Wildlife in Costa Rica, Butterflies
Butterflies
According to scientists Costa Rica is the home of about 90% of all Central American butterflies.
Most butterflies have a key ecological role because they are pollinators. They help cross pollinate because they feed on flower nectar and then they distribute the pollen among the flowers. It is also interesting to know that butterflies also feed on tree sap and dissolved minerals usually found in wet sand, dirt and animal excrement. Costa Rica car rental 4×4.
Butterflies are considered insects. They are able to smell and balance due to their antennae. They have a short lifespan of about three weeks because their wings are very delicate and easily damaged, and they don’t have a good vision. In fact they only have basic sight. For butterflies the images and blurry and they can only see motion, light and color.
The main objective of a butterfly is to reproduce. Butterflies can lay about 100 eggs. An important fact is that only less than 5% of the eggs will become adult butterflies. Predators, weather conditions and diseases usually damage the rest of the eggs.
After the incubation period, the eggs hatch into larvae or caterpillars. During 10-60 days, caterpillars feed on all kinds of vegetable matter. Then they enter the pupa or chrysalis phase. Hanging upside-down from a leaf or branch, the mature caterpillar twists the chrysalis, or cocoon, for its last transformation. After being fully developed the color of the cocoon changes and then it splits open. After this the butterfly comes out. Costa Rica car rental Company.
One wonderful place to spot butterflies is the Monteverde Butterfly Garden. The garden was founded in 1989 by biologist Jim Wolfe and his wife Marta. The garden’s objective is to educate about Costa Rica’s native insect and butterfly populations. All of the butterflies in the garden are bred on the property.
The biodiversity center exhibits insects and arachnids that are local to Monteverde, many of which are still alive. Visitors can learn about their breeding and feeding habits. There is a live bug cam, as well as a case for viewing the butterflies as they emerge from their chrysalides.
There are four butterfly gardens and each represents a different Costa Rican habitat. They vary according to temperature, altitude and vegetation, varying from hot lowlands to high-altitude cloud forests. The gardens contain more than fifty species in total, including the Calico, which is the only butterfly in the world to produce sound, Blue Morpho, Glass-Wings, and Zebra-Wing butterfly.
The Monteverde Butterfly Garden is open 365 days a year, from 9:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. Butterflies are most active when it’s sunny, so the best time to see them is between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Car rental Costa Rica San Jose.
Wildlife in Costa Rica, The Olive Ridley
The Olive Ridley
The Olive Ridley, which is the smallest of the marine turtle species, is named after H.N. Ridley who first reported seen these beautiful turtles in Brazil. Their average weight is between 70 and 100 pounds and they measure about two feet long. Variations in size occur region to region, the largest Olive Ridleys can be found on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The adults are dark gray-green color and most of the young turtles are charcoal gray. Costa Rica car rental.
Olive Ridleys feed on crustaceans, fish, mollusks and sometimes jellyfish. Studies have found out that they might exhibit cannibalistic tendencies when food is scarce. Their life span is estimated between 50-60 years in the wild.
Olive Ridley turtles inhabit tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, ranging from Baja California south to Chile, and along the east coast of India. They nest almost exclusively in the northern Indian Ocean (on the Coromandel Coast and Sri Lanka) and in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
Olive Ridleys are most common at Ostional Wildlife Refuge, which hosts mass nesting periods between June and December. They are also common in Playa Nancite in Santa Rosa National Park, from August through November with peaks in September and October. Other nesting sites include Playa Junquillal (July-November), Ballena National Marine Park (May and September), Playa Hermosa Wildlife Refuge (June-November; peak September-November), Camaronal Wildlife Refuge (year-round), Corcovado National Park (August-October; peak in September and October), and Playa Grande (November-March). Car rental Costa Rica.
The Olive Ridley nests twice a season and deposits an average of 100 eggs per nest. The eggs incubate for 52-58 days. Scientists have found out that eggs that incubate at 87.8-89.6º F produce only females, while eggs that mature at 84.2-86º F result only in males. After the incubation period, hatchlings emerge and make their way to sea.
Unfortunately the eggs have predators such as caimans, coatis, raccoons and coyotes, which can devour the eggs. When they survive these predators, several hatchlings may die on their way to the beach since wildlife such as vultures, crabs and iguanas can eat them. Once they get to the waters they may encounter other predators such as sharks, fish, and crocodiles. Once the turtles become adults, they don’t have many predators.
The U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act lists Olive Ridley turtles as a threatened species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Natural Resources classifies them as critically endangered.
Humans are considered the greatest worldwide threat to these marine turtles. 15 years ago Costa Rica started the Egg Harvest Project (EHP). This is a program that is sponsored by the government and it has increased the successful hatching of turtles in Ostional Wildlife Refuge by some 20% over the last decade. Efforts in the conservation have to continue in order to keep the nesting sites protected. Rent a car in Costa Rica.
Beaches in Guanacaste
Playa Conchal
Playa Conchal is located in one of the most beautiful regions of Costa Rica, the province of Guanacaste. Conchal Beach is a pristine beach that was named for the tiny crushed shells from which that form the beach. In addition to swimming and snorkeling, visitors to Playa Conchal can enjoy deep sea fishing excursions and hiking trips to the nearby national parks or nature reserves. A beautiful resort is next to it, at the beach’s western end. The water is clear and warm therefore Playa Conchal is excellent for water sports. It is important to know that if you are not staying at the resort, there are no services available at Playa Conchal. However visitors can shop and dine in Brasilito, which is just ten minutes away from Conchal. In Brasilito, visitors will find affordable hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Playa Brasilito
If you walk eastward along the amazing white shells of Playa Conchal, the white sand at some point runs into a small, rocky outcropping. Ascend over this obstacle and you will be on the, more gray sand of Brasilito Beach. This beach is adjacent to the small village of Brasilito. This area draws budget travelers looking for a weekend getaway. The accommodations on this beach are affordable compared with the high-priced resorts in other areas. This village is less developed and visited than the neighboring Conchal and Flamingo Beaches, however is a perfect place for vacationers looking for a low key destination. Services such as an Internet cafe, restaurants and bars can be found in Brasilito.Car rental Costa Rica San Jose.
Brasilito is an excellent place to stay for accessing some of Guanacaste’s national parks and biological reserves. Visitors can go to Marino Las Baulas National Park, where visitors can observe sea turtle species coming ashore to nest ritual. Car rental Costa Rica airport.
Playa Flamingo
Flamingo Beach, is a gorgeous white sand strand on Point Salinas. This is a resort area, hotels, condominiums and restaurants overlook the beach, however none are directly adjacent. From the beach visitors can see the development, however the beach remains pristine. Playa Flamingo is an excellent swimming beach.
Playa Real
The pristine beach of Playa Real adjoins Playa Nombre de Jesús and is very close to Playa Conchal and the popular Marino Las Baulas National Park which make this an isolated areas with several exploring activities. There is a tropical dry forest surrounding the beach. Here you can enjoy activities such as hiking and wildlife viewing, swimming, sun bathing, sport fishing, horseback riding, scuba diving and snorkeling. Rent a car Costa Rica.
The Costa Rican Culture and Cuisine
An important characteristic of Costa Rica’s cultural legacy is the people’s love for peace and democracy. In a region filled with civil unrest and dictatorships, Costa Rica is an exception. The country has a stable democracy without an army. Costa Ricans are generally warm and friendly. It is easy to make friends with them and most of the time they are helpful and polite.
Spanish is the official language however it is important to know that basic English is spoken especially around the tourist areas. Costa Ricans of Caribbean descent speak Creole which is derived from English. Rent a car in Costa Rica.
Education is very important in Costa Rica, consequently 95% of the population is literate. Public schools are dispersed all over the country. There are four big public universities which have become major universities in Central America.
Costa Rican cuisine is a combination of Spanish, Mexican, American and Southern American influences. This style of cuisine is shared by most of Central American countries although with individual local variations. Gallo pinto is a popular dish which is mainly a combination of black beans and white rice seasoned with cilantro, garlic, salt and a local sauce called Salsa Lizano. Costa Rican cooking is mild rather than spicy, and is based around rice and beans.
The following is a small list of some of the local food you can try in Costa Rica:
“Frescos” are natural fruit drinks made from fruit, water or milk, and sugar. In water, you can try tamarindo (tamarind), maracuya (passion fruit), carambola (star fruit), or cas (sour guava). In milk, you can try papaya, mora (blackberry) and guanabana (sour sop). They are all delicious.Costa Rica car rental 4×4.
The “tamales” are traditional at Christmas, however they are available all year round. Costa Rican tamales are made from ground corn, seasoned with small pieces of pork, olive, cooked rice and other different stuffings. They are cooked and served wrapped in banana leaves.
“Picadillos” are a Costa Rican way to prepare vegetables. Costa Ricans chop water squash, potatoes, carrots or other veggies into small cubes and combine them with onions, garlic and other spices for seasoning.
The “casado” is the a typical affordable lunch or dinner plate which consists of rice, beans, picadillo, salad and your choice of chicken, beef or fish. The dish is usually served with tortillas and a fresco.
