no camping is allowed in the park.
The best time to visit Carara is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The Park hours are 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.
To get there by car from San José, take Avenida 10 to Parque La Sabana, where it becomes Highway 27. Follow this highway west for 34 miles to the town of Orotina. Three miles after Orotina, turn left onto the coastal highway. Then drive about 11 miles to the bridge over the Tárcoles River and the park boundary. The Quebrada Bonita Ranger Station and park headquarters is another 2 miles after the bridge.
Come to Carara and enjoy its stunning diversity!
The Quetzal up close
The quetzal is considered one of the most cherished species for bird watchers who visit Costa Rica. The bird’s coloring is truly awesome, a vivid green that bursts into flame in direct sunlight, changing from emerald, to golden, to iridescent green. The tail plumes can measure up to 24 inches long. Costa Rica car rental
The bird is known for being very elusive and many early European naturalists believed the quetzal was a fable invented by the natives. In 1861, Osbert Salvin, who was a British naturalist, was the first European to record observing a quetzal.
The Quetzal prefers damp mountain forests, and is most active in the canopy and edges. It may survive in heavily deforested areas, but only if there are woods with adequate feeding and nesting trees. Car rental Costa Rica
Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Poás Volcano, Braulio Carrillo National Park, and Chirripó National Park.
Alone, in pairs, or in a small flock after breeding, the Quetzal feeds on fruits or very small animals before returning to the nest. They sing with distinctly smooth, deep, melodious calls that may echo far through the forest. They are usually in the canopy, however during courtship the male may chase the female lower and through the forest. As part of their courting display, the male spirals high above the canopy before plunging back to the female in the canopy. His long beautiful tail feathers ripple behind him.
These fabulous tail feathers that can be a meter long are one of the salient traits of the male Resplendent Quetzal. Adult Quetzals have a grey and black striped tail, and are covered in shimmering green on the head, back, and wings, so they blend into the wet foliage of the cloud forest. The females have similar plumage, but they don’t have the green crest and bright red breast of the males, as well as the elongated tail feathers.
The Quetzal’s favorite food is the fruits of the avocado family, as well as figs. Its can also eat insects, small frogs, snails, and lizards. It drinks water from the bases of bromeliads.
The parents carve nest holes together out of decaying trunks or they enlarge holes made by woodpeckers, toucans, or other animals. They are highly dependent on finding dead wood as their beaks and claws cannot penetrate live wood. The pair shares the work of incubating the two eggs and later feeding the chicks, as well as defending the territory around the nesting tree.
The main limitation that this animal has to survive is definitely finding nesting trees. It is naturally difficult for them to find trees with wood soft enough for nest excavation, because such trees usually decay before falling.
There are already reserves in Costa Rica and Guatemala in which the Quetzal is still able to survive. Nevertheless, many experts consider that it would be very beneficial to have a system of cloud forest parks from Mexico through Panama in order to protect this beautiful bird.
Visit Costa Rica and admire this exotic bird in its own habitat!
Sloths, Strange and Graceful Creatures
The sloth is an interesting animal that grows to the size of a medium-size dog. It has a small head and flat face with snub nose and beady eyes. It has long and bony arms that are well developed and feature curving claws that enable the sloth to hook over and grasp the branches. The sloths spend nearly their entire lives suspended upside down. They spend up to 18 hours daily sleeping curled up with its feet drawn close together and its head tucked between the forelimbs. Costa Rica car rental Company
These animals are arboreal creatures and are related to the anteater and armadillo. An interesting characteristic is that they pay plenty of attention to their hygiene. This is despite the fact that they shelter algae in their fur. That makes them have that greenish look, which also helps them camouflage from their predators. The sloth also may have communities of moths that live in the depths of its fur and feed on the algae.
In Costa Rica there are two species of sloths: the three-fingered sloth and the nocturnal, relatively omnivorous Hoffman’s two-fingered sloth. You’re more likely to see the three-fingered sloth, which is active by day. Car rental Costa Rica San Jose
At top speed a sloth can hardly cover a mile in four hours. However, when they are on the ground they are very awkward and have to crawl which makes them vulnerable to predators.
