Costa Rica National Parks
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Costa Rica is famous for its 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 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 tourism 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.
Size: 2920 hectares.
Location: Guanacaste Province, north of Tilaran Mountains, in the provinces of Tilaran, San Carlos and San Ramon.
Description: Cloud forest, premonition tropical forest.
Number of visitors: No statistics available.
Services: None.
Size: 2,295 hectares.
Location: Guanacaste Province, 22 kilometers north of Nicoya.
Description: Important limestone reef formations from when the area was submerged 60 million years ago, as well as extensive system of caves. You must go with a guide.
Number of visitors: 2,389.
Services: Information, restrooms, potable water.
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 which falls, park has innumerable rivers and waterfalls, with over 6500 species of plants and animals. Its size and close proximity to San Jose makes it an ideal destination.
Number of Visitors: 11,513.
Services: Information, picnic areas, camping, restrooms, potable water, exhibits.
Size: 1,172 hectares land and 1790 hectares marine.
Location: Puntarenas Province, Nicoya Peninsula southern tip
Description: A true Refuge for fauna and flora. 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.
Size: 1,068 hectares land, 22,400 hectares marine.
Location: On the Caribbean coast in the Province of Limon, located 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.
Size: 1973 hectares.
Location: Puriscal, San Jose Province, Costa Rica. Northwest San Jose.
Description: Lower forest forestation. Although the area is relatively small, because it is a migratory bird refuge it actually has more birds and flora than the Corcovado National Park in the South Pacific of Costa Rica.
Number of visitors: No statistics available.
Services: None.
Size: 200 hectares land, 2700 hectares marine.
Location: on the Pacific side, 15 kilometers off the coast of Corcovado National Park on the 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.
Size: 9,969 hectares.
Location: Northern Alajuela province, Guatuso lowlands, 20 kilometers south of Los Chiles.
Description: Lowland swamp and freshwater drainage basin from the Frio River. Protects thousands of migrating birds, as well as the ocelot, jaguar, tapir, peccary and several species of monkey
Number of Visitors: No information available
Services: Information, picnic areas.
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.
Size: 50,150 hectares.
Location: Located on the La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, on the Talamanca mountain range, 20 kilometers northeast of San Isidro de El General.
Description: Costa Rica highest mountain peak, 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.
Size: 2400 hectares land, 97,235 hectares marine.
Location: Pacific Ocean, 532 kilometers off the coast of Cabo Blanco.
Description: Accessible only by vessels, this uninhabited island is surrounded by an extraordinarily transparent sea which is Costa Rica's "Treasure Isle. A few companies offer multi-day tours.
Number of Visitors: 347
Services: Information, restrooms, potable water.
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 and found nowhere else and is one of the most important protected 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.
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 those who enjoy snorkeling
Number of Visitors: No information available.
Services: Information, picnic areas, primitive latrines.
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.
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.
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 leaves 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.
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 have been trampled by nearly a quarter million travelers a year.
Number of Visitors: 191,493.
Services: Information, picnic areas, primitive latrines, showers, potable water.
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.
