The Mango (Mangifera indica) is undoubtedly the King of Fruits— cultivated for over 4,000 years and beloved by billions worldwide. Though native to South Asia, this magnificent tree has become completely naturalized in Costa Rica, where it lines roads, fills backyards, and dominates fruit markets during its glorious season. From the first green mangoes of the season eaten with salt and chili to the perfectly ripe, honey-sweet fruits of peak harvest, the Mango is woven into the fabric of tropical life. No tree better symbolizes the abundance and generosity of the tropics.

In Costa Rica, mango trees are critical wildlife resources: During Mango Season: - Monkeys move from tree to tree - Parrot flocks gather in fruiting trees - Bats patrol nightly for ripe fruit - Even jaguars and pumas eat fallen mangoes! Year-Round: - Shade for cattle and wildlife - Nesting habitat for countless birds - Roosting sites for bats A single large mango tree supports incredible biodiversity!

There's a reason the mango is called the King of Fruits. No other tree so perfectly embodies tropical abundance—those dense, spreading crowns providing shade from the fierce sun, the explosion of fragrant flowers that fill the air in dry season, and then the glorious harvest of fruits in every shade from green to gold to red. Whether you're eating a perfectly ripe mango over the kitchen sink (the only civilized way to handle the juicy mess), or buying a bag of green mangoes to eat with salt and chili, you're participating in a 4,000-year tradition of human appreciation for this magnificent fruit. In Costa Rica, where mangoes have become as integral to the landscape as any native tree, the mango season is a time of abundance, sharing, and simple joy. Long live the King!