Title: What to Know About Costa Rica's 12 Different Ecosystems
Headings: What to Know About Costa Rica's 12 Different Ecosystems
What to Know About Costa Rica's 12 Different Ecosystems
Lowland Tropical Rainforest
Tropical Dry Forest
Cloud forest
Highland Mountain Rainforest
Páramo
Semi-Deciduous Mid-Elevation Forest
Mangrove Forest
Wetlands
Coral Reef
Caribbean Coastline
Pacific Coastline
Shallow Seas

Content: They are also home to crocodiles, caimans, iguanas, bats, several species of monkeys, snakes, frogs, and a lot of insects. There are large populations of migratory and permanently based birds that call the wetlands home. Like the mangrove forests, this ecosystem can only be accessed by boat. A boat trip to either Palo Verde or Cano Negro will be an excellent opportunity to witness a lot of different animals. Cute caiman | © Ching/Flickr
Coral Reef
There are colorful color reefs on both the Pacific and Caribbean sides of Costa Rica. Coral reefs are an intricate ecosystem made up of symbiotic relationships between algae and the living coral (which are actually animals similar to sea anemones). The coral reefs also provide shelter and feeding grounds for hundreds of species of tropical fish, sharks, rays, sea turtles, and mollusks. Dolphins and whales sometimes visit the outer fringes of the coral reefs, as well. Coral reefs protect the coastline from heavy storm waves and swells. Some of the best coral reefs to dive are part of the Cahuita National Park, Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, the Catalina Islands, Bahia Ballena National Marine Park, and the original Treasure Island, Isla del Coco.