Nearly 20 percent of Costa Rica is set aside in National Parks and Reserves. Eleven different habitats are the home to 205 mammals, 920 birds, 160 amphibians, 218 reptiles, over 1000 different fresh and saltwater fish and countless numbers of insects. Approximately 10,000 species of vascular plants have been identified which is nearly 4 percent of the total number of species in the world. This is why Costa Rica has become the ultimate destination for students, researchers and eco-tourists.

our flat Marine wildlife identification guides for Costa Rica

Rainforest Publications has an extensive line of two different types of field identification guides that manage to be both highly detailed and fit in your pocket or backpack. Each guide includes most if not all of the species in that category which you'll probably see.

Single Sheet Marine Field Guides

These are our popular flat laminated guides to Costa Rica's reef fish, sport fish, and marine mammals for $5.95/each. The full color illustrations are beautifully detailed, are accompanied by the name of the fish or whale in English, Latin, and Spanish, and some of the vital statistics such as typical size.

All of Rainforest Publications' single sheet field guides are 7" by 11" (17.85 cm by 28 cm), double-sided, laminated to withstand the elements, and printed on high quality stock with durable UV-resistent inks.

our pocket wildlife identification guides for Costa Rica

Fold Out Pocket Guides

Rainforest Publications fold-out pocket guides are both larger and smaller than the single sheet guides, and are $8.95/each. We call them "Pocket Guides" because, at only 3.5" (9cm) wide when folded (approx. 24" by 8.75" (61 cm by 22 cm) when spread flat), they're designed to slip into your pocket for easy access so you can quickly identify the critters you see.

Like the flat laminated guides, our pocket guides have beautifully detailed full color illustrations. Since they are larger, they include more information. The Pacific Coast Marine Pocket Guide contains both mammals and fish. The pocket guide series also includes field identification guides for quite a few types of Costa Rica flora and fauna, such as Costa Rica tropical flowers, trees, and several bird id guides, plus guides for reptiles, amphibians, and others.