How was the inventory conducted to identify future national parks and reserves? What challenges did they face? What was the status of the areas finally chosen? This book is a memoir about the role played between 1971 and 1975 by the young Christopher Vaughan, as a field biologist, in the newly created Department of National Parks of Costa Rica, under the direction of Mario Boza and the members of the Tropical Scientific Center, Drs. Joseph Tosi, Alexander Skutch and Leslie Holdridge. Of the areas visited, more than 13 national parks and biological reserves were finally created between 1972 and 1975, including Manuel Antonio Recreational Park (its initial name), Chirripo National Park, Corcovado National Park, Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Guayabo National Monument, Barra Honda National Park and five biological reserves.