In March 2023, we visited the Americas - the first time for me. Once again we were traveling with our friends Andrea and Harry, this time to Costa Rica in Central America. They had already booked the trip through Natürlich Reisen and asked us whether we wanted to come along - well, you can see the result here 😉
Costa Rica
Costa Rica, located between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is often referred to as the “Switzerland of Central America”. This description is based on the country’s political stability, high standard of living and well-developed infrastructure.
Costa Rica covers an area of only around 51,100 square kilometers and is comparable in size to the German state of Lower Saxony. Nevertheless, it is home to many different landscapes and biotopes. In addition to the Atlantic (Caribbean) and Pacific coasts, there are also high mountains (up to more than 3000m) mostly of volcanic origin.
Costa Rica is known for its impressive biodiversity and, despite its small size, is home to around 5% of the world’s biodiversity. Notable animal species in Costa Rica include numerous bird species such as macaws, jaguars, pumas, sloths and several monkey species. The coasts are an important habitat for sea turtles.
Costa Rica’s vegetation is just as diverse as its wildlife. The dense, humid rainforests in the south provide a habitat for numerous exotic plants and animals. The northwest is dominated by dry tropical forests, while the coasts are lined with mangroves. The higher regions of the country are home to mystical cloud forests known for their rich flora, including many orchid species.
Such ecological diversity made us curious. We planned a round trip with a 4x4 car from the Caribbean via the central mountains to the Pacific coast. In total, we drove a good 1,800 km through the country ourselves.
