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Costa Rica is famous for it's world class National Park system. There are approximately three dozen parks composed of national parks, biological reserves, wildlife refuges, monuments and recreational areas. These make up almost 12% of Costa Rica.
Forest reserves and indigenous reservations protect additional land areas. This raises the total amount of protected area to 27% of Costa Rica. This remarkably enlightened view has produced a wide variety of benefits, for the wildlife, of course, but also for visitors and the local populace that work in tourism and conservation related activities. This kind of far reaching thinking has paved the way for countries around the world and has shown how to do the same in a sustainable way.
There is a plan to link some of these protected areas into so-called regional conservation units. By joining national parks, private conservation areas and others, bridges can be created which would allow wildlife to migrate, and move through larger areas that protect their natural territories.
There are several private conservation efforts in Costa Rica, several with lodging and tour facilities. These are efforts to create a sustainable protection program where tourim pays for the ongoing conservation of the land. This model has proven to be very effective and it is being introduced slowly throughout the region.
There are also internships available nature preservation as well as social causes.
Arenal National Park
Size: 2920 hectares.
Location: Guanacaste Province, north of Tilaran Mountains, in the
cantons of Tilaran, San Carlos and San Ramon.
Description: Cloud forest, premontane tropical forest.
Number of visitors: No statistics available.
Services: None.
Barra Honda National Park
Size: 2,295 hectares.
Location: Guanacaste Province, 22 kilometers north of Nicoya.
Description: Important limestone reef formations from when area was
submerged 60 million years ago, as well as extensive system of caves. Must
go with guide.
Number of visitors: 2,389.
Services: Information, restrooms, potable water.
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Size: 45,899 hectares.
Location: Northeast of Central Valley, between Poas and Irazu volcanoes,
extending from Alto de la Palma to La Selva Biological Station in Sarapiqui.
Description: 4500 mm of rainfall per year fill this park with innumerable
rivers and waterfalls, as well as over 6500 species of plants and animals.
Its size and proximity to San Jose make it an ideal destination.
Number of Visitors: 11,513.
Services: Information, picnic areas, camping, restrooms, potable
water, exhibits.
Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve
Size: 1,172 hectares land and 1790 hectares marine.
Location: Puntarenas Province, south tip of Nicoya Penninsula.
Description: Refuge for fauna and flora of Pacific dry region, 119
species of trees. Costa Rica's oldest official biological reserve.
Number of Visitors: 8,307
Services: Information, picnic areas, primitive latrines, potable
water.
Cahuita National Park
Size: 1,068 hectares land, 22,400 hectares marine.
Location: On Caribbean coast in Limon Province, 42 kilometers south
of Limon.
Description: Turquoise water and extensive coral reefs make this
the most popular destination of amateur divers. Inability to control maritime
access has led to considerable damage to the reef, and experts are concerned
that site will be permanently destroyed by poorly trained divers.
Number of Visitors: No statistics available
Services: Information, picnic areas, camping, restrooms, showers
and parking.
Cano Island Biological Reserve
Size: 200 hectares land, 2700 hectares marine.
Location: In Pacific Ocean, 15 kilometers off the coast of Corcovado
National Park on Osa Peninsula.
Description: Primarily tropical rainforest, also an important pre-Columbian
archeological site. Coral reef, dolphins and whales.
Number of Visitors: 3,325
Services: Information, potable water, restrooms.
Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge
Size: 9,969 hectares.
Location: Northern Alajuela province, Guatuso lowlands, 20 kilometers
south of Los Chiles.
Description: Lowland swamp and freshwater drainage basin for the
Frio River. Protects thousands of migratory birds, as well as ocelot, jaguar,
tapir, peccary and several species of monkey.
Number of Visitors: No information available.
Services: Information, picnic areas.
Carara Biological Reserve
Size: 4,700 hectares.
Location: Puntarenas Province, southeast of Orotina.
Description: Transitional zone between dry and humid forest. Human
encroachment along perimeters, illegal mining, poorly controlled tourists
and fires have taken major toll on this tiny patch of forest surrounded
by development.
Number of Visitors: 26,754.
Services: Information, primitive latrines, potable water, parking.
Chirripo National Park
Size: 50,150 hectares.
