| Looking to experience some great Costa Rica | | | | The largest surviving Central America population |
| ecotourism? | | | | of the spectacular, and increasingly scarce, scarlet |
| There is a little known gem called Corcovado. | | | | macaws continues to be here. |
| Know of it? No? Well, don't fret because you are | | | | The Corcovado mammal species represent 10% |
| not the only one. | | | | of the kinds of mammals found in all of the |
| Corcovado National Park (Parque Nacional | | | | Americas and they live on just .000101777 |
| Corcovado) the Amazon of Costa Rica. For | | | | percent of the world's landmass. Additionally, 116 |
| excellent reason. The little park, only 42,000 | | | | species of reptiles and amphibians and 139 |
| hectares (about 100,000 acres) in size, is found on | | | | different species of mammals. |
| the Osa Peninsula, located along the southern | | | | To put this park's size in context, it would fit it |
| Pacific coastline of Costa Rica, in close proximity | | | | into American's Yellowstone National Park at least |
| to the Panama border. | | | | 22 times! |
| It's the largest remaining primary forest in Central | | | | Nevertheless, it has six types of wild cats, |
| America. | | | | including the magnificent jaguar and puma. |
| When Christopher Columbus explored the | | | | For everybody who is a fan of amphibians (I am |
| Americas in 1502 he sailed the Caribbean from | | | | referring to frogs here) Corcovado is a grand |
| Mexico south all the way to a land he labeled | | | | place to catch a glimpse of the glass frog, |
| 'Costa Rica', the 'rich coast'. For more than five | | | | poison-arrow frogs, and the rare red-eyed tree |
| centuries the name has remained. | | | | frog. |
| Extraordinary tropical forests covered the area | | | | Additionally it is one of the few places in Costa |
| from the Atlantic to the Pacific back then and | | | | Rica you will find squirrel monkeys. |
| there were so many sea turtles that sometimes | | | | You are likely to see fishing bats hunting for fish |
| mariners, lost in the fog, found land simply by | | | | above the rivers during hours of darkness. This |
| following the sounds of tens of thousands of | | | | amazing park is believed to be one of the few |
| marine reptiles paddling towards nesting beaches. | | | | remaining stands of the Harpy Eagle which is |
| Sadly, the passing of 500 years has not been | | | | most likely on its flight to extinction in Costa Rica. |
| generous to either the forests or wildlife and | | | | At Corcovado, you will find mile after mile of |
| these days many of the primary forests from | | | | apparently deserted beaches. I say apparently |
| Mexico to South America have been destroyed | | | | because these beaches are nesting grounds for |
| for logging and farming or simply burned. | | | | gigantic leatherback turtles (weighing more than |
| Providentially, Costa Rica had the foresight to | | | | half a ton), Pacific Ridley, green and hawksbill sea |
| conserve Corcovado. | | | | turtles. |
| Columbus never came across Corcovado. The | | | | Tapirs are common and provide prey for |
| first Western explorer to discover it was Sir | | | | ferocious jaguars and crocodiles. The spoor of |
| Frances Drake. | | | | these large cats are frequently seen along the |
| Name strike a bell? He is the Englishman who | | | | muddy trails surrounding the Corcovado Lagoon |
| demolished the Spanish Armada in 1588 and | | | | and they may also be sighted once in a while. |
| saved England from Spain. A few years before | | | | Take your camera and stay alert! |
| that dramatic battle, he landed just north of the | | | | Corcovado is one of the finest tropical rainforests |
| Osa Peninsula in a lovely area now named after | | | | on earth. On your Costa Rica vacation, you will |
| him: Drake Bay. The bay is the gateway to | | | | see why it is called the Amazon of Costa Rica |
| Corcovado. | | | | because it is as extraordinary as any rain forest in |
| Even though Corcovado is extremely little, only | | | | Brazil, Indonesia, or Malaysia. |
| about 20 miles in length and 8 miles wide----less | | | | Torrential rains fall in the area from April to |
| than 50 % the size of New York City--- it may | | | | December so the best time to tour is in the dry |
| be, as National Georgraphic relates: the most | | | | months from January to April. Victor Krumm |
| biologically intense place on the world. | | | | writes about tropical Costa Rica in his popular |
| Think about the following: You will discover 400 | | | | Costa Rica Vacations site. Costa Rica has so |
| various species of birds crammed into this tiny | | | | many things to do and see, so check out some |
| area. Compare that to the U.S. which has around | | | | of the great Costa Rica National Parks here. |
| 900. | | | | |