#ecoturism

Rolling hills

The mountains of Costa Rica run down the center of the country and are flanked by rolling green hills and farmland like this. 

Photo: Ray Che

Baby two-toed sloth.

These arboreal mammals are native to Costa Rica. According to the photographer, this little guy is under the care of the Jaguar Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. 

Photo: Matt MacGillivray

Mango break.

One of the many tropical fruit options at markets in the capital San Jose and around the country. 

Photo: Everjean

Llanos de Cortez Waterfall, Guanacaste

A quick detour off the Panamerican Highway in Guanacaste Province will take you to this waterfall and swimming hole, which has its own white-sand beach. 

Photo: “Mike” Michael L. Baird

Green and black poison dart frog

One of Costa Rica’s 133 species of frog, this specimen was photographed in the rainforests of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, near the border with Panama. 

Photo: Geoff Gallice

The volcano’s 5,350ft peak is often banked in clouds—which doesn’t really detract from the view.

Photo: Scott Robinson

Hammerhead at Cocos Island

Cocos sits 340 miles southwest of mainland Costa Rica (about halfway to the Galapagos) and is an uninhabited national park. If you manage to make it out here, you’ve probably done so for the diving—some of the best in the world.

Photo: Barry Peters

Cruising the zipline

Many of the country’s ecotourism zones feature ziplines, which sling visitors over rainforests and waterfalls. The highest concentration is in the La Fortuna/Arenal area. 

Photo: Alex

Green sea turtle

The green sea turtle is one of many endangered species that depends on Costa Rica for its survival. The Tortuguero Conservation Area is the single most important nesting site for the Atlantic subpopulation of green turtles, and serves as an epicenter for turtle conservation. 

Photo: Roy Niswanger

Sunrise on the beach

Costa Rica has over 750 miles of coastline on both the Pacific and Caribbean, which means a whole lot of beach. 

Photo: Frontierofficial

Irazú Volcano National Park

From the photographer: “This picture was taken during our road trip in Costa Rica, while visiting the Irazú Volcano National Park. From the top it is possible to see both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on a clear day. However, such clear days are very rare and it is typical for the volcano’s summit to be covered in cloud for much of the time. Although we did not have the opportunity to observe the beautiful view from the top, these clouds created a very mysterious atmosphere and made the landscape very photogenic." 

Photo: Céline Colin

Arenal Volcano.

Though nowhere near the tallest volcano in Costa Rica, Arenal is the most active, regularly putting on shows like this. It gives its name to the national park that surrounds it. 

Photo: Scott Robinson