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To glimpse a wild jaguar is but the ultimate prize for any wildlife enthusiast who visits Costa Rica. And one of the best places to do so is Corcovado National Park – the crown jewel of the Osa Peninsula. In the protected rainforests of this immense reserve, jaguars have been observed swimming across rivers, climbing trees and prowling for their favorite prey: the white-lipped peccary. Their name derives from the Native American term that means “pouncing killer,” and this elusive species is the biggest cat in all of Latin America.

One of Costa Rica’s most unusual and endearing wildlife species, the tapir seems an odd mix of elephant, pig and anteater at first sight. Despite their strange appearance, the tapir’s closest relatives are actually horses and rhinoceroses. Four species of tapir exist today, including the Baird’s tapir, mountain tapir, Asian tapir and Malayan tapir. The Baird’s tapir is Central America’s largest land mammal and is most commonly seen foraging for tasty plants in the wetlands of Corcovado National Park.

Visitors traveling to the Osa Peninsula may soon have a much faster option, with the completion of a new international airport on the outskirts of Palmar Sur. The prospect of taking a direct flight from the cosmopolitan streets of New York to the rugged rainforests of Costa Rica's Southern Zone may be a reality in the coming years, as plans for construction are nearing completion.