15 Must-Know Facts About Costa Rica’s Rainforest!

Key takeaways

• Costa Rica has three main types of rainforests, each with unique wildlife and scenery.
• Forests cover over 50% of the country thanks to strong conservation efforts.
• Hanging bridges at Mistico Park let you explore the canopy and spot animals.
• Local communities and Indigenous groups help protect these forests every day.

What Are the Facts About the Rainforest in Costa Rica?

When you think of Costa Rica, it’s impossible not to picture its lush, vibrant rainforests. But beyond the beauty, there’s a lot to know about these incredible ecosystems.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes these rainforests one of a kind:

1. Costa Rica Has Three Types of Rainforests

Costa Rica’s rain forests are as diverse as the country itself, with different environments, wildlife, and rhythms of life across the land.

As you move throughout the country, you’ll find three main types:

Tropical rainforests

Costa Rica’s tropical rainforests thrive in lowland areas, especially along the Caribbean coast and parts of the Pacific. These forests are known for their constant rainfall, sometimes reaching up to 200 inches (5,000 mm) each year.

• Temperature: Warm temperatures between 71°F and 91°F (22°C–33°C).
• Plants: Bromeliads, mosses, orchids, and massive trees such as laurel and cedar.
• Animals: Howler monkeys, green iguanas, jaguars, coatis, red-eyed frogs, sloths, reptiles, butterflies, and even tropical birds like the keel-billed toucan.

If you want to see tropical rainforests up close, Mistico Park, Corcovado National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, and Cahuita National Park are some of the best places to explore.

Cloud forests

Higher up in the mountains, you’ll find cloud forests, one of the country’s rarest and most magical ecosystems. Costa Rica’s cloud forests sit at higher elevations, where a constant mist bathes the landscape.

• Temperature: Cooler temperatures between 57°F and 74°F (14°C–23°C).
• Plants: Mosses, giant ferns, and an incredible variety of orchids.
• Animals: Hummingbirds, toucans, sloths, pumas, among others.

Some of the mesmerizing cloud forests in the country include Monteverde and the Talamanca Range.

Tropical dry forests

Drier, dustier, and full of heat-loving wildlife—tropical dry forests feel like a different world.

Mostly found in Guanacaste province, these forests live through long dry seasons, with less than 79 inches (2,000 mm) of rain each year.

• Temperature: Temperatures stay warm here too, ranging from 71°F to 91°F (22°C–33°C).
• Plants: Iconic trees like the Guanacaste tree (Costa Rica’s national tree), Espavel, and Guapinol.
• Animals: Howler monkeys, coyotes, white-tailed deer, and colorful birds like trogons and parakeets.

Some of the best places to experience tropical dry forests are Santa Rosa National Park, Rincón de la Vieja, and Palo Verde.

2. Over Half of Costa Rica Is Covered by Forest

Walking through Costa Rica, it can feel like the entire country is wrapped in green. Today, more than half of the land is covered by forests. That’s an incredible achievement, especially for a country that once faced extensive deforestation just a few decades ago.

Thanks to steady conservation efforts and reforestation programs, the landscape has steadily recovered. Now, from the misty mountains to the lowland rainforests, trees stretch across more than 50% of Costa Rica’s territory (National Geographic Kids)

3. Rainforests Are Made of Layers

At first glance, it might look like one big forest, but there’s a hidden order to it.

Here’s how it works:

A typical rainforest has four main layers: the emergent layer, the canopy, the understory, and the forest floor (National Geographic Education).

At the top, the emergent layer features towering trees that rise above the canopy, home to birds of prey and bats.

Below that, the canopy forms a thick ceiling of leaves where many animals like monkeys, sloths, and toucans live.

The understory, found beneath the canopy, is darker and humid, with frogs, snakes, and insects hiding among the shrubs and vines.

At the bottom, the forest floor receives very little sunlight and is rich with decomposing material, providing shelter for larger animals like tapirs and jaguars.

4. Rainforests Help Regulate Climate and Water Sources

It’s easy to think of the rainforests of Costa Rica as green, wild places full of life. But they also do something even bigger: they help keep our climate and water sources in balance.

Rainforests act like giant filters for the air. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and help keep temperatures steady both locally and around the world. Their thick vegetation cools the air and keeps rainfall patterns more predictable.

They also play a massive role in the water cycle. Rainforests capture rainfall, filter it through the roots and soil, and release clean water into rivers and streams. Without these natural systems, floods would be stronger, droughts would last longer, and freshwater would be harder to find.

If you’re curious to learn more about why rainforests are so important, check out our blog: How Does Protecting the Rainforest Benefit Costa Rica?

A flowing waterfall deep in the rainforest, surrounded by trees and plants, helping keep Costa Rica’s rivers alive.

5. Many Wildlife Species are Endemic and Call the Rainforest Home

Costa Rica’s rainforests are home to an incredible variety of wildlife, some of which you might recognize and others you’ll only find here.

A remarkable number of species in the country are endemic, meaning they exist nowhere else on Earth. Among them are birds like the coppery-headed emerald and the mangrove hummingbird, along with the Cocos finch found only on Cocos Island (Animalia Bio).

But that’s just the beginning.

