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...]
Costa Rica's National Park System
Modeled on the U.S. national parks after a couple of young Tico soon to be conservationists visited the Great Smokey Mountains the whole story of the birth of Costa Rica's park system is told in a fascinating book called The Quetzal and the Macaw. However they came to be they are now the foundation of Costa Rica's billion dollar travel industry, the source of water for the population and the reason that in early 2015 Costa Rica could declare that 100% of it's electricity was from green energy - the vast majority from hydro on National Park fed rivers.
No matter where you visit in Costa Rica there is always a park nearby.
Irazú 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...]
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...]
Manuel Antonio National Park
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...]
Cerro Chirripó National Park
- 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...]
Poás Volcano National Park
- 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...]
Tenorio Volcano National Park
- 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...]
Official National Park Reservation System SINAC
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
Rincón de la Vieja National Park
- advance ticket purchase required - 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 … [Read more...]
La Cangreja National Park
La Cangreja National Park is only 20 miles from downtown San José as the crow flies but it's as remote and wild as any of Costa Rica's better known natural areas. We didn't realize how wild until we rounded a bend in the trail to catch a glimpse of a Puma disappearing around the corner ahead of … [Read more...]
La Amistad International Peace Park
It took twenty years of trying but I finally visited La Amistad in a big way as a 50th birthday trip in 2012. We hiked all the way across Costa Rica starting at Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean and ending at Playa Hermosa near Uvita on the Pacific. The whole story is here and it was Awesome! La … [Read more...]
Ballena National Park
Marino Ballena National Park is named after the Humpback Whales that migrate here each year from December to April to mate before returning to the frigid waters to the north. Playas Uvita and Ballena are relatively unvisited stretches of white and golden sand. Green marine iguanas (iguana … [Read more...]
Barbilla National Park
On the Caribbean slopes of the Talamanca Mountains, Parque Nacional Barbilla was created mainly through the efforts of the Fundación Nairi and is supported by INBio which continues to operate the Estación Biológica Barbilla within the boundaries. Part of the Talamanca/La Amistad Biosphere … [Read more...]
Barra Honda Caverns National Park
The area of the Tempisque Basin where the Nicoya Peninsula joins the mainland has a foundation of relatively soft limestone. Water has cut extensive caves through Cerro Barra Honda and the other small mountains creating the best know feature of this National Park. However, the park also has well … [Read more...]
Las Baulas National Marine Park
Leatherback Sea Turtles Marino las Baulas de Guanacaste Tamarindo/Playa Grande National Park has a history nearly as long and convoluted as its name. For thousands of years leatherback sea turtles that hatched at Playa Grande have returned to lay their eggs. The park's namesake leatherback turtles … [Read more...]
Braulio Carrillo National Park
As you head east from San José on the Guápiles Highway the Zurquí tunnel transports you from the modern world into the rainforest and cloud forest of Braulio Carrillo National Park. The two most important features of Braulio Carrillo National Park are ironically opposed in some ways. One is the … [Read more...]
Cahuita National Park
The Coral Reefs Cahuita National Park is best known for the coral reefs close to shore. In the dry season, there is good snorkeling (guide required), and you are likely to see light yellow brain, elkhorn, and blue staghorn corals, sea fans, and gorgonians as a back drop to the more than 500 species … [Read more...]