At breakfast time the “gallo pinto” is a savory way to combine arroz y frijoles. You can try it anywhere in the country. Costa Rica car rental Company.
Another way to try the rice & beans is the Caribbean way, which is a dish based on a mixture of the two ingredients with spices and coconut oil.
Malpaís and Santa Teresa
Malpaís is located 4 miles (6.5 km) north of Cabo Blanco National Park, Malpaís sits at the southwestern cusp of the Nicoya Peninsula, opposite Montezuma. Malpaís and Santa Teresa are both excellent beaches to just kickback and unwind.Renting a car in Costa Rica.
Malpaís gives a great opportunity for visitors to get away from more crowded destinations. It is an excellent place to enjoy the incredible natural surroundings in relative peace. Malpaís has a relaxed attitude, therefore it offers relatively few services with regard to tours. Nevertheless visitors can arrange canopy tours. They can also take horseback rides along the beach.
The village of Malpaís is accessible by road via Highway 160, or you can take the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera or Naranjo Beach, and ride a bus or drive the rest of the way. Flights to the nearby town of Tambor are also available via San José and Liberia.
The nearby Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve can make an excellent day trip from Malpaís. It is important to ask and check with locals before going to the Reserve. Usually a visit requires entering the town of Montezuma. Costa Rica car rental.
On its southern end Malpaís borders the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve while on its northern end, on Playa Carmen, it merges with Santa Teresa where visitors can find shops, tourist facilities, and a lively surf scene.
While in recent years Santa Teresa has seen a boom in development, Malpaís has retained its quiet atmosphere and unspoiled nature. The coast of Malpaís is in many places rocky, with bizarre volcanic formations making for fascinating landscape.
To get here you need to head to Puntarenas. Once you are there you’ll board the ferry and cross the gulf of Nicoya, getting off either Paquera. In terms of crossing on the ferry, you have a few options. To get to Paquera, take either the “Ferry Peninsula ADIP” or “Ferry Naviera Tambor.”
Once you reach Paquera, turn left at the main street’s intersection and drive for about 40 km along highway 160 until you reach the Playa del Carmen intersection. Turn left and you will be in Malpaís in 3 km. A right turn will take you to Santa Teresa.
If you don’t want to take the ferry, you can continue along the Inter-American Highway towards Liberia. After 128 km, take a left onto the road that leads to La Amistad Bridge. Drive for about 50 km along this road until you reach highway 21. Take a left onto highway 21. You will continue on this road for another 130 km until you reach Malpaís. Hwy 21, does, however turn into highway 160 as it turns west from the southeast corner of the peninsula. Again, remember that when you reach the intersection at Playa Carmen, take a left to get to Malpaís. Car rental Costa Rica.
Playa Flamingo
Playa Flamingo is one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. It is located on the country’s Gold Coast, Playa Flamingo is located in Punta Salinas, northwest of Bahia Brasilito, 75 km southwest of Liberia. It is between the beaches of Playa Potrero and Playa Brasilito. It is important to know that Playa Flamingo is the only full-service marina between Acapulco and Panama on the Pacific coast of Central America. Flamingo is among the first of Costa Rica’s beaches to receive international attention. Costa Rica car rental Company.
The beach has amazing white sand, pristine blue waters and is the best place for an excellent vacation and deep sea fishing. Snapper and tuna are common, but for those looking for a trophy and a challenge, marlin and swordfish are also in the area. License fees for fish are separate, but are available through the fishing expedition companies. It is important to book in advance because these exciting fishing trips are quickly filled. Many of the larger resorts in Playa Flamingo, including the Flamingo Marina Resort, will reserve a sport fishing trip for you. Every July, Playa Flamingo hosts a sailfish tournament which is sponsored by the Costa Rican Amateur Fishermen’s Club.
There is also the possibility of practicing golf in an in an 18-hole championship golf course which was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. The Lion’s Paw golf course, or Garra de Leon hosts many international golf events. The design takes advantage of and wraps around the natural beauty of the area, with fairways wandering through the native forests and views of the Pacific Ocean. Car rental Costa Rica San Jose.
If you enjoy scuba diving, you can practice it here all year round. In Playa Flamingo tourists are able to swim with white-fin sharks and many other tropical fish and marine life.
Unlike many beach communities, Flamingo Beach has no village center. The community that extends east is home to exclusive beachfront resorts and coveted private property Playa Flamingo has excellent and beautiful hotels, condos and private residences on the coast. The best time to visit Flamingo is from December to April, which is the dry season and when the beaches are soaked in sunshine. The average annual temperature fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Flamingo Beach can be access by way of a paved road. Alternatively, the smaller airport in Tamarindo receives domestic flights from around the country, and from this airport visitors can take a taxi, a bus or a car drive to Flamingo Beach. From the capital of San Jose, the bus or car ride is about six hours along the Inter-American Highway. Car rental Costa Rica airport.
