UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Costa Rica
May 30, 2010
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Costa Rica
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are selected for their unique cultural, historical, or natural significance to the heritage of humanity. Costa Rica’s vast natural resources are prime candidates for such prestigious nominations, and three of the country’s parks have been declared World Heritage Sites. These three important sites offer exciting explorations into some of the world’s most fascinating ecosystems.
Cocos Island National Park
Cocos Island, located 340 miles off Costa Rica’s south Pacific coast, is known for its roaring waterfalls, lush rainforest and sparkling beaches. In addition to being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was nominated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The gorgeous island has been called “the most beautiful island in the world” by Jacques Cousteau and served as inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
In 1978 Cocos Island was designated a Costa Rican national park, and it is home to one of the largest scalloped hammerhead cleaning stations in the world, which attracts these prehistoric creatures by the hundreds. The island is a crucial habitat for other large pelagic species like dolphins, giant manta rays and at least eight types of sharks. The waters surrounding the island are the first point of contact for the northern equatorial counter-current, making it an important site for the study of marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
Guanacaste Conservation Area
Located in northwestern Costa Rica, the Guanacaste Conservation Area is comprised of several parks and refuges, including Guanacaste National Park, Rincon de la Vieja National Park, and Santa Rosa National Park. The area was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, due to diversity of natural ecological processes both on land and under the sea, earning it a spot in both the World Heritage Marine Program and the World Heritage Forest Program.
Guanacaste National Park is an 80,306-acre reserve best known for its lowland savannahs and tropical dry forest, as well as the towering Cacao and Orosi Volcanoes. Rincon de la Vieja National Park boasts dry forest and rainforest, as well as the active Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, steaming fumaroles, bubbling mud pots and spectacular hiking trails. Santa Rosa National Park, the oldest in Costa Rica, protects much of the country’s remaining dry forest, as well as important habitats for several marine turtle species. Together, these parks are considered some of the best dry forests in Central America, as well as crucial habitats for rare and endangered flora and fauna.
La Amistad International Park
La Amistad International Park, or Friendship International Park, spans the Costa Rica-Panama border and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is mostly tropical lowland rainforest, and occupies 479,000 acres in Costa Rica and 511,000 acres in Panama – encompassing the largest single forest in Central America.
The park is mostly unexplored, though several unmarked hiking paths are available to adventurous souls. Scientists began exploring La Amistad in 2003, and are currently working to create a baseline for the rainforest’s biodiversity. The park is an outstanding example of biological evolution; an estimated 600 bird species as well as ocelots, jaguars, and tapirs inhabit the land. In addition to it’s crucial habitats, four indigenous tribes live within the boundaries of La Amistad. For the most part, these groups are closed to tourism.
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Costa Rica
May 30, 2010
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Costa Rica
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are selected for their unique cultural, historical, or natural significance to the heritage of humanity. Costa Rica’s vast natural resources are prime candidates for such prestigious nominations, and three of the country’s parks have been declared World Heritage Sites. These three important sites offer exciting explorations into some of the world’s most fascinating ecosystems.
Cocos Island National Park
Cocos Island, located 340 miles off Costa Rica’s south Pacific coast, is known for its roaring waterfalls, lush rainforest and sparkling beaches. In addition to being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was nominated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The gorgeous island has been called “the most beautiful island in the world” by Jacques Cousteau and served as inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
In 1978 Cocos Island was designated a Costa Rican national park, and it is home to one of the largest scalloped hammerhead cleaning stations in the world, which attracts these prehistoric creatures by the hundreds. The island is a crucial habitat for other large pelagic species like dolphins, giant manta rays and at least eight types of sharks. The waters surrounding the island are the first point of contact for the northern equatorial counter-current, making it an important site for the study of marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
Guanacaste Conservation Area
Located in northwestern Costa Rica, the Guanacaste Conservation Area is comprised of several parks and refuges, including Guanacaste National Park, Rincon de la Vieja National Park, and Santa Rosa National Park. The area was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, due to diversity of natural ecological processes both on land and under the sea, earning it a spot in both the World Heritage Marine Program and the World Heritage Forest Program.
