The Costa Rica National Parks & Reserves consist of lush primary virgin rainforests and a complex system of freshwater and marine resources. Costa Rica has 28 national parks in total, 3 of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Review our list of the most popular parks and reserves to determine which to include on your vacation.
Plugged Into Nature
Plugged Into Nature:
Exploring the 8 Best Costa Rica National Parks & Reserves
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica. About 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity rest in this tiny area and about 10% of the plants found there can be seen nowhere else in the world. This is a must-visit for birdwatchers and wildlife lovers. 100% of the proceeds from entrance fees go towards education and research programs. Interested in the Continental Divide? In the Monteverde Cloud Forest, you can have one foot on the Caribbean side, and the other on the Pacific!
Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park is a truly unique destination as it’s accessible only by airplane or boat. That doesn’t keep it from being the third most popular in the country, however! Tortuguero National Park has a massive variety of flora and fauna, thanks to the eleven different habitats that rest within its boundaries. A boat or kayak trip down the Tortuguero canals is a great chance to watch out for animals and birds! Tortuguero is popular among turtle enthusiasts for the variety of sea turtles that return to the beaches each year for nesting.
Corcovado National Park
Named “the most biologically intense place on earth” by National Geographic, Corcovado National Park is the largest park in Costa Rica. It covers nearly half of the beautiful and untouched Osa Peninsula. Its popularity with scientists and ecologists alike is no surprise – it contains one of the last remaining areas of lowland tropical rainforest in the world. It is also the home to elusive creatures such as the Baird’s Tapir, Harpy Eagle, and the endangered Jaguar.
Day tours with a professional naturalist guide are recommended and can be arranged from nearly all of the ecolodges in Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez. There are 4 main ranger stations or entrances to the park: Sirena, La Leona, San Pedrillo, and Los Patos. They are accessible by dirt road, boat, or charter flight (Sirena Ranger Station only). You can also fly into Carate, a 1.75-mile hike from La Leona Ranger Station. There are no roads within the park – so you’ll have to hike
Piedras Blancas National Park
Piedras Blancas National Park is located in the southern zone of Costa Rica just off the Osa Peninsula. The forest is covered in verdant, Jurassic forest and is home to many species of endemic plants and animals. Piedras Blancas is an important wildlife corridor because it connects to Corcovado National Park, and is one of the few places in Costa Rica where jaguars still thrive. Stay at Playa Nicuesa Lodge if you really want to experience Piedras Blancas National Park. The lodge backs right up to the park!
Arenal Volcano National Park
Arenal Volcano within Arenal Volcano National Park is one of the most recognized attractions in the country. Covering 290 square miles, the conservation area covers eight of the 12 life zones in Costa Rica and is a popular destination for all kinds of travelers. There are numerous lodges and hotels in the area, catering to everything from adventure travel to natural hot spring delights. Birdwatchers should definitely stop by – of the 850 species that have been identified in Costa Rica, most can be found here.
Manuel Antonio National Park
The jewel of Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest park in the country, yet has some of the most impressive landscapes. Forbes magazine named it among the most beautiful parks in the country in 2011. The variety is part of the charm. Think white sand beaches nestled into coves, the lush tropical forest along the edges, huge mountains rising up from the midst of the trees. The fascinating and beautiful coral reefs are a snorkeler’s dream!
Ballena Marine National Park
Situated on the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, Ballena Marine National Park is a primarily oceanic park, with 110 hectares of land and 5375 of the sea. It’s named after the humpback whales that migrate from July to October, and then again from December through March. In a country with 11 times more marine territory than land, Costa Rica’s Ballena Marine National Park is dedicated to conserving the rich marine ecosystem of the area.
Carara National Park
Located on the Central Pacific Coast, Carara National Park is the most northern rainforest experience on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Originally a biological reserve, the park upgraded to a national park in 1998. The park is perhaps most famous for its wild scarlet macaw population but has a wealth of other tropical bird species that attract birdwatchers and wildlife lovers.