Why You Need To See Costa Rica ASAP!
It seems like everyone is talking about Costa Rica, and I mean everybody, but why is that?
Let's dive into some of the top facts and see why Costa Rica needs to be on your bucket list.
Costa Rica was recently named the most sustainably happy country in the world.
Kind of an odd thing to be crowned...but I get it. Costa Rica has a lot of renewable energy sources and does not have to rely on many imports to keep its economy moving forward. With plenty of fresh plants, fruits, and grazing land for cattle, the future seems very bright for Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is listed as the 129th smallest country in the world.
Not sure who's in charge of figuring that out, but it sounds like a tough job. Either way, Costa Rica (to me) seems like a massive country with so much to explore. It is most definitely the type of place you're going to want to go BACK to, over and over again. Manuel Antonio is on the Pacific side of the country, while Puerto Viejo (location of our VRX trips) is on the Caribbean side near Puerto Limon. Both are amazing places to go, but Costa Rica is a big country, with a lot of jungles, and other places to check out.
You really, can't go wrong, here.
There are exactly 121 volcanic formations in Costa Rica, 7 of which are extremely active.
That's a lot of volcanoes....take me to the dormant ones, please. And talk about hiking...there are some truly epic trails that will bring you to some seriously breathtaking views like this one down below. The lush farmland surrounding each one of these volcanic areas is truly incredible. Make it a priority to see one on your next trip to Costa Rica.
99% of the electricity in Costa Rica is obtained from renewable energy sources (wind, sun, water, etc.)
You'll understand when you go to Costa Rica...there's a lot of sun, a lot of water, and a lot of wind. No wonder why they can get enough for everyone...and while the infrastructure is still growing in Costa Rica, the priorities have been to build the systems of the future, like focusing on renewable energy sources. And while that's a worthy endeavor, Costa Rica still has plenty of things to work on (like creating a working snail mail system and listing street addresses) but we'll save that for another blog post later on...
Costa Rica has over 100 internationally protected parks and over 801 miles of pure coastline.
Without a doubt, one of Costa Rica's best attributes is the lush coastline and internationally protected parks and rainforests. You'll never be able to traverse it all, but you don't need to. You just need to go out there and find your beach. And that won't be hard, considering the beaches aren't even close to packed....it's not like fighting for a towel spot anywhere on Cape Cod, or having to arrive at 8 am just to set up camp near the waves...Costa Rica has enough beach for everyone. Trust me.
Costa Rica is home to 5% of the entire world’s bio-diversity. (That's a lot of species)
Again, how did they figure that out?! That guy must be seriously good at math. Plus, that's a lot of counting of animals. Either way, Costa Rica (and Puerto Viejo especially) has a lot of wildlife reserves where you can see Jaguars, Toucans, spiders, sloths, monkeys and so much more. It's surreal, to say the least.
Costa Rica is home to over 750,000 different species of insects
I don't need to see them all, but that's seriously impressive. And looking at all the rainforests, jungles and national parks, I can't really say I'm surprised in the least. As long as they don't invade my bed, I'm good.
Costa Rica is also home to over 20,000 different species of spiders...
Probably a fun fact I didn't need to know. But, hey...good for them. How many did you say are poisonous, though? JK, there are actually very few of them that are actually poisonous and are located deep inside the jungles, away from the beaches, etc. No need to worry!
You'll know 'em when you see 'em (if you seem 'em). Hopefully, you don't!
Hummingbirds, you say? Costa Rica boasts over 52 separate species of them
Hummingbirds are magical creatures. Seriously. They flap their wings over 70 times per second and have a heart beat of 1,260 beats per minute. That is seriously insane....how did such a creature come into existence? If hummingbirds played soccer no one would have a chance...damn. Add in the fact there are 52 species of them here, and that is definitely something to see and keep an eye out for.
Naturally, Costa Rica is one of the best places in the world to see Sloths!
Costa Rica is home to two species of sloth, the brown-throated three-toed sloth and Hoffmann's two-toed sloth. Black eye patches and “smiling” mouths distinguish Costa Rica's docile three-toed sloths, while the larger two-toed variety has white-ringed faces, brown snouts, and shaggy coats.
There is a Sloth Sanctuary in Puerto Viejo as well, and it's included on our tour to Puerto Viejo. Get stoked. Sloths are some pretty hilarious creatures to behold in person.
Are you sold on Costa Rica, yet? With one of the most picturesque landscapes, best beaches, food, and wildlife seeing places in the world, this can and should be on your bucket list. Keep in mind, Costa Rica has so many different places to go, and we've chosen Cashew Hill Jungle Lodge and Puerto Viejo into this incredibly diverse country.
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