Rain isn't usually what you look for on vacation, unless you're exploring Costa Rica, where rainforests are one of its biggest attractions.  Costa Rica is home to different types of rainforests, highlighting the country's biodiversity and providing habitats for a wide range of flora and fauna specific to each region.  This is more than just marketing scheme designed to attract tourists; over 25% of Costa Rican territory is comprised of national parks and protected areas, and many of these parks are rainforests.  If the mass tourism of Guanacaste isn't your thing, here are some recommendations for experiencing the wild nature during your visit to Costa Rica.

1.      Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is located about three hours from San José, in the Tilarán Mountain Range, at an altitude of approximately 5.000 feet.  Rich in biodiversity, Monteverde is home to more than 3,200 plant species, 500 orchid species, 425 bird species, 120 mammal species, 60 amphibian species, and 101 reptile species.  The reserve is open from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. year-round, and visitors can take excursions or stay in the nearby town of Santa Elena, a short drive away.  Nighttime tours, zip lines, and suspension bridges allow visitors to experience a wide variety of wildlife.  The rainy season runs from May to November, with October being the wettest month and March the driest.

2.      Corcovado National Park

Located on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica's South Pacific region, about 230 miles from San José, Corcovado encompasses cloud forest, lowland tropical rainforest, mangroves, beaches, and waterfalls.  This area was described by National Geographic as "the most biologically intense place on the planet," and Corcovado National Park is home to more than 360 species of birds, 140 species of mammals, and 117 species of amphibians and reptiles.  Scarlet macaws, harpy eagles, tapirs, crocodiles, and four species of monkeys (howler monkeys, spider monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and squirrel monkeys) live there, along with anteaters, sloths, jaguars, pumas, and red-eyed tree frogs.  Visitors should note that they need a certified guide and an entry permit to enter the park, and for lodging, visitors can find several options in the nearby town of Drake Bay.

3.      Cahuita National Park

This national park encompasses lowland tropical rainforest, mangroves, beaches, and coral reefs.  Located on the Caribbean coast of Limón province, Cahuita protects over 2.600 acres of land, and a marked eight-kilometer trail through the forest is the only way to explore its abundant wildlife.  Visitors may spot green ibises, herons, toucans, hawks, kingfishers, and the Central American curassow, a large, pheasant-like bird.  Coatis, raccoons, sloths, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, armadillos, iguanas, lizards, and snakes also inhabit the park.  The nearest main town is Puerto Viejo de Limón, about 16 kilometers away, and the small village of Cahuita is within easy walking distance of the park entrance.  Cahuita National Park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., from San Jose International Airport, the trip to the park takes approximately four hours, and although organized day trips are offered, it is ideal to stay in the area.

4.      Tortuguero National Park

This national park is unique because it has no roads, and visitors explore its wildlife by boat along canals, rivers, lagoons, and mangroves.  Located on Costa Rica's northeastern Caribbean coast, Tortuguero National Park protects a vast area of lowland tropical rainforest, as well as the sea turtles for which it is named.  This humid, wet area receives up to 250 inches of rain annually and offers more than 20 miles of coastline suitable for turtle nesting.  The most common species, the green turtle, nests from June to October.  Certified guides conduct nighttime tours using dark clothing and low lighting to protect the turtles, and visitors can also observe birds, monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, manatees, jaguars, and more.  Flights are available from San José, or if you're up for driving, you can reach the port of La Pavona and then take a boat to the park.

5.      Rincón de la Vieja National Park

In this ecologically diverse national park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), you can observe an active volcano, waterfalls, a freshwater lagoon, rivers, hot springs, mud pools, and a wide variety of wildlife.  Less than an hour from Liberia International Airport, this park encompasses cloud forest, dry forest, savanna, lowlands and rainforest.  In addition, at Rincón de la Vieja, you can observe sloths, monkeys, tapirs, deer, jaguars, and pumas, along with more than 500 species of birds and flowers.  Trails, campsites, guided tours, horseback riding, rafting, river cruises, and zip lines are some of the options for exploring, and at the end of the day, you can take a relaxing soak in one of the park's hot springs.

6.      Carara National Park

Located approximately one hour from San José, on the Central Pacific coast, Carara National Park is known as an excellent destination for birdwatching.  As a transition zone between tropical dry forest and tropical rainforest, the park offers an ideal habitat for all kinds of birds, such as scarlet macaws, toucans, grebes, trogons, herons, and even some endangered species, which attract ornithologists and birdwatchers from all over the world.  Carara is also known for its crocodiles, which can be spotted from the Crocodile Bridge over the Tárcoles River, in the northern part of the park.  Other wildlife found in the park includes sloths, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, armadillos, deer, and anteaters.  The park is ideal for day trips from San José and features one accessible trail and two hiking trails.  Camping is not permitted in the park, and it's important to note that during the rainy season, from August to October, trails near the river can become impassable due to flooding.

7.      Guanacaste National Park

This diverse park, located in northwestern Costa Rica near the town of La Cruz, connects Santa Rosa National Park with the high-altitude cloud forest of the Orosi and Cacao volcanoes.  In addition to the cloud forest, the park encompasses a variety of climate zones, from dry forest to tropical rainforest, and its wildlife includes monkeys, squirrels, deer, jaguars, and pumas, as well as a wide variety of birds.  The park has trails and an information center, and with prior permission, visitors can even hike to the summit of the volcano.  During the day this area of Costa Rica tends to be hotter, especially during the dry season from December to April, but at night the temperature can drop in the highlands, so don't forget to pack accordingly!

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