Costa Rica is considered by visitors to be one of the most beautiful countries in the world, thanks to its cloud forests, volcanoes, rivers and beaches. Home to 6% of the world’s biodiversity, this country, which is subdivided into protected areas, features wetlands along its Caribbean coastline and very lush nature reserves on its Pacific side. All of this provides countless opportunities for well-being, relaxation, but also adventure and even adrenaline. The experience becomes even more magical at sunset, especially in the west, because most of the fauna is active at this time of day, with some animals coming to life only at night.
The jungle will unveil its mysteries to you through certain species that are not easy to spot during the daytime! Alongside expert guides, equipped with a special UV torch, you will explore this stunning ecosystem.
The atmosphere becomes phantasmagorical, with colours ranging from bright green to deep black, the air filled with the sounds of millions of animals, including insects, birds, amphibians and reptiles! No, that strange sound in the darkness is not a figment of your imagination, but came from a nocturnal creature… Don’t miss the red-eyed tree frogs – the stars of the show – transparent yet quite shiny, the miniature red and blue ones, or the black and yellow ones.
Another curiosity to experience – depending on the season – can be witnessed on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, in the north-east of the country. In the darkness, you will follow the traces of the olive-green turtles that come here to lay their eggs on the shore, close to the surging waves of the sea.
Have you heard of bioluminescence, a fascinating phenomenon, when the ocean is lit up at night? This is a defence mechanism used by living organisms such as fireflies, deep-sea fish or plankton, that are reacting to their predators by producing light when they feel threatened. An inimitable spectacle, to watch ideally from a kayak on the waters off the Nicoya Peninsula, so as to produce your own movements in the water and trigger this phenomenon.
Costa Rica is also home to the slow-moving two-toed or three-toed sloth; quetzal birds, with their emerald-green backs that contrast with their ruby-red bodies; the great potoo bird, a master at camouflaging with its environment; and of course, the keel-billed toucan. Bigger specimens may be spotted, such as large American crocodiles, which have made themselves at home along the Rio Tarcoles River; the Baird’s tapir, an endangered species; and with luck, rare big cats such as jaguars or pumas.
Best time to visit: the country is accessible all year round, but note that March and April are the hottest and busiest months. For expeditions into the tropical forest, choose the months from April to November, the rainy season, avoiding September.
