In December 2024 I visited Costa Rica with David Miles of Natureslens. This was a fairly intense two week tour travelling the length of the country, staying at eight hotels and encompassing different weather and landscapes in this beautiful, varied country. Some detailed planning went it to it and it worked admirably well. 

 

Costa Rica is one of the happiest countries in the world according to the World Happiness Report (?) due to its quality of life, peace and nature. It has been army free since 1949 having decided to disband its army and devote those resources to education, health and social welfare. It has more than 5% of the world's biodiversity and is home to more than 500,000 different species, making it one of the most biodiverse destinations on the planet. Eco-tourism is key to the economy and it is a world leader in sustainable tourism, with national parks and nature reserves attracting millions of visitors each year. ⁠ It has over 60 national parks, a mix of rainforests, pristine beaches, and breath taking volcanoes ideal for eco-tourism. It borders both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean with beaches for surfing, relaxing and exploring. 

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Our tour encompassed a range of privately owned gardens, something of a cottage industry in the country, well set out for attracting birds and enabling photographers to capture them at ease. We also made a number of boat trips on the Tarcoles river and at Cano Negro.