Climatelinks Photo Gallery

Ecotourism is a huge contributor to Costa Rica's economy, and its history of success is related to the country's progressive environmental policies. In particular, forest conversion is heavily penalized, meaning that forests are less likely to be cut down to make room for livestock. Primary forests—those that have never been cut down—receive an even higher level of protection and are often monetized, such as at Costa Rica Sky Adventures, where this photo was taken. 

Places like this, which combine the thrill of heights with the landscape's natural beauty, offer tourists an opportunity to appreciate untouched forests while also learning about their high value and ecological importance. 

In Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, visitors can experience largely untouched primary forests and unmatched biodiversity, including the highest number of orchid species in a single place. Monteverde is a huge ecotourism success story, having been started by Quaker farmers in the 1970s and now drawing more than 70,000 visitors per year. Ferns like the one seen here are quite common in the understory of the cloud forest. 

However, even pristine examples of forest conservation like Monteverde are not immune to change. Monteverde is known worldwide as the habitat of the golden toad (Incilius periglenes), though it has not been seen in more than 20 years and is believed to be extinct. 

Costa Rica is famous for having only 0.03 percent of the Earth's landmass, but 6 percent of its biodiversity. As a result, ecotourism is a heavy hitter in Costa Rica's economy, and is often cited as a key to the country's economic development.

Costa Rica had a head start, having developed policies favorable to ecotourism as early as the 1990s. Even so, the country struggles with to balance its current status as a model for ecotourism with a history of unsustainable environmental management. For example, one of the country's primary sources of hydroelectric power, Lake Arenal, has diverted an entire watershed to the opposite side of the Continental Divide in an effort to bring water to the semi-arid Guanacaste province. Such initiatives were undertaken before strong environmental regulations came into effect, and the ecological damage is still unclear. Even so, Costa Rica is often lauded for a high level of renewable energy production sourced from the very same lake. 

One example of ecotourism is the Arenal Sky Walk, where visitors can take a hike that crosses numerous hanging bridges, each offering a rare view of the rainforest canopy. Epiphytes, such as those seen along this tree branch, are rarely seen as close. 

The rainforest canopy is an impressive place, and one that's not often visited by humans. Rainforest canopies, which generally sit 40-60 meters above the surface, are home to an impressive amount of biodiversity, including orchids, bromeliads, mosses, and lichens.

51 percent of Costa Rica's landmass is forested, and nearly half of that is considered primary forest, which is the most biodiverse and carbon-dense type of forest. Costa Rica is known for its ecotourism, which offers visiting tourists the opportunity to experience places like the rainforest canopy up close. Zip lines, sky trams, and sky walks are some of the main methods of ecotourism that bring tourists and the canopy together. 

This image, taken from a sky walk, gives a sense of the beauty of the canopy. In the background, the slopes of the famous Arenal volcano can be seen. 

It's rare for humans to get an up-close view of the rainforest canopy. Yet, this is just what they do when they participate in numerous ecotourism activities found in Costa Rica that serve to bring tourists to this rarely seen part of the forest. 

While zip lines might be the most commonly known type of canopy ecotourism, there are other possibilities, such as sky walks, where visitors take a trail that passes over hanging bridges. While still exhilarating, sky walks are not quite as heart-stopping as the faster-paced zip lines. Sky walks are perfect for individuals and families looking to experience an unfamiliar place while learning a little about what makes that place special.

This image was taken from the the middle of a hanging bridge, looking down into the canopy layer of the forest below. 

Costa Rica, November 2014. The fertile fields of Costa Rica as seen from the slopes of Irazú volcano. Costa Rica's government acknowledges the importance of environmental sustainability, and has created many programs to incentivize good practices by the agriculture and infrastructure sectors, among others. 

Lake Arenal Hydropower Plant, Costa Rica, October 2014. Costa Rica runs on renewable energy for an average of 300 days a year, largely thanks to hydropower generated in stations like this one. Costa Rica’s proactive environmental policies are the reason it is considered a strong example of sustainable development around the world. However, much of Costa Rica's environmental development was not well regulated as it was undertaken, and numerous problems persist.

Limón Province, Costa Rica, November 2014. Pineapples are by definition unsustainable, requiring high use of agrochemicals and replacing large swaths of land with a single, spiny crop. However, pineapples are also extremely popular, so in spite of their inherent unsustainability, they’re not going anywhere. To meet increasing global demand for sustainably produced crops, companies in Costa Rica are investing in improved agricultural practices, certifications, and better conditions for laborers.

Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica, November 2014. In spite of its small size, Costa Rica accounts for nearly 6 percent of the world’s biodiversity. Cloud forests like the one at Monteverde are crucial habitat for plants and animals, such as this colorful hummingbird. Recent studies predict that cloud forests worldwide will diminish by 60 to 80 percent in the next 25 years as a result of climate change.

Chirripo Volcano, Costa Rica, 2014. Agroforestry is gaining popularity worldwide as a method of sustainable land management. At AsoProLa, an agricultural cooperative high in the mountains of Costa Rica's Puntarenas province, coffee is grown in the shade of banana trees. Coffee grown in this manner requires less agrochemicals, provides habitat to animals, and tastes better than non-shade grown varieties.