Why travel to Costa Rica? Learn about Costa Rica travel destinations, attractions and what there is to do.

Costa Rica has some pretty impressive travel statistics and trivia. It might be one of the smallest countries in Central America at only 51,000 sq. km. (19,730 sq. mi.) in size, but Costa Rica has world's greatest ecological and geographical diversity which includes:

• About the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica: The Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is 1,016-km (635 mi) long and is only 120-km (75 mi) from the Caribbean Coast. This coastline is beautiful and varied. It offers gulfs, peninsulas, small coves, rocky headlands, white- and black-sand beaches, crashing surf, tropical rain- and dry-forests.
• About the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica: The Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is 210-km (130 mi) long and runs along a flat plain that has green vegetation, coastal sloughs, brackish lagoons, waterlogged forests, and strong tides.
• About the Center of Costa Rica: The center of Costa Rica has a mountainous spine with an incredible landscapes. Included in this are cloud forests, active volcanoes, rushing rivers and streams, thermal hot springs, and high mountain peaks.
• About the Central Valley of Costa Rica: The Central Valley of Costa Rica is surrounded by mountains and offers fertile plains which rise between 1,000m (3,300 ft) to 1,500m (5,000 ft) above sea level. This area boast mild temperatures but has high rainfall. (
• About the Cocos Plate of Costa Rica: The Cocos Plate in Costa Rica crashed into the Caribbean Plate at a rate of 10-cm (4 inches) per year and, as a result, is prone to earthquakes and ongoing volcanic activity. Arenal is one of Costa Rica's most active volcanoes.

The sea turtle is endangered throughout the world and Costa Rica is one of the remaining countries to have turtles nest upon its beaches. This might be one of the best reasons to travel to Costa Rica. Visitors can see four turtles in Costa Rica who continue to decrease in numbers because of habitat loss. The turtles include: olive ridley, leatherback, green and hawksbill.

With the exception of the leatherback, the three aforementioned species return to the same beaches of Costa Rica to nest. The state of these beaches is critical for the turtle to be able to reproduce. Development and artificial lighting (including flash lights and camera lights) impact the turtle and inhibit her from nesting.

A huge number of turtles are killed each year in Costa Rica and throughout the world by getting caught in nets and loglines. Hunting and harvesting eggs is further adding to the decline. Enforcement of hunting and harvesting bans require nighttime beach patrols during the nesting season. There are opportunities for volunteers to assist with beach patrols.

Learn about Costa Rica's plants & trees, as well as, the orchids which are countless.

Plant biodiversity in Costa Rica is high. There are about 12,000 species of plants with orchids accounting for 1,400 species.

Temperate forests throughout North America and Europe have little diversity and include species such as birch, beech and oak, but in Costa Rica, there are almost 2,000 species of trees recorded to date. Costa Rica's diversity includes: rain forests, mangrove swamps, cloud forests and dry forests.

About Costa Rica's Southwest

In the southwest, visitors will find rain forests that contain towering trees and looping vines which overlap the vegetation.

Throughout both coasts of Costa Rica, there are mangrove swamps. The swamps have five species of trees that grow stilt-like out of the swamp. Mangrove swamps are often disliked but they are important because they protect coastlines and and they have high levels of productivity. As an example, the swamp traps sediment and serves as a spawning nursery for fish and invertebrates.

About Costa Rica's Northwest

The dry forests of the northwest coastal area of Costa Rica create canopies during the wet season but are dry during the dry season. These trees, known as the guanacaste, have canopies that look like umbrellas. Underneath the canopy are spiny shrubs cacti and vines.

About Costa Rica's Easter Blossom

Costa Rica has 1,400 species of orchids. Honored as Costa Rica's national flower, the Easter blossom or, the guaria morada, blossoms into dense clusters of lavender-rose flowers around the time of lent. The blossom is used throughout homes, altars and churches at Easter in Costa Rica. It is a plant that grows in the wild and its popularity has caused much of it to be harvested. Unfortunately, this blossom is in decline.