10 Fascinating Facts About Costa Rica Rain Forests
When people plan their Costa Rica Rios adventure vacation the first thing they envision is taking unforgettable walks through the country’s jungles. Havens of pristine wilderness and varied wildlife, rain forests are the world’s most complex and important ecosystem.
Collectively, they harbor a colossal chunk of the biodiversity the planet needs to thrive, or between 40 and 75% of all biotic species. When in Costa Rica, you’ll be undoubtedly be planning a visit to some of the country’s phenomenal rain forests, so let us help tickly your curiosity with these 10 fascinating facts..
- Rain forests are made up of two distinct ecosystems: tropical and temperate. Tropical rain forests are found between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. They are primarily characterized by how much rain they receive, which is about 66 inches a year, on average. Temperate rain forests are found on just about every corner of the globe, all the way up to (almost) both Polar Regions.
- Every tropical rain forest scan be divided into four layers: the forest floor, the understory (everything at eye-height), the canopy (what you see when you look up) and the emergent layer, which is everything that grows and lives above the canopy, usually obscured from view. Each layer is inhabited by quite distinct species of flora and fauna.
- The largest tropical rain forest in the world is the Amazon, which runs through nine South American countries. Over 50% of Costa Rica is made up of primary rain forest, which is the most carbon-dense and bio-diverse in existence.
Rain forests are likened to the planet’s thermostat: they regulate the global climate and temperatures. About 28% of the oxygen produced on earth is from rain forests. This is what makes them so important, as well as highly susceptible to the detrimental effects of global warming. Aside this threat, rain forests are also subjected to catastrophic logging, mining, ranching and agricultural expansion, the world over. Deforestation has decimated about 40% of the rain forests which once existed on our planet. Costa Rica is one of the few countries in the world which makes conservation a priority, and over 75% of the country’s rain forests are protected reserves.
- Our planet’s rain forests boast 70% of the plants currently used to treat cancer, and it’s believed many more are yet to be discovered as only 1% of the flora has ever been studied for their medicinal purposes. Each square mile of rain forest boasts, on average, 400 species of flowering plants and 200 different types of trees.
- There is still, to this day, much that we don’t know about these incredible ecosystems, and estimates of new and unidentified species of flora and fauna are believed to number in the millions.
- Every single day, the world loses the equivalent of 80,000 football-field-sized portions of rain forests.
- The world’s rain forests currently supply livelihood for over 1.2 billion people living in poverty.
- In tropical rain forests, the canopy is so dense that rainfall can take up to 10 minutes to reach the forest floor.
- Rain forests are the oldest ecosystem on earth
Discover Costa Rica’s Forests
All up, Costa Rica is home to six different kinds of rain forests, including tropical, tropical dry and the mesmerizing cloud forests. Over 100 different species of trees are found here, as well as an enticing array of wildlife, including sloths, a nearly endless array of monkey and thousands of bird species.
The most famous cloud forest in the country is undoubtedly Monteverde, a mystical place brimming with coffee plantations, rowdy monkeys, and endless hiking possibilities. Cloud forests are very special, almost magical, as they are shrouded in a mist that makes them feel quite ethereal. The wonderful thing about Costa Rica’s rain forests is that they are thriving centers for eco-friendly activities. zip lining, hiking, canopy tours, visiting butterfly farms and bird-watching: these are some of the ways you can experience the rain forests in this spectacular country.
In the northern Pacific coast, in the Guanacaste province, is where you’ll find tropical dry forests. These are not nearly as dense as cloud forests, so your chances of spotting wildlife are much higher. Kayaking and horseback riding are two of the best activities in which you can indulge here.
If planning a white water rafting tour in Costa Rica you’ll be exploring what are known as lowland rain forests. These occur up to 1,000m in altitude and boast the tallest trees of all, harboring a huge number of micro environments.
The Rain forest is also a beautiful stop on your Costa Rica Honeymoon to add to your romantic adventure.
At Costa Rica Rios, we strive to showcase the inherent beauty of the country’s rain forests, as it is inherently human to only protect what one knows, and loves. We are committed to promoting eco-friendly tourism, where the only things you take are unforgettable memories, and the only things you leave behind are your footprints…and just a little piece of your heart. Contact us for more info.
