Fortunately, Costa Rica is the place where ecotourism was born, and it is also the place where this activity has reached the maximum level of achievement and success. This natural paradise has extensive experience on showing its wonderful natural wealth to thousands of visitors every year.

Costa Rica is a small country with an extension of 51,100 square kilometers; it has a great scenic beauty and natural wealth. In this piece of land that represents only 0.3% of the planet's surface, lives the 5% of the global biodiversity. It has more varieties of bird species than the United States, and a greater variety of butterflies than the entire African continent. These facts have made this country of 4 million inhabitants internationally recognized.

In the various habitats and ecosystems there are 12000 plant species, 2000 nocturnal butterfly species and 12000 diurnal species, 192 species of amphibious, 226 species of reptiles, 1,600 species of freshwater and saltwater fish, at least 875 species of birds, and 239 of species of mammals.

In this extensive natural landscape, Costa Rica also has several types of forest such as deciduous, rain forests, cloud forests, paramo, oak riparian forests, herbaceous lagoons, mangrove swamps, yolillales and swamp forests.

The natural scenery goes beyond; there are many other amazing areas such as volcanoes, active hot springs, and caves. Also the pre-Colombian sites are very important for the Mesoamerica archeology study, as well as the system of protected areas that covers the 25% of the national territory: national parks (22), wildlife refuges (12), forest reserves (8), biological reserves (12), forest reserves, and protected zones (26).