A country with internationally renowned natural beauty, Costa Rica has some epic national parks. Unsurprisingly, the country has truly done an admirable job protecting its ecosystems. It contains 25 beautiful national parks, 3 of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites, accounting for 28% of its land.
Many tourists opt for the country as they envision Costa Rica`s beautiful beaches, lush forests, and unique wildlife, all accessible through the country’s national parks. I’ve devoted significant time exploring Costa Rica, and in this article, I’ll outline the very best national parks.
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19 Best Parks in Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park
Explore the most popular of Costa Rica’s national parks containing lush tropical jungle, pristine white sand beaches, and turquoise water.
📍 Map locator | 🌳 Park website
If only visiting one of Costa Rica’s national parks, Manuel Antonio National Park should be your selection. Despite being one of the smallest reserves in Costa Rica, the 4,900 acres of rainforest, white sandy beaches, and crystal clear waters create an ecological marvel attracting more visitors than any other park in the country.
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 40 minutes | Google Maps | Amenities: No facilities provided
Tortuguero National Park
Witness the magic of a nesting green sea turtle on this protected Caribbean shoreline.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Website for Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park covers a vast tract of lush rainforest on the north Caribbean coast. Though the park contains some fantastically abundant forest, it’s best known for its beaches, more specifically the green sea turtles that visit them in huge numbers.
Tortuguero National Park is the birthplace of sea turtle preservation work and has the longest-running effort to safeguard sea turtles, initiated by Archie Carr back in the 1950s. Thankfully, years of labor have yielded over 100,000 sea turtle nests each year on this beach, cementing its position as one of the most crucial habitats worldwide for green sea turtles.
Arenal Volcano National Park
Witness the majestic volcano emerging from dense tropical rainforests, generating thermally heated streams.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Arenal Volcano National Park Website
Arenal Volcano National Park features two towering volcanic peaks, most prominently the 5,357ft conical Arenal Volcano still active today. Subterranean lava heats streams and rivers throughout, powering peaceful hot springs and spas many resorts employ.
You can hike the inactive, smaller Chato volcano which takes you through a beautiful forest that leads to the top where a body of water has formed in its crater. On the way up, you’ll be rewarded with views of Arenal Volcano and stunning cascades.
Santa Rosa National Park
Gain glimpses of volcanoes, isolated beaches, and a tropical dry woodland home to an incredible assortment of wildlife.
📍 Map Site | 🌳 Park Webpage
Santa Rosa National Park is situated in the northwesternmost corner of Costa Rica and contains some of the remaining tropical dry forests globally. The park was established to connect essential habitats throughout the area so that wide-ranging wildlife, like jaguars, would have enough habitat to endure.
While the park was established as a refuge for wildlife, it’s equally enjoyable for people who can make the most of the unique and breathtaking forest and some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful and least developed Pacific coast beaches.
Las Baulas National Marine Park
See a nesting leatherback turtle from one of the most endangered populations worldwide.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 The Baulas National Marine Park Website
Las Baulas National Marine Park was formed specifically to safeguard the nesting beach for the critically endangered east Pacific leatherback sea turtles. Luckily, these turtles choose to nest on a spectacular stretch of white sand beach where the Pacific ocean creates rolling waves perfect for surfing and swimming.
At night from September to May, the beach closes so that the prehistoric reptiles can nest undisturbed. If you’d like the chance to witness a nesting leatherback, you can sign up for a guided tour with the park rangers in town.
Marino Ballena National Park
Stroll a rugged coast bordered by rainforest, watching for migrating whales offshore.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Marino Ballena National Park Website
Marino Ballena National Park juts out from Costa Rica’s central pacific shoreline to form a peninsula molded like a whale tail. Coincidentally, it’s also a magnificent place to sit on the rugged beach and search for humpback whales creating their migrations. The area’s importance for whales and other marine life catalyzed its creation as a protected marine area, the very first ever in Central America.
In addition to the marine area, the park also protects a lush tract of tropical rainforest that extends up to the golden sands and provides a home to a variety of land animals.
Corcovado National Park
Spot a huge variety of wildlife in some of the densest jungle in Central America, which contains 2.5% of the planet’s biodiversity.