Puerto Viejo and Punta Uva
Puerto Viejo, which is on the Caribbean coast is very different to the Pacific. The atmosphere is more laid back than in other parts of Costa Rica. This is the best place for laid back travelers who wish to avoid the more commercialized Pacific coast. Puerto Viejo is the home to reggae music, surfers, backpackers and environmentally friendly tourists. Car rental Costa Rica.
Puerto Viejo is very popular with tourists due to its cultural fascination, amazing white-sand beaches, tropical vegetation and its closeness to national parks. Nearby Cahuita National Park and Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge offers visitors the possibility of observing the region’s stunning wildlife.
The Asociación Talamanca de Ecoturismo y Conservación (ATEC) provides information and tours to visitors interested in the local indigenous culture. ATEC was founded to promote sustainable tourism and cultural expression among the mixed population in which it serves. The organization offers tours with guides at a reasonable price.
Punta Uva is a small town on the Costa Rican coast. Punta Uva has beautiful beaches because there is a rule banning the development within 50 meters of the high tide line.
It gets its name from a sea grape tree that is located at the point of Punta Uva.
Punta Uva is close to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica and close to the Panamenian border. Other beaches nearby are Cocles, Chiquita and Manzanillo, which are also definitely worth a visit. Rent a car in Costa Rica.
Punta Uva is known for its calm waters, great swimming and snorkeling. It is a great place to hang out on the beach and enjoy a beverage. There are nice accommodations, hotels and restaurants nearby. Punta Uva is definitely a place to relax.
Tourists can rent bikes, scooters and electric carts in order to move around. The rental shop delivers the vehicles to the hotels at reasonable prices by the hour.
Visitors can also go to a beautiful butterfly garden with several butterfly species. There is also an Indigenous community reserves where visitors can observe three tribes: Bri-Bri, Cabecar, KeköLdi, and the Yorkin. Tourists have the opportunity of learning about their culture and try their foods and drinks. Nearby is the Cahuita National Park, which has miles of white sand with coral reefs and jungle trails. Costa Rica car rental 4×4.
Punta Uva is a place where many activities can be done, such as beach walking, bird watching, surfing, kayaking, boogie boarding, kayaking, horseback riding, jungle hikes, canopy tours, dolphin view boat trips. Some hotels nearby also offer visits and tours to the wildlife refuge of Gandoca Manzanillo.
Some tours take tourists to dive deep into the waters, where visitors can observe dolphins and other aquatic wildlife along with coral reefs. Guides can also take people on tours through tropical rainforests, lagoons, caves, etc.
Wildlife in Costa Rica, The Toucan
The Toucan
There are 42 toucan species in Latin America and six of them are found in the Costa Rican lowlands and rainforests. The toucan’s trademark bill has made it the most recognizable bird in Costa Rica. Toucans are usually first noticed flying from treetop to treetop in small groups. The bird’s most amazing feature is its colorful and disproportionately large bill. An interesting fact is that it is mostly hollow and is used for cutting down and manipulating tree fruits. Costa Rica Car hire.
In Costa Rica, these extravagant birds can be spotted in Carara National Park, Tortuguero, Manuel Antonio National Park, and several parts of the Central Valley and Guanacaste Province.
The six species found in Costa Rica are: keel-billed, chestnut-mandibled, emerald toucanet, yellow-eared toucanet, collared aracari and the fiery-billed aracari.
Although colors and sizes vary between species, all toucans are frugivores. They like to eat fruits such as papaya, cecropia, berries and palm. They usually look for food in the middle and canopy layers of the forest and sometimes supplement their diet with eggs, small reptiles, insects and bird hatchlings.
It is important to know that toucans spread fruit seeds. They eat the fruit, and the seeds pass through their stomachs unharmed. Several forest trees do not grow under a parent tree, but grow where birds have dropped the seeds. Renting a car in Costa Rica.
Once a male toucan has attracted a female, they mate and remain together throughout the nesting season, foraging and parenting as a team. An interesting characteristic is that mating couples dote on one another, feeding their companions fruit and preening their feathers.
Toucans like to nest in tree holes and lay two to four eggs, which are incubated 16-19 days. The nestlings hatch blind and naked and are fed by both parents. They stay in the nest for about six weeks, when their beaks are completely developed and there are strong to fly. Toucans usually have two or three clutches a year.