We just got back from Costa Rica -- it was fabulous AND stress free thanks to Costa Rica Rio. We usually arrange our own trips and activities but we were so happy that we traveled with Costa Rica Rio this time. Everything happened as scheduled at top notch venues and on time, every time. Frasier revised our trip four times to get it exactly right and within our budget. Costa Rica Rio deserves 10 stars.
Response from the owner 18:40 28 Apr 25
Thanks for the incredible review, Connie and it's so nice to hear that you loved your vacation. Pura vida! 
If there were more stars to give, I would give them!! 100% the best adventure vacation we've ever been on!! There were 6 of us on the tour of varying abilities, and we all had an epic time! Henry and Michael were the best guides ever: knowledgeable, skilled, and funny! The rafting was spectacular, the zip lining and Tarzan swing were perfect for the adrenaline junkies among us, the tour at Manuel Antonio NP gave us a chance to see a ton of animals, and the sea kayaking was beautiful. Highly recommend this tour company! We didn't want the vacation to end. Pura Vida!
Response from the owner 14:33 27 Feb 25
Thanks for the fantastic review, Misty! It's so nice to hear that you loved your vacation with us. Pura vida! 
My family of 5 (mom, dad, 3 sons who are 21+) had the BEST trip ever. We've been on various adventure tours but this one was the absolute BEST! We were met at the airport by a very friendly guide. We waited a short while for one other group participant to arrive and then were driven a few hours to Villa Florencia. This was a beautiful resort with a restaurant, pool, work out area and many places to relax. We arrived at around lunchtime and needed to arrange a lunch with the restaurant staff as this was not provided. Food was provided from dinner that first night through breakfast on the last day. Each night all week, our fearless leader briefed us on what to expect the next day. We went kayaking, zip-lining, whitewater rafting for 2 days on #1,2,3,4 rapids, hiking, tarzan swing, repelling down a handful of waterfalls, walk in animal sanctuary, morning at the beach and shopping. There's probably more I'm forgetting as the schedule was very packed. My favorite place was the ECO Lodge without electricity where the view and experience was spectacular. We traveled with a group of 13 people (including our family) in a van with our Leader and Driver. We all got along very well and had a great time together. It didn't take long for us to feel like a family. The food was great, accommodations also great (some had more bugs than others but hey, this is Costa Rica - there are bugs!) I recommend a few things: listen to your guide and you will have a much better time - when traveling, when adventuring, when given safety warnings and for all things Costa Rica. Bring a watertight sealed bag for your camera to wear around your neck so you can take pictures in all settings. Bring a pair of binoculars for animal viewing. Bring good water shoes that you can also hike in, and another pair of shoes that can get wet and muddy along with flip flops and something else. I was glad I brought 4 pairs of shoes to wear. One pair gets wet and you will have another to wear. They do not necessarily dry out overnight. Bring lots of t-shirts and shorts for the same reason. You will go through clothing. Bring rain gear. Not much need for dress-up clothes although you might want something clean for restaurants and a possible trip to a bar. There's not much opportunity to wash/dry clothes. Bring sunscreen and bug spray. There is some time for relaxing in the evenings before and after dinner. Bring the stuff on the list you are given. Keep in mind that at the end there is an expectation to tip guides 5-10% of the total per person in cash. An envelope is given out for this purpose. It was our understanding that guides would be given % dependent on how much contact they had with the group all week. There are ATM's in town that you can access the day before you leave. I highly recommend this trip for adventurous people who are tolerant of bugs and who love to see the world and meet other adventurous people. Excellent trip we will have a hard time topping elsewhere!
Response from the owner 14:21 01 Aug 24
Thanks for the amazing review Teresa! It's so nice to hear that you and your family loved your vacation with us. Pura vida! 
Wonderful Accommodations and transportation . Great food!
Week of Adventures was amazing. Fun River paddles, hiking , zip lining and rappelling waterfalls. Great guides on the water and land.
