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: Big brain coral | © US Fish and Wildlife Services/Flickr
Caribbean Coastline
The Caribbean coastline is 125 miles (200 kilometers) long and stretches between Nicaragua and Panama. The coastal region of the Caribbean is made up of pristine and palm-tree lined beaches, mangrove swamplands, and river mouths that back up to tropical rainforest and banana plantations. The resident wildlife includes rainbow-billed toucans, chestnut-mandibled toucans, aracari toucans, white-faced capuchin monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths, boa constrictors, Jesus lizards, and iguanas, just to name a few. There is far more rainfall on the Caribbean coastline than on the Pacific coastline. Rainbow bill | © Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr
Pacific Coastline
The Pacific coastline varies from north to south. The north is must more rugged and backs up to tropical dry forest and vast fields. The north region of Guanacaste is referred to as Costa Rica’s gold coast due to its warm dry weather and stunning beaches. As you head south, the forest changes from dry to rainforest. The wildlife varies up and down the coast. There is a lot more visible wildlife on the coast the further south you head, since the forests tend to meet right up with the beach and ocean, whereas in the north they are set back a bit further.