Location: Part of La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, in Talamanca mountain
range, 20 kilometers northeast of San Isidro de El General.
Description: Includes the highest mountain peak in the country at
3,820 meters above sea level. Extremely difficult terrain and few visitors
make it a paradise for hard core hikers and climbers.
Number of Visitors: 1,862.
Services: Information, picnic areas, restrooms.
Cocos Island National Park
Size: 2400 hectares land, 97,235 hectares marine.
Location: Pacific Ocean, 532 kilometers off the coast of Cabo Blanco.
Description: Accessible only by ocean going boats, this uninhabited
island, surrounded by an extraordinarily transparent turquoise sea is Costa
Rica's "Treasure Isle." Several tour companies offer multi-day tours.
Number of Visitors: 347
Services: Information, restrooms, potable water.
Corcovado National Park
Size: 54,538 hectares land, 2400 hectares marine.
Location: Puntarenas Province on Osa Peninsula.
Description: Pacific tropical rainforest with 5000 mm annual rainfall.
This virtually unaltered primary forest has tropical ecosystems found nowhere
else and is one of the most important protection sites in the world for
a number of mammals on the verge of extinction. Difficult access has kept
the number of visitors down.
Number of Visitors: 8,009
Services: Information, picnic areas, camping, restrooms, showers,
potable water.
Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge
Size: 5,013 hectares land, 4,436 hectares marine.
Location: Southern border of Costa Rica and Panama on the Caribbean
coast.
Description: Forest, grassland and mangrove swamp, but known for
the five kilometers of coral reef popular among snorkelers.
Number of Visitors: No information available.
Services: Information, picnic areas, primitive latrines.
Guanacaste National Park
Size: 32,512 hectares.
Location: Guanacaste Province, 36 kilometers north of Liberia.
Description: Ranges widely from tropical dry forest to cloud forest.
Origin of the Rio Tempisque, principal freshwater source for Guanacaste
Province. Important protection for large felines, as well as 300 species
of birds and 5000 species of butterflies.
Number of visitors: No statistics available.
Services: Information, primitive latrines, scientific station and
potable water.
Guayabo National Monument
Size: 218 hectares.
Location: Cartago Province, 19 kilometers northeast of Turrialba.
Description: Considered the country's most important archeological
site, with significant structures dating to 1000 years before Christ. Some
consider Guayabo an important New Age spiritual center.
Number of Visitors: 20,945.
Services: Information, picnic areas, camping, primitive latrines,
archeological research station, showers, potable water, exhibits, parking.
Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve
Size: 9,154 hectares.
Location: Part of La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, southeast of Valle
de la Estrella, 45 kilometers from Limon.
Description: Abrupt topography with more than 3500 mm of rainfall
per year leave this mountainous tropical forest full of dangerous rivers
and waterfalls. Protects the Bribri indigenous reserve.
Number of Visitors: No statistics available, but very few.
Services: None.
Irazu Volcano National Park
Size: 2,309 hectares.
Location: Along Central Volcanic Chain, 31 kilometers northeast of
Cartago.
Description: Active volcano with spectacular views of both coasts
and Braulio Carrillo National Park from the peak.
Number of Visitors: 111,770.
Services: Information, picnic areas, restrooms, parking.
Isla Guayabo Biological Reserve
Islas Negritos/Isla de los Pajaros
Location: Gulf of Nicoya, at the extreme ends
Description: Chain of uninhabited islands designated to protect sea
bird habitat.
Number of Visitors: Closed to public
Services: None
Juan Castro Blanco National Park
Size: 14,258 hectares.
Location: Alajuela Province, east of Ciudad Quesada.
northern zone, with origins of the Platanar, Tora, Aguas Zarcas, Tres Amigos
and La Vieja rivers. Large tracts of primary forest. One of the newest parks,
dedicated in June, 1992.
Number of Visitors: No statistics available.
Services: None.
La Amistad International Park
Size: 193,929 hectares.
Location: Talamanca mountain range.
Description: A crown jewel of international cooperation, with Panama
protecting another 207,000 hectares on its side of the border. Declared
a "biosphere reserve" by UNESCO in 1982 and a "world patrimony site" in
1983. One of the largest unaltered tropical forests in the world, encompassing
climate zones from 100 meters to 3549 meters above sea level, and protects
a number of Indian reserves. An "umbrella" protection area for several national
and private parks.
