Throughout most of Central America the environment is more than a natural resource, it also plays an important role in ecotourism. Visitors come from around the world to experience nature here as they’ve never seen it before, and my visit is no exception!

Costa Rica’s wildlife includes species from both North and South America as well as those native to the Caribbean islands. With over 500,000 different animal and plant species (nearly 300,000 of which are insects) Costa Rica is one of the top twenty countries in the world in terms of biodiversity.

The government of Costa Rica leads the world in their commitment to environmental protection, and was the first to make a pledge to become the first carbon-neutral country. In 2008, over 80 percent of Costa Rica’s energy was generated through renewable resources. In addition to its ‘sgreen pledge’ Costa Rica’s government protects over 25% of its land.

One example of this protected land is Palo Verde National Park located in the northwest part of the country. This massive park covers more than 45,000 acres, which is about three times larger than the island of Manhattan in New York City. Palo Verde is an important habitat for white-faced monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, and dozens of colorful birds, like the stunning, scarlet macaw, making it one of the most popular spots for bird watching in Costa Rica - or even the world!

The government of Belize also takes conservation and environmental protection seriously. Here, about 40% of the country’s national space is protected, including the 185-foot long barrier reef off its coast. The crystal blue waters make it a popular destination for water sports. However, Belize does have strict rules in place to make sure that the fragile coral reef is not destroyed by divers, snorkelers, and boaters.

The coral reef is essential to Belize’s ecological balance. It helps protect the coast from erosion, which could destroy the other habitats on land. When one starts to understand how nature is connected from ocean to land, from reefs to trees, it’s easy to understand the importance of conservation.

Belize’s Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most popular scuba and snorkeling spots. I slipped on some flippers, put on goggles and snorkel, and jumped into the clear blue waters. I was instantly surrounded by giant grouper (a rather unattractive fish) and a lone endangered sea turtle slowly swam not ten feet away from me! But, Shark Ray Alley was the most exciting part of my snorkeling adventure.

Shark Ray Alley provides a home to dozens of rather harmless, but very large nurse sharks. Nurse sharks get their name from the sucking noise they make while eating fish, shrimp, and squid. It is a common misconception that nurse sharks don’t have teeth, making them a safe option for a swimming partner. In fact, nurse sharks DO have teeth, but their very low energy makes them uninterested in attacking. They even prey on sleeping fish at night to avoid the trouble of chasing their meal! ‘Man-eaters’ or not, swimming with these sharks was terrifying. They can be as big as 14-feet, I definitely held my breath while I swam next to them.

From Belize’s underwater creatures to Costa Rica’s rainforests, my experience in Central America made me further appreciate the serious ecological efforts these countries are making!

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Blog by Jenny M. Buccos, Sara El-Behiri, Katherine Lonsdorf, & Brandee Sanders.
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