Guanacaste National Park is an 80,306-acre reserve best known for its lowland savannahs and tropical dry forest, as well as the towering Cacao and Orosi Volcanoes. Rincon de la Vieja National Park boasts dry forest and rainforest, as well as the active Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, steaming fumaroles, bubbling mud pots and spectacular hiking trails. Santa Rosa National Park, the oldest in Costa Rica, protects much of the country’s remaining dry forest, as well as important habitats for several marine turtle species. Together, these parks are considered some of the best dry forests in Central America, as well as crucial habitats for rare and endangered flora and fauna.
La Amistad International Park
La Amistad International Park, or Friendship International Park, spans the Costa Rica-Panama border and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is mostly tropical lowland rainforest, and occupies 479,000 acres in Costa Rica and 511,000 acres in Panama – encompassing the largest single forest in Central America.
The park is mostly unexplored, though several unmarked hiking paths are available to adventurous souls. Scientists began exploring La Amistad in 2003, and are currently working to create a baseline for the rainforest’s biodiversity. The park is an outstanding example of biological evolution; an estimated 600 bird species as well as ocelots, jaguars, and tapirs inhabit the land. In addition to it’s crucial habitats, four indigenous tribes live within the boundaries of La Amistad. For the most part, these groups are closed to tourism.
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Costa Rica’s Indigenous Communities
May 30, 2010
Costa Rica’s Indigenous Communities
When the Europeans arrived in Costa Rica, they did not find large, native kingdoms like the Maya in Mexico or the Inca of Peru. Instead, they discovered pockets of small indigenous groups that were both ethnically and culturally diverse. In 1977, Costa Rica passed a law that legally established several indigenous reserves throughout the country. These reserves are now self-governed, and several groups have formed to help preserve indigenous culture.
Today Costa Rica’s indigenous account for approximately 1% of the total population. Over the last 15 years, several of these reserves have opened their doors to the burgeoning rural tourism industry. Visitors can learn about ancient rites, medicinal herbs, and enjoy the beauty of the country’s indigenous cultures. Many of these tourism initiatives have infused native communities with the resources needed to maintain their traditional lifestyle.
Boruca
The Boruca, alternatively known as the Brunca or Brunka, are one of Costa Rica’s most well known indigenous tribes, thanks to their remarkable craftsmanship. Most live on the Boruca Reservation, located in the South Pacific region near Buenos Aires de Puntarenas. The Boruca are famous for their intricately carved masks, fine woven baskets, and other art, but many travelers visit the reserve so they may observe traditional ceremonies. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Danza de los Diablitos, a year-end dance that depicts the struggles between the Boruca and Spanish conquistadors.
Bribri
Located in the Talamanca Mountains near Puerto Viejo, the Bribri have preserved their ancestors’ lifestyle. Bribri Reservation tours offer walks through medicinal plant gardens and their local homes. Cocoa tours are a favorite part of a visit to the Bribri and may be combined with a general reserve tour. The cocoa tour teaches visitors about the history and culture of chocolate, a sacred and valuable plant for the Bribri. Reservation tours also include a hike to Volio Waterfall, a 50-foot cascade accessed by a beginner-intermediate level hike.
Cabecar
The Cabecar are Costa Rica’s largest indigenous population, though they are more private and their homes less touristed than other similar communities. The largest remaining Cabecar populations are located in the Talamanca Mountains northwest of Cahuita. The Cabecar typically live apart in isolated family units, surviving off the land and traditions that have sustained them for centuries. Cabecar culture centers around the shaman, who functions as priest, healer, medicine man, and storyteller – today’s shamans are integral to keeping Cabecar history alive.
