Taraba Tours
Private guided tours at Arenal, Costa Rica
General information
his crew were warmly greeted by a group of indigenous people that
wore golden bands in their noses and ears. The discoverers therefore
expected to find a lot of gold in this county and called it Costa Rica,
which means "Rich Coast".
Even though the expectations of the Spaniards were not fulfilled,
the countrie's name still holds true though not for its gold, but the
tremendous biodiversity found here.
Costa Rica has more than its fare share of the world's flora and fauna.
Occupying only 0.03% of the world's land surface, it is home to 5% of
the total amount of plant and animal species known to inhabit the earth.
With only 19 600 square miles, Costa Rica is just smaller than West Virginia.
Yet the number of species is greater than that of the US and Canada
combined.
More than 850 species of birds, 220 species of reptiles, 160 species of
amphibians, 280 species of mammals, 130 species of freshwater fishes,
9000 species of vascular plants and tens of thousands of insect species
inhabit Costa Rica.
This extremely high biodiversity is due to the tropical climate in combination
with the diversity of terrain and the favorable location on the land bridge
between South and North America. Being in the middle of the two land
masses, Costa Rica harbors a blend of species typical of both regions.
Around 28% of the country's land area is protected in national parks as
well as public and private reserves. This is the largest percentage of protected
areas in the world.
Costa Rica receives close to two million visitors each year which enjoy the
countries splendid nature. Spectacular cloud- and rainforests with ample
opportunities for wildlife watching and hiking, awesome beaches, active
volcanoes and jungle rivers for rafting and kayaking await the traveler.
Besides its natural wonders, Costa Rica is the safest and one of the most
stable countries in Central America. It is a fantastic holiday destination for
visitors of all ages.
