Discover The Wonders Of Costa Rica

Those visiting Costa Rica can expect to see the likes of sloths, monkeys and toucans if they venture into any of the country’s many national parks during their vacation.

But they shouldn’t count on seeing any velociraptors or T-Rexes, says Michel Aranda of Costa Rican tour company Neo Travel.

Aranda, in Toronto this week for a Costa Rica presentation, said blockbuster movie Jurassic Park – which ended with dinosaurs running wild on a Costa Rican island, “was very good publicity [for Costa Rica] but there are none [in reality].”

But tourism authorities add that Costa Rica – a pioneer in eco-tourism – is a nature enthusiast’s paradise, with 26% of its land mass protected from development by national parks and other sanctuaries.

Aranda said his homeland has more bird species than Canada and the United States combined and some “500,000 species of flora and fauna.”

“What is the highlight of Costa Rica? Diversity. You’re going to see lots of things,” he said. “Every corner of Costa Rica has a lot of nature.”

Costa Rica even has 100 species of bats, Aranda noted. “If you don’t like mosquitoes, you should love these guys,” he joked of bats, many of which feed on insects.

One reason for Costa Rican diversity is the varied landscapes found in the country, with those landscapes including rainforest and cloud-forest.

Luanna Gonzalez of the Costa Rica Tourism Board said it’s common for those travelling in Costa Rican parks to have to stop for animals. “Manuel Antonio [National Park] is like a zoo but the animals are free,” she said.

Gonzalez added that her homeland’s Caribbean coast also offers opportunities to spot wildlife. Those opportunities include Tortuguero National Park, which can be explored by its canals.

Seen here are Alexandra Espinoza and Rodrigo Valverde of Costa Rica Sky Adventures; Karla Lucke of the Tango Mar Hotel & Villas; Sergio Heinfling of Memorable Costa Rica; Daniel Chavarria of enchanting-hotels; Carolina Arias of Best Western;  Aranda; and Luanna Gonzalez of the Costa Rican Tourism Board.