Tropical rainforest at La Leona

A tropical rainforest is a humid and broad-leaf forest; it is widespread within the equatorial belt, to be more precisely between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The annual rainfall is more than 80 inches per square kilometre. A tropical rainforest is characterized by an almost constant climate all year round providing ideal conditions for life on land

For understanding the complexity and uniqueness of tropical rainforests let’s see the environmental conditions specifically in this equatorial belt which have influenced the evolution of this ecosystem.

An important and almost incredible fact is that rainforests cover only six per cent of the world’s surface but account for more than half of the global biodiversity.

Since almost 10 year now our guests at La Leona Eco Lodge have the chance of experiencing these most complex relationships of tropical flora and fauna in the private rainforest of our ecolodge. Many of the incredible animals live in the rainforest right next to our tent-cabins.

Ants for example are one of the most typical inhabitants of tropical rainforests, and the leaf cutter ants probably are the most prominent ones. Leaf cutter ants are nature’s farmers. They harvest leaves. In special underground chambers worker ants process the leaf cutting and seed them with fungus. The fruiting bodies of the fungus serve as food for the whole colony. The fungus and the leaf cutter ants are mutually dependent from each other; one cannot survive without the other – a perfect example of symbiotic mutualism.

Along the trails at La Leona Eco Lodge you can also admire the most beautiful frogs, as for example the Green and Black Poisonous Dart Frog. The family of this relatively small frog is endemic in the tropical rainforest of this area. All frogs here are diurnal. Many of them have developed skin toxins for their personal protection against predators. They camouflage their inedibility by wonderful colours like shining reds, blues, yellows and greens; they are also called ´jewels of the rainforest´!

Another highlight is watching marine turtles; the beach at La Leona Eco Lodge provides critical nesting habitats for four species of sea turtles – Chelonia Mydas Agassizii, commonly known as Pacific Green, Dermochelys Coriacea, known as Leatherback, Hawksbill or Eretmochelys Imbricata and Lepidochelys Olivacea, or Olive Ridley turtle. The Olive Ridley turtle is the most common one with more than 1500 individuals coming to this area every season for laying their eggs. Besides Nancite and Ostional National Parks in Costa Rica, the Pacific beaches of the Osa Peninsula are considered the most important areas worldwide for the egg deposition of these four species of turtles which all are endangered or critically endangered of extinction.
You have the chance to see turtles at La Leona Eco Lodge mainly during the season from June to December.

Tropical rain forests are also characterized by a huge diversity of species of fauna. For example you can find over one hundred different species of trees per hectare. Trees in this area can reach a height of over 100 feet or 30 meters; other trees like the Kapok Tree can even grow up to 200 feet or 70 meters. At La Leona Eco Lodge you can admire the huge Garlic Tree and Shoemaker Tree as well as Guayabón, Nispero Chicle or Naked Indian Tree.

In case you are a passionate bird watcher we have good news for you: the Neotropical rainforests have the greatest diversity of birds; here you can find about 40% of the world’s species. Costa Rica alone has over 860 species of birds, more than the entire North American continent. Some facts about Costa Rica’s bird population: about 70% (600 species) are resident all year round. The remaining 30% are migratory birds, mostly coming from North America leaving the continent during the cold winter season.
This is an excellent opportunity for every bird lover. The Osa Peninsula inhabits more than 367 species of birds; it’s a great place for birding and learning about birds!

While walking through the rainforest you can see beautiful Trogons, members of the Quetzal family as well as Flycatchers, Wood Creepers and, of course, the Scarlet Macaw. The family of the Scarlet Macaw is the biggest type of all parrots and can only be found in the Neotropics. As a result of its isolated location the Osa Peninsula still has a large population of Scarlet Macaws. Moreover, the Osa has the highest population density of this bird compared to any other region in the Central and South American range.

Costa Rica

Despite the fact that Costa Rica had been cleared of huge parts its forests, the country has managed that in total a bigger part of its territory became protectorate than in any other country in the world. It started in 1970 when the people became aware of the fact that something unique and beautiful was almost disappearing; as a consequence systematic efforts had been initiated for saving the rest of the wilderness which still existed.
The same year Costa Rica founded a national park system that has gathered worldwide admiration. Under a new Costa Rican law more than 10 per cent of the country’s territory was declared inviolable; areas which had once been compared to the Garden Eden; additional 17 per cent became legally protected as forest reserves (buffer zones), wildlife refuges, and Indian reserves.

