Discovering Costa Rica

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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