📍 Google Maps for location details | 🌳 Details on Corcovado National Park
Located on the Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park has been depicted by National Geographic as “the most biologically concentrated place on earth”, and spending just a short time beneath the dense jungle canopy leaves no uncertainty as to why.
The 42,560 hectares of forest contain 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity and you can see some of the most famous animals in Costa Rica, like monkey varieties, tapirs, jaguars, sloths, macaws, and more.
While the park is more difficult to access than others, the effort to get there is worthwhile, especially for nature lovers hoping to observe uncommon flora and fauna. Be sure to examine the optimum moment to visit Costa Ricato circumvent the extremely damp rainy season on the Osa Peninsula.
Rincón del la Vieja National Park
Explore the tropical dry forest, cascades, and bubbling mud pits formed by multiple volcanoes.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (218)-851-024 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 12 am Tue-Sun, Closed Mon | Entrance: Free
While not the most recognizable national park in Costa Rica, Rincon de la Vieja showcases an impressive diversity nonetheless. The park encompasses an active volcano (which last erupted majorly in 2021), a waterfall, a dry forest, a cloud forest, and steaming mud pits.
The wide range of scenery, not to mention the many animals that inhabit the park, is wonderful to explore via the extensive trail system that winds through the park.
Poas Volcano National Park
Briefly ascend an active volcano to glimpse its vivid azure crater lake at the summit.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Poas Volcano National Park Website
Hiking halfway up the active Poas Volcano rewards visitors with an astounding view of one of the world`s largest volcanic craters. The expansive cavity contains collected waters with a stunning aqua hue, while wisps of vapor rise mysteriously from its depths.
Situated in the central Alajuela province of Costa Rica, Poas Volcano National Park provides easy access from San Jose, making it ideal for a day trip.
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Hike through this less frequented dense rainforest home to unique flora and fauna.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Website of Braulio Carrillo National Park
With 50,000 hectares of protected terrain, Braulio Carrillo is the largest protected area in Costa Rica. The massive park contains two volcanoes, a dense mountainous cloud forest, river systems, and some of the steepest topography in Costa Rica with slopes that achieve an altitude of 9,534 feet.
Much of the park is dedicated to conservation and research, but visitors can enjoy the scenery from both Quebrada González and Barva Volcano.
Irazu Volcano National Park
Explore one of the various hiking routes winding through this moderate climate woodland.
📍 Google Maps location | 🌳 Irazú Volcano National Park Website
Irazu Volcano towers an impressive 11260 feet above sea level, making it the tallest volcano in Costa Rica. On clear days, adventurers who make it to the peak’s summit are rewarded with panoramic views of all of Costa Rica, from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
Be warned, however, that the region receives tons of rainfall so a clear day isn’t a given. Though even with obstructed views, the volcano’s five craters are impressive and rewarding sights.
Quetzales National Park
Appreciate the extremely biodiverse cloud forest, home of the resplendent quetzal, one of the most stunning birds in the tropics.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 The National Park of Quetzals Website
If you are even remotely interested in birds, Quetzales National Park is a must-visit. The cloud forest that fills the protected area provides natural habitat to hundreds of bird species, including the resplendent quetzal, for which the park is named.
To some, it might seem eccentric to select a destination based on the potential to perceive one type of bird, but you may comprehend after glimpsing the striking quetzal.
The scenic locale is conveniently within a few hours` drive from the capital city, making a visit very doable as a day trip.
Chirripó National Park
Hike to the highest peak in Costa Rica where you can see both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Chirripó National Park Website
For those seeking adventure, Chirripo National Park could captivate with its extensive sights. Containing Costa Rica`s highest summit which towers 3,821 meters above sea level, the mountain also stands out for housing invaluable ecosystems and wildlife.
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As you progress on the strenuous journey, you’ll pass through tropical evergreen woodland, montane rain woodland, cloud woodland, and tundra, each containing a set of unique and amazing birds and other creatures.
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Terraba Sierpe National Wetlands
Explore some of the healthiest and most biodiverse mangrove forests in Central America.