A sloth’s digestion works very slowly. Its metabolic rate is half that of other animals of similar size, and food remains in its stomach for up to a week. Nevertheless, it has evolved a large ruminant-like stomach and intestinal tract that is able to process large quantities of almost indigestible food. To compensate that amazing characteristic, it has sacrificed heavy muscle mass and consequently, mobility.
Additionally, sloths need warm weather to synthesize food. During long periods of cold weather, the animals may die from starvation.
It defecates about once a week and that is when the sloth descends to ground level. It digs a small hole with its hind limbs. It then defecates into the hole, urinates, covers everything with leaves, and goes back to its arboreal life. This process takes about thirty minutes and during this time, the “sloth moths” lay their eggs on the sloth dung. When they hatch, the larvae feed and pulpate on the feces. Then the adults will fly off and look for a new sloth.
Sloths may live for more than twenty years. They reach sexual maturity at three years, which is considered an old age for mammals of their size. Females yell to draw males, which have a bare orange patch on their back with unique sexual markings. Females give birth once a year, after a gestation period of six months. They spend half their adult lives pregnant.
If you want to find sloths, just look up into the green foliage of cecropia trees. That’s their favorite food.
Their heavy fur coat is an excellent insulation against heat loss. Nevertheless, its body temperature drops almost to the temperature of its surroundings at night. Just like cold-blooded reptiles, the sloth needs to take in the sun’s rays to bring its temperature to normal levels again.
If you want to learn more about this special mammal come to Costa Rica and visit is national parks or Aviarios del Caribe Sloth Refuge, near Cahuita.
Rincón de la Vieja, Full of Extraordinary Attractions
Rincón de La Vieja National Park is a very popular attraction for tourists and a major volcanic destination. Today, tourism is an important source of income for the surrounding population. The national park has played a key role in the development of the community. The park has an extension of about 34, 800 acres and was created in 1973. Rent a car in Costa Rica
It has an altitude of about 1,900 meters above sea level, and together with Arenal, Irazú, Miravalles, Orosí, Poás and Turrialba, represents the active volcanic range of Costa Rica.
It is composed of nine separate but contiguous volcanic craters, with dormant Santa María (1,916 meters) the tallest. Its crater shelters a forest-rimmed lake with quetzals, linnets, and tapirs. The main crater, which is called Von Seebach, and known as the Rincón de la Vieja crater, still steams. The Icy Lake Los Jilgueros lies between the two craters. The last serious eruption was in 1983 but the volcano disgorged lava and acid gases in 1991. The consequences of the acids can still be seen on the slopes of the volcano. The acid cloud burned away much of the vegetation especially on the southeastern slope. Costa Rica car rental 4×4
This area has many adventures and activities for its visitors such as zip lining, canyoneering, rafting, rappelling, and many more. There are also more relaxing activities such as horseback rides, hot springs, and the famous volcanic mud massages.
Rincón de la Vieja is located in the Guanacaste province. It is only 25 km. outside of downtown Liberia which is about a 45 minute drive. It is a good idea to have a four-wheel-drive to go to this region, especially during the rainy season which is from May to November.
There are other important sites located close to Rincón de la Vieja. For example Santa Rosa National Park, is just a 45 minute drive away. Other important areas include Arenal, Tamarindo or Flamingo Beach, and the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
The camping area at Rincón de la Vieja is open 24 hours. There are restrooms, showers and picnic areas available for the campers.
Additionally, there are well marked park trail systems that take you through the tropical forest to the park’s attractions. The trail guides can be arranged at the Pailas or Santa Maria Station.
The diverse conditions in the region foster an array of wildlife species. More than 300 species of birds include quetzals, toucanets, the elegant trogon, eagles, three-wattled bellbirds, and the curassow. Mammals include cougars, howler, spider, and white-faced monkeys, kinkajous, sloths, tapirs, tayras, and even jaguars.
Between the cloud forest and Las Pailas, a side trail, marked Aguas Thermales, leads to soothing, hot sulfur springs called Los Azufrales (Sulfurs). The thermal waters, which could be about 42 ° C, form small pools where visitors can bathe and take advantage of their curative properties. You can use the cold-water stream nearby to cool off. Las Hornillas are sulfurous fumaroles on the devastated southern slope of the volcano. Another trail leads to the Hidden Waterfalls, which feature four continuous falls.
