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Natural Areas & Wildlife

Costa Rica is a natural destination and this category is where you'll find our experiences and recommendations for the National Parks, Forests, Wetlands, Wildlife Refuges and Rescues that make it an ecological wonderland.

Poás Volcano National Park

Poás Volcano National Park

  Poás Volcano is one of the major attractions in the Central Valley region (free printable PDF map of Costa Rica), one of the most visited national parks, and a great day trip add-on for any Costa Rica vacation itinerary. Poás volcano is a powerful symbol of the geothermal forces … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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National Parks & Reserves

National Parks & Reserves

Note: As of March 1, 2021 the national parks are open with only minor inconveniences like wearing masks in offices and shops and some reduced capacities. Tickets must be purchased in advance for Poás, Chirripo, and for Corcovado both reservations and a guide are required. There are also a … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Toucans in Costa Rica

Toucans in Costa Rica

Toucans are among the cutest vicious killers in the world.  Yup.  That colorful little guy on the Froot Loops box is really a cold blooded assassin. find toucans? | toucanets | aracaris | froot loops | wildlife Chestnut Mandible Toucans calling from a tree above Jaco Beach Costa Rica. Their … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Río Tárcoles Crocodile Bridge

Río Tárcoles Crocodile Bridge

One of the edgiest and most dangerous wildlife watching walks in Costa Rica will soon be tamed forever.  The famed Tárcoles River "crocodile" bridge is losing its fear factor. The MOPT (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes) announced that the three month long project to widen the … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Poás Volcano – Tickets & Visitor Information

Poás Volcano – Tickets & Visitor Information

A visit at Poás Volcano National Park takes 45 minutes - 5 minutes to present your entrance ticket (required advance purchase online), sign waivers, and queue up which is followed by a 10 minute walk on the paved path from the parking lot to the overlook, 20 minutes at the overlook, and 10 minutes … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Turtle Nesting

Turtle Nesting

Costa Rica is a sea turtle paradise.  If you’re flexible with your destinations it's possible to see them nest and/or hatch nearly anytime you plan to visit. Sea Turtles lay eggs on beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean shores of Costa Rica every month of the year which in turn means … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Cerro Chirripó National Park

Cerro Chirripó National Park

This is one of Costa Rica's wilder national parks, but relatively accessible by foot. Much of the rugged terrain has been protected from development and exploitation by its inaccessibility. Besides the challenge of climbing Costa Rica's highest peak (Cerro Chirripó) there are miles of trails that … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Volcanoes in Costa Rica

Volcanoes in Costa Rica

It's been a tough decade for volcano tourism in Costa Rica. Arenal, Poás (partially re-opened), Turrialba, Chato, Tenorio (re-opened!), Miravalles (re-opened!), Rincón, Von Seebach, and Santa Maria Volcanoes have all been impacted by increases or decreases in volcanic activity, weather, … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve

Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve

Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature reserve protects semi dry tropical forest on the southern tip of the Nicoya Penisula, Costa Rica.  The 2 mile long (3 km) trail crosses a ridge and drops down to Playa Banco on the tip of the Nicoya Penisula. The visitors entrance to Cabo Blanco is on the east side … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Best Places to Camp in Costa Rica

Best Places to Camp in Costa Rica

The midnight solitude and tranquility of blue and green sparkles in phosphorescent waves echoing the billions of brilliant stars in the milky way above is stupefyingly beautiful.  The sun at mid-day is searing but once it rained so hard I thought I might drown...standing up...on a rock. What to … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Stop Animal Selfies

Stop Animal Selfies

Late in 2019 the government agency that administers the the national parks and other natural areas, SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, National System of Conservation Areas), along with the ministry of the environment and the tourism board launched a huge social media publicity … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Don’t Feed the Animals

Don’t Feed the Animals

Pursuant to Costa Rica's Articulo 116 de la Ley de Conservación de Vida Silvestre N.7317 the minimum fine for feeding crocodiles by hand is $100... if they can locate your hand as evidence to prove your guilt. birdfeeder? | wildlife rescues | birds & bees | selfies & mugshots | … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero National Park

This is one of the few Costa Rican National Parks where walking quietly isn't necessarily the best way to see things.  The marked trail along the beach is used mostly for observing turtle nesting, but the best way to see most of the park is from a boat.  That doesn't mean you can't get a workout … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Bird Feeder Ban

Bird Feeder Ban

Based on a seemingly environmentally enlightened avalanche of catchphrases, Articulo 116 de la Ley de Conservación de Vida Silvestre N.7317 outlawed "all feeding of wild animals by hand or using feeders." Politicians determined that the appearance of "large" quantities of "unnatural" food at … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Corcovado National Park

Corcovado National Park

The diversity found on the Osa peninsula is not surpassed by any region of similar size anywhere on earth. Gary Hartshorn's enthusiasm was only exceeded by the forest's when he wrote in Costa Rican Natural History that "these forest are by far the most exuberant in Central America. In fact, the … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Arenal Volcano National Park

Arenal Volcano National Park

Arenal volcano was the most spectacularly active in Costa Rica. For 30 years hotels in the region touted their views of the lava flows and red hot boulders ejected from the volcano glowing in the darkness. For the past seven years the red hot lava has been biding its time and the activity at … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park

NOTE: starting May 4 2021, Tickets must be purchased ONLINE BEFORE getting in line for the entrance! ...and the park is closed on Tuesdays instead of Mondays <<<NEW! Manuel Antonio is the most popular National Park with Ticos. One reason for this is the unspoiled beaches that lie within … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Cloud Forest Cloud forest is quite different from lowland tropical rain forest. The name comes from the observation that the forests are nearly always shrouded in clouds. These forests are situated at high altitude along the continental divide down the spine of Costa Rica. As the warm moist … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Rincón de la Vieja National Park

Rincón de la Vieja National Park

There are two places in the area where you can visit Yellowstone like geothermal sites. Boiling hot mud springs, sulfur springs, steam vents, and fumaroles are abundant at Las Pailas and Las Hornillas (not to be confused with Las Hornillas on the slopes of volcán Miravalles, near the village of La … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Irazú Volcano National Park

Irazú Volcano National Park

ara—peak of tzu—thunder The last time Volcán Irazú awoke was in the first half of the 1960's, when, for four years it showered the residents of Cartago and San José with ash, clogged the air with smoke, and sent glowing boulders rolling down its sides. Today, as you travel along the southern … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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National Parks
  • Poás Volcano National Park
  • Poás Volcano – Tickets & Visitor Information
  • Cerro Chirripó National Park
  • Tortuguero National Park
  • Corcovado National Park
  • Arenal Volcano National Park
  • Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Rincón de la Vieja National Park
  • Irazú Volcano National Park
  • La Cangreja National Park
  • La Amistad International Peace Park
  • Ballena National Park
  • Barbilla National Park
  • Barra Honda Caverns National Park
  • Las Baulas National Marine Park
  • Braulio Carrillo National Park
  • Cahuita National Park
  • Carara National Park
  • Guanacaste National Park
  • Isla del Cocos National Park



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