Chorotega
The Chorotega indigenous people were once a thriving tribe, but today almost all traces of the tribe have completely disappeared. However, in the small village of Guaitil, located 30 minutes inland from Tamarindo, a part of Chorotega culture flourishes. This indigenous group was best known for their exquisite pottery, and their descendents continue the tradition. Today, approximately 100 local families work in pottery cooperatives, utilizing traditional tools and techniques passed down from pre-Columbian times. Step into an open workshop and watch a masterpiece form as Guaitil sculptors use local clays and natural dyes. Many pieces are for sale, ranging in price from $15-$150.
Guaymi
The Guaymi are a large indigenous population that straddles the southeastern Costa Rica-Panama border. A small subsection lives in southern Costa Rican town of Conte, though many Panamanian Guaymi cross the border to work during coffee season. The Guaymi are best known as the scourge of the Spanish conquistadors: the tribe fought long and hard, often defeating the better armed and prepared Spaniards. The Guaymi have not opened their culture to tourism or significant government development, and survive mostly on subsistence farming. This group is well known for their brightly colored dresses, called nagua, as well as crafts such as plant fiber bags and handmade jewelry.
Kekoldi
The Kekoldi were once part of the Bribri indigenous group, but separated into their own tribe years ago. The Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve, located in the southern Caribbean between Cahuita and the Talamanca Mountains, welcomes visitors interested in local life, Kekoldi culture, and the area’s rich, natural resources. The most popular tours include visits to medicinal herb gardens, nature hikes, birdwatching, and a waterfall hike. Visitors curious about indigenous traditions will enjoy the cultural tour, which focuses on the tribe’s hand-built houses and artisanal, woven roofs. The reserve is also home to the Iguana Farm, a green iguana conservation project in place since 1990.
Maleku
The Maleku tribe is unique in that all remaining members – numbering approximately 650 – retain the teachings and culture of their ancestors. The tribe proudly speaks Maleku and observes ancient traditions with grace and confidence. Visits to the reserve, located within the Guatuso Indigenous Reserve and located near La Fortuna and Arenal, often include a medicinal plants tour, a visit to a Maleku burial ground, a stop by an art workshop, and a crash-course on Maleku culture. The Maleku maintain their ancestors’ traditions and teachings through tourism activities and sales of colorful masks and woven goods.
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19
Costa Rica’s Indigenous Communities
May 30, 2010
Costa Rica’s Indigenous Communities
When the Europeans arrived in Costa Rica, they did not find large, native kingdoms like the Maya in Mexico or the Inca of Peru. Instead, they discovered pockets of small indigenous groups that were both ethnically and culturally diverse. In 1977, Costa Rica passed a law that legally established several indigenous reserves throughout the country. These reserves are now self-governed, and several groups have formed to help preserve indigenous culture.
Today Costa Rica’s indigenous account for approximately 1% of the total population. Over the last 15 years, several of these reserves have opened their doors to the burgeoning rural tourism industry. Visitors can learn about ancient rites, medicinal herbs, and enjoy the beauty of the country’s indigenous cultures. Many of these tourism initiatives have infused native communities with the resources needed to maintain their traditional lifestyle.
Boruca
The Boruca, alternatively known as the Brunca or Brunka, are one of Costa Rica’s most well known indigenous tribes, thanks to their remarkable craftsmanship. Most live on the Boruca Reservation, located in the South Pacific region near Buenos Aires de Puntarenas. The Boruca are famous for their intricately carved masks, fine woven baskets, and other art, but many travelers visit the reserve so they may observe traditional ceremonies. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Danza de los Diablitos, a year-end dance that depicts the struggles between the Boruca and Spanish conquistadors.
Bribri
Located in the Talamanca Mountains near Puerto Viejo, the Bribri have preserved their ancestors’ lifestyle. Bribri Reservation tours offer walks through medicinal plant gardens and their local homes. Cocoa tours are a favorite part of a visit to the Bribri and may be combined with a general reserve tour. The cocoa tour teaches visitors about the history and culture of chocolate, a sacred and valuable plant for the Bribri. Reservation tours also include a hike to Volio Waterfall, a 50-foot cascade accessed by a beginner-intermediate level hike.