The park is administered from the Guanacaste Conservation Area office in Santa Rosa National.
Visit Rincón de la Vieja National Park and admire its beautiful surroundings!
The Perfect Getaway in Costa Rica: Coco Beach
Playa del Coco is about 260 km. northeast of San José, which is about a four hour drive, and only 35 km. to the west of Liberia.
Both the city and the beach got their name due to the abundance of coconut palms in the region. The city of El Coco is known for its fishing, which is an important activity there. Visitors can see several fishing boats, lining the bay while tourism flourishes in the city.
Coco Beach has a warm weather and during the dry season which is from December to April, the temperatures could range from 82-90 ° F. Costa Rica car rental
The infrastructure in the city is well developed, consequently there are good roads, drugstores, tour operators, and a wide variety of shops, restaurants, bars, and hotels.
Visitors have the option of participating in many dynamic activities such as sport fishing, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Additionally, PADI certification classes are offered every day. Surf expeditions depart from Coco Beach, and take professional surfers to their favorite spot which is Witch’s Rock. This place is known for its astonishing waves. Nevertheless, if you like to surf but you are not a pro, it would be a good idea to drive about an hour to nearby Tamarindo. Here, the surfing is excellent for beginners and kids.
Deep sea fishing excursions are also available. It is important to ask on the beach in the late afternoon so you can find a good deal for the following day. Car rental Costa Rica
From Coco Beach you have easy access to Pelonas, Catalina Island, and Bat Island, which are excellent places to observe turtles, sharks, and octopus in their natural habitat. You can also visit other nearby beaches such as Panama Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Ocotal.
Coco is a wonderful place to stay if you want to explore other touristic areas such as the dormant volcano Rincon de la Vieja, Llano de Cortes waterfall, and many beaches. Furthermore, jungle tours are also popular, and most of them also include a thrilling “zip line” tour.
Coco’s water composition has a beautiful blue-gray tint and not the usual blue green that other beaches have. This beach is very popular among foreigners and Ticos and sometimes it can get really crowded. If you are looking for party, this is your place.
Close to Coco Beach you can find Marino Las Baulas National Park (Parque Nacional Marino las Baulas). At Marino Las Baulas, you can see the unique mass turtle nesting behavior which are known by the locals as “arribadas”. The Leatherback, Pacific Green, and Hawksbill turtles all come to this region to make their nests. During an arribada, a huge number of turtles, sometimes even thousands, arrive to the beach to lay their eggs. When they lay their eggs together, individual turtles improve the chances that their nest will survive predation.
Come to Coco Beach, have fun, party and enjoy Costa Rica’s stunning natural wonders.
The Main Monkey Species in Costa Rica
There are four species of monkeys in Costa Rica, which are the capuchin, howler, spider, and squirrel. Monkeys inhabit a wide range of habitats, from the rainforest canopy to the scrubby undergrowth of the dry forests. Renting a car in Costa Rica
Nevertheless, each species occupies its own niche and the species rarely meet. They are definitely the most noisy jungle inhabitants. They are not afraid to announce their presence with their howls, chatterings, and screeches. According to experts, the howler monkey’s explosive roar is considered to be the loudest sound in the animal kingdom.
The capuchin also known as the white-faced monkey, is the smartest and most curious of the Costa Rican monkeys. Capuchins range widely throughout the wet lowland forests of the Caribbean coast and the deciduous dry forests of the Pacific Northwest below 1,500 meters. They can be spotted in Santa Rosa and Manuel Antonio National Parks. Here family troops are constantly roaming, hunting through the treetops and over the forest floor. They look for food searching under logs and leaves, they can also tear off bark as they seek out insects and small lizards. Car rental Costa Rica airport
Additionally, capuchins also steal birds’ eggs and nestlings. The ones who inhabit the coast also like oysters and other mollusks, which they break open on rocks. They can eat many different kinds of food, but they are very meticulous as they usually test the fruit for ripeness by smelling and squeezing. Capuchins sometimes also raid crops, especially corn.
