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Tico Explorers

Explore Puntarenas & the Gulf Islands

Puntarenas and the Gulf Islands offer a maritime view of Costa Rica, where coastal communities, island landscapes and boat journeys connect across the Gulf of Nicoya. Discover how people and wildlife depend on these Pacific waters. Let curiosity lead to understanding, gratitude and care for the people and landscapes that welcome you.

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Roble de Sabana

A native tree whose pink trumpet flowers brighten forest edges and open landscapes.

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Cenizaro Rain Tree

An umbrella-shaped crown shelters a world beneath its branches.

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Spanish Elm

Laurel is a native tree that can grow tall with a relatively slender trunk.

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Frangipani

Frangipani is a flowering tree with thick branches and clusters of five-lobed blossoms.

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Tropical Almond

Tropical almond is introduced to Costa Rica and is now familiar along many beaches.

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Firebush

Firebush is a shrub with clusters of narrow orange to red tubular flowers.

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Ceiba Kapok Tree

Huge buttress roots help make a mature ceiba unforgettable.

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Guapinol

Paired leaflets and hard brown pods identify a forest tree with an important wildlife role.

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Guacimo

Bumpy dark fruits and toothed leaves offer clues to a familiar Pacific-slope tree.

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Great Blue Heron

This large heron searches shallow water for fish and other small animals.

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Great Egret

The Great Egret is a large white wading bird that hunts by waiting or walking slowly in shallow water.

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Little Blue Heron

Adults have slate-blue bodies and purplish heads and necks.

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