Wonderful country and people 💖
Week of Adventures was amazing. Fun River paddles, hiking , zip lining and rappelling waterfalls. Great guides on the water and land.
Wonderful country and people 💖
Response from the owner 15:19 22 Jul 24
Thanks for the fantastic review, Susan and it's great to hear you loved your vacation with us. Pura vida! 
Costa Rica Rios did a fabulous job planning our Costs Rica Adventure. I highly recommend them.
Response from the owner 16:12 07 Jul 24
Thanks for the great review, Morgan and we are happy to hear that you enjoyed your vacation to Costa Rica. Pura vida! 
They were fantastic to work with. I had MANY questions before booking our trip and even during our trip. They always got back to me very quickly and had very thorough answers. I also changed my plans for the trip and they were able to smoothly make a new itinerary. The transfers were safe and efficient and on time. All excursions were fun!! I highly recommend Costa Rica Rios!
Response from the owner 11:52 18 Apr 24
Thank you for the lovely review, Danielle and it's so nice to hear you enjoyed your vacation. Pura vida! 
I have no doubt that Costa Rica Rios is one of the best adventure companies in Costa Rica! Everything from start to finish of the adventure tour was executed so smoothly and so perfectly. This company and their guides are extremely professional, experienced and work to ensure your safety and comfort 100% of the time. Experience level is not a concern for them, and they will complete all the activities to fulfill your needs. The guides we had were all local, and had decades worth of experience in kayaking, rafting, hiking, climbing, etc.. They all spoken English fluently and shared beautiful stories and facts about the surrounding areas of Turrialba, CR. The accommodations we stayed in were amazing, especially the Eco Lodge which sits alongside the Pacuare River. The food was fantastic and locally sourced. The airport pickup, drop off and all other transportation in between was so punctual and so smooth. I would recommend this tour to anyone who is visiting Costa Rica! It is a beautiful and fun way to see the country off the beaten path and get to know some of the locals and some other travellers. As a young solo female traveller, I felt extremely safe and well taken care of by Costa Rica Rios. I’ll be back!
Response from the owner 19:30 03 Apr 24
Thank you for the amazing review Hillary and it's so nice to hear that you loved your vacation with us. Pura vida! 
It was a great trip. You should do it too.
Response from the owner 14:10 13 Feb 24
Pura vida Daniel! 
Usually my wife and I plan our vacations ourselves, so this was our first time using a travel agency. Costa Rica Rios put together a personalized trip for us based on our budget and interests and it all went way better than I expected.
The accommodations were lovely, the activities and guides were all excellent and having the transportation pre-arranged was a huge convenience. Everyone was on time to the minute.
Particularly nice was that all activities (and even transportation) were private -- just me, my wife and the guide or driver. I wasn't expecting that, especially on a whitewater rafting trip! That made the activities feel more personal and special.
The accommodations were lovely, the activities and guides were all excellent and having the transportation pre-arranged was a huge convenience. Everyone was on time to the minute.
Particularly nice was that all activities (and even transportation) were private -- just me, my wife and the guide or driver. I wasn't expecting that, especially on a whitewater rafting trip! That made the activities feel more personal and special.
Response from the owner 22:39 24 Jan 24
Thanks for the great review Seth and it's so nice to hear you enjoyed your vacation. Pura vida! 
Our family of six (parents plus four adolescents) went on the Week of Adventures! We had the most amazing time on the adventures, as well as enjoying typical Costa Rican food and learning about "Tico" culture. Our guides were knowledgable, attentive and enthusiastic, and they were completely focused on our safety during all of the adventures. We had plenty of time to rest at the wonderful hotels (we especially loved the Eco-lodge) and we enjoyed the kayaking, zip-lining, rafting, snorkeling and canyoning thoroughly! The landscape in Costa Rica is absolutely stunning and we loved every moment of this incredible adventure! Thank you, Henry (AKA "Ninja"), Paolo, Jeffrey, Gustavo, and Manuel for taking such great care of us in your beautiful country!
Response from the owner 14:17 21 Jan 24
What a fantastic review thanks, Christine. It's so nice to hear that you and your family enjoyed your vacation and we hope to see you again at some point in the future. Pura vida! 
