The fact that tourism has become the main source of income for the country shows how Costa Rica uses its natural capital consistently. Just a few years ago this position was held by the export of bananas and coffee.

The fact that tourism has become the main source of income for the country shows how Costa Rica uses its natural capital consistently. Just a few years ago this position was held by the export of bananas and coffee.
But, of course, it is not the banana plantations and coffee fincas, which attract visitors from all over the world. In fact it’s the rainforests of the Osa Peninsula, the cloud forests of the Talamanca mountain range, the volcanoes Poás, Irazú and the no longer active Arenal with its hot springs in the interior of the country, the canals, river arms and lagoons of the national parks of Tortuguero and Barra del Colorado in the Caribbean flatland, beaches and nature reserves of the Pacific coast, the list of “highlights” could be continued.

However, the success story of Costa Rican tourism is already showing its downside: some of the most famous national parks are now paying the price for their popularity. In the private rainforest reserve of Monteverde, with its “Skywalk” through the treetops of the jungle giants, which is particularly famous in the US, the chances of encountering American cruise tourists on shore leave are far higher than those of encountering native birds, monkeys, and other forest dwellers. A similar situation exists in Manuel Antonio National Park, south of the port city of Quépos, where hordes of capuchin monkeys wait near the trash cans to be fed by careless visitors who ignore all the relevant prohibitions.
During peak season, the canal system in Tortuguero National Park has to deal with a volume of excursion boats that reminds one more of Venice than an untouched natural paradise. Most hotels in the beach resorts on the Nicoya Peninsula, which, like Montezuma, have gained popularity among young travelers in recent years, now charge prices that can only be described as unreasonable at best. Even Tamarindo Beach, once famous for its seclusion and spectacular sunsets, has become one of the largest hotel clusters in the entire country, despite rocky sections and strong currents that make swimming dangerous. To avoid misunderstandings: despite tourism development reaching its limits in certain places, Costa Rica fortunately offers equally attractive alternatives to all these tourist destinations that are far less crowded and live up to the national tourism authority’s promise of “no artificial ingredients.” Whether you want to see quetzals, toucans, parrots, or hummingbirds, watch mighty turtles laying eggs, or admire the daring climbing skills of howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and spider monkeys, or glide through the treetops of the rainforest suspended from a steel cable, go rafting, or hiking, Costa Rica will not disappoint you. However, if you are not only looking for nature experiences, but also want to discover interesting places and cities with colonial architecture and a corresponding cultural offering, or are searching for the Caribbean dream beach, you should venture across the border to the neighboring countries of Nicaragua and Panama – even if only as a side trip.