If you are an animal lover, or would like to experience biodiversity on a new level, you might want to take a break from natural reserves and zoos, and go out there to see how animals live in their natural environment. Below you will find a few location suggestions, so you can start planning your family trip and see some of the rarest and strangest animals on the planet.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s rainforests and shores are a home for many endangered and rare species. If you would like to see how they live and how they contribute to the ecosystem, you might want to book an eco tour to the country. No matter if you visit the mountain ranges or the seaside, you are likely to come across animals and plants you cannot see anywhere else. Costa Rica’s flora and fauna represents six percent of the world’s biodiversity.
Galapagos Islands
From the rainforests to the pristine beaches, and the unique species of animals, there are plenty to see and do on one of the 14 islands. Only 14 of the islands are open for tourists, as some of the animal species are endangered. If you book a tour, you are going to start off on the main island, in Ecuador, and see some of the most untouched places on Earth, where animals live in peace. If you want to visit Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands it is better to book through a local tour operator than setting off on your own.
Guatemala
Located in MesoAmerica, this is one of the top 25 biodiversity destinations in the world. You will find that there are 14 ecoregions and 66 unique ecosystems with over ten thousand species, most of which live in the tropical forests. You will also find wetlands and freshwater reef. You should certainly visit The Sleeping Child Reserve in the highlands of Western Guatemala, where you can meet different species of treefrogs.
Belize
Image via Colter Olmstead@colterolmstead
If you want to experience nature in a new way, and you have been to wildlife safaris before, you will need to check out what Belize has to offer. You should book a tour to the Maya forest and explore the Rio Bravo conservation area. The marine biodiversity of the country is outstanding, with over 700 species of fish living around the country’s shores.
Brazil
You might think about Brazil as a modern and urbanized country, but it has a great biodiversity, too. In fact, it has 20 percent of the fresh water found on Earth, and – as a result – there are over one thousand amphibians living in the country along with over 700 reptiles. Of course, this is also the best place to start an Amazon Rainforest adventure.
Visiting tourist resorts, going to the zoo, and taking a safari trip are all great ways of experiencing nature and getting to know the different species. However, if you would like to meet the unique creatures in their natural environment, you might want to check out one of these countries.
Jessica Lippe 