Each year, many thousands of travellers from around the world travel to Costa Rica to enjoy its wonderful beaches, tropical forests, mighty volcanoes and even, yes, its well known adult nightlife.
However, for more and more travelers, the different faces of nature are great Costa Rica attractions. In a land taking up but 1/10,000 of the world's surface almost five percent of all plant and animal species are found.
There are more species of butterflies in this tiny country than in all of the states of Africa put together, from the impressive Blue Morphos to the only butterfly in the world capable of making a sound, the Calico Butterfly of Monteverde Park, one of the country's Seven Wonders.
With almost the same number of bird species inhabiting or migrating to Costa Rica as there are in the entire U.S. , bird watching is enormously popular and, of course, remote Tortuguero National Park is known 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've all seen the enormous crocodiles of Africa on the Discovery Channel or other programs. If we could use a Time Machine to go back to the times of the first dinosaurs, we'd see their ancestors. Indeed, if we went back millions of years before the very first dinosaur appeared on the planet, we'd come across 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 the crocodiles of Costa Rica.
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 , of course, remained in Africa, while others drifted with the newly developing continent of South America. Then, millions of years after the continents began to drift apart, the isthmus we call Central America formed and, survivors that they were, crocodiles took up residence there, too.
Here are three recommended places for viewing Costa Rica's crocodiles (which can grow to lengths of 20 feet).
Tarcoles River
Just outside of Jaco, Costa Rica's most famous party city, a bridge takes visitors over the Tarcoles River. Massive crocodiles are regularly seen below the bridge.
Palo Verde National Park
Not far from Costa Rica's famous Pacific Gold Coast is the Palo Verde National Park, home to more than 300 species of birds and, in winter, 250,000 birds. Considered one of the best places to bird watch, there are daily boat tours along a slow flowing river from which to view birds, wildlife, and crocs.
Corcovado National Park
Called the "most biologically intense" place on earth by National Geographic, little Corcovado National Park along the country's southern Pacific coast hosts six types of wild cats (including the mighty jaguar and cougar), hundreds of bird species and. .crocodiles (in freshwater and often salt water).
If your travels take you to the Land of Pura Vida, the huge Costa Rica crocodiles await.
However, for more and more travelers, the different faces of nature are great Costa Rica attractions. In a land taking up but 1/10,000 of the world's surface almost five percent of all plant and animal species are found.
There are more species of butterflies in this tiny country than in all of the states of Africa put together, from the impressive Blue Morphos to the only butterfly in the world capable of making a sound, the Calico Butterfly of Monteverde Park, one of the country's Seven Wonders.
With almost the same number of bird species inhabiting or migrating to Costa Rica as there are in the entire U.S. , bird watching is enormously popular and, of course, remote Tortuguero National Park is known 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've all seen the enormous crocodiles of Africa on the Discovery Channel or other programs. If we could use a Time Machine to go back to the times of the first dinosaurs, we'd see their ancestors. Indeed, if we went back millions of years before the very first dinosaur appeared on the planet, we'd come across 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 the crocodiles of Costa Rica.
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 , of course, remained in Africa, while others drifted with the newly developing continent of South America. Then, millions of years after the continents began to drift apart, the isthmus we call Central America formed and, survivors that they were, crocodiles took up residence there, too.
Here are three recommended places for viewing Costa Rica's crocodiles (which can grow to lengths of 20 feet).
Tarcoles River
Just outside of Jaco, Costa Rica's most famous party city, a bridge takes visitors over the Tarcoles River. Massive crocodiles are regularly seen below the bridge.
Palo Verde National Park
Not far from Costa Rica's famous Pacific Gold Coast is the Palo Verde National Park, home to more than 300 species of birds and, in winter, 250,000 birds. Considered one of the best places to bird watch, there are daily boat tours along a slow flowing river from which to view birds, wildlife, and crocs.
Corcovado National Park
Called the "most biologically intense" place on earth by National Geographic, little Corcovado National Park along the country's southern Pacific coast hosts six types of wild cats (including the mighty jaguar and cougar), hundreds of bird species and. .crocodiles (in freshwater and often salt water).
If your travels take you to the Land of Pura Vida, the huge Costa Rica crocodiles await.
About the Author:
Each year, more and more travelers are discovering the pleasures and wonders of Costa Rica thru the popular and authoritative Costa Rica Vacations site.If you are into nature or eco tourism, or simply want to see very big, very ancient animals, you'll want to see the crocodiles of Costa Rica on your next trip.
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