CU Travels Presents: Costa Rica!!! Presented by Lindsay Booth and Connor Degnan

General Information Located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama between 8° and 11° North Latitude near the Equator Located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama between 8° and 11° North Latitude near the Equator Area: 50,895 square kilometers Area: 50,895 square kilometers Population: 3 million Population: 3 million Capital: San Jose Capital: San Jose

Vegetation 9,000 Species of Flora 9,000 Species of Flora Lush, fertile Rainforests Lush, fertile Rainforests Conservation Conservation Tropical Dry Forest Tropical Dry Forest

Tortuguero National Park Best known National Park Best known National Park ¾ of the East Coast ¾ of the East Coast Various Flora and Fauna including Bromeliads and Orchids Various Flora and Fauna including Bromeliads and Orchids 405 Species of Birds 405 Species of Birds

Monteverde Cloud Forest Tilarán Mountain Range Tilarán Mountain Range Acres Acres 2000 plant species 2000 plant species High elevation and constantly covered by clouds High elevation and constantly covered by clouds 8 different ecological zones 8 different ecological zones

Manuel Antonio National Park Rainforest and Beaches Rainforest and Beaches Adventure Activities such as horseback riding and Kayaking Adventure Activities such as horseback riding and Kayaking

Climate and Precipitation “ No climate can, I imagine, be more favorable to fertility and to man’s comfort at the same time than that of the interior of Costa Rica” English 19 th -Century Novelist Anthony Trollope “ No climate can, I imagine, be more favorable to fertility and to man’s comfort at the same time than that of the interior of Costa Rica” English 19 th -Century Novelist Anthony Trollope

Climate Basics Tropical with many distinct climate zones Tropical with many distinct climate zones Two Distinct Seasons: Two Distinct Seasons: 1)Dry (May to December) 1)Dry (May to December) 2)Wet (January- May) 2)Wet (January- May) Average Temperature ranges from 71° to 81° Average Temperature ranges from 71° to 81° March to May tends to be the hottest months March to May tends to be the hottest months

Weather Due to solar radiation and air circulation Due to solar radiation and air circulation Heat puts air in motion and establishes winds Heat puts air in motion and establishes winds North-easterly trade winds or “alisios” North-easterly trade winds or “alisios” Cloud forest ecosystem Cloud forest ecosystem

Caribbean Coast Rainy season April- December Rainy season April- December Dry Spell in August/September Dry Spell in August/September “Temporales de Atlantico” “Temporales de Atlantico” Limon & Cahuita Limon & Cahuita

Pacific Coast Rainy season from May to November Rainy season from May to November North intense dry season North intense dry season Central Valley mild season and temps Central Valley mild season and temps Guanacaste & Montezuma Guanacaste & Montezuma

Rainfall and Precipitation 100 inches nationwide 100 inches nationwide Majority falls on a few days Majority falls on a few days Mountains: 150 inches/year Mountains: 150 inches/year Montane Rainforests Montane Rainforests

Thank You!!!