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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.

Corcovado National Park

Heading south to Madigal after crossing the Sendero de Oro Corcovado

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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Irazú Volcano National Park

Irazu Volcano National Park

- advance ticket purchase required - 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, … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Carara National Park

Carara National Park

- advance ticket purchase required - This is the northernmost Pacific coastal rain forest remaining intact in Costa Rica, and is the transition zone into the tropical dry forests of the northwest. Carara is one of Costa Rica's most popular National Parks, in large part due to its proximity to San … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park Location

Tickets must be purchased in advance online! ...the park is closed on Tuesdays ...no food permitted, water in reusable bottles only Manuel Antonio is the most popular National Park with Ticos. One reason for this is the unspoiled beaches that lie within easy walking distance of the entrance station. … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Cerro Chirripó National Park

Chirripo Hotsprings

- advance reservations required - 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) … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Poás Volcano National Park

Poas Volcano - The Crater

- advance reservations required - 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 … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Tenorio Volcano National Park

Sharing a suspension bridge with a Capuchin monkey

- advance reservations required - Quite possibly our favorite national park.  I know, I know, they can't all be our favorite, but... Tenorio has everything you could want in a tropical forest natural area and every time we visit we find something new to love.  Hiking to the sky blue Celeste … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Official National Park Reservation System SINAC

costa rica national parks with advance reservations from the official SINAC website

reservations required? | troubleshooting | official site & process | FAQ National Parks that require reservations/advance purchase online *Corcovado is a special case where reservations are required but must be made through an agency. The park can only be visited while accompanied by a … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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National Parks & Reserves

Costa Rica Map of National Parks, Wildlife Refuges and Reserves

  Tickets must be purchased in advance for Poás, Chirripo, Carara, Manuel Antonio, Tenorio/Celeste, Irazú and for Corcovado both reservations and a guide are required. information about official online reservations Select Park or Reserve La Amistad N.P. Arenal Volcano N.P. A. M. Brenes … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Toucans in Costa Rica

The Toucans of 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

Dozens of huge american crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus)

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

Poas Volcano Partly Open Map

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

Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtle nesting on Playa Ostional

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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Volcanoes in Costa Rica

volcanoes closed down 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 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

Campsite on Playa Cabo Matapalo

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

Toucan Selfie

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

Monkeys at Breakfast Table

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

Sue in a canoe on a Tortuguero sendero acuatico

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

Humming bird feeder

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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Nature & Wildlife

Nature & Wildlife
  • Corcovado National Park
  • Irazú Volcano National Park
  • Carara National Park
  • Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Cerro Chirripó National Park
  • Poás Volcano National Park
  • Tenorio Volcano National Park
  • Official National Park Reservation System SINAC
  • National Parks & Reserves
  • Toucans in Costa Rica
  • Río Tárcoles Crocodile Bridge
  • Poás Volcano – Tickets & Visitor Information
  • Turtle Nesting
  • Volcanoes in Costa Rica
  • Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve
  • Best Places to Camp in Costa Rica
  • Stop Animal Selfies
  • Don’t Feed the Animals
  • Tortuguero National Park
  • Bird Feeder Ban



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