By Tara Anderson

As I stood on a rickety old platform ready to embark on the longest zip line in the Arenal region, one that would propel me above the forest canopy at a speed of 60 miles per hour, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would make it to the other side. I was attached to a single steel cable 315 feet above the ground with three carabiners and a harness—my eyes half shut. I had come to see the lush rainforest from a bird’s eye view, yet could not summon the courage to look down. It wasn’t until the guide screamed to me, “Are you ready?” That is when I knew, I had no other choice but to jump, we had come too far to turn back. We were in Costa Rica.


Photo Credit: Celeste Cassel de Camps

Comprised of active volcanoes, a rich costal ecosystem, lush jungle flora, and an abundance of exotic animals, Costa Rica is as close to paradise as you can imagine. It is home to approximately six per cent of the world’s biodiversity, but only covers 0.3 per cent of the earth’s surface. There are more types of butterflies in Costa Rica than in all of Africa, over 1,500 types of orchids, and more bird species than in the U.S. and Canada combined. It is no wonder over two million visitors arrive each year.

However, Costa Rica was not always a tropical paradise. In fact, the nation was previously considered a world leader in deforestation. Between 1950 and 1990, over half of the forests were destroyed. Vast stretches of rainforest were burned to create cattle pasture and fruit plantations, owned by multinational corporations and the wealthy. This left much of the land in environmental ruin and caused the near extinction of the squirrel monkey, Mono Tiki.


Photo Credit: Celeste Cassel de Camps

Over the years Costa Rica has transformed its track record of deforestation into one of conservation. Today over one quarter of its land is set aside as protected land. The Monte Verde eco-lodge has enabled tourists to visit the cloud forest with minimal impact and efforts have been put towards the protection of the Leather Back Turtles’ nesting grounds.

None the less Costa Rica continues to face obstacles: an increasing number of foreign owned mega resorts, a steadily rising number of tourists and a lack of industry regulation. This allows any business, regardless of practice, to endow itself with the eco-friendly title.

As a traveller to Costa Rica you have the choice to go above and beyond the old adage, “take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints.” Play your part, do your research before go, ask questions while you are there, and make a conscious choice as to where you travel, spend, eat, sleep, and tour. Most importantly, keep your eyes open because it is the things we cannot see that have the greatest environmental impact.


Photo Credit: Celeste Cassel de Camps

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Tara Anderson is a yoga teacher, traveler and the owner of Creative Spirit Yoga.

Costa Rica, ECO, ecosystem, environment, Responsible Travel, Tara Anderson