Costa
Rica is riding a wave of well-deserved popularity as an
ecological wonderland. For a country about the same size
as the state of West Virginia, it's packed with incredible
biological diversity, varied landscapes, and a seemingly
endless selection of outdoor diversions, from bird-watching
and beach trips to rigorous rafting and rain forest hiking
trips.
Costa Rica's
natural beauty and accessibility appeal to a broad range
of visitors. Some are "soft adventure" types looking
to explore the wildlife reserves within the country's extensive
system of national parks. The beaches might also be the
stomping ground of more serious adventurers on a mission
to surf some of North Americas best waters. Whichever type
you are, and whether you visit the tropical jungles of the
Caribbean coast or the modern cities of the Central Valley,
or both, it's apparent that from nearly every angle the
country is downright gorgeous.
The strife
that rocked Central America during much of the past two
decades painted a less-than-rosy picture of the area in
the minds of most North Americans and Europeans. In the
midst of political unrest, Costa Rica managed to remain
an island of stability and peace. The country has no army
-- it was abolished in 1949. Costa Rica is also the region's
most sturdy democracy, and the country has a deep-rooted
respect for human rights. Ticos -- or Costa Ricans -- love
to quote oft-repeated expressions about the country's achievements,
such as "Costa Rica has more teachers than policemen"
and "Why have tractors without violins?," among
others. In education, Costa Rica ranks with many developed
countries (the literacy rate is about 93%). Its telecommunications
system, although quirky by North American standards, is
probably the best in the region, as is its health-care system.
The country's
most impressive quality, however, is its biological diversity,
seen in the variety of flora, fauna, landscapes, and microclimates.
National parks and preserves cover about 15% of the country
and are home to 850 species of birds, 205 species of mammals,
376 types of reptiles and amphibians, and more than 9,000
different species of flowering plants, among them 1,200
varieties of orchids. Landscapes include cool mountain valleys
and massive volcanoes, hilly coffee fincas (farms) and flat
banana groves, and sultry mangrove forests and palm-strewn
beaches.
The many rivers
that wind down the country's valleys churn through steep
stretches that are popular white-water-rafting routes, and
some end up as languid jungle waterways appropriate for
both animal-watching and sportfishing. With mile upon mile
of beaches backdropped by coconut palms and thick forest,
the Caribbean and Pacific coasts are ideal for swimming
and sunbathing, and when the sun goes down, many beaches
are visited by nesting sea turtles. The oceans that hug
those coasts hold intricate coral formations, rugged islands,
colorful schools of fish, and plentiful waves, enticing
anglers, surfers, and sea kayakers. What more could you
want?
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