First, the mangrove in Costa Rica covers only 1% of the forests found in the country. With around 72 species known in the world (7 of them here) this unique environment is restricted to the tropical areas where the largest and oldest forests can be found in the tropics regions of Malaysia and Indonesia. While in Costa Rica 99% of this is located in the Pacific coast and only the 1% in the Caribbean side it makes a Mangrove Tour in boat or kayak a tentative option for those tourists who visit the beautiful places of our Pacific coast.
Secondly, these lands are flooded by the high tide and fresh water of rivers, streams, creeks which mix through their way to the ocean creating a salty environment with muddy soils and where its vegetation is specially adapted to grow and survive where others could not. This comes being one of the reasons why this activity is done during the high tide when the levels of water allow its navigation.
As a result, the location and conditions of mangroves provide habitat to many kind of animals such as White faced capuchin Monkeys, anteaters, aquatic and migratory birds, fish, crustaceans, bats, crocodiles, snakes and others making this place not only peaceful, also really good for sighting wildlife and learning about how trees and animals have adapted to live in and need the preservation of this endangered ecosystem.
So, in the Central Pacific of Costa Rica there are two wetlands of relative importance The Tarcoles River area and The Damas Island Forest being this last one where our activities are performed. The Damas Island Forest gives us a chance to navigate its quiet waters through wide and narrow canals surrounded by the amazing mangrove forest in kayak or boat during the high tide schedule which varies every day. In this exclusive area of 600 hectares, 6 of the Costa Rica’s 7 species of mangroves trees can be found allowing us to learn and distinguish the features of each.
