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Visiting the Rainforests of Costa Rica

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Posted by Your Guide on May 10, 2006 4:58 PM

The rainforests in Costa Rica make up about 25% of the country’s landmass. Even though the country is the second smallest in Central America and slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia, Costa Rican rainforests make up 5% of the world’s biodiversity. It is no wonder that rainforests are one of the main attractions to this country.

There are many ways to see a rainforest – through hiking, canopy tours, or rafting tours. If you only have a few days to visit Costa Rica, choose one region to explore and delve into these fascinating areas.

If you are the slightest bit adventurous, a canopy tour is the best way to get up close and personal with the rainforests. After you ascend to the top of the trees (don’t worry, you are always strapped in with a harness), you maneuver your way from treetop platform to treetop platform via a zip line. Canopy tours are located all across the country in the various types of rainforests. The best known areas for canopy tours are the Monteverde region, along the Central Pacific Coast and the Arenal region. Monteverde is special because its rain forest is classified as a cloud forest due to its unique weather conditions.

If you prefer not to climb trees, another way to observe the beauty of the forests would be to take a jungle boat cruise. Instead of swinging with the monkeys, some of these tours put you eye level with crocodiles, lizards and parrots as you float along on a flat-bottom river boat.

Do you like the idea of floating a river but would rather find a river with some rapids? There are a lot of white water rafting opportunities in Costa Rica if this is the route for you. In fact, the Pacuare River has been internationally acclaimed for its great rafting conditions. If you choose to spend a few days in this area, there will be plenty for you to do. In close proximity to San Jose on the Caribbean side of the central mountain range, the Pacuare River is easy to access if you want to make your home base in San Jose. There are a variety of rafting classes and the average trip is a 16-mile float, but some trips can last 2 or 3 days if you prefer. Also in the area you will find rainforests filled with monkeys, butterflies, birds and mammals. Hiking is very popular, especially since there is a beautiful canyon to explore and guided tours to make the most of your trip.



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