Cabecar
The Cabecar are Costa Rica’s largest indigenous population, though they are more private and their homes less touristed than other similar communities. The largest remaining Cabecar populations are located in the Talamanca Mountains northwest of Cahuita. The Cabecar typically live apart in isolated family units, surviving off the land and traditions that have sustained them for centuries. Cabecar culture centers around the shaman, who functions as priest, healer, medicine man, and storyteller – today’s shamans are integral to keeping Cabecar history alive.
Chorotega
The Chorotega indigenous people were once a thriving tribe, but today almost all traces of the tribe have completely disappeared. However, in the small village of Guaitil, located 30 minutes inland from Tamarindo, a part of Chorotega culture flourishes. This indigenous group was best known for their exquisite pottery, and their descendents continue the tradition. Today, approximately 100 local families work in pottery cooperatives, utilizing traditional tools and techniques passed down from pre-Columbian times. Step into an open workshop and watch a masterpiece form as Guaitil sculptors use local clays and natural dyes. Many pieces are for sale, ranging in price from $15-$150.
Guaymi
The Guaymi are a large indigenous population that straddles the southeastern Costa Rica-Panama border. A small subsection lives in southern Costa Rican town of Conte, though many Panamanian Guaymi cross the border to work during coffee season. The Guaymi are best known as the scourge of the Spanish conquistadors: the tribe fought long and hard, often defeating the better armed and prepared Spaniards. The Guaymi have not opened their culture to tourism or significant government development, and survive mostly on subsistence farming. This group is well known for their brightly colored dresses, called nagua, as well as crafts such as plant fiber bags and handmade jewelry.
Kekoldi
The Kekoldi were once part of the Bribri indigenous group, but separated into their own tribe years ago. The Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve, located in the southern Caribbean between Cahuita and the Talamanca Mountains, welcomes visitors interested in local life, Kekoldi culture, and the area’s rich, natural resources. The most popular tours include visits to medicinal herb gardens, nature hikes, birdwatching, and a waterfall hike. Visitors curious about indigenous traditions will enjoy the cultural tour, which focuses on the tribe’s hand-built houses and artisanal, woven roofs. The reserve is also home to the Iguana Farm, a green iguana conservation project in place since 1990.
Maleku
The Maleku tribe is unique in that all remaining members – numbering approximately 650 – retain the teachings and culture of their ancestors. The tribe proudly speaks Maleku and observes ancient traditions with grace and confidence. Visits to the reserve, located within the Guatuso Indigenous Reserve and located near La Fortuna and Arenal, often include a medicinal plants tour, a visit to a Maleku burial ground, a stop by an art workshop, and a crash-course on Maleku culture. The Maleku maintain their ancestors’ traditions and teachings through tourism activities and sales of colorful masks and woven goods.
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19
Java Junkies: Costa Rica Coffee Tours
May 30, 2010
Java Junkies: Costa Rica Coffee Tours
Costa Rica’s coffee is world famous for its smooth flavor and superb quality. The country’s rich volcanic soil and cool temperatures create ideal conditions to cultivate this delicious drink. If the java junkie in you is interested in more than just tasting some of the world’s finest blends, a coffee tour may be just what you’re looking for. Visit a working coffee plantation; learn about the history of java and how it grows from seed to mature fruiting plant. Here are some of our favorite coffee tours:
Cafe Britt
The largest producer of Costa Rican export-quality coffee, a visit to Cafe Britt is one of the Central Valley’s most popular daytrips. The classic tour incorporates hard facts and humorous dramatization to deliver an informative and enjoyable take on the coffee process. You’ll begin in a small coffee field, where shade trees protect the fragile plants and foliage decorates the landscape. After learning about coffee fruits – and picking a few for yourself – you’ll head to the roasting room for a lesson in everything from light roast to espresso. You’ll end at the coffee bar, where Cafe Britt’s skilled baristas create incredible, caffeinated concoctions. The plantation also has a Coffee Lovers tour, which follows the classic tour model and adds a visit to a coffee mill and an organic coffee plantation. Cafe Britt sells several roasts, including a fair trade blend and an excellent organic, shade-grown variety.
