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Costa Rican nature, wildlife and refuges

by Wayne Wargo (PenWay.org)

If you are interested in refuges in the wild, then Costa Rica should be among the top places to visit. This country offers some of the best nature spots, wildlife and refuges to be found anywhere.

Among these refuges is the famous Finca Baru del Pacifico National Wildlife refuge, which is only a mile north of Dominical. This happens to be a paradise to the numerous plants and animals that you will see on a tour. You will be able to visit a lot of other great destinations as well. And you can bet that children will certainly enjoy the wildlife experiences and it will teach them a lot about respect and the importance of conservation.

The most popular destination in Costa Rica is known as the Hacienda Baru refuge. This is a formidable 800-acre private national refuge that has been open for decades. It is owned by Jack and Diane Ewing, who had planned in the 1970's to stay in Costa Rica for only 4 months, but are still there, studying and protecting the wildlife. It first started as a cattle raising operation, but then it turned into something so much more. The Hacienda keeps a running list of the animals found on the property and although you cannot see any of Costa Rica's famous jaguars here, you might have an encounter with a boa, puma, or ocelot. There are well over 300 species of birds also that call this reserve home, making it a birdwatcher's paradise.

Of course, many people will be afraid of the boas, but you are less likely to see them, but they are still lying around. Instead, watch for reptiles such as red-eyed tree frogs. You can also go to the shoreline to see humpback whales, which pass by from December to April. You can also go to the shore and see all the sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach. The Hacienda has a turtle nursery, where over two thousand baby turtles are hatched every year and released into the wild.

Costa Rica is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east. It shares the same time zone as Central Time in the United States. The distance from Houston, Texas to San Jose, Costa Rica is about 1,550 miles.

You will find that the land that is located in Costa Rica is forested; some of which is original "primary forest" which means that the original tress have never been cut down. There are also plenty of mangroves, rivers, and beaches for you to explore. A biological corridor is used to take visitors to the lowland forests.

There is such a wide range of options for nature guides to choose from all the available tours. If you are so inclined, you can spend hours relaxing on the beach or hours riding horseback through the jungle. Another fabulous experience is to take the rainforest tour. This is a must. There is so much history and knowledge to learn about and you will become more acquainted in what the rainforest is.

You can also take plenty of kayaking or self-guided tours to experience more available sights in Costa Rica. A canopy tour is another exciting experience you may want to indulge in. This is where you are able to explore the area with rope lifts and more. Anyone who loves to be one with nature is sure to enjoy Costa Rica.

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