It is no surprise that Costa Rica is referred to as ‘the living Eden’. Having an estimated 5% of the world’s biodiversity, with over 615 wildlife species per 10,000 sq km, Costa Rica sits at the top of the list as the most bio-diverse region of the world. But this happened not just out of good luck. In an effort to preserve much of Costa Rica’s natural beauty and surroundings, 25% of the country’s land has been set aside and turned into protective parks and reserves so as to safeguard the beautiful and lush environments from deforestation and logging.

Furthermore more in 2013, the Minister of Environment led a movement to “reinforce the idea of interacting with biodiversity in botanical parks in a natural way.” The idea was that no animal would be in captivity, unless it was being rescued or saved. Since then rehabilitation centers have sprung up across the country, nurturing a variety of animals (from anteaters to sloths to jaguars) back to health and releasing them into the wild whenever it was still possible.

Home to an incredible plethora of exotic and tropical flora and fauna, this tiny Latin American country is the habitat of 12 key ecological zones.

Get to places like Manuel Antonio National Park or Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula, and you’ll be right in the thick of nature. Wildlife, as it is.