Charlotte Boswell
Costa Rica
With one of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems, the Costa Rican government have done an incredible job of protecting and conserving the wildlife of the country where over 25% of Costa Rica’s land area is protected by national parks and reserves. These cover a wide variety of different environments, from marine reserves and coastal wetlands to dense rainforests, high altitude cloud forests and dry tropical forests. This guide covers the best national parks of Costa Rica to visit.
1 Corcovado National Park
One of the largest and most important of Costa Rica’s national parks, Corcovado occupies much of the Osa Peninsular in the south-west of the country. The largest section of primary forest left on the Pacific Coast of the Americas and one of the last few areas of lowland coastal rainforest, Corcovado is home to an incredible 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity. All four species of Costa Rican monkeys can be found within the park, as well as sloths, tapirs and jaguars, although sightings of big cats are not common. There are no lodges within Corcovado, but it is possible to stay in wildlife lodges close to the park and visit on day trips with experienced guides. This region of Costa Rica does experience heavy rain from June to December, so many lodges do close at this time of year making access more difficult.
2 Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero means turtle in Spanish, so it is no surprise that this national park on the north-east coast of Costa Rica is famous for its turtles. Over 20 miles of sandy beach facing the Caribbean provide a protected nesting site for four different species of turtles, with the iconic Green Turtles coming ashore nightly from mid-June to October to lay their eggs. In addition, the wetlands of Tortuguero are home to multiple different habitats, including lowland rainforest, mangrove forest and swampland. Only accessible by plane or boat, there are several excellent lodges within the national park who offer wildlife tours by foot and by boat, with nightly visits to the beach during nesting season.
3 Manuel Antonio National Park
On the Central Pacific Coast and easily accessible from San Jose, Manuel