National Parks of Costa Rica | |||||||||
Manuel Antonio National Park | |||||||||
| First Park | Poás Volcano National Park, 1955 | ||||||||
| Smallest Park | San Lucas Island National Park, 4.49 km2 | ||||||||
| Largest Park | La Amistad International Park, 1991 km2 | ||||||||
| Governing body | SINAC | ||||||||
In 2023, thirtyNational Parks of Costa Rica are managed under the umbrella ofSINAC (Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion), a department ofCosta Rica's Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE). All told, Costa Rica's protected areas, including national parks, encompass more than 25% of the country's total land area.[1] Many of these protected areas are national parks.
Costa Rica's progressive policies on environmental protection and sustainableecotourism in the National Parks System have been lauded as a model for other countries. Therainforests, tropical forests, marine areas andwetlands of Costa Rica are the subject of many university and scientific organization studies. The enrichment of the world's knowledge of these importanthabitats is an invaluable contribution from the National Parks System of Costa Rica.
TheCordillera de Talamanca is home to an impressive collection of national parks and other preserved areas, including theLa Amistad International Park, which extends intoPanama. On the southernOsa Peninsula is the internationally renownedCorcovado National Park, which preserves a remnant of sizeable lowland tropical rainforest that is unique in the world.Manuel Antonio National Park was listed byForbes in 2011 among the world's 12 most beautiful national parks.[2]
TheCamino de Costa Rica is a 280 km long hiking trail acrossCosta Rica. It runs from theAtlantic Ocean (Caribbean coast), the southernmost part of the Tortuguero Canals, up the mountain and through indigenous territory near theBarbilla National Park and through valleys and mountain ranges of the central region of the country, just south of theTurrialba andIrazu Volcanos and through theLos Santos coffee region down to thePacific coast inQuepos.
| Park | Coordinates[3] | Area[4] | Attractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arenal Volcano | 10°28′N84°42′W / 10.46°N 84.70°W /10.46; -84.70 | 12,124 ha (29,960 acres) | Arenal Volcano, 1,633 m (5,358 ft) in elevation, has been active almost continuously since 1968. A second volcano,Chato, has a lake in the crater.[4][5] |
| Ballena Marine | 9°10′N83°45′W / 9.16°N 83.75°W /9.16; -83.75 | 5,330 ha (13,200 acres) | Located on the Pacific Ocean. 5,160 ha (12,800 acres) of park is water with seasonal visits byhumpback whales,dolphins, and other marine life.[6] |
| Barbilla | 9°59′N83°27′W / 9.98°N 83.45°W /9.98; -83.45 | 11,955 ha (29,540 acres) | Elevations from 110 m (360 ft) to 1,600 m (5,200 ft), The park features foot travel in wet and very wet rain forests andpumas,jaguars,ocelots, andtapirs.[7] |
| Barra Honda | 10°11′N85°22′W / 10.18°N 85.37°W /10.18; -85.37 | 2,295 ha (5,670 acres) | The park features extensivelimestone caves, some unexplored, withstalactite andstalagmite formations.[8] |
| Braulio Carrillo | 10°13′N84°01′W / 10.21°N 84.02°W /10.21; -84.02 | 50,000 ha (120,000 acres) | Steep topography, several volcanoes, rain forests, and proximity to the capital city ofSan José are attractions. The highest elevation is 2,906 m (9,534 ft)[9] |
| Cahuita | 9°44′N92°50′W / 9.74°N 92.84°W /9.74; -92.84 | 57,932 ha (143,150 acres) | On the Atlantic coast, 55,200 ha (136,000 acres) of the park is water. The park includes Costa Rica's largest coral reef and preserves marine life.[10] |