When you explore the rainforest, you might spot some of the most iconic Costa Rica rainforest animals:

• Howler monkeys
• White-faced capuchin monkeys
• Sloths
• Baird’s tapirs
• Red-eyed tree frogs
• Poison dart frogs
• Keel-billed toucans
• Scarlet macaws flying overhead
• Ocelots
• Jaguars

6. Rainforest Flora Is as Fascinating as Its Wildlife

The animals might steal the spotlight, but the plants of Costa Rica’s forests are just as incredible.

Walk through the rainforest, and you’ll find an incredible variety of:

• Ceiba
• Kapok tres
• Guarumo -a favorite of sloths-
• Corteza Amarilla
• Epiphytes
• Over 1,400 species of orchids
• Bromeliads
• Vines
• Lianas
• Mosses
• Ferns
• Gingers
• Heliconias

7. You Can Explore the Rainforest on Hanging Bridges

One of the most unique ways to experience Costa Rica’s rainforest is by walking across hanging bridges. From up in the canopy, you can see orchids, monkeys, and birds that are often hidden from the ground.

At Mistico Hanging Bridges, the trails take you through different layers of the forest, offering close views of towering trees, colorful plants, and wildlife. What’s more, some bridges rise more than 45 meters (148 feet) above the forest floor. It gives you a view of the rainforest that most people never get to see.

8. Early Mornings and Nights Are the Best Time for Spotting Wildlife

The rainforest is always full of life, but if you want the best chance to spot wildlife, timing matters.

Early mornings and nighttime are when the forest becomes most active. At dawn, birds call from the treetops, monkeys move through the canopy, and mammals like coatis and sloths start their day. The cool temperatures and soft light also make it easier to catch sight of more animals before they retreat deeper into the trees.

As night falls, frogs, bats, insects, and nocturnal mammals take over the forest. The sounds change, too. You’ll hear the calls of owls, the rustle of night creatures, and the steady hum of frogs in the background.

9. Rainforest Weather Changes Quickly

If you’re visiting the rainforest, one thing you can count on is that the weather won’t stay the same for long. Clear skies can quickly turn into light showers or even heavy rain, often in a matter of minutes.

This fast-changing weather is part of what keeps the rainforest so lush and full of life. High humidity, warm temperatures, and frequent rain are all part of the natural rhythm.

Local tip: In Costa Rica, even during the “dry” season, it’s common to experience short bursts of rain, especially in the afternoons.

10. Visiting Rainforests Helps Protect Them

Every time you visit a protected rainforest, you’re helping to protect these ecosystems for the future. Responsible tourism plays a big part in that effort. Entrance fees, guided tours, and conservation programs funded by visitors support the maintenance of trails, research efforts, habitat restoration, and local communities that depend on the forest.

11. The Rainforest Is Home to Ancient Trees Over 1,000 Years Old

Some trees in the rainforests have been standing for over a thousand years. Take the Ceiba tree, for example; with its large roots and towering branches, it’s been part of the landscape for centuries. And it’s not just their size that makes them impressive. These giants tell a story of survival, growth, and deep connection to the land around them.

12. Indigenous Groups Have Lived in the Rainforest for Centuries

In Costa Rica, eight different Indigenous peoples have been living in and caring for the rainforest for centuries.

Groups like the Bribri, Cabécar, Maleku, and Boruca have deep connections to these lands, relying on the forest for food, medicine, shelter, and spiritual traditions.

For many Indigenous cultures, the rainforest isn’t just a resource; it’s part of their identity. They’ve developed a deep understanding of the plants, animals, and natural cycles, passing down knowledge through generations.

Even today, many Indigenous groups in Costa Rica continue to protect these areas, keeping their traditions alive while advocating for the conservation of the rainforest.

13. Some Rainforest Plants Have Medicinal Uses

As you’ve seen, the rainforest is full of plants with healing traditions that go back generations. Local communities have traditionally relied on plants like cacao, valued for its antioxidants and ceremonial uses; jackass bitters, known for treating parasites and wounds; and tropical cilantro, used for digestive issues and anemia (Conscious Explorer).

These plants are living proof of how deeply rainforest life is tied to everyday health.

14. Rainforests Play a Role in Carbon Sequestration

Every tree standing and every tree replanted helps keep the rainforest and the planet a little healthier. How? Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis and store it in their trunks, branches, and roots. This process, called carbon sequestration, helps slow down climate change by pulling carbon out of the atmosphere and locking it away (FreeScience.info).

15. Costa Rica’s Rainforest Conservation Model Is Globally Recognized

It’s hard to believe now, but back in the 1980s, Costa Rica lost most of its forests; forest cover dropped to just 21%.

Fast forward a few decades, and the country is now a global leader in rainforest conservation (Sustainable Agriculture). A big part of this turnaround comes from the Payments for Environmental Services (PES) program, launched in 1997. Through PES, landowners get paid to protect and restore forests instead of cutting them down.

It’s a simple idea with a big impact; funded in part by a fossil fuel tax, the program has helped protect over 1.5 million hectares of rainforest and supported rural communities along the way.

The world has taken notice. In 2021, Costa Rica received the first-ever Earthshot Prize for its efforts to restore nature. It also earned a $16.4 million payment from the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility for cutting carbon emissions, with the chance to secure even more support in the future (World Bank).