Throughout the country, representative sections of all major habitats and ecosystems are now under protection. Today the National Conservation Areas System (SINAC) is responsible for more than 186 protected areas, comprising 32 national parks, 8 biological reserves, 13 forest reserves, and 51 wildlife refuges.

Osa Peninsula

The Osa Peninsula is relatively small with only 700 square miles. Due to its remoteness and the fact that the area was one of the last settlement regions, at least 70% of the rainforest on the Osa Peninsula remained intact. Almost 75% of these remaining forests are now protected within the Corcovado National Park and its surrounding private nature reserves. It is almost unbelievable that the Corcovado National Park habits around 2.5% of the global biodiversity.

During a visit on the Osa Peninsula you can see all four species of monkeys of Costa Rica; the Central American Squirrel Monkey for example is the smallest specie of monkeys in Costa Rica and its population is restricted to the Osa Peninsula and parts of the bordering mainland. Howler Monkey, White Face Capuchin Monkey, as well as the Spider Monkey are commonly seen in the area.

Jaguars, pumas, ocelots, jaguarondis, and margays can be spotted in these pristine lowland rainforests. Jaguars, as being top predators, are particularly vulnerable to a loss of their habitat; for this reason their existence in Central America is endangered. Only small fragmented populations still exist; one is on the Osa Peninsula with an estimated population of 30 to 50 jaguars.

You can find some endemic animal species in all parts of Costa Rica and on the Osa Peninsula; one exemplar is the glass frog. The special ability of the glass frog is that it is the only frog in the world which can expose its inner organs located on the ventral part of its body. The glass frog belongs to the Centrolenidae family, and these little animals are just fabulous!

As you can see. . . the diversity of flora and fauna on the Osa Peninsula can hardly be outnumbered by any other region of a similar size in the world!

Corcovado National Park

Corcovado National Park, our neighbour, is the experience of a lifetime. Here you can find the only remaining old wet forests of the Pacific Coast of Central America. The national park habits 13 major ecosystems including lowland rain forest, highland cloud forest, Yolillo palm forest, mangrove swamps as well as costal marine and beach habitats.
Here you have a good chance of spotting some of Costa Rica`s most shy and highly endangered inhabitants like the Baird`s tapir, the puma, Scarlet Macaw, Squirrel Monkey or the White-lipped Peccary.

Corcovado National Park has the biggest population of tapirs in Costa Rica. Tapirs, like the rhinos, are an ancient group of odd-toed ungulates. They are the largest mammals of the Neotropics; adult males can have a weight up to 550 pounds.
In Corcovado National Park the tapir population has been studied since more than ten years now offering interesting data about their behaviour, territory, reproduction, and activities. Part of this research was the radio collaring of some of these tapirs providing additional information for an improvement of their protection.

Rainforest at La Leona

The rainforest of the private reserve of La Leona Eco Lodge is a mostly untouched, dense and evergreen forest. Here you have the chance of watching almost the same biodiversity as in the national park.
There are ferns, parasitic plants, palms, herbs, epiphytes, lianas, shrubs and the lush trees of the primary forest like ajo, cedar, ficus, and surá. These are just a few of majestic inhabitants of our reserve; additionally you can spot the same variety and abundance of wildlife as in Corcovado National Park: Black Howler Monkeys, White Face Capuchin, Monkeys, Spider Monkeys, Coatis, wild hogs, jaguarundi, toucans, Scarlet Macaws, anteaters, just to name a few of the almost uncountable variety of species of animals and birds living in La Leona Eco Lodge reserve

Saving the rain forest

The destruction of tropical rainforests has two severe consequences: the loss of this inestimable biodiversity and the effect on our local and global climate.

Despite its former extensive deforestation Costa Rica has become a pioneer in rainforest research and alternative sustainable exploitation methods of its natural heritage. The extensive system of national parks is world famous; and Costa Rica has become a dream destination for a growing number of eco-tourists.

Today tourism is the most important source of income of the country. Costa Rica’s remaining rainforests provide a higher income of foreign exchanges through tourism than previous sales of timber or agricultural products which had been produced in rainforest areas converted to farmland.

Each country is responsible for its rainforests but many tropical countries are poor and rainforests are still illegally logged. Governments of wealthy countries around the world as well as the international banking communities are asked for taking action. A reduction of international loans against conservation of pristine forests for example can help slowing down or eliminating the process of destruction of rainforests in various countries.

For us at La Leona Eco Lodge it is a privilege that you come to experience the complexity and fascination of our tropical nature. Thank you for staying at our lodge; we feel you share our goal of preserving the natural resources of this pristine place and protecting and maintaining it in a sustainable way for our future generations.