| Carara | 9°47′N84°37′W / 9.78°N 84.61°W /9.78; -84.61 | 5,800 ha (14,000 acres) | Near the Pacific Ocean, Carara is the northernmost coastalrain forest in Costa Rica. The park is popular with bird watchers and has a large population ofscarlet macaws.[11] |
| Chirripó | 9°44′N84°37′W / 9.73°N 84.61°W /9.73; -84.61 | 50,150 ha (123,900 acres) | Chirripó features Costa Rica's highest mountain with an elevation of 3,820 m (12,530 ft).Alpine tundra (Costa Rican Paramo) and glacial lakes are found at elevations above 3,000 m (9,800 ft)[12] |
| Cocos Island | 5°32′N87°04′W / 5.53°N 87.06°W /5.53; -87.06 | 2,310 ha (5,700 acres) | AUNESCO World Heritage Site, Cocos Island is 550 km (340 miles) off the Pacific Ocean coast of Costa Rica and features marine life, evergreen forests, and waterfalls.[13] |
| Corcovado | 8°32′N83°34′W / 8.54°N 83.57°W /8.54; -83.57 | 41,788 ha (103,260 acres) | On the Pacific coast, most of the park is shallow lagoons,mangrove forests, beaches, and low altitudecloud forests. Access is only with approved guide.[14] |
| Diriá | 10°10′N85°35′W / 10.16°N 85.58°W /10.16; -85.58 | 5,429 ha (13,420 acres) | The park features wetlands and forests.[15] |
| Guanacaste | 10°58′N85°31′W / 10.96°N 85.51°W /10.96; -85.51 | 33,796 ha (83,510 acres) | Part of theGuancaste World Heritage Site, the park has two volcanos,Orosi and Cacao; dry, wet, and cloud forests; and a large population ofcollared peccary. Access is throughSanta Rosa National Park.[16] |
| Irazú Volcano | 9°58′48″N63°53′42″W / 9.98°N 63.895°W /9.98; -63.895 | 2,000 ha (4,900 acres) | Irazú is Costa Rica's highest volcano at 3,432 m (11,260 ft). A paved road reaches to near the summit from where both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts can be seen.[17] |
| Juan Castro Blanco | 10°29′N84°20′W / 10.48°N 84.33°W /10.48; -84.33 | 14,308 ha (35,360 acres) | The mountainous park has volcanoic cones and vents,Lake Pozo Verde, waterfalls, and many bird species, includingquetzals.[18] |
| La Amistad | 9°25′N82°59′W / 9.42°N 82.98°W /9.42; -82.98 | 199,147 ha (492,100 acres) | A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest wilderness area in Costa Rica, the park extends intoPanama. Rugged terrain and some of the highest mountains in the country are features. Bio-diversity is outstanding for both flora and fauna.[19] |
| La Cangreja | 0°42′N84°24′W / 0.70°N 84.40°W /0.70; -84.40 | 2,570 ha (6,400 acres) | Forty-four species of plants are endemic to Costa Rica and crystalline water from the sources of two rivers.[20] |
| Las Baulas | 10°20′N85°51′W / 10.33°N 85.85°W /10.33; -85.85 | 90,100 ha (223,000 acres) | Most of this park is ocean. The beaches of Las Baulas are the largest nesting ground in the world forsea turtles. The coastal area of the park features mangrove forests.[21] |
| Los Quetzales | 9°37′N83°49′W / 9.61°N 83.82°W /9.61; -83.82 | 4,117 ha (10,170 acres) | A mountainous park reaching an elevation of 3,190 m (10,470 ft). As the name indicates thequetzal bird is the main attraction.[22] |
| Manuel Antonio | 9°23′N84°08′W / 9.39°N 84.14°W /9.39; -84.14 | 27,587 ha (68,170 acres) | One of the few remaining homes of theGrey-crowned Central American squirrel monkey, an endangered species. Most of the park is ocean. Twelve islands shelter marine birds.[23] |
| Miravelles Jorge Manuel Dengo | 10°45′N95°09′W / 10.75°N 95.15°W /10.75; -95.15 | 4,300 ha (11,000 acres) | TheMiravalles Volcano rises to 2,028 m (6,654 ft). The Miravalles Geothermal Power Project is on the slopes of the volcano.[24] |
| Palo Verde | 10°23′N85°20′W / 10.38°N 85.33°W /10.38; -85.33 | 18,332 ha (45,300 acres) | Decalared awetland of international importance, about one-half of the park is water or wetland, hosting migratory and non-migratory aquatic birds.[25] |
