Winter Escape--Costa Rica

Beach, Costa Rica

The days are getting short and the wind is chilly. So I daydream about sunny warm places.
For example, Costa Rica.

I had never been in the tropics when I went there in 1972. It was magical. I have been back five times since.  It remains wonderful.

golden shower tree, Cassia fistula

In terms of escaping to sunshine, there are beaches:

On the Pacific side, in Guanacaste Province, this time of year is the dry season and it is hot and sunny every day, perfect beach weather.

Beach in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

There are beaches on the Atlantic side and lots of beautiful sunny hours despite the high rainfall.

Beach at Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Everywhere there are big tropical flowers

hibiscus

heliconia behind its big leaves

blue trumpet vine, Thunbergia grandiflora

And the pollinators they attract.

this moth was as big as my hand 

Costa Rica has many national parks protecting native animals. The animals are quite easy to see because they are used to crowds of people. And, compared to North America, the animals are different, from agoutis and iguanas to kinkajoos and tapirs.

agouti 

On the stump, a big iguana, seen from a picnic bench,
Manuel Antonio National Park

I'm too slow to have decent photos of birds, but the birds are awesome, some 890 different species (all of North America has 915). Parrots, hummingbirds, bell birds... On the dead tree below, a pair of scarlet macaws (better pictures of scarlet macaws link).

These photos do not begin to capture Costa Rica. The mountains reach over 10,000' creating all sorts of different ecological communities as you go up in elevation or cross to the other side of the continental divide. The central plateau with the capital has an absolutely wonderful climate. The focus on ecotourism provides outdoor experiences from bird watching to zip lining to hiking. And of course there are beaches on each side for swimming or water sports or just walking. And more.

A wonderful place to visit, dream about and/or remember.

Comments and corrections welcome.

Previous blogs on plants and environments mentioned above:

Hibiscus - link

Heliconia - link

Costa Rican rainforest trek, 1986 - link

Costa Rican rainforest visit, 2013 - link 

Northwestern Costa Rica (Guanacaste Province) link

Kathy Keeler, A Wandering Botanist

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