Limon is now home to the first ecological national park!

Veragua, a new nature-themed adventure park, was inaugurated on August 1, 2008 in the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. The park doesn’t only offer adventure, it is also a research center. What better place for such a than amid the exuberance of the flora and the fauna of this region! The park is located about 40 minutes away from the city of Limon, on a 4,000-acre private reserve and surrounded by genuine primary rain forest!

It’s the real thing, Tarzan-style complete with monkeys, lianas, and hundreds of colorful birds and deadly snakes, and only 4,000 square meters of construction. It has it all, with a canopy tour, the astonishing 20 meters high Puma waterfall, the largest nocturnal frog exhibit, a hummingbird garden, a butterfly garden, a reptile vivarium, joined by some of the most spectacular trails zig-zagging through the jungle, one of the very few primary forests left in this country, and indeed in this world!

Alongside Veragua is the Parque de la Amistad, or Friendship Park. This amazing protected world heritage site, the largest of Central America, is shared by Costa Rica and Panama, and its immensity can be observed from the Veragua canopy tour. From the tree tops visitors can view miles and miles of peace and tranquility, where the every day drama of nature goes on undisturbed. The nine platforms reach up to 150 feet above ground, offering stunning views of the majestic Chirripo, the tallest mountain in Costa Rica, and the of the blue Caribbean sea.

The park works hand in hand with the Costa Rican Institute of Biology, InBio. It includes a research laboratory where the staff studies the insects, flora and fauna of the region, and encourages visitors to take an active part in this. Maybe visitors will even be lucky enough to witness the discovery of a new species of insect! The microscopes are equipped with cameras and it is possible to follow the experiments on a huge plasma screen!

The frog exhibit’s aim is to show visitors the impressive variety of amphibians that inhabit the Caribbean forests, and has three distinctive parts: first is an interactive and informative section where the visitors can learn and truly interact with the displays designed especially in collaboration with InBio. The famous nocturnal display is the largest of its kind in the world, and creating it was the real challenge; how to observe these small amphibians in the dark without disturbing their habits.

Visitors can watch them undisturbed as they go on about their business of hunting and living their lives, while during the day they just normally sleep. Finally there is indeed a collection of day-time frogs, of which the famous red poison dart frog, it can be easily spotted among all the green, like red little spots jumping and running across the trails.

The tram is not just another ride, it is the main means of transportation. It takes the visitors to the Victoria River, lined with giant trees that gave its name to the trail that goes alongside the river, the Trail of the Giants!

The butterfly garden will not fail to mesmerize visitors with its 10,000 colorful species including the beautiful Morpho butterfly. Iguanas, lizards, and snakes are all part of rain forests, and the notorious Fer de Lance, locally known as the Terciopelo, a poisonous snake, can be observed as it disdainfully stares back at you!

The hummingbird garden is cleverly designed with local indigenous plants and flowers, and these delightful little birds never cease to impress those who watch them, small, but fierce!

Veragua’s beautiful park is an example and it is hoped that many more of this kind will emerge in the future. It’s goal is to shake humanity out of its stupor by showing us the spectacular wonders and perfections nature is giving us, how it all works together and interacts, and how we can live in harmony with it, by learning to enjoy and respect it without destroying it.

Many local talents have been called in to help in this project, from the construction to the making of the displays and trails, providing workers with training programs, good working conditions, and allowing them to live to their fullest and to give the best of what they have to offer. Varagua is an example of what should be popping up not only on the Costa Rica Map, but also throughout the whole world. For now, add it to your list of Costa Rica Tours to experience while on vacation or cruising around the country.

Tours within the park include a half-day version, which is $65 for adults and $45 for children and a full-day tour for $99 for adults and $70 for children. For more information visit their website: www.veraguarainforest.com

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Filed under: Travel on August 20th, 2008