Open: Daily; Tours at 9:30 (classic) and 11:00 a.m. (classic & coffee lovers’)
Telephone: 2277-1600
Doka Estate
Doka Estate coffee, marketed as Tres Generaciones (Three Generations), is true to its name: the estate has been a working coffee farm for over 70 years. The award-winning coffee is grown on the slopes of Poas Volcano, nourished by fertile, volcanic soil. The Doka Estate coffee tour takes place in the estate’s verdant coffee fields, and you’ll be encouraged to engage your senses throughout – touch dried fruits, smell the beans roasting, and taste the final product. Coffee aficionados will be particularly interested in Doka’s peaberry blend: this ultra-concentrated bean accounts for about 5% of all coffee cherries and is usually picked and blended with other coffee beans. At Doka however, peaberries are separated out and roasted into a special, rich blend – an obsidian elixir that drives coffee lovers wild. Various roasts are well priced (about $7 for 3/4 lbs.) at Doka Estate’s gift shop – be sure to try the peaberry!
Open: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Telephone: 2449-5152 or 2449-6623
Monteverde
Monteverde’s Coope Santa Elena is a cooperative of 42 small coffee farmers who share resources, cultivate in harmony with the surrounding cloud forest, and sell their coffee under a common brand name. The Monteverde coffee tour alternates visits to various farmers, depending on availability and cherry ripeness – giving you the best coffee experience possible. Most of the cooperative’s farmers are unofficially organic – they do not use chemicals but have not been certified organic – and are exclusively fair trade. A unique treat for java junkies is the cooperative’s sun-dried variety, whose smooth flavor and golden color are a delicious deviation from the norm (most commercial coffee is machine-dried). Coope Santa Elena sells light roast, dark roast, and sun-dried coffees.
Open: Daily; Tour reservations required
Telephone: 2645-5006
Costa Rica Info !
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19
Java Junkies: Costa Rica Coffee Tours
May 30, 2010
Java Junkies: Costa Rica Coffee Tours
Costa Rica’s coffee is world famous for its smooth flavor and superb quality. The country’s rich volcanic soil and cool temperatures create ideal conditions to cultivate this delicious drink. If the java junkie in you is interested in more than just tasting some of the world’s finest blends, a coffee tour may be just what you’re looking for. Visit a working coffee plantation; learn about the history of java and how it grows from seed to mature fruiting plant. Here are some of our favorite coffee tours:
Cafe Britt
The largest producer of Costa Rican export-quality coffee, a visit to Cafe Britt is one of the Central Valley’s most popular daytrips. The classic tour incorporates hard facts and humorous dramatization to deliver an informative and enjoyable take on the coffee process. You’ll begin in a small coffee field, where shade trees protect the fragile plants and foliage decorates the landscape. After learning about coffee fruits – and picking a few for yourself – you’ll head to the roasting room for a lesson in everything from light roast to espresso. You’ll end at the coffee bar, where Cafe Britt’s skilled baristas create incredible, caffeinated concoctions. The plantation also has a Coffee Lovers tour, which follows the classic tour model and adds a visit to a coffee mill and an organic coffee plantation. Cafe Britt sells several roasts, including a fair trade blend and an excellent organic, shade-grown variety.
