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Costa Rica’s pristine and unspoiled South Pacific Coast has attracted thousands of nature lovers from around the world.  The area is government protected by a number of National Parks that look after the region’s dense vegetation and exotic wildlife.

Accommodations in this area are typically eco-friendly oriented such as La Cusinga Lodge.  The lodge is a rainforest eco-lodge that dedicated most of its resources to the protection of both land and marine natural resources as well as to environmental education.

The Cusinga Lodge sits on 250 hectares of virgin rainforest that borders other protected lands as well as the Ballena Marina National Park.  The Ballena Marina National Park is a renowned protection area for the humpback whales that meet annually in the region during their mating season.

Guests at the Cusinga Lodge will also have the gratifying experience of interacting with the rural Costa Rican culture and tradition as well as the amazing natural surroundings of the South Pacific Coast.

Every nature lovers dream can be easily fulfilled at La Cusinga.  Several kilometer trails will provide for hours of hiking suitable for people of all ages.  The wildlife guests are able to spot at La Cusinga is just mesmerizing.  Morpho butterflies, tree frogs, ospreys, parrots, parakeets, toucans, howler monkeys, bottle-nosed dolphins, hawksbill turtles and the great humpback whale are just a few species to mention.

La Cusinga Lodge offers its guests private cabins with an unparalleled ocean view.  Comfortable 2 to 3 bed rooms are all built with wood from locally grown trees and decorated with local crafts and arts.  All rooms have hot water and receive a refreshing ocean breeze straight from the Pacific Ocean.

The growing civilization as well as hotels and restaurants in the Quepos region may endanger the Manuel Antonio Squirrel Monkey population if the necessary precautions are not taken soon.

This monkey species found in the Manuel Antonio National Park is a unique Squirrel Monkey subspecies found only in the Costa Rican Central Pacific.  Several specialists have stated that this species could disappear due to several factors caused by the invasion of the humans to the monkey’s territories.

The main reason for the endangerment of these monkeys is that the species located in the Manuel Antonio National Park have been left isolated from similar squirrel monkey species found in the Costa Rican South Pacific Coast.  Deforestation, plantations and constructions have eliminated national corridors which allowed species to communicate and reproduce.

In addition, the isolation of the squirrel monkey in the Manuel Antonio National Park will force these monkeys to reproduce among themselves thus leaving no room for genetic variety.  By reproducing among themselves, they will become genetically weaker thus more vulnerable to sickness.

Although specialists do not have an exact number of squirrel monkeys in Manuel Antonio, it is believed that there are approximately 1,000 in all.  Among other problems that park rangers and scientists have determined to endanger the species is the amount of high tension electricity cables that pass near the park.   Although ecological bridges have been placed, the numbers of monkeys that die of electrocution are considerable.

Certain hotels and tour operators are also to blame for the species’ dependency on human beings.  Some of these tour businesses offer what they call “happy hours” in which monkeys are served large platters of fruits in order to attract tourists.  These actions make the monkeys depend on humans as well as change the species natural diet and behavior.

Several biologist from the University of Costa Rica have been working on guidelines and education programs in order to help prevent the extinction of the Manuel Antonio Squirrel Monkey.

Costa Rican authorities have until May 13, 2009 to ratify the country’s sea jurisdiction before the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

This will allow for Costa Rica to increase its ocean territory up to 10 times of its current 200 nautical miles from the coast.  The action will not only increase Costa Rica’s territorial size, but will also translate into billions of dollars in marine resources.

The ocean floor has methane hydrogen which is used as an energy source.  According to Guillermo Quiros, a local physics oceanographer, the amount of methane hydrogen located in Costa Rica’s ocean floor can provide for over 350 years of energy.

In addition to this great source of energy, authorities are also counting on the vast marine resources located along the Cocos range.  Experts calculate that an approximate 100,000 yellow fin tuna fish can be obtained yearly at this region.  This will translate to a yearly income of about $250 million in just tuna fishing.

The opportunity of being able to come before the UN to ratify Costa Rica’s ocean dominion was sparked by the questions regarding the future of Costa Rica’s commercial exclusivity once the CAFTA came into action.

The Costa Rican congress unanimously approved the proposal and has sent an urgent petition before the Executive power to present the ratification before the deadline.