List of national parks of Costa Rica explained

National Parks of Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio National Park


First ParkPoás Volcano National Park, 1955
Smallest ParkSan Lucas Island National Park, 4.49 km2
Largest ParkLa Amistad International Park, 1991 km2
Governing bodySINAC

In 2023 thirty National Parks of Costa Rica are managed under the umbrella of SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion), a department of Costa 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 sustainable ecotourism in the National Parks System have been lauded as a model for other countries. The rainforests, tropical forests, marine areas and wetlands of Costa Rica are the subject of many university and scientific organization studies. The enrichment of the world's knowledge of these important habitats is an invaluable contribution from the National Parks System of Costa Rica.

The Cordillera de Talamanca is home to an impressive collection of national parks and other preserved areas, including the La Amistad International Park, which extends into Panamá. On the southern Osa Peninsula is the internationally renowned Corcovado National Park, which preserves a remnant of sizeable lowland tropical rainforest that is unique in the world. Manuel Antonio National Park was listed by Forbes in 2011 among the world's 12 most beautiful national parks.[2]

The Camino de Costa Rica is a 280 km long hiking trail across Costa Rica. It runs from the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean coast), the southernmost part of the Tortuguero Canals, up the mountain and through indigenous territory near the Barbilla National Park and through valleys and mountain ranges of the central region of the country, just south of the Turrialba and Irazu Volcanos and through the Los Santos coffee region down to the Pacific coast in Quepos.

National parks of Costa Rica

Park Coordinates[3] Area[4] Attractions
10.46°N -84.7°W Arenal Volcano, in elevation, has been active almost continuously since 1968. A second volcano, Chato, has a lake in the crater.[5]
9.16°N -83.75°W Located on the Pacific Ocean. of park is water with seasonal visits by humpback whales, dolphins, and other marine life.[6]
9.98°N -83.45°W Elevations from to, The park features foot travel in wet and very wet rain forests and pumas, jaguars, ocelots, and tapirs.[7]
10.18°N -85.37°W The park features extensive limestone caves, some unexplored, with stalagtite and stalagmite formations.[8]
10.21°N -84.02°W Steep topography, several volcanoes, rain forests, and proximity to the capital city of San José are attractions. The highest elevation is [9]
9.74°N -92.84°W On the Atlantic coast, of the park is water. The park includes Costa Rica's largest coral reef and preserves marine life.[10]
9.78°N -84.61°W Near the Pacific Ocean, Carara is the northernmost coastal rain forest in Costa Rica. The park is popular with bird watchers and has a large population of scarlet macaws.[11]
9.73°N -84.61°WChirripó features Costa Rica's highest mountain with an elevation of . Alpine tundra (Costa Rican Paramo) and glacial lakes are found at elevations above [12]
5.53°N -87.06°W A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cocos Island is off the Pacific Ocean coast of Costa Rica and features marine life, evergreen forests, and waterfalls.[13]
8.54°N -83.57°W On the Pacific coast, most of the park is shallow lagoons, mangrove forests, beaches, and low altitude cloud forests. Access is only with approved guide.[14]
10.16°N -85.58°W The park features wetlands and forests.[15]
10.96°N -85.51°W Part of the Guancaste World Heritage Site, the park has two volcanos, Orosi and Cacao; dry, wet, and cloud forests; and a large population of collared peccary. Access is through Santa Rosa National Park.[16]
9.98°N -63.895°W Irazú is Costa Rica's highest volcano at . A paved road reaches to near the summit from where both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts can be seen.[17]
10.48°N -84.33°W The mountainous park has volcanoic cones and vents, Lake Pozo Verde, waterfalls, and many bird species, including quetzals.[18]
9.42°N -82.98°WA UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest wilderness area in Costa Rica, the park extends into Panama. Rugged terrain and some of the highest mountains in the country are features. Bio-diversity is outstanding for both flora and fauna.[19]
0.7°N -84.4°W Forty-four species of plants are endemic to Costa Rica and crystalline water from the sources of two rivers.[20]
10.33°N -85.85°W Most of this park is ocean. The beaches of Las Baulas are the largest nesting ground in the world for sea turtles. The coastal area of the park features mangrove forests.[21]
9.61°N -83.82°W A mountainous park reaching an elevation of . As the name indicates the quetzal bird is the main attraction.[22]
9.39°N -84.14°W One of the few remaining homes of the Grey-crowned Central American squirrel monkey, an endangered species. Most of the park is ocean. Twelve islands shelter marine birds.[23]
10.75°N -95.15°W The Miravalles Volcano rises to . The Miravalles Geothermal Power Project is on the slopes of the volcano.[24]
10.38°N -85.33°W Decalared a wetland of international importance, about one-half of the park is water or wetland, hosting migratory and non-migratory aquatic birds.[25]
8.71°N -83.27°W Rich as it is in biological life, Piedras Blancas is also part of the Osa Conservation Area along with several adjoining parks and reserves devoted to conservation.
10.2°N -84.23°W The volcano, in elevation, has several fumaroles emitting gas and causing acid rain which has killed much of the vegetation and force frequent closure of the park.[26]
10.77°N -85.34°W The volcano, in elevation is continuously active with foot trails to nine volcanic cones, fumaroles, mud pits, and hot springs.[27] [28]
10.84°N -85.71°W Santa Rosa protects a dry tropical forest and beaches with sea turtle nests. The park is the site of the Battle of Santa Rosa and military monuments.[29]
9.94°N -84.91°W Located off shore in the Pacific Ocean, the park is a former prison and wildlife preserve.[30]
9.76°N -83.78°W Elevations up to, rain forests, ancient oak and alder trees characterize this park in one of the rainiest parts of Costa Rica.[31] Precipitation exceeds annually.[32]
10.71°N -84.99°W The park is characterized by cloud forests and rain forests. The volcano reaches an elevation of .
10.45°N -83.57°W Two-thirds of the park is water. The park hosts the largest green turtle nesting beach in the Americas. Ninety-nine percent of the park is for preservation; one percent is open to visitors.[33]
10.02°N -83.77°W Turrialba is the second highest volcano in Costa Rica with an elevation of . The volcano is periodically active.[34]
Total (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.