Open: Daily; Tours at 9:30 (classic) and 11:00 a.m. (classic & coffee lovers’)
Telephone: 2277-1600
Doka Estate
Doka Estate coffee, marketed as Tres Generaciones (Three Generations), is true to its name: the estate has been a working coffee farm for over 70 years. The award-winning coffee is grown on the slopes of Poas Volcano, nourished by fertile, volcanic soil. The Doka Estate coffee tour takes place in the estate’s verdant coffee fields, and you’ll be encouraged to engage your senses throughout – touch dried fruits, smell the beans roasting, and taste the final product. Coffee aficionados will be particularly interested in Doka’s peaberry blend: this ultra-concentrated bean accounts for about 5% of all coffee cherries and is usually picked and blended with other coffee beans. At Doka however, peaberries are separated out and roasted into a special, rich blend – an obsidian elixir that drives coffee lovers wild. Various roasts are well priced (about $7 for 3/4 lbs.) at Doka Estate’s gift shop – be sure to try the peaberry!
Open: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Telephone: 2449-5152 or 2449-6623
Monteverde
Monteverde’s Coope Santa Elena is a cooperative of 42 small coffee farmers who share resources, cultivate in harmony with the surrounding cloud forest, and sell their coffee under a common brand name. The Monteverde coffee tour alternates visits to various farmers, depending on availability and cherry ripeness – giving you the best coffee experience possible. Most of the cooperative’s farmers are unofficially organic – they do not use chemicals but have not been certified organic – and are exclusively fair trade. A unique treat for java junkies is the cooperative’s sun-dried variety, whose smooth flavor and golden color are a delicious deviation from the norm (most commercial coffee is machine-dried). Coope Santa Elena sells light roast, dark roast, and sun-dried coffees.
Open: Daily; Tour reservations required
Telephone: 2645-5006
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19
Volunteer Vacations
May 30, 2010
Volunteer Vacations
Costa Rica is an eco-tourists’ paradise of lush terrains, active
volcanoes and sublime beaches. Each year, thousands of visitors are
delighted by the wildlife and friendly people in this unique country.
Unlike a typical holiday where interactions with locals are limited
to hotels and tours, volunteer vacations enable participants to learn
the regional customs, language and cuisine while giving something of
themselves in the process. Through their efforts in community projects,
volunteers are rewarded with new friendships and a deeper understanding
of their host country and its inhabitants.
There are many different organizations offering
volunteer opportunities, and time commitments can range from one week
to several months. After matching a potential volunteer’s interests and
skills to an appropriate project, a volunteer is typically offered a
package that includes lodging and meals with a local family,
transportation, training, language courses and medical insurance.
Opportunities are varied in Costa Rica and include
projects that will interest almost everyone, such as working with rural
communities, wildlife protection programs, women’s cooperatives,
orphanages, elementary schools and medicinal plant projects among
others. For those considering a volunteer vacation, it is important to
carefully research your volunteer tour operator and all of the options
available for your destination. It is also recommended that you speak
with past volunteers, who can provide useful feedback about their
experiences with a particular outfit.
If the two-year commitment with the Peace Corps
sounds a little too daunting, a two-week volunteer vacation in Costa
Rica affords a similar experience: one that is feasible, challenging,
fun, and provides a lasting connection with the culture.
Costa Rica Info !
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19
Volunteer Vacations
May 30, 2010
Volunteer Vacations
Costa Rica is an eco-tourists’ paradise of lush terrains, active
volcanoes and sublime beaches. Each year, thousands of visitors are
delighted by the wildlife and friendly people in this unique country.
Unlike a typical holiday where interactions with locals are limited
to hotels and tours, volunteer vacations enable participants to learn
the regional customs, language and cuisine while giving something of
themselves in the process. Through their efforts in community projects,
volunteers are rewarded with new friendships and a deeper understanding
of their host country and its inhabitants.
There are many different organizations offering
volunteer opportunities, and time commitments can range from one week
to several months. After matching a potential volunteer’s interests and
skills to an appropriate project, a volunteer is typically offered a
package that includes lodging and meals with a local family,
transportation, training, language courses and medical insurance.
Opportunities are varied in Costa Rica and include
projects that will interest almost everyone, such as working with rural
communities, wildlife protection programs, women’s cooperatives,
orphanages, elementary schools and medicinal plant projects among
others. For those considering a volunteer vacation, it is important to
carefully research your volunteer tour operator and all of the options
available for your destination. It is also recommended that you speak
with past volunteers, who can provide useful feedback about their
experiences with a particular outfit.
