Costa Rica is visited by over 2 millions tourists a year coming from all corners of the globe. They come in search of stunning beaches but also for the abundance of wildlife and green, lush jungles where nature lovers can see the flora and fauna of the tropics up close.

The country holds 5% of the world’s biodiversity and offers an incredible variety of flora and fauna. Costa Rica contains an interesting range of reptiles and is home to some 200 species.

Costa Rica’s flora is protected by a large system of national parks, which makes up for at least 20% of the country’s area. Thanks to these extensive protected areas, Costa Rica boasts more than 9,000 species of “higher plants”, and at least 800 species of ferns. There are many more species, some of which are widespread in the country, and some which are limited to an ecosystem or a particular area.

Here are four reasons to come to Costa Rica to see the natural world at its best:

Bird watching – With an astounding biodiversity Costa Rica provides great bird watching opportunities at spectacular locations. Head to the wondrous rainforests or the numerous wildlife reserves across the country.

Mammals – Costa Rica’s “Rich Coast” offers habitats to various unique mammal species. The country is abundant in fascinating animals, although it does not have as many mammals as reptiles, birds and insects. Still there are around 212 species of mammals in Costa Rica and half of these are bats. The dry regions of Guanacaste are prime locations for wildlife viewing. You can even see dolphins and possibly a whale or two if you take a boat across to Tortuga Island off Montezuma. I did this with my five year old son, who was in heaven watching the dolphins swim along side us!

Turtles – Costa Rica provides vital nesting sites for six of the seven endangered species of marine turtles in the world. Of these six the Green turtle, Olive Ridley and the Loggerhead are considered as endangered while the Hawksbill and the Leatherback turtles remain critically endangered. Dependant on land and the ocean, the marine turtles lay their eggs on various beaches all around the globe.

Monteverde Golden toads – The tiny tropical Monteverde Golden Toad has earned itself much fame worldwide for its rarity and beauty. Also known as the “little jewels on the forest floor”, this shiny and brightly orange toad was once abundant in the highly elevated tropical cloud forest area above the town of Monteverde. There is very little information available about the activities of the golden toad, although they were closely studied during the late 1980s. Amazing creatures!