Number of Visitors: No statistics available.
Services: None.
Las Baulas de Guanacaste National Park
Size: 112 hectares.
Location: Guanacaste province on the Pacific coast, 10 kilometers
north of Tamarindo on Playa Grande.
Description: Dedicated in 1991 to protect one of last nesting sites
in the world for leatherback turtles.
Number of Visitors: No information available.
Services: Information, picnic areas, potable water, parking.
Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve
Size: 2,279 hectares.
Location: Guanacaste Province, 15 kilometers southwest of Bagaces.
Description: Tropical dry forest, significant for fresh water springs
and a large number of tropical hardwoods in danger of extinction, such as
ron ron, pochote, cristobol and cocobolo.
Number of Visitors: No statistics available.
Services: Information, picnic areas, potable water, parking.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Size: 683 hectares land, 55,000 hectares marine.
Location: Puntarenas Province, 157 kilometers south of San Jose,
7 kilometers south of Quepos.
Description: This tiny patch of beautiful land with its palm lined
beaches and titi monkeys has been trampled by nearly a quarter million travelers
a year.
Number of Visitors: 191,493.
Services: Information, picnic areas, primitive latrines, showers,
potable water.
Marino Ballena National Park
Size: 100 hectares land, 5375 hectares marine.
Location: Puntarenas Province on Pacific coast, from Punta Uvita
to Punta Pinuela.
Description: Considered a critical breeding habitat for a number
of marine species. Also contains protected beach habitat and some of the
only coral reefs on the Pacific coast.
Number of Visitors: No statistics available, but very few due to
difficult access.
Services: Information only.
Palo Verde National Park
Size: 16,804 hectares.
Location: Guanacaste Province, 30 kilometers west of Canas.
Description: One of most diverse ecological locations, with 15 different
topographical zones from mangrove swamps to evergreen forests. One of the
most important migratory zones in Central America for waterfowl.
Number of Visitors: 2,580.
Services: Information, picnic areas, camping, scientific station,
potable water and restrooms.
Poas Volcano National Park
Size: 5,600 hectares.
Location: Along the Central Volcanic Chain, 37 kilometers north of
Alajuela.
Description: Famous for beautiful scenery and variety of habitats
including cloud forest. One of the most heavily visited sites in the country.
The volcano has been active since 1894, causing extensive environmental
damage to surrounding area. Check with Park Service before visiting for park hours or inquire with the link below.
Number of Visitors: 174,396.
Services: Information, picnic areas, primitive latrines, exhibits,
parking.
Find out about Poas lodging and tours
Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Size: 14,083 hectares.
Location: Guanacaste and Alajuela provinces, 27 kilometers northeast
of Liberia.
Description: Includes Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, a freshwater volcanic
lagoon, is one of the country's most important preservation area for large
felines.
Number of visitors: No statistics available.
Services: Information, picnic areas, camping, potable water, restrooms.
Santa Rosa National Park
Size: 37,117 hectares land, 78,000 hectares marine area.
Location: Guanacaste Province, 36 kilometers north of Liberia.
Description: Dry Pacific forest with important marine turtle nesting
sites.
Number of visitors: 37,914.
Services: Information, picnic areas, camping, scientific station,
primitive latrines, showers, potable water, exhibits and parking.
Tapanti National Park
Size: 6,080 hectares.
Location: Part of La Amistad Biosphere Reserve in District of Orosi,
Paraiso of Cartago.
Description: Converted from a national wildlife refuge in 1992, varies
from low mountain forest to premontane forest, enjoys up to 8000 mm of rainfall
every year. Well maintained dirt roads make it a popular destination for
mountain bikers.
Number of Visitors: 18,408
Services: Information, picnic areas, restrooms, potable water, exhibits
and parking.
Tortuguero National Park
Size: 18,946 hectares land, 52,265 hectares marine.
Location: Limon Province on Caribbean coast, 80 kilometers north
of Limon.
Description: Tropical lowland park lying across a system of natural
lakes and canals, one of the last remaining and most important breeding
grounds for the green turtle.
Number of Visitors: 19,741
Services: Information, primitive latrines. Accessible only by boat;
tour companies operating in the park provide complete services. |
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