Number of visitors to parks

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 Tortaguero 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

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stater. Adam. Protected Areas of Costa Rica.
  2. News: The World's Most Beautiful National Parks . Jane Levere. Forbes. 2011-08-29. 2011-10-04.
  3. Google Earth Pro
  4. Web site: Essential Costa Rica: National Parks . Visit Costa Rica . 5 December 2023.
  5. Web site: Arenal Volcano National Park . Arenal Costa Rica . 4 December 2023.
  6. Web site: Ballena National Marine Park . Visit Costa Rica . 5 December 2023.
  7. Web site: Barbilla National Park . Visit Costa Rica . 5 December 2023 .
  8. Web site: Barra Honda National Park . SINAC . 5 December 2023.
  9. Web site: SINAC . Braulio Carrillo National Park . 5 December 2023.
  10. Web site: Cahuita National Park . Costa Rica's National Parks . 5 December 2023.
  11. Web site: Carara National Park . Costa Rica Guide . 5 December 2023.
  12. Web site: Cerro Chirripo . Costa Rica Guide . 5 December 2023.
  13. Web site: Cocos Island National Park . Essential Costa Rica . 6 December 2023.
  14. Web site: Corcovado National Park . Essential Costa Rica . 6 December 2023.
  15. Web site: Diria National Park . Essential Costa Rica . 6 December 2023.
  16. Web site: Guancaste National Park . Essential Costa Rica . 6 December 2023.
  17. Web site: Irazu volcano . Essential Costa Rica . 6 December 2023.
  18. Web site: Juan Castro Blanco National Park . Visit Costa Rica . 7 December 2023.
  19. Web site: La Amistad Internal Park and Biosphere Preserve . Visit Costa Rica . 6 December 2023.
  20. Web site: La Cangreja National Park . Visit Costa Rica . 7 December 2023.
  21. Web site: La Baulas Marine National Park . Visit Costa Rica . 6 December 2023.
  22. Web site: Los Quetzales National Park . Visit Costa Rica . 7 December 2023.
  23. Web site: Manuel Antonio National Park . Visit Costa Rica . 7 December 2023.
  24. Web site: Welcome to Miravalles National Park . Visit Costa Rica . 6 December 2023.
  25. Web site: Palo Verde National Park . Visit Costa Rica . 6 December 2023.
  26. Web site: Poas Volcano National Park . Visit Costa Rica . 7 December 2023.
  27. Web site: Rincon de la Vieja Volcano . Smithsonian Institution . 7 December 2023.
  28. Web site: Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park . Visit Costa Rica . 7 December 2023.
  29. Web site: Santa Rosa National Park . Visit Costa Rica . 7 December 2023.
  30. Web site: Discover the History of Isla San Lucas National Park . Essential Costa Rica . 8 December 2023.
  31. Web site: Tapanti-Macizo de la Muerte National Park . Essential Costa Rica . 8 December 2023.
  32. Web site: Tapanti-Macizo de la Muerte National Park . SINAC.
  33. Web site: Tortuguero National Park . Essential Costa Rica . 8 December 2023.
  34. Web site: Turrialba Volcano National Park . SINAC . 8 December 2023.
  35. Web site: Ruiz Leon . Francisco . Estos son los parques nacionales mas y menos visitados de Costa Rica en los ultimos dias anos . El Financiero (Costa Rica) . 20 December 2023.