Flora

Costa Rica, despite its relatively small size, holds an extraordinary diversity of ecosystems, thanks to its unique geographical position and varied topography. From the steamy, dense rainforests blanketing its Caribbean lowlands and central and south Pacific coast to the cloud-shrouded montane forests clinging to its volcanic peaks, and the dry tropical forests stretching along its northern Pacific coast. This also includes critical marine ecosystems like coral reefs and mangroves, as well as wetlands, savannas, and paramo, each supporting unique flora and fauna adapted to specific climatic and environmental conditions, making Costa Rica such a biodiversity hotspot.

Coffee is a major crop in Costa Rica, and the country is known for producing some of the world's best coffee beans. Costa Rica's combination of volcanic soil and high altitudes provides the ideal growing conditions for high-quality Arabica coffee beans. Additionally, the country's distinct rainy and dry seasons ensure a consistent supply of moisture followed by periods of sunshine perfect for bean development and drying. Coffee plantations can be found throughout the country. Cacao is the plant that is used to make chocolate, and Costa Rica is also known for producing high-quality cacao beans. 

The national flower of Costa Rica is a purple orchid named the guaria morada (Guarianthe skinneri) as shown in the first picture below. The guaria morada is a symbol of the country's natural beauty and biodiversity. There are over 1300 orchids species, making it one of the most orchid-rich countries in the world. If you are all into orchids, you should definitely consider visiting Jardin Botanico Lankester in Cartago. As part of Universidad de Costa Rica, it is one of the leading institutions in orchids research in Central America. Find out more on the Explore the South Central Valley page.

The Coconut palm is probably one of the first things you think of the tropics, so yes these are widely available in Costa Rica. No, a coconut is not a nut, it is a fruit according to the botanical definition. You can find them at both the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts, often sold for little by vendors that cut them open fresh for you. This is called Pipa Fria and is really the most refreshing and pure drink you can find.  Costa Rica truly is an agricultural wonderland, with products like pineapples, mangos, bananas, papaya, carambola (star fruit), limes, and the list goes on. If you have the chance to visit a farmers market, you should definitely go see for yourself.

It is impossible to get even close to showing and describing all interesting flora found in Costa Rica, but I hope this page has given you some insights and at least a nice introduction. You will find many more beautiful tropical flowers like the Heliconia and the Hibiscus shown below. Or other interesting plants like the Nepenthes, commonly known as tropical pitcher plants, are fascinating carnivorous plants renowned for their modified leaves that form distinctive, often colorful, pitcher-shaped traps.

• Biodiversity is also about fauna. Learn more about Costa Rican mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and more on the Fauna page.

• Now that you have read something about the ecosystems and flora of Costa Rica, you might want to learn more about the different National Parks and their ecosystems on the National Parks page.