Despite its small size, Costa Rica hosts a wide range of ecosystems, including rainforests, cloud forests, dry forests, mangroves, and coastal marine. Because of this diverse landscape, the country can support numerous outdoor and adventure activities, such as zip-lining, white-water rafting, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and hiking.

Pura Vida (meaning pure life) is a phrase repeated everywhere in Costa Rica. Ticos (locals) believe in enjoying life instead of rushing through it. Their culture is laid-back, polite, optimistic, and focused on family and friends.

This view on life was very evident in the Pacific coast region of Puntarenas where we spent a week in April.

Here are some highlights:

Marino Ballena National Park

Our resort, located high in the hills above the town of Uvita, had a perfect view of Marino Ballena National Park. At low tide, a naturally occurring sandbar and rocky formation known as the "Whale Tail" is visible. After seeing this, we knew we needed to walk this beach early in the morning due to the tide schedule and also the heat during the day.

The beach is almost 9 miles long and walking the ‘Whale Tail’ took about an hour. Even at 9 AM, the sun was strong. I can’t imagine walking or sitting on this beach midday. For as far as we could see along the coast, there were only a few people here and there walking and no one was sunbathing.

Iguanas and Crocs

Near the entrance, a Tico smiled and pointed up at a tree to show us an iguana that was about 2 1/2 feet long including its tail. Like most wildlife in Costa Rica, it was well hidden in its natural habitat. We would have walked a few feet under it and not seen it if the local hadn’t pointed it out to us. There were also signs along the tree line warning of crocodiles in the area.

Humpback Whales

The waters around Marino Ballena National Park are a prime spot for whale watching, particularly humpback whales. Although we did not take a boat tour, they are available during the peak season (July to October and December to April.)

Térraba-Sierpe National Wetlands

The day we spent in the protected area of Terraba-Sierpe National Wetlands was amazing. This expansive area is characterized by an intricate network of rivers, mangrove forests, and estuaries, making it a haven for wildlife and a paradise for nature enthusiasts. I highly recommend adding a tour of this area to your itinerary.

Enoc, our tour guide and the owner of Sierpe Azul Tours was amazing. He's a clear example of how sustainable development and tourism can go hand in hand. He shared in-depth knowledge about the different types of mangroves, animals, and more, and was able to answer any questions we had. It was just our family of three on the tour making it all the more special.

Abundant Wildlife

His boat cruised slowly along the river as he pointed out a significant number of wildlife including crocodiles, a variety of birds, an anteater, a large boa high in a tree, and families of squirrel and capuchin monkeys. The highlight was a group of squirrel monkeys that we watched for a good 15 minutes or more. Thirsty monkeys ran across the mangroves at the edge of the river, dipped their tails quickly in the water, and then sucked the water from their tails. Crocs living in the waters are waiting in stealth mode nearby so they cannot dawdle in or too near the water’s edge. There was a frenzy of movement the entire time we watched them.

Featured in National Geographic

National Geographic has featured the Térraba-Sierpe National Wetlands in various articles and documentaries, highlighting its importance as one of the largest mangrove forests in Central America and emphasizing its ecological significance.

Corcovado National Park

Corcovado is often hailed as one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. It's a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, with opportunities to spot jaguars, pumas, peccaries, tapirs, monkeys, iguanas, poison dart frogs, countless bird species, and more.

The park is huge—over 100,000 acres. Situated on the Osa Peninsula, it encompasses rainforests, mangrove swamps, rivers, and coastal areas. It has land entrances through the towns of Puerto Jiménez and Drake Bay and a sea entrance at the Sirena Ranger Station.

Full-Day Tour

We went on a full-day Corcovado tour that included a boat ride from Uvita to the Corcovado Sirena Ranger Station, lunch, a guided walk through the park, and a return boat trip. The boat rides were fine, but once inside the park, the tour members’ expertise was severely limited.

Corcovado requires that visitors stay on trails to minimize environmental impact and avoid getting lost. Several of the younger guides were running barefoot off the trails (and telling us to follow them) as they followed a spider monkey flying through the forest canopy. Not OK.

Our experiences with other tours throughout the country were much better—the guides were super knowledgeable, knew a ton about sustainability and ecotourism, and knew ahead of time where wildlife had been seen recently. This is because fellow guides share where they’ve seen wildlife with each other so that every visitor can have a great wildlife experience. This didn’t seem the case with this group.

Abundant Wildlife

While there, we caught a glimpse of a few peccaries, as well as small iguanas, a crocodile, and a few spider monkeys. Given that this was a full-day tour, we were somewhat disappointed.

I mention our issues with this one tour guide as a cautionary tale. We picked up a tour in Uvita rather than asking our hotel or other tour guides we had used and liked, for recommendations. Enoc, our Térraba-Sierpe guide was awesome and had recommendations but we saw him the day after our Corcovado tour. C’est la vie! I did not see the tour group we used when I did a Google search so I suspect they are no longer doing business in Costa Rica.

Although we were disappointed with our tour choice, Corcovado is another stop I recommend adding to your itinerary using an experienced top-rated guide. Read the comments to make sure they are solid.

More Along the Pacific Coast Region

The southern Pacific coast region of Costa Rica has much more to offer in terms of natural wonders, outdoor adventures, and cultural experiences including surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and sports fishing. Whether you're seeking relaxation on pristine beaches or thrilling encounters with wildlife, southern Costa Rica is sure to leave a lasting impression.

What About the Northern Section of Costa Rica?

Are you interested in the northern regions of Costa Rica (Guanacaste, Puntarenas, and Alajuela), where the towns of Arenal, La Fortuna, and Monteverde can be used as your bases for day trips and excursions?

Read my article, Costa Rica's Ecotourism is Wildly Popular. Embrace the Country’s Northern Region and Discover Why here.

Highlights include the Arenal Volcano, a range of adventure tours including ziplining and water rafting, natural hot springs to soothe those achy muscles, Monteverde Cloud Forest, coffee plantations, and more.

Ecotourism is a Win-Win for Locals and Tourists

In addition to its unique beauty, Costa Rica's locals (Ticos) proudly value and protect the country’s biodiversity with a well-developed ecotourism industry. Efforts focus on responsible travel, emphasizing sustainable practices and the conservation of natural resources. As proof, more than 25% of Costa Rican land is designated as a national park, reserve, or protected area.

Tourism revenue is fed back into sustainability efforts, improving locals' well-being by preserving their livelihoods and culture. It’s a win-win for both locals and tourists.

Many areas within Costa Rica are unique and offer memorable experiences because Costa Rica has a successful ecotourism industry.

Related Articles: