Hike and Photograph Among Costa Rica's Turtles and Nature's Bold Colors

North-central Costa Rica is a paradise for exploring and photographing colorful resident birds, unique migrating birds, tropical flowers and animals, monkeys, colorful moths and the lush vegetation of the rain forest. Then explore Tortuguero National Park in the Caribbean Watershed, to see turtles laying their eggs and the eggs hatching. And visit the picturesque Arenal Volcano National Park and thermal hot-springs in a tropical rain forest and discover the cooler temperatures of a cloud forest as you explore Bojos del Toro. In Costa Rica, photographic opportunities abound endlessly.

The north-central area of Costa Rica contains the most diversified habit in a mini-area comprising tropical rain forests, cloud forests, watershed and volcanic mountain range.  Exploring nature in Costa Rica, photographic occasions abound endlessly. There are sloths, monkeys, bold, colorful birds and red-eye tree frogs high in the trees.  On the ground, glimpse Agouti, iguanas, coatimundi, collared peccary, tapir, Rhinoceros beetle, snakes, glass frogs, butter flies, bats, colorful moths, beautiful Bromeliads, orchids and flowers.  In the waterways search for green-back sea turtles, caimans, Jesus Christ lizard who literally walks on water, and river otters.  The numerous rivers have waterfalls with trails leading to pools for swimming. 

With over 28% of the land protected from development in 28 national parks, reserves, 58 wildlife refuges and 15 wetlands, protecting and exploring nature is a primary goal of Costa Rica.  Most protected land has been developed to convey the importance of the area with rangers or volunteer hosts in attendance, marked trails, maps and signage with in-depth information for your visit in this area. 

Special emphasis in Tortuguero National Park is to see the turtles laying their eggs and the eggs hatching which occurs only mid to late September.  The park also boasts 375 different species of birds, some found only here, including the elusive green macaw parrot, and 400 species of trees, troops of the large, noisy Howler monkey, the monks cap, white-headed capuchin monkey and the spider monkey.  It is extremely diversified national park.

In Arenal Volcano National Park region, hanging bridges, fixed bridges and aerial horizontal tramways have been designed to allow visitors to experience life in the tree tops, leaving nature untouched below.   This volcanic area has many thermal hot-springs to relax in after a day of photographing and exploring nature.

In North-central Costa Rica, you can photograph nature with ease.

  • Difficulty: Easy, Moderate
  • Land Manager: Land Manager Varies
  • Parking Permit Required: see Land Manager
  • Recommended Party Size: 12
  • Maximum Party Size: 12
  • Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12
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