While in beautiful and sunny Costa Rica, consider visiting some of the country's many wildlife reserves and national parks. Here, you can see a variety of exotic plants and animals in their natural settings. Don't leave the country without this amazing experience! No matter where you stay in Costa Rica, you are never far from a natural tourist destination.

In the North, check out the Santa Rosa and Guanacasta National Park. Over 100 different mammal species live here, over half of which are bats, so visiting at dark is quite the experience. The howler monkey also calls this land home, as do a variety of deer and other land animals. Magpies and parakeets are just some of the birds you are likely to see, and the countless reptiles that call this region home will make your trip worth the while. However, the most exciting kind of animal found here is the turtle. Along the beaches lies the most important spots for many turtle species-the egg-laying grounds. Here, you can see leather-back turtles and Pacific Green turtles, the largest turtle species in the world.

Nearer to the center of the country, you can visit the Poas Volcano National Park. Like the name implies, here you can tour around the base and crater of a large volcano. You'll be able to visit a variety of lagoons in the area, as well as see what Poas is most famous for-its geysers. Several hummingbirds and other bird species can be found in the cloud forest, and the park has a visitor's center to find out more information.

In the South, you simply have to visit the Ballena Marine National Park. You can cross a sandy bridge to Ballena Island at low tide to see the green iguanas, pelicans, and other animals that call this place home. The island is surrounded by a coral reef, where you can dive to see many sea animals, or you can simply watch the dolphins play from standing ashore. Marine turtles lay their eggs here, and occasionally, lucky tourists even get to see a humpback whale and her babies swim by.

Wherever you go in Costa Rica, you will not be far from a variety of national parks or reserves. Costa Rica is home to over 200 species of mammals and a variety of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. By visiting some of these natural tourist spots, you can truly see the beauty of this small tropical country.