If the two-year commitment with the Peace Corps
sounds a little too daunting, a two-week volunteer vacation in Costa
Rica affords a similar experience: one that is feasible, challenging,
fun, and provides a lasting connection with the culture.
Costa Rica Info !
Ver Articulo Completo
19
Green Iguana
May 30, 2010
Green Iguana
General Info:
The largest lizard species in Central America, the adult green iguana (Iguana iguana) can reach six feet in length and weigh up to twelve pounds. The species is known for its long, whip-like tail that accounts for more than half its total length. Like many lizards, green iguanas have evolved a defense mechanism where they can drop their tails if caught by a predator. Although stressful to the animal, the tail regenerates without permanent damage to the iguana.
Mature green iguanas range in color from grayish-green to a dull, reddish hue while juveniles are bright green in color. Adult males have a special flap of skin called the dewlap dangling from their chin. By extending the dewlap they can appear larger in order to impressive females, or to frighten potential predators like hawks. Males also have long, soft spines that run their length of their bodies; tattered spines indicate a male with a low position in the mating hierarchy.
Green iguanas are diurnal and arboreal, meaning that they are active during the day and live in trees. Adults are almost exclusively herbivorous, dining on leaves, flowers, fruits, and the occasional small vertebrate or insect. Iguanas are skilled swimmers, and it is not uncommon for them to be in deep water or far from shore, sometimes even swimming out into the ocean.
Habitat:
The green iguana inhabits a large area, naturally occurring from Mexico into the Caribbean islands and down to Brazil. The species was introduced in southern Florida, where it is now considered feral (domestic-turned-wild). In Costa Rica, the green iguana is found along the Pacific and Caribbean Coasts, as well as in north-central Costa Rica. Visitors will have good luck spotting these large lizards near Arenal, Tortuguero, around the Osa Peninsula, Manuel Antonio, and along Guanacaste’s Gold Coast.
Green iguanas live in lowland rainforests, both deep within vegetation and along the forest edge, where ground cover is less dense. The species is also common in lowland dry forests. Green iguanas are mostly solitary, and are usually found near water. They tend to live in the forest canopy, approximately 65-100 feet above the ground, and are capable of surviving a 50-foot fall unscathed. During cool, wet weather, green iguanas often climb down from the treetops in search of warmth.
Reproduction:
In Costa Rica, mature males establish territorial limits in October, shortly before mating season begins. Males defend their territory using physical displays of superiority; in an iguana wrestling match, both males circle while hissing and lashing their tails, until they finally engage in physical contact. To the winner go the spoils – the territory and its females.
Each mating territory is home to four mature females. Male iguanas are polygynous, courting all four females throughout the mating season. Courtship generally lasts one month before copulation, and entails extension of the dewlap, head bobbing, and color changes due to sex hormones. Two weeks prior to mating, the male will bond to a specific female.
Mating takes place during the first six weeks of the dry season, generally beginning in mid-November. Pregnant females lay their eggs in deep nests built a foot below the surface. Communal nesting is not uncommon. Egg clutches contain 20-71 eggs, and incubate for 65-115 days; hatching occurs between April and June. Newborn iguanas measure 2.75-3.15 inches in length, and spend their early weeks basking in the sun by day and moving into low-hanging tree branches at night. Juvenile green iguanas are not solitary, often banding into groups of 10-20 at night. They reach sexual maturity at three years of age.
Status in the Wild:
Green iguanas are considered endangered in Costa Rica, and may not be traded commercially. Scientists must obtain special permits from Costa Rican government agencies to collect specimens. Though it was once common practice, today it is illegal to kill and eat wild green iguanas. Several green iguana conservation projects exist in Costa Rica; the Pro Iguana Verde Foundation is perhaps the most well known. Founded by Dr. Dagmar Werner, the foundation, located in Orotina (near Puntarenas) works with local farmers to educate the public and create buffer zones – a combination of open areas, trees, and brush – to protect the green iguana’s habitat. More than 80,000 green iguanas were raised and released into the wild during the foundation’s first five years.
