Miss this volcanic paradise and you'll be spewing
LA FORTUNA, Costa Rica: Costa Rica offers a wealth of flora and fauna to visitors without forcing them to endure days of marching through thick jungle.
One third of the country has been given the status of either protected national park or reserve, so it's no surprise that Costa Rica is one of the most popular destinations in eco-tourism.
The Arenal is an active volcano, continually spewing hot lava and ash.
During the day, rough clumps of lava crash down the side of the volcano, while at night, their tell-tale red and yellow trails glow beneath the stars.
It's late in the afternoon and the thick cloud cover disperses, allowing an especially good view of the volcano for tourists who stop their cars and unpack their binoculars and picnic baskets.
Otto Chavez has come here looking for a parking spot with a view of the Arenal.
The 31-year-old from San Jose applies the brakes. A coati bear emerges from the undergrowth and walks onto the asphalt, sniffs the car and then disappears into the jungle.
It was thanks to the same quick reaction by the tour guide that the life of a large snake was saved just a few days before.
The Arenal region in the northwest is one of the best developed areas for tourists in Costa Rica. The road and bus networks are dense and well maintained. Hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and markets are relatively cheap.
This area is known as the Switzerland of Latin America and has been attracting immigrants from Europe for a long time.
On quiet days in nearby Selvatura Park, you can see the shy Queztal bird. Getting even a short glimpse of this long-tailed creature is a dream come true - even for local people.
The town of Puerto Viejo, halfway between San Jose and La Fortuna, is popular with many foreigners. The two-hour trip on this hot morning resulted in sightings of 10 howler monkeys, six arm-long iguanas, a dozen tortoises, three snake- birds and one caiman.
DPA
(China Daily 11/08/2007 page19)
