Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists from across the planet travel to Costa Rica to enjoy its glorious beaches, magnificent forests, mighty volcanoes and even, yes, its legendary adult nightlife.
But, for many visitors, the different faces of nature are huge Costa Rica attractions. In a place taking up but 1/10,000 of the planet's surface virtually 5 percent of all plant and animal species are found.
There are far more types of butterflies in this small country than in all the nations of Africa combined, ranging from the superb Blue Morphos to the only butterfly in the world that makes a sound, the Calico Butterfly of Monteverde.
With virtually the same number of bird species in Costa Rica as there are in the continental United States , bird watching is very popular and, of course, remoteTortuguero has long been renowned for its sea turtles.
However What the majority of people, including eco tourists, nature lovers, even conservationists, don't know is that the world's most ancient animal, the crocodile, also calls Costa Rica home and they're often easily viewed. Increasingly, they're becoming popular Costa Rica animals with visitors.
We have all seen the huge crocs of Africa on the Discovery Channel or other nature shows. If we could jump into a Time Machine to return to the days of the earliest dinosaurs, we might see their ancestors. Indeed, if we returned millions of years before the first dinosaur appeared in the world, we would find ancient crocs.
They're the ultimate survivor. Dinosaurs became extinct while crocodiles flourished. They're so ancient that they predated the 7 Seas, the birth of the Atlantic Ocean, and even the Seven Continents (the earliest crocs appeared when there were only 2 super continents).
Which leads us to Costa Rica's crocodiles.
About 40 million years back (give or take a few million years), South America was literally attached to Africa and crocodiles frequented both places. Over the following many millions of years, Continental Drift separated the land masses, creating the Atlantic Ocean and making each into the separate continents we know today.
Crocodiles went along for the ride. Some stayed behind in Africa, some drifted with the recently developing continent of South America. Then, millions of years after the continents started to drift apart, the isthmus we call Latin America formed and, survivors that they were, crocodiles traveled there, too.
Here are 3 excellent places for finding Costa Rica's crocodiles (which can be 16-20 feet long).
Tarcoles River
Just outside of Jaco, Costa Rica's most renowned party town, a bridge takes travelers over the Tarcoles River. Huge crocs are right below the bridge.
Palo Verde National Park
Close to Costa Rica's famous Pacific Gold Coast is the Palo Verde National Park, home to over 300 species of birds and, during winter, a quarter million birds. Considered one of the finest places to bird watch, there are daily boat tours along a languid river from which to view birds, wildlife, and crocs.
Corcovado National Park
Called the "most biologically intense" spot on earth by Nat Geo, tiny Corcovado Park along the nation's southern Pacific coast hosts 6 kinds of wild cats (including the powerful jaguar and cougar), hundreds of species of birds and. .crocodiles (in freshwater and sometimes salt water).
If your travels take you to the Land of Pura Vida, the ancient crocodiles of Costa Rica await.
But, for many visitors, the different faces of nature are huge Costa Rica attractions. In a place taking up but 1/10,000 of the planet's surface virtually 5 percent of all plant and animal species are found.
There are far more types of butterflies in this small country than in all the nations of Africa combined, ranging from the superb Blue Morphos to the only butterfly in the world that makes a sound, the Calico Butterfly of Monteverde.
With virtually the same number of bird species in Costa Rica as there are in the continental United States , bird watching is very popular and, of course, remoteTortuguero has long been renowned for its sea turtles.
However What the majority of people, including eco tourists, nature lovers, even conservationists, don't know is that the world's most ancient animal, the crocodile, also calls Costa Rica home and they're often easily viewed. Increasingly, they're becoming popular Costa Rica animals with visitors.
We have all seen the huge crocs of Africa on the Discovery Channel or other nature shows. If we could jump into a Time Machine to return to the days of the earliest dinosaurs, we might see their ancestors. Indeed, if we returned millions of years before the first dinosaur appeared in the world, we would find ancient crocs.
They're the ultimate survivor. Dinosaurs became extinct while crocodiles flourished. They're so ancient that they predated the 7 Seas, the birth of the Atlantic Ocean, and even the Seven Continents (the earliest crocs appeared when there were only 2 super continents).
Which leads us to Costa Rica's crocodiles.
About 40 million years back (give or take a few million years), South America was literally attached to Africa and crocodiles frequented both places. Over the following many millions of years, Continental Drift separated the land masses, creating the Atlantic Ocean and making each into the separate continents we know today.
Crocodiles went along for the ride. Some stayed behind in Africa, some drifted with the recently developing continent of South America. Then, millions of years after the continents started to drift apart, the isthmus we call Latin America formed and, survivors that they were, crocodiles traveled there, too.
Here are 3 excellent places for finding Costa Rica's crocodiles (which can be 16-20 feet long).
Tarcoles River
Just outside of Jaco, Costa Rica's most renowned party town, a bridge takes travelers over the Tarcoles River. Huge crocs are right below the bridge.
Palo Verde National Park
Close to Costa Rica's famous Pacific Gold Coast is the Palo Verde National Park, home to over 300 species of birds and, during winter, a quarter million birds. Considered one of the finest places to bird watch, there are daily boat tours along a languid river from which to view birds, wildlife, and crocs.
Corcovado National Park
Called the "most biologically intense" spot on earth by Nat Geo, tiny Corcovado Park along the nation's southern Pacific coast hosts 6 kinds of wild cats (including the powerful jaguar and cougar), hundreds of species of birds and. .crocodiles (in freshwater and sometimes salt water).
If your travels take you to the Land of Pura Vida, the ancient crocodiles of Costa Rica await.
About the Author:
Every year, more travelers are discovering the pleasures and wonders of Costa Rica by visiting the lovely and authoritative Costa Rica Vacations web site.If you're into nature or eco tourism, or just wish to see massive, extraordinarily ancient animals, you will need to see the crocodiles of Costa Rica on your next trip.
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