The howler known in Spanish as mono congo is the most abounding and the largest of the Costa Rican monkeys. It can weigh up to five kg. It can inhabit both lowland and montane forests throughout Costa Rica. It is less sensitive to habitat destruction than other monkeys and can be found in many parts of the forest.
Howlers are not especially aggressive, but they emit what seems to be an aggressive sound. The males start each day with explosive roars. Their loud vocalizations can carry for almost a mile in the jungle. The males start singing in chorus again at dusk or when trespassers get too close. They have the ability to make these sounds due to their large larynxes and throats that inflate into resonating balloons. Females generally content themselves with loud wails and groans, to show distress or to call their infants. These monkeys feed on leaves and fruit, but they can also eat anything that grows.
They are also very selective feeders.
The smallest Costa Rican primate is the squirrel monkey known locally as the mono titi. It can measure 25-35 cm, plus a tail up to 45 cm. Squirrels are more gregarious than most other monkeys. They can form bands of 40 individuals or more.
They are arboreal creatures and feed on fruits, insects, small lizards. The mono titi is considered an endangered species.
The spider money or mono colorado, is the acrobat of the forest. Unfortunately, they are very sensitive to human intrusion and are among the first primate species to decline with human disturbance. Land clearance and hunting have greatly reduced spider monkey populations throughout much of their former range. If you come across them you will see how they rattle the branches and bark and screech loudly, demonstrating their courage.
Visit Costa Rica and its national parks and learn more about its monkeys and how to protect their habitat, while having a great vacation.
The Magnificent Scarlet Macaw
The Scarlet Macaw is a large, colorful macaw. It is native to humid evergreen forests in the American tropics. This macaw graces forest canopies from Mexico to central South America. In Costa Rica, it is more common on the Pacific slope than the Caribbean.
It measures about 81 centimeters (32 in) long, of which more than half of its size is the pointed, graduated tail typical of all macaws. Their average weight is about 1 kilogram (2.2 lb.). Their plumage is mostly scarlet, but the rump and tail-covert feathers are light blue, the greater upper wing coverts are yellow, the upper sides of the flight feathers of the wings are dark blue as are the ends of the tail feathers, and the undersides of the wing and tail flight feathers are dark red with metallic gold iridescence. Some individuals may have green in the wings. Costa Rica car rental
The Scarlet Macaw can live up to 50 years in captivity. In the wild they can live 30 to 40 years. An interesting characteristic is that they are very stubborn at times.
These beautiful birds feed on fruits, nuts and seeds, including large, hard seeds. A typical sighting is of a single bird or a pair flying above the forest canopy, though in some areas flocks can be seen. They may also gather at clay licks.
The Scarlet Macaw lays two or three white eggs in a tree cavity. They do not dig these holes, but rely on finding cavities that are high off the ground and have vertical entrances. Finding enough of such trees can be a limiting factor for these birds to maintain populations in an area. Some bee species occupy the same kind of tree cavity. The female incubates the eggs for about five weeks, and the chicks fledge from the nest about 90 days after hatching. They chicks leave their parents about a year later.
In Costa Rica, they can be seen in Corcovado National Park, Carara National Park, and Palo Verde National Park.
They have strong wings to fly high over the canopy. Their travels may range far both daily and seasonally. Their loud calls can be heard as they fly but they are usually quiet while feeding. Pairs, trios, or small family groups are often seen, but these may sometimes merge into flocks of 25 or even 50 individuals at large roosts in tall trees or mangroves. Car rental Costa Rica
This macaw largely hunts in the canopy, feeding on large seeds, fruits and nuts in trees. Their favorite food in Costa Rica is the almost-ripe seed of Terminalia catappa. They are constantly looking for the almond-sized and almond-shaped seed hidden beneath the tough, fibrous nut. The macaw chips out big chunks of the hard fruit using the sharp edge of its lower mandible. Once it hits the nut, it slices through the outer fruit and picks out its meal. They can be fast foragers because a flock of ten birds can carpet the ground with three hundred of these fruits in a single hour as they look for the seeds.
Come to Costa Rica and chances are you will see this stunning colorful bird in its habitat.