📍 Location visible on Google Maps
Although not officially designated as a national park, the extensive network of canals and mangrove forests comprising the Terraba Sierpe Wetlands in Costa Rica rightfully deserve recognition on this list due to their stunning natural scenery and large, healthy wetland ecosystem, one of the largest in Central America.
Taking a boat tour through the canals with a local guide provides a unique opportunity to see some unusual flora and fauna. Witnessing the water birds soaring through their natural habitats is a spectacular sight.
Cahuita National Park
Immerse yourself in the postcard-worthy Caribbean rainforest and warm, clear turquoise water.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Cahuita National Park Website
The town of Cahuita exudes a laidback Caribbean essence including pristine beaches, vibrant beachside junglescapes, crystalline waters, and Costa Rica’s most robust coral reef in its Caribbean waters.
One aspect of the park I particularly like is its joint management by the community and government so entrance fees benefit the community and tours are run by locals, making Cahuita a great destination for sustainable ecotourism.
Tenorio Volcano National Park
Take Rio Celeste Waterfall, a mountainous cascade with the most vividly azure waters.
Established to protect the lively Tenorio Volcano, one of Costa Rica’s youngest national reserves is renowned for Rio Celeste. Not any ordinary waterway, the river’s hue is a striking vibrant blue created by the volcano’s sulfur emissions interacting with calcium carbonate deposits.
If you make it to the end of the hiking trail, you`ll be rewarded with the scene where two normally-colored rivers merge to chemically create the astonishing blue water.
Ostional National Wildlife Refuge
Witness the marvel of thousands of turtles arriving en masse to nest on the same beach.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Website of Ostional National Wildlife Refuge
Ostional may not seem noteworthy on an ordinary day. The beach has dim sand that is nearly constantly pounded by rough waves and the town is sleepy with little visitor foundation. But if you happen to visit Ostional National Wildlife Refuge on the appropriate day, there will be no uncertainty as to why this beach is so unique.
Around the quarter waning moon, hundreds of thousands of olive ridley turtles will synchronize their nesting and come ashore together to deposit their eggs. Witnessing so many turtles in one place at the same time is truly a magnificent spectacle.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Explore the mystical cloud forest ecosystem and all of its marvelous wildlife.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Website for Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve showcases a stunning example of the cloud forest ecosystem and the overwhelming amount of biodiversity contained within it. The near-constant cloud coverage furnishes moisture for flora to develop on practically every surface, offering habitat for an overwhelming amount of wildlife.
During my visits to Monteverde, I was able to see uncommon birds like the quetzal, bell bird, and many hummingbirds. I highly recommend going with a guide, as they will be able to point out animals you could never hope to notice alone.
Caño Island Biological Reserve
Investigate the tropical underwater marvels located just offshore from Caño Island.
Caño Island lies just offshore from the Osa Peninsula, reachable by a brief boat ride from Drake Bay. Experienced snorkelers and scuba divers make the pilgrimage daily to explore the underwater marvels surrounding the island. The beautiful coral reefs are some of the healthiest found in Costa Rica, categorizing it as one of the prime locations to experience scuba diving in Costa Rica.
Again, it’s worth noting that going to the summit is only possible with a guided tour, so 2,900 meters is as high as you’ll be able to go without a guide.
FAQs About Costa Rica Parks
How many national parks are in Costa Rica?
Despite its modest physical size, Costa Rica protects twenty-five national reserves across its borders.
What is the most famous park in Costa Rica?
Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica’s most frequented national park, welcoming over 100,000 guests annually, partly owing to its proximity to San Jose. However, arguably the most renowned park in Costa Rica is Corcovado National Park, most renowned for harboring one of the planet`s most biologically intense areas.
What percentage of Costa Rica is dedicated to national parks?
Costa Rica has dedicated nearly 28% of its land to 25 different national parks.
How much does it cost to enter national parks in Costa Rica?
While entrance fees vary for each national park, some of which only suggest a donation, one can expect to pay somewhere between $10 and $20 to enter a national park in Costa Rica.
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Thanks for reading my guide to the stunning natural areas that make up Costa Rica`s national parks! Visiting any of these locations promises breathtaking scenery and is sure to be a high point of any trip to the country. While you`re here, be sure to check out my article on the most noteworthy places to experience in Costa Rica.