Toucans have predators such as snakes and lizards, which often raid bird nests. Felines, such as jaguars and margays, canl also eat a toucan. To protect themselves from predators they nest and sleep in hollow tree holes. Toucans in a group will often set up a raucous chorus of noise whenever a predator is near the flock.
Toucan populations in Costa Rica are not dangerously threatened. Their main hazard is definitely the habitat loss, however there are other concerns such as hunting and illegal pet trade. Costa Rica car rental.
Costa Rica’s History
Costa Rica is known for being a peaceful and democratic country with an incredible biodiversity. Throughout the years, Costa Rica has evaded arm conflicts and the country has focused on enhancing life for its citizens. Costa Rica has high health indicators, a good standard of living and high literacy rates.
Costa Ricans trace their roots back to Spanish colonizing families and their indigenous partners. When the Spaniards arrived in Costa Rica they found a rugged topography and a scattered indigenous population. As a matter of fact the country was the poorest colony in the Spanish Empire. Actually this became a blessing for the Costa Rica, because due to this reason the Spaniards didn’t introduce semi-feudal institutions into the country. Costa Rica car rental 4×4.
Most of the indigenous population fled into the Talamanca mountains, escaping from slavery. Several of them died due to wars of resistance, epidemics and wars among rival tribes. Other indigenous groups were well assimilated by the society. Still many keep their identity because they lived and still live in secluded mountain regions.
Since the Indians were exterminated and assimilated, the Costa Rican society is more homogeneous. The noticeable class divisions that still exist in other Latin American countries never developed here.
Costa Rica received its independence from Spain in 1821. The Spaniards in Costa Rica were astonished by the announcement. The letter informing about the liberation took one month to arrive from Guatemala. Costa Rica car rental Company.
Costa Rica had been a subsistence economy and a cash crop was needed in order to sustain the economy. The governor decided to offer free land to all those the people willing to grow coffee and that is how Costa Rica became a nation of small farmers and landowners. Costa Rica began producing coffee and the first export was made in 1820.
In the 1830s, Costa Ricans began to grow coffee in the highlands for the European market. Small farmers sold their crop to central processing plants called “beneficios”, and the wealthy owners of the “beneficios” then exported the beans.
In the 1870’s it was necessary to build a railroad to the Atlantic coast in order to increase the coffee exports to Europe. For this project the Costa Rican government contracted U.S. builders in exchange for a land grant on both sides of the way. While the road was being built, the American company decided to start growing and exporting bananas. When the railroad was finished, bananas had become one of the most important exports in the country. Costa Rica is among the top five biggest banana exporters at a global level. Car rental Costa Rica San Jose.
Wildlife in Costa Rica, The Scarlet Macaw
The Scarlet Macaw
The scarlet macaw is a member of the parrot family and is found in Central and South America. In Costa Rica they are commonly known as “lapas” and they have scarlet-colored plumage with light blue accents on their tails and yellow and blue on their wings. Costa Rica car rental.
They are the largest parrots in the world.
The scarlet macaw feeds mainly on fruits and nuts and can sometimes add leaves or bark. It consumes unripe fruits and they are able to open hard nuts with their strong beak. They press the nut between their tongue and palate to grind the seed. They also eat large quantities of fruits which are toxic to humans. In South America, macaws eat clay from riverbanks to neutralize toxins in these foods, but in Costa Rica, how they neutralize toxins in foods is still a mystery. Central Pacific scarlet macaws eat fruits and seeds from over 40 native tree species, but they also eat seeds of exotic species.
Macaws can be found in Carate and Corcovado National Park because they like undisturbed tropical forests. They can also be found in Carara National Park, near the Central Pacific Coast. They usually have large territories and fly in pairs or small families, reaching speeds of up to 55mph. They can maintain contact in flight by raucous calls. Pairs, trios, or small family groups are usually seen, but these may sometimes mix into flocks of 25 or even 50 individuals at large roosts in tall trees or mangroves. Car rental Costa Rica.
Scarlet macaws are monogamous and pair for life. The Scarlet Macaw nests in large holes in tall living or dead trees; 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, especially because some bee species occupy the same kind of tree cavity.
Couples lay 2-3 eggs once a year during the dry season. Adults care for their young for up to two years and will not lay another clutch until all the young leave the nest. Both parents incubate and feed the young, which hatch blind and naked. Macaws can live forty years or longer. Rent a car in Costa Rica.
The scarlet macaw is a protected species in Costa Rica. Nevertheless their populations have been reduced due to the destruction of their habitat. They are now constrained to the forests of the upper Golfo de Nicoya, such as in Palo Verde National Park, and the forests of the Osa Peninsula, such as at Corcovado National Park.