Costa Rica detailed statistics and information
Statistical information about Costa Rica including geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, and military statistics.

Country map
High quality shaded relief map showing natural features.

Part 3: Costa Rica
On the evening of the 19th, our ship sailed out of Puerto Colon, Panama, accompanied by the usual Laughing Gulls, Royal Terns and Magnificent Frigatebirds. Within an hour or two we encountered rough seas and rain. This was the first unpleasant weather of the trip. After a rocky night, we awoke to find that we had not docked in Puerto Limón, Costa Rica, but were in a holding pattern just off-shore. An announcement that the port was closed due to rough seas and high winds effectively dampened our spirits as we had made some big plans for the next two days and now they were probably ruined.

Puerto Jiminez, Costa Rica
Naming the strip of cleared land that runs from Mexico to the South American border the Pan-American "Highway" is truly a case of false advertising. The excellent guidebooks we consulted before the trip warned that the road is difficult and tedious to traverse, pockmarked with potholes, inexplicable ruts, washed out gorges and mudslides. It's tough to believe that until you see it.

COSTA RICA 
Costa Rica has only 51,110 square km of territory, but it contains a tremendous variety of features; rivers, plains, mountains, volcanoes, beaches as well as a very diverse flora and fauna in numerous national parks and wildlife reserves. There are many more attractions for the tourist, as well as a wide range of climates. A small tropical country, Costa Rica lies between two oceans. This, combined with its complex mountainous topography, gives rise to a extensive variety of habitats. These range from tropical dry forest and lowland rainforest to páramo, with a corresponding difference in climatic conditions.

Costa Rica: Santa Elena cloud forest reserve
A walk through a Costa Rica Monteverde cloud forest reveals a lush green garden of mosses, ferns, flowers and epiphytes growing thickly on every tree. Clouds drift in and settle among the slopes, giving the continuous moisture required for such exuberant plant growth. Dangling roots and vines sweep across the trails. The air is rich with the sounds of birds and the occasional scurrying of small mammals on the forest floor. In the distance a howler monkey roars

Costa Rica: National Parks
Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, Arenal National Park, Poás Volcano National Park, Juan Castro Blanco National Park, Irazú Volcano National Park, Tapantí National Park, Guayabo National Monument, Isla Bolaños Biological Reserve, Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste National Park, Rincón de la Vieja National Park, Barra Honda National Park, Palo Verde National Park & Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodríguez Caballero National Wildlife Refuge, Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve, Las Baulas Marine National Park, Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge, Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, Braulio Carrillo National Park (Barva Volcano sector), Braulio Carrillo National Park (Zurquí sector), Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge, Tortuguero National Park, Cahuita National Park, Gandoca - Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, Hitoy - Cerere Biological Reserve, Peñas Blancas National Wildlife Refuge, Guayabo, Negritos and Pájaros Islands Biological Reserves, Curú National Wildlife Refuge, Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve, Carara Biological Reserve, Manuel Antonio National Park, Ballena Marine National Park, La Amistad International Park, Corcovado National Park, Caño Island Biological Reserve, Golfito National Wildlife Refuge, Cocos Island National Park, Chirripó National Park

Pictures form Costa Rica 

Scenes from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Trip Report 
This site presents a selection of photographs (clickable thumbnails). The emphasis of this site is on birds, nature and photography. Hopefully it helps people to select interesting locations for their own trips. Note that pictures of the country are classified by location, and that animals are classified by species lists at the bottom of this page.

Adventure travel in Costa Rica 
Database with descriptions and pictures of adventure travel destinations in this beautiful and interesting country.