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📸: Pavel Procházka

They are natural sandstone formations roughly 75 million years old, shaped by erosion into elongated whale-like shapes. From above they look like a family of whales (two adults and a calf) rising from a sea of trees. The largest is about 75-100 meters long.

Costa Rica became the first tropical country to successfully reverse deforestation. After losing much of its forest cover to farming and cattle ranching, the country changed course through conservation efforts, protected areas, and programmes that encouraged landowners to protect forests.

Today, forests cover around 60% of Costa Rica again, turning a story of environmental destruction into one of the world’s most inspiring conservation successes.

A reminder that when nature is given a chance, it can recover.