Discovering Costa Rica

Recreation and Outdoors Athletics

As in other parts of Central America, football is a national pastime, with a number of local and provincial teams. The sport was first introduced to Costa Rica in the 20th century by English settlers. The national team’s aggressive style has earned them the Central American Soccer Union, Nations Cup as the champions of Central America. Though football is the main focus, bullfighting is another popular sport in Costa Rica, though it is more like a rodeo in that no blood is drawn from the bull during the event. Competitors often ride the bulls, and individuals jump in and out of the ring, allowing them to give chase. Tico-style bullfighting events take place all over the country at seasonal fiestas and the largest of the year – Zapote – is the country’s ultimate event. Parks Costa Rica has developed the largest national park system, relative to its size, of any Latin American country. Natural parks and biological reserves account for 25% of the country’s territory. These parks include a range of tropical ecosystems, including the tropical rainforest, cloud forest, dry forest, and elfin forest. There are several parks throughout Costa Rica worth visiting: + Corcovado National Park: The Corcovado National Park is the largest park in Costa Rica and covers about a third of the Osa Peninsula. As “the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity” by National Geographic, it is popular with tropical ecologists and visitors that are looking for an abundance of wildlife + Manuel Antonio National Park: This small national park is in the Central Pacific Conservation Area along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This park is visited by 150,000 visitors annually, and is known for the beautiful beaches and hiking trails + Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve: This

site covers over 35,000 acres of eight life zones atop the Continental Divide. This environment is ideal for biodiversity, including 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 1,200 species of amphibians and a few habitats including jaguars, ocelots, pumas, oncillas, margays, and jaguarondis

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Discovering Costa Rica