27-10-2017
Costa Rica is a rugged, rainforest Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. Costa Rica’s Tropical Rainforests are often referred to as “jewels of the earth.” They are home to two-thirds of all living animal and plant species on the planet. With more than a quarter of Costa Rica’s total land area comprising of national parks, biological reserves and wildlife refuges, it is no wonder then that this country’s greatest national treasure is its plethora of natural diversity. Home to some of the most colorful and exotic flora and fauna on earth, and one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world, this tiny Central American country is the habitat of some 10,000 species of plants and trees! Lush and verdant throughout the year, Costa Rica is a fantastic place to visit for the avid nature lover. The jungles here are some of the most pristine and secluded on the planet, and play host to an incredibly varied mix of insects, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and birds. Among the most productive ecosystems in the world, Costa Rica’s forests have created truly unique habitats that have a microclimate all their own.
In 1502 Christopher Columbus landed in Puerto Limon, this same place I am standing now, then less than 20 indigenous tribes occupied the lands which are now Costa Rica. The golden bands that the region’s Carib Indians wore as earrings and nose rings inspired the crew to name the country Costa Rica, meaning Rich Coast. Columbus’ arrival ultimately led to the eradication of these native populations as exotic diseases and fatal battles took their toll. While large-scale colonization was rampant in other Central American countries, few Spanish colonists claimed lands in Costa Rica due to the lack of mineral wealth (gold and silver) and an abundant Indian population to work the land. Initial attempts to colonize coastal areas were unsuccessful due to the extreme heat, dense jungle and diseases such as Dengue fever and malaria. Colonists finally settled in the cooler, central highlands of Cartago in 1563. As most of the native population had perished, the settlers worked the land themselves and became small land owners. Cartago remained a provincial capital of colonial Spain for nearly two and a half century. In 1821, Costa Rica and several other Central American provinces declared their independence from Spain.
