Blue Whale in Costa Rica
October 30th, 2012
Cocos Island is located off the coast of Costa Rica and is completely secluded bearing a ranger office that has a staff of caretakers. The island is located on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica approximately 550km from the mainland, lending it an adventurous ‘cast away’ aura. The island features an area 23.8km and is rectangular shaped.
The national park covers the whole island belt, preserving it lands and waters of the region. It is known to be the country’s most isolated and least populated national park and can accessed only by a 36-hour boat ride. The park hosts some of the country’s most spectacular scenic wonders and rare wildlife species.In 1978, La Isla del Coco was anointed a Costa Rican national park, a crucial part of the country’s heritage and a vital natural resource. Cocos Island is the only zone above sea level in Cocos Ridge, a row of volcanoes that runs from Costa Rica until the Galapagos Islands. The island’s mineral generous soil lends it a lowland ecosystem feel and a lush cloud forest.
In 1978 the island was inducted into the Costa Rica National Park System. The National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. An adjoining marine area encircling the island was also inducted into the heritage site zone in 2002 by UNESCO.
Just off the island’s shores, the Pacific Ocean is filled with rich reefs and a verdant marine life. It is believed to have the largest scalloped hammerhead cleaning station in the world, which innumerable of these prehistoric beings. Cocos Island is also an important habitat for species such as dolphins, giant manta rays and eight types of sharks. The heady mixture of marine geology and currents makes the underwater biodiversity makes it a much sought after place for scuba divers and marine biologists.
There is an abundance of coral reef, caves, volcanic tunnels, massifs and other geological formations below the water bodies that surround the island. The waters have 30 different species of coral, 600 mollusk species and more than 300 varied fish species. The mammal species here include bottlenose dolphins, pilot and humpbacks. The reptiles here include olive ridley turtles, green turtles and hawksbill turtles.
Almost 90 different bird species are reported to have been seen here. The island is the hot bed for large nesting colonies of migratory seabirds, including the Brown Booby, Red-footed Booby, Great Frigatebird, White Tern and Brown Noddy. About half a dozen species of land birds live on the island, including the Cocos Cuckoo, Cocos Flycatcher and Cocos Finch.
It is important to note that there is no place for tourists to stay on the island, which is why it has retained its well protected aura. Adventure struck tourists mainly plan trips to Isla del Coco National Park to partake a range of leisure activities, including scuba diving and snorkeling. The only way to access this place is by boat or sea plane and in there lays the main charm of travelling to this faraway spot. A number of striking waterfalls and underwater caves have been found in the midst of the rough terrains, letting visitors discover these sites and take in magnificent vistas within the entire country.
Trips to the island, by boat or sea-plane, can be organized from various destinations by tour companies on the Osa Peninsula. Coco Island is for experienced divers as currents are known to change continuously and waves are known to be intimidating. It is best to check with local authorities for latest conditions before planning a visit.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/820
http://www.isladelcoco.com/theisland.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_Island
For most travelers to Cocos Island, the pelagic ocean life is the main draw of the area. Since the area is a fascinating meeting point between the shallow and deep water in the region, the area is a hotbed for pelagic ocean creatures. One of the ...
Isla del Coco on the Cocos Island was declared a national park in 1978 and its status was reinforced in 1982. In 1984 the conservation area was grown to incorporate marine ecosystems up to 15km away from the island (99,700 hectares). This wa ...
Cocos Island is often rated one of the top 10 best places to scuba dive in the world, and was described by Jacques Couteau as "The most beautiful island in the world." Unfortunately, it's a very difficult place to get to because it's so far o ...