Eco-tourism is one of the fundamental activities of the tourism industry in Costa Rica. In the early ’90s, the country positioned itself to a status as the best eco-tourism location. Boasting 15 wetlands, 58 wildlife refuges,11 forest reserves, 32 protected areas, 8 biological reserves, and 26 nature parks, Costa Rica is home to 316 amphibian and reptile species, 1200 orchid species, 1260 tree species, 237 mammal species, and 850 types of bird species.