Ecotourism Costa Rica is a rapid growing sector of the tourism industry and this travel product continues to grow in popularity and demand, especially in Costa Rica. Because Costa Rica has cloud forests, active volcanoes, and a wide variety of flora and fauna, it has become one of the world's leading countries in ecotourism.

The concept behind ecotourism is for travelers to explore remote areas of the world and experience the culture and natural history of the environment. Some of the most significant concerns about Costa Rica ecotourism are about preserving the integrity of the ecosystem but also providing opportunities for local people to earn money.

This has proven to be a tough formula. It is essential for travelers to tread lightly and respect the rules of ecotourism in order for this industry to remain sustainable.

Some of the ecotourism Costa Rica travel highlights include the biodiversity. Costa Rica offers a diverse ecology with mountains, volcanoes, beaches, rainforests and dry forests. The flora and fauna diversity is tremendous. Over 21% of the country's territory is protected by national parks and reserves.

Ecotourism Costa Rica can be roughly broken down into several sectors:

• Hard ecotourism Costa Rica: This type of travel usually involves an intense interest in nature and often involves strenuous physical effort. The accommodations are rarely in hotels, but rather in a tent. However, hard ecotourism is starting to accommodate people who prefer hotel-style accommodation.
• Soft ecotourism Costa Rica: Soft ecotourism travel offers travelers a chance to experience the natural environment and local culture. It usually includes activities like hiking which do not require strenuous physical effort. Soft ecotourism travel offers a variety of accommodations to appeal to a diverse range of travelers. Not surprisingly, this is the fastest growing sector of ecotourism.
• Adventure ecotourism Costa Rica: Adventure ecotourism touring involves moderate- to high-risk activities like whitewater rafting, mountain biking, scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing, sport fishing, wind surfing, snorkeling and surfing and is often referred to as adventure travel. These tours usually provide accommodations in hotel-style facilities but can be in tents. Tourists who consume Adventure travel ecotourism aren't usually as interested in an intense experience with the ecosystem as with a hard ecotourist, but rather are interested in learning about the basics about the ecology. Adventure travel ecotourism usually combines the traveler's favorite outdoor activity with some exposure to environmental learning.
• Educational ecotourism Costa Rica: Educational ecotourism travel includes an educational institutions or, perhaps, a expert scientist taking a tour to an environmental destination and provides formal lectures about the topics related to the environment. Educational ecotourism can include scientists who travel for research purposes.

When looking for an ecotour, it's useful to understand these categories so that you can better understand the tours that are offered and can tailor your expectations.

It's also important to understand the challenges facing ecotourism in Costa Rica and adhere to responsible travel. Some of the dos & don'ts:

• Follow the instructions of trained naturalist guides and don't request that guides disturb animals.
• Stay on trails when hiking or mountain biking. Erosion to the local ecology is greatly increased by increased human traffic.
• Don't litter. Carry out your trash from trails.
• Don't feed animals.
• Don't use a flash to photograph turtles!
• Support tourism companies and groups that promote conservation initiatives and long-term management plans.
• Don't visit areas that are saturated by travelers.
• Learn about wildlife and local conservation, environmental and cultural issues before and during a trip.
• Patronize hotels that have recycling programs. Re-hang towels to save on water. This also reduces laundry detergents entering into the environment.
• Shop responsibly. Don't purchase animal products such as turtle shells, skins, skulls, coral, and shells. When purchasing products made of feathers, butterflies and so on, inquire to see that these are from animals that have passed naturally.

Links of Interest Ecotourism Costa Rica

Costa Rica Green Report Card: Arenal Volcano Region by Perry Garfinkel for the The Huffington Post.

www.TravelCostaRicaNow.com 120+ Videos (and growing) as well as hundreds of pages of informative text about Traveling Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Travel Tours

There are many ecotourism travel tour ideas and options. Visit Costa Rica Travel Tours to view a list of ideas.

Ecotourism Costa Rica hot spots or great ideas

• Travel to Costa Rica adventure activities and ideas.
• Costa Rica cloud forest is the ultimate destination for an adventure or ecotour.
• Monteverde, Costa Rica travel ideas because Monteverde Cloud Forest is a ecotourism hot spot.
• Monteverde, Costa Rica ecotours and studies could make your travel experience a rich and rewarding experience.
• Monteverde, Costa Rica is a rich ecotourism destination and there are some great travel companies and tour outfitters specializing in adventure and ecotourism travel products. Have a look at some of those adventures and ecotours.
• Arenal, Costa Rica is an ecotour hot spot literally, as Arenal is one of the most explosive volcanoes in the world.
• Arenal route in Costa Rica offers a plethora of adventure and ecotourism activities and educational opportunities.
• Costa Rica top volcanoes give ecotourists a change to explore and see some of the world wonders. Have a look at a list of some of the popular volcanoes in Costa Rica.
• Costa Rica's Corcovado National Park is an adventure and ecotourism dream destination. There's tons of wildlife, loads of trails, lots of water sports and it's all off-the-beaten-track.
• Costa Rica National Parks are numerous and there's something a bit different about each national park. Have a look at a page that summarizes each national park's unique feature.
• Cahuita National Park in Costa Rica is a little off-the-beaten-path but it's easy to get to and offers asome great ecotourism.
• Costa Rica's Barra Honda National Park is a underground system of more than 40 caves. Interested in spelunking? Hire a local guide and explore this wonder.
• Costa Rica's north is largely untouristy and offers great birding, wildlife viewing and awesome sport fishing.
• Costa Rica's newest national park is Los Quetzales which is named for the beautiful bird which is disappearing from Central America.
• Costa Rica's tallest mountain peak is accessible via a trail and is one of Costa Rica's premier hikes.
• Costa Rica's Marine Whale National Park gives ecotourist the change to see migrating whales from Dec. to Mar. There's also Olive Ridley turtles from May to Nov. in this park.
• Costa Rica's scenic canals and national park belongs to Tortuguero National Park and this is a premier wildlife viewing and fishing destination. There are six species of sea turtles, including the massive leatherback. Visit from late July to Aug. to get a view of these.
• Costa Rica's Pacific Coast has the incredible Playa Grande Marine Turtle National Park where leatherback turtles come ashore from Aug. to Oct.
• More on Cosa Rica's Pacific Coast at the most visited national park, which is Manuel Antonio. The wildlife in this small park is incredible. A short walk down the path and travelers will encounter a plethora of animals and birds.
• Costa Rica's transition zone from toprical dry forest to rainforest is at Carara National Park. This is an easy-to-reach park on the way to Jaco.
• Costa Rica's famous beach area where the hotel industry has grown offers an incredible option to explore wildlife and go bird watching. Visit the Cabo Blanco Absolute Wildlife Reserve on a day trip from one of the hotel resorts near Liberia.
• Costa Rica's dream angler destination is at Barra del Colorado where the rivers, lagoons and marshes offers incredible fishing.
• Costa Rica is know for surfing and there are some fabulous surf spots throughout Costa Rica.
• Costa Rica educational and volunteer wildcat program where wildcats are studies, preserved and cared for at a private reserve. Travelers can view audiovisuals, attendseminars and walk on ecuative trails. Live exhibits displaying the wildcat are on site.