| Piedras Blancas | 8°43′N83°16′W / 8.71°N 83.27°W /8.71; -83.27 | 15,350 ha (37,900 acres) | Rich as it is in biological life, Piedras Blancas is also part of theOsa Conservation Area along with several adjoining parks and reserves devoted to conservation. |
| Poás Volcano | 10°12′N84°14′W / 10.20°N 84.23°W /10.20; -84.23 | 6,506 ha (16,080 acres) | The volcano, 2,708 m (8,885 ft) in elevation, has severalfumaroles emitting gas and causingacid rain which has killed much of the vegetation and force frequent closure of the park.[26] |
| Rincón de la Vieja Volcano | 10°46′N85°20′W / 10.77°N 85.34°W /10.77; -85.34 | 14,127 ha (34,910 acres) | The volcano, 1,916 m (6,286 ft) in elevation is continuously active with foot trails to ninevolcanic cones, fumaroles, mud pits, and hot springs.[27][28] |
| Santa Rosa | 10°50′N85°43′W / 10.84°N 85.71°W /10.84; -85.71 | 39,322 ha (97,170 acres) | Santa Rosa protects a dry tropical forest and beaches with sea turtle nests. The park is the site of theBattle of Santa Rosa and military monuments.[29] |
| San Lucas Island | 9°56′N84°55′W / 9.94°N 84.91°W /9.94; -84.91 | 472 ha (1,170 acres) | Located 2 km (1.2 miles) off shore in the Pacific Ocean, the park is a former prison and wildlife preserve.[30] |
| Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte | 9°46′N83°47′W / 9.76°N 83.78°W /9.76; -83.78 | 58,495 ha (144,540 acres) | Elevations up to 2,560 m (8,400 ft), rain forests, ancientoak andalder trees characterize this park in one of the rainiest parts of Costa Rica.[31] Precipitation exceeds 6,500 mm (260 in) annually.[32] |
| Tenorio Volcano | 10°43′N84°59′W / 10.71°N 84.99°W /10.71; -84.99 | 12,905 ha (31,890 acres) | The park is characterized bycloud forests and rain forests. The volcano reaches an elevation of 1,917 m (6,289 ft). |
| Tortuguero | 10°27′N83°34′W / 10.45°N 83.57°W /10.45; -83.57 | 76,397 ha (188,780 acres) | Two-thirds of the park is water. The park hosts the largestgreen turtle nesting beach in the Americas. Ninety-nine percent of the park is for preservation; one percent is open to visitors.[33] |
| Turrialba Volcano | 10°01′N83°46′W / 10.02°N 83.77°W /10.02; -83.77 | 1,257 ha (3,110 acres) | Turrialba is the second highest volcano in Costa Rica with an elevation of 3,340 m (10,960 ft). The volcano is periodically active.[34] |
| Total | 816,521 ha (2,017,670 acres) (including ocean) | The land area of national parks make up 13 percent of the area of Costa Rica and about one-half of the total protected land area in Costa Rica. |
| Rank | Park | Total visitors (2012–2022)[35] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manuel Antonio | 4,388,469 |
| 2 | Irazú Volcano | 2,732,394 |
| 3 | Poás Volcano | 2,503,944 |
| 4 | Marino Ballena | 1,878,848 |
| 5 | Tortuguero | 1,277,816 |
| 6 | Cahuita | 1,113,911 |
| 7 | Arenal Volcano | 1,010, 866 |
| 8 | Tenoro Volcano | 975,754 |
| 9 | Rincón de La Vieja Volcano | 769,719 |
| 10 | Corcovado | 551,101 |
| 11 | Santa Rosa | 425,388 |
| 12 | Carara | 398,910 |
| 13 | Tapanti-Macizo de la Muerte | 240,482 |
| 14 | Braulio Carrillo | 240,089 |
| 15 | Chirripó | 155,696 |
| 16 | Coco Island | 107,295 |
| 17 | Palo Verde | 68,591 |
| 18 | Barra Honda | 52,067 |
| 19 | Los Quetzales | 28,751 |
| 20 | San Lucas Island | 18,872 |
| 21 | Marino Las Baulas | 18,012 |
| 22 | Diriá | 16,300 |
| 23 | La Cangreja | 12,556 |
| 24 | La Amistad International Park | 7,985 |
| 25 | Turrialba Volcano | 7,234 |
| 26 | Barbilla | 4,157 |
| 27 | Piedras Blancas | 3,727 |
| 28 | Juan Castro Blanco | 732 |
| 29 | Guancaste | n/a |
| 30 | Miravalles Jorge Manuel Dengo | n/a |
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