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19
Green Iguana
May 30, 2010
Green Iguana
General Info:
The largest lizard species in Central America, the adult green iguana (Iguana iguana) can reach six feet in length and weigh up to twelve pounds. The species is known for its long, whip-like tail that accounts for more than half its total length. Like many lizards, green iguanas have evolved a defense mechanism where they can drop their tails if caught by a predator. Although stressful to the animal, the tail regenerates without permanent damage to the iguana.
Mature green iguanas range in color from grayish-green to a dull, reddish hue while juveniles are bright green in color. Adult males have a special flap of skin called the dewlap dangling from their chin. By extending the dewlap they can appear larger in order to impressive females, or to frighten potential predators like hawks. Males also have long, soft spines that run their length of their bodies; tattered spines indicate a male with a low position in the mating hierarchy.
Green iguanas are diurnal and arboreal, meaning that they are active during the day and live in trees. Adults are almost exclusively herbivorous, dining on leaves, flowers, fruits, and the occasional small vertebrate or insect. Iguanas are skilled swimmers, and it is not uncommon for them to be in deep water or far from shore, sometimes even swimming out into the ocean.
Habitat:
The green iguana inhabits a large area, naturally occurring from Mexico into the Caribbean islands and down to Brazil. The species was introduced in southern Florida, where it is now considered feral (domestic-turned-wild). In Costa Rica, the green iguana is found along the Pacific and Caribbean Coasts, as well as in north-central Costa Rica. Visitors will have good luck spotting these large lizards near Arenal, Tortuguero, around the Osa Peninsula, Manuel Antonio, and along Guanacaste’s Gold Coast.
Green iguanas live in lowland rainforests, both deep within vegetation and along the forest edge, where ground cover is less dense. The species is also common in lowland dry forests. Green iguanas are mostly solitary, and are usually found near water. They tend to live in the forest canopy, approximately 65-100 feet above the ground, and are capable of surviving a 50-foot fall unscathed. During cool, wet weather, green iguanas often climb down from the treetops in search of warmth.
Reproduction:
In Costa Rica, mature males establish territorial limits in October, shortly before mating season begins. Males defend their territory using physical displays of superiority; in an iguana wrestling match, both males circle while hissing and lashing their tails, until they finally engage in physical contact. To the winner go the spoils – the territory and its females.
Each mating territory is home to four mature females. Male iguanas are polygynous, courting all four females throughout the mating season. Courtship generally lasts one month before copulation, and entails extension of the dewlap, head bobbing, and color changes due to sex hormones. Two weeks prior to mating, the male will bond to a specific female.
Mating takes place during the first six weeks of the dry season, generally beginning in mid-November. Pregnant females lay their eggs in deep nests built a foot below the surface. Communal nesting is not uncommon. Egg clutches contain 20-71 eggs, and incubate for 65-115 days; hatching occurs between April and June. Newborn iguanas measure 2.75-3.15 inches in length, and spend their early weeks basking in the sun by day and moving into low-hanging tree branches at night. Juvenile green iguanas are not solitary, often banding into groups of 10-20 at night. They reach sexual maturity at three years of age.
Status in the Wild:
Green iguanas are considered endangered in Costa Rica, and may not be traded commercially. Scientists must obtain special permits from Costa Rican government agencies to collect specimens. Though it was once common practice, today it is illegal to kill and eat wild green iguanas. Several green iguana conservation projects exist in Costa Rica; the Pro Iguana Verde Foundation is perhaps the most well known. Founded by Dr. Dagmar Werner, the foundation, located in Orotina (near Puntarenas) works with local farmers to educate the public and create buffer zones – a combination of open areas, trees, and brush – to protect the green iguana’s habitat. More than 80,000 green iguanas were raised and released into the wild during the foundation’s first five years.
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