Costa Rica is rich in natural resources in the forms of seascapes, landscapes and wildlife. Aside from the country’s rich geographical qualities such as tropical jungles and glorious beaches, Costa Rica is also blessed with a great biodiversity.

The blessed isle of Costa Rica is home to the Harpy Eagle. Considered as one of the largest and most powerful birds known, the Harpy Eagle was named after Hades’ wind spirits for its strength and agility. The Harpy Eagles are carnivores and are known to snatch up a monkey, a sloth or a porcupine from treetops for sustenance. They have black feathers but their undersides are covered in white. A typical female Harpy Eagle weighs about six to nine kilograms while its male counterpart weighs to only about four to five kilograms. Harpy Eagles are recently considered as near threatened. The destruction of their habitats such as deforestation and logging has made this particular species almost extinct. According to some travelogues, some of the Harpy Eagles can be seen in the Corcovado area.

The medium sized mammals called sloths are mostly prey to the Harpy Eagles and can also be found in Costa Rica’s jungles. These creatures are known to spend their time sleeping for more than eighteen hours a day. Two types of sloths can be found in Costa Rica, the commonly seen three-toed sloth and the nocturnal two-toed sloth. Three-toed sloths are considered herbivores while the two-toed sloths are omnivores preying on leaves, tender shoots, insects and small reptiles. Due to the endangerment of these species, sanctuaries, like the Aviarios Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica, have been built to help protect them from further extinction.

Costa Rica is also known for their jungle wild cats. The country is actually home to six species of wild cats from the largest to the smallest—the Jaguar, Jaguarundi, Puma, Ocelot, Margay Cat and Tigrillo. Jaguars are the largest carnivores weighing 56 to 96 kilograms. They have the recorded lengths to about 1.62 to 1.83 metres with its tail even adding about 75 centimetres to its total body length. The smallest wild cat growing to about 38 to 59 centimetres is called the Tigrillo or Oncillo.

The Jaguarundi is a medium sized wild cat that is also called Leoncillo, which means little lion. Sometimes they are also called otter cats. They have short round ears, short legs and elongated body and tail and from afar, they look like otters. The Puma, also known as mountain lion or cougar, is the fourth largest cat in the world with the body length of 1.5 to 2.75 metres. They are best known for their hunting skills. The Margay cat and Ocelot are two different species of cats that look similar. Both are medium sized cats that have similar features with the domestic cat. Their fur normally comes in brown fur with either spots or stripes of black, white or dark brown in them.

Most of these animals can only be seen in Costa Rica’s rich and diversified jungles. Currently, their numbers are slowly decreasing due to numerous deforestation and pollution. But the people of Costa Rica are doing everything they can to preserve and help these wild animals.

Who doesn’t like going out to smell the fresh open air of the sea? It’s safe to say that a pristine beach is nearly universally loved, and beaches are the ultimate vacation getaway for most. Vacationers can do lots of activities such as swimming, snorkelling, surfing and scuba diving. Volleyball, Tug-of-war and other games can be played by kids and adults alike. Everybody loves the beach. And everybody loves great beaches.

Vacationers are always looking for the best beaches in the world. People travel to different countries in search for that perfect beach—such as Costa Rica. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and Carribean Sea, Costa Rica is blessed with rich biodiversity and gorgeous beaches. The country has numerous bays, peninsulas and coasts and has utilized them to attract more tourists. Costa Rica’s beaches truly offer the get-away-from-it-all vacation most travellers are searching for.

Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula has been a top tourist destination for some time. It’s famous for its unspoiled beaches. One can enjoy beaches such as Montezuma, Tamarindo and Santa Teresa. Montezuma can be found at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. It has been known as the “Bohemian Beach” since Bohemian-inspired travellers often come to Montezuma. There are also tide pools and hidden waterfalls to enjoy within the beach town.

The Tamarindo beach area is a haven for world-class travellers. It has now grown into a traveller’s paradise since it has been developed to accommodate tourists’ every need. Restaurants and supermarkets have opened nearby the beach for the tourists’ convenience. Aside from swimming, travellers can enjoy coastal activities such as zip-lining, snorkelling, surfing and fishing. Mal Pais beach town is known as one of the top ten most beautiful beaches is the world. Its white sand coves have attracted many travellers including celebrities giving the small town its current popularity.

Aside from the beaches of Nicoya Peninsula, Corcovado is also considered a top tourist beach destination in Costa Rica. It is located in the Osa Peninsula which is in the southwest of Costa Rica. Corcovado has preserved its pristine condition even though many tourists have visited it. Travellers enjoy its natural splendour by pitching tents and spending nights on the beach while on vacation.
One of the first discovered beaches in Costa Rica is the Manuela Antonio beach. It has become well-known because of its breathtaking views and sights. The vibrant colours of blue and green are incorporated in the sea, jungle-covered mountains and sky. Since it’s the most visited beach in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio also has a very active night life in the nearby town area.

Tortuguero is a beach on Costa Rica’s Carribean side. It’s located in the north of Limon. Its name loosely translates to “Land of Turtles.” As its name suggest, sea turtles can be found in its waters. Vacationers can get a chance to see these creatures during their egg-laying season, which is from April to May and July to October, depending on the species of turtle.

Other beaches such as Punta Uva, Playa Dominical, Manzanillo and Bonita beach can also be visited in Costa Rica. More beaches are being developed for tourism each year. And many of the known beaches are growing in development to accommodate the many tourist visiting Costa Rica.