Discover the Wildlife of Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
Discover the Wildlife of Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
National Parks of Costa Rica
What makes Costa Rica such a great and beautiful place to visit? Costa Rica has some amazing national parks, ranging from different ecologies, biodiversities, and climates. Costa Rica boasts a wide variety of natural wonders, ranging from tropical rainforests to volcanoes to beautiful beaches. Read on to learn more about the National Parks of Costa Rica, popular attractions, and why visitors from all over the world come to visit them!
General Information About Costa Rica’s National Parks
Costa Rica is known for its beautiful landscape and natural resources but has always wanted to protect its pristine environment so future generations would be able to enjoy these beautiful pieces of land, wildlife, and plant life. In the 1970s, Costa Rica established the Costa Rica National Parks which is admired around the world for the conservation efforts of its natural resources. Costa Rica has one of the highest percentages of landmass dedicated to national parks and reserves than any other country in the world. Costa Rica alone has almost 80 percent of the biodiversity found in Central America.
Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion (SINAC) was created to preserve the natural beauty of Costa Rica, including the National Parks, hundreds of conservation areas, biological reserves, and forest reserves. SINAC is in charge of maintaining the natural preservation of Costa Rica’s beautiful National Parks. Currently, there are 30 established National Parks in Costa Rica.
All Costa Rica National Parks are closed on Mondays and generally close at 3 PM. Most, if not all park entrances in Costa Rica are remote and require entrance fees. If you want to visit the park, you’ll probably need your own vehicle or means of transportation to get there. It would be helpful if you had someone who knows the park well to show you around, like a certified guide. There are no certified guides included with the entrance fees for the parks. Also, some parks don’t allow you inside if you don’t have a reservation already. There are parks that require you to hire a registered guide to explore, so make sure you look into the specifics of the park you are planning to visit to know all the rules and regulations through SINAC’s website.
The most well-known Costa Rica National Parks are Cahuita National Park, Marino Ballena National Park, Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park.
List of National Parks of Costa Rica
There are 30 Costa Rica national parks, each with its own unique characteristics. They range from tropical rainforests to dry forests, cloud forests to coastal mangroves, and everything in between. Each park has its own ecosystem, wildlife, and activities. Some parks have hiking trails, while others offer guided tours or horseback riding. All parks have varying levels of accessibility; some require advanced skills and equipment, while others can be explored by anyone who wants to get out there and explore nature. Here are all the parks, where they’re located, and what they’re known for.
Arenal Volcano National Park
Arenal Volcano National Park
Arenal Volcano National Park is located in the Alajuela province, northwest of the country and around 200km north of the capital city, San José. Within Arenal Volcano National Park, the Arenal Volcano and Arenal Lake are one of Costa Rica’s most recognized attractions. Arenal Volcano National Park covers eight of the twelve life zone regions in Costa Rica and is an important part of the country’s tourism industry, being a popular spot for all types of visitors, ranging from hikers to wildlife enthusiasts. There are plenty of lodges and hotels in this region, offering everything from adventure travel to nature’s wonders. Nearby this park, there are also the Monteverde Cloud Forests and the Santa Elena cloud forests which are both well known for having stunning scenery of lush rainforests and cloud forests. The misty clouds in the cloud forests create some of the most perfect environments for some animal habitats. If you have the time, the Santa Elena cloud forests and the Monteverde Cloud Forest are very beautiful to see. You can also spot white-faced monkeys, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys here.
Read more about Arenal Volcano National Park, what makes it special, and what to expect when you’re visiting.
Barbilla National Park
Barbilla National Park is located in the Cartago province, towards the Mideast of the country and around 130 km east of San José. The park is 11 miles from Siquirres and is difficult to access. There aren’t any necessary facilities, so the park is only meant to be hiked, and consider even utilizing a local certified guide, which can be found in the national park’s administrative offices. The main attraction at Barbilla National Park is the rugged hiking trails throughout the park. And, the fact that the Cabecar tribe still live traditional lives inside and around this protected forest. The Cabecar people are the second largest indigenous population in Costa Rica, and their reserve is located right next to the national park.
Barra Honda National Park
Barra Honda National Park is located in the Guanacaste province, towards the west of the country and around 200km west of San José. The main attractions are the caving tours and the hiking trails. There is a large, intricate system of limestone caverns. The deepest of the caves at Barra Honda is Santa Ana, which goes down 249 meters below the surface. At the La Trampa (the trap) cave, there is a 30-meter vertical drop at the entrance.
Ballena Marine National Park
Whale Tail Beach in Ballena Marine National Park
Marino Ballena National Park is located in the Puntarenas province, on the Pacific coast, towards the south of the country and around 200km south of San José. The main attractions are whale watching, marine life observation, and visiting the Whale Tails shoreline, which is a shoreline that is quite literally in the shape of a whale’s trail. Marino Ballena National Park is a primarily oceanic/marine wildlife preservation park, with 110 hectares of land and 5375 hectares of sea. Marino Ballena National Park is known for and named after the humpback whales that migrate to Costa Rica from North America in July to October, and then again from December through March. Marino Ballena National Park is dedicated to conserving the rich marine ecosystem of the area. Marino Ballena National Park has the largest coral reef formations in Central America on the Pacific coast.
Read more about Ballena Marine National Park, what makes it special, and what to expect when you’re visiting.
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Braulio Carrillo National Park is located in the Heredia province, towards the northeast of the country and around 25km away from San José. The main attraction of this park is the vast area of lush rainforest and wildlife. It also has some off-the-path hiking trails that are popular. Some of these trails are easy and some are pretty difficult. Braulio Carrillo National Park is one of Costa Rica’s biggest parks dialing in at nearly 100,000 acres. Much of this wildlife area is protected by SINAC and conversation agencies, but there is a ranger’s office and some hiking trails just off the road.
Cahuita National Park
Cahuita National Park
Cahuita National Park is located in the Limón province, near Puerto Viejo, towards the southeast of the country, on the Caribbean coast, and around 200km away from San José. Cahuita National Park is a pretty small one, coming in at around 4 square miles. Cahuita National Park is a tiny but beautifully reserved park and is one of the more frequently visited parks in Costa Rica, due to its location and the beautiful beaches and nature. The main attraction of Cahuita National Park is the surrounding beaches of Playa Blanca and Puerto Vargas which have blue-water beaches, coral reefs, coastal tropical rainforests, and small lagoons that burst with wildlife. Cahuita National Park is also known for coral reefs and has 500 fish species that live within them. The surrounding town of Cahuita National Park, Cahuita is also a must-visit and something you shouldn’t miss out on.
Read more about Cahuita National Park, what makes it special, and what to expect when you’re visiting.
Carara National Park
Carara National Park is located in the Puntarenas province, towards the west of the country, on the Pacific coast, and around 80km from San José. Carara National Park has some of the most pristine tropical rainforests on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Carara National Park is perhaps best known for its large number of scarlet macaws but has a wealth of rare animals that draw visitors from around the world. Within Carara National Park, another popular attraction is the Tarcoles Crocodile River, which is a river full of crocodiles. There are two-and-three-toed sloths living in the tropical rainforests. Within Carara National Park, there are also two hiking trails: the 0.6 miles Araceas Nature Trail and the 2.7-mile Laguna Meandrica trail.
Chirripó National Park
Chirripó National Park is located in the San José province, towards the south of the country, and around 180km from San José. Hikers won’t want to miss this park. Much of this park is inaccessible, but its highest point, Cerro Chirripo (12,500 feet/3,821 meters) is accessible via a popular two-day ascent from San Gerardo de Rivas. There’s no other way up Chirripó than by foot. Most of the park is not accessible by vehicle. You will have to hike it. You must be accompanied by a registered guide when exploring the park. Despite the challenges, watching the sun rise from such high altitudes is an unforgettable experience for anyone who visits this park. Most people hike up to Crestone Base Lodge and then climb back down the next day.
Read more about Chirripó National Park, what makes it special, and what to expect when you’re visiting.
Cocos Island National Park
Scuba Diving in Cocos Island National Park
Cocos Island National Park is located in the Puntarenas province, outside of Costa Rica, towards the southwest of the Pacific coast, and only accessible by boat. The travel time by boat is around 48-72 hours. Known for its role as the location where the movie “Jurassic” was filmed, this park is located in Costa Rica and requires several days of boating travel to reach. The main attraction is scuba diving and seeing a wide range of marine wildlife that is native to that island. Many of the best scuba dives in the world are found on the coast of Cocos Island.
Read more about Cocos Island National Park, what makes it special, and what to expect when you’re visiting.
Corcovado National Park
Corcovado National Park
Corcovado National Park is located in the Puntarenas province, southwest of the country, on the Pacific coast and Osa Peninsula, and around 400km away from San José. Named “the most biologically intense place on Earth”, Corcovado National Park is one of the biggest parks in Costa Rica. It covers almost half the beautiful and untouched Osa Peninsula. The other half of the Osa Peninsula covers Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce. For day trips, guided hikes with a local certified guide are recommended and can be organized from most of the lodges in Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez within Corcovado National Park. There are 4 main ranger stations or entry points to Corcovado National Park: Sirena Ranger Station, La Leona Ranger Station, San Pedrillo Ranger Station, and Los Patos Ranger Station. Corcovado National Park’s ranger stations are accessible via dirt roads, boats, or chartered flights. There are no roads inside Corcovado National Park, so you’ll have to walk. You can also spot spider monkeys and howler monkeys here.
Read more about Corcovado National Park, what makes it special, and what to expect when you’re visiting.
Diriá National Park
Diriá National Park is located in the Guanacaste province, northwest of the country, near the Pacific coast and around 250km from San José. The main attraction of this park is the Brasil Waterfall where you can take photographs, swim, or relax. There is also a variety of wildlife like monkeys, deer, skunks, anteaters, and iguanas. The park protects some of the last remaining old-growth forests on the Nicoya peninsula. The trails of this park offer good hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Guanacaste National Park
Guanacaste National Park is located in the Guanacaste province, towards the north of the country, and around 250km away from San José. The main attraction of the Guanacaste National Park includes a nice nature walk, a hiking trail, and some bird watching. The wide variety of elevations means there are trails crossing different types of environments. You can also spot howler monkeys and capuchin monkeys here.
Irazú Volcano National Park
Irazu Volcano National Park
Irazú Volcano National Park is located in the Cartago province, in the Mideast of the country, and around 60km away from San José. The Irazú Volcanic National Park in Costa Rica has the tallest active volcanic mountain, called Irazu Mountain, which has not erupted for almost 20 years. One of the most popular attractions at the Irazú Volcanic National Park is the Crater Principal, which has a large lake at its center.
Juan Castro Blanco National Park
Juan Castro Blanco National Park
Juan Castro Blanco National Park is located in the Alajuela province, in the center of the country, and around 100km away from San José. This unpopular park is where five important rivers began in Costa Rica. The park is 143 square km with lots of space for hiking, but there aren’t any amenities or services available, so you’ll probably be alone most of the time. Most visitors go to the Visitor Center and take the three main hikes there. One of the trails takes you to a beautiful lake called Ponzo Verde. Because there are fewer people walking by, you’re likely to spot unusual animals.
La Amistad International Park
La Amistad International Park is located in the Limón province, towards the southeast of the country, right on the border of Panama, and around 300km away from San José. The La Amistad International park has more virgin forests than any other park in Costa Rica. La Amistad National Park is one of the largest and most remote parks in Costa Rica. Surrounding it are other parks and reserves for indigenous people from the Chirripó, Taini, Telire, Talimánca, Uyarra, Salitre, and Agabres tribes. There are no paved paths into the park. You can access the park either by horse or foot from any of the four main entrances.
La Cangreja National Park
La Cangreja National Park is located in the San José province, towards the southwest of the country, and around 90km away from San José. The main reason people come here is that there are beautiful waterfalls on the 6-kilometer-long Rio Negro hike. The trail begins as a dirt road that descends sharply into the stream. You can take a short hike down to the riverside where there’s a huge rock wall that has been worn away by water so that you can jump into cool swimming holes.
Las Baulas National Marine Park
Las Baulas National Marine Park is located in the Guanacaste province, towards the northwest of the country, on the Pacific coast, and around 300km away from San José. This park covers the entire white sand beach at Playas del Coco, including the adjacent lands and 220 square kilometers of ocean. The main reason people visit this national marine park is because of its beautiful coastlines, and coastline, and to see the critically-endangered leatherback sea turtle populations. It’s one of the most important nesting sites for the leatherback turtle. During the evening hours between October and March, registered guides lead turtle walks to see these incredible creatures on Playa Grande.
Los Quetzales National Park
Los Quetzales National Park is located in the San José province, towards the south of the country, and around 80km away from San José. This park is known for its enchanting cloud forests and inhabiting a rare species of birds, known as the elusive resplendent quetzals. There are also beautiful oak forests and hiking trails to experience at this park.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is located in the Puntarenas province, in the southwest of the country, on the Pacific coast, and around 170km away from San José. One of the smaller parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park is a not-so-hidden gem that offers some of the best scenery and nature in the country. The main attraction of this park is its diversity of natural environments. There are white sand beaches, lush tropical forests, big mountain ranges, and gorgeous coral reef systems. Manuel Antonio is truly a tropical rainforest jungle beach all in one. You can also see a diverse amount of monkeys in Manuel Antonio National Park, including spider monkeys, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and white-faced monkeys.
Read more about Manuel Antonio National Park, what makes it special, and what to expect when you’re visiting.
Miravalles Jorge Manuel Dengo National Park
Miravalles Jorge Manuel Dengo National Park is located in the Guanacaste province, northwest of the country, and around 250km away from San José. The main attractions of this park are birdwatching, hiking, and the Miravalles volcano, which hasn’t erupted since 1946 and is the highest mountain in the Guanacaste mountain range. Near the volcano, you can enjoy trails surrounded by nature, and waterfalls and even see bubbling pools of volcanic clay. There are also some hot springs and rivers.
Palo Verde National Park
Crocodile in Palo Verde National Park
Palo Verde National Park is located in the Guanacaste province, towards the west of the country, and around 210km away from San José. Palo Verde National park is an often overlooked natural beauty amidst the dry forests of the Guanacaste province. The park is flooded by the Tempisque River and that creates a marsh-like environment that attracts wetland bird species. In fact, it attracts the most migratory birds in all of Central America. You can also spot white-faced monkeys here. The Palo Verde National Park is sometimes referred to as a mangrove forest. You can book a boat tour with a registered guide to take you through a vast network of channels and mangroves.
Piedras Blancas National Park
Piedras Blancas National Park is located in the Puntarenas province, towards the southwest of the country, on the Pacific coast, and around 310km away from San José. The main attraction of this park is the thriving tropical rainforests, stunning white sand beaches, winding rivers, and powerful waterfalls. The tropical forest jungle covers the entire forest and is full of different plant and animal species. Because it links to Corcovado, which is one of the last remaining strongholds for jaguars in Costa Rica, Piedras Blancas Wildlife Refuge is an important wildlife corridor.
Poás Volcano National Park
Poás Volcano National Park
Poás Volcano National Park is located in the Alajuela province, towards the north of the country, and around 50km away from San José. Poás Volcano National park is well known for its large active volcanic craters. The park offers easy hiking trails and is even handicapped accessible. The main attraction is to get close to an extremely active volcano, which last erupted in 2017. The Poás Volcano contains 7,500 yr old lava. You can look down from above into the deep crater, where there is a stunning turquoise lake at its center. It’s best to visit here during the early morning due to the cloud cover that can occur.
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park is located in the Guanacaste province, towards the northwest of the country, and around 250km away from San José. Rincón de la Vieja Volcano in the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park is the tallest and most active volcano in Costa Rica’s northwest region of Guanacaste. It is known for its tropical forest and wildlife. Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park’s volcano has not been active since 2011, but its geothermal activity continues today creating vents, geysers, fumaroles, mud baths, and hot springs. Hiking tours can be organized through Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park to see the landscape, see wildlife, and visit waterfalls. You can also spot spider monkeys here.
Santa Rosa National Park
Santa Rosa National Park
Santa Rosa National Park is located in the Guanacaste province, towards the northwest of the country, and around 250km away from San José. Santa Rosa National Park protects a large area of the dry forest region. Home to many different kinds of wildlife including monkeys, deer, tapirs, wild cats, and so much more. Santa Rosa also has an important number of green sea turtles nest there, and the historical La Casona monument is located within its borders.
San Lucas Island National Park
San Lucas Island National Park is located in the Puntarenas province, south of the country, on the Pacific Coast, off of Costa Rica, in the Gulf of Nicoya, and is only accessible by boat. The main attraction of this island is that its uninhabited, is a national wildlife refuge, and there are tours of prison ruins and animal habitats. You can get there by boat through a private touring company.
Tapantí National Park
Tapantí National Park is located in the Cartago province, towards the center of the country, and is around 60km away from San José. The main attraction of this park is the various tropical forest hiking trails and the stunning mountain views. This 580 square km park preserves the northern slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca. The park’s largest peak is the Cerro de la Muerte (Mountain of Death).
Tenorio Volcano National Park
Rio Celeste Waterfall in Tenorio Volcano National Park Waterfall
Tenorio Volcano National Park is located in the Guanacaste province, towards the northwest of the country, and is around 240km away from San José. Tenorio Volcano National Park is best known for the Rio Celeste Waterfall, a beautiful light blue waterfall. The most popular excursion within the park is hiking to the Rio Celeste Waterfall which can be arranged as a tour led by a certified guide. There are also 4 volcanic peaks within Tenorio Volcano National Park and two craters.
Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park is located in the Limón province, towards the northwest of the country, and is around 100km away from San José. Tortuguero National Park is a unique park and wildlife sanctuary that is accessible only by airplane or boat. It has 11 different ecosystems, which makes it one of the most diverse parks in Costa Rica. Kayaking through the canals is an amazing way to see wildlife and birdlife. Tortuguero is known by turtle lovers for its variety of green turtles that come back every year to nest. You can also spot white-faced monkeys here.
Turrialba Volcano National Park
Turrialba Volcano National Park is located in the Cartago province, towards the center of the country, and is around 70km away from San José. It’s a relatively small park compared to Costa Rica’s other parks. The main attraction of this park is that it’s around an active 3-crater volcano, with hummingbirds, woodpeckers & other birds, plus some hiking trails that show you the beautiful area.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit would definitely be during the dry season because most of the activities within these parks require a lot of hiking and walking, and it would be hard to tackle those activities during the rainy season. Usually, the dry season occurs between the months of December to April. Within the months of the dry season, March would be the month that would be the peak dry season. Although the months between December and April are considered to be dry, there are some instances throughout the year where rainfall still happens. In Costa Rica, there is no true dry season due to the tropical climate. So, if you decide to travel during the dry season, take into consideration that you might still be hit by rainfall.
Conversely, the rainy season happens during the months of May to November. There are some patches of dryness throughout the rainy season, but mostly it rains all evening. During the rainy season, the months of September and October are known for being especially heavy in rainfall. Whether it’s the dry season or rainy season, Costa Rica is a great place to visit and travel to.
Read more about the weather in Costa Rica.
Discover the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica: A Haven for Rescued Sloths
Imagine a world where time stands still, where a gentle
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Imagine stepping into a land where the harmony of nature’s
Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park is located on the Caribbean Coast in Limón province, Costa Rica, and is home to some of the country’s most beautiful nature, and most importantly, turtles! This park has become well-known because of its unique ecosystem and habitats where a lot of animals co-exist in harmony.
Poás Volcano National Park
Poás Volcano National Park is located in Costa Rica and has become famous due to its beautiful landscapes, an active volcano, and wildlife. Over the years, the park has been open and closed due to active eruptions. The last eruption occurred in 2018. In the chance this park is open, here are some great reasons to visit along with some fun things to do.
Guanacaste National Park
Guanacaste National Park is situated in the Northwest of Costa Rica and is also very close to the border of Nicaragua. Guanacaste National Park is perfect for hiking, nature walks, observing wildlife, and birdwatching.
Corcovado National Park
Are you looking for an idea for your next vacation? If so, then you should definitely consider visiting Corcovado National Park. This national park is home to some of the most diverse ecosystems in the country and has a ton to do.
Cocos Island National Park
Cocos Island National Park is located 342 miles off the mainland of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This park is known for its unique ecosystem and biodiversity with beautiful turquoise waters. Read on to learn more about how this park became a National Park in Costa Rica, and what there is to do if you visit!
Chirripó National Park
Chirripó National Park is located towards the southern part of Costa Rica. Interestingly enough, it’s spread throughout three of Costa Rica’s provinces: San José, Limón, and Cartago. With a total area of 196.33 sq mi., there’s a ton to do, see, and explore in this national park. To determine whether you should put this on your travel list, read on!
Cahuita National Park
Cahuita National Park, located in southeastern Costa Rica, has become a major destination due to its pristine beaches and lush rainforest. The park was established in 1982 and covers approximately 2,800 acres of dry land and up to 55,000 acres of marine land. Cahuita National Park is the only National Park in Costa Rica that doesn’t charge an entrance fee. Instead, they rely on donations. For more information about the park and what you can do once you’re there, read on.
Ballena Marine National Park
Where is Ballena Marine National Park? What makes it special? How does it compare to other national parks in Costa Rica? Located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, the Marino Ballena National park is home to whales, mangrove forests, and coral reefs. In this article, we lay out the significance and history of this national park and things to do if you’re visiting soon!
Arenal Volcano National Park
Arenal Volcano National Park is located in Northwestern Costa Rica, just northwest of San José. The park offers visitors hiking trails, camping sites, natural pools, restaurants, hotels, and other facilities. There’s no shortage of history or things to do in Arenal National Park!
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica – Everything You Need To Know
What would you say if I told you that you could live in or visit a tropical paradise without having to spend a fortune? That’s exactly what Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica offers. This beautiful area, also featuring the Manuel Antonio National Park, is located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, and has become a favorite destination for tourists from around the globe.
