Costa Rica is home to many wild and wonderful types of animals; from the famous and brightly-coloured scarlet macaw to the deadly spectacled caiman crocodile. With a unique location between the North and South American continents, Costa Rica has many different varieties of habitats, leading to more than 500,000 species calling the country home. This makes Costa Rica one of the top 20 countries with the highest biodiversity in the world. Incidentally, of the 500,000 species, over half are different types of insects, making Costa Rica a fascinating place for entomologists. Here are a few of the most fascinating creatures that you might catch a glimpse of while walking Costa Rica.

Frogs

Frogs are plentiful in the rainforests and jungles of Costa Rica, often active during the day. One notable type is the Poison-Dart Frog, though many species are endangered. Their brightly-coloured bodies make them easy to spot while you’re walking Costa Rica. Though levels of toxicity vary from one species to the other, they are all somewhat poisonous – they’re often known as ‘dart frogs’, due to the native Amerindians’ use of them to poison the tips of their blow-darts. The most poisonous type, the Golden Poison frog, actually secretes enough venom from its skin to kill ten or twenty men, or about ten thousand mice.

Reptiles

There are a wide range of reptiles to be seen while walking Costa Rica, but some might present a strange sight! The Striped Basilisk possesses the unique ability to ‘walk’ on water, being able to run about four and a half metres along the surface of water before sinking, due to flaps between its toes creating a pocket of air. Another distinctive animal is the Spectacled Caiman crocodile; living in a range of lowland and wetland habitats, it’s the most common of all the crocodilian species – though not one you want to get too close to while walking in Costa Rica.

Big Cats

While once numerous, big cats such as the jaguar are declining in numbers in Costa Rica. The third-largest feline after the lion and tiger, and the most powerful feline in the western hemisphere, the jaguar is nevertheless classed as a ‘near-threatened’ species. Relative to the other big cats, the jaguar has an immensely powerful bite, allowing it to pierce the shells of armoured reptiles, and employ a killing strategy of biting directly through the skull of its prey to their brains. While the jaguar prefers rainforests for a habitat, it might also be seen in forested or open terrain while you’re walking Costa Rica – though it is often associated with water too and (along with the tiger) enjoys swimming!

Birds

One species of bird you just can’t miss in Costa Rica is the Scarlet Macaw. Though they are also suffering from a decline in population, in part due to the country’s spraying of pesticides to preserve their banana crops, they can be glimpsed fluttering overhead and are recognized by the distinctive squawk you may hear while you’re out walking in Costa Rica. Although popular as pets, it is currently illegal to take Scarlet Macaws from the wild without specific permits.

Author Bio: Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. They offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in over 90 different countries. While walking Costa Rica with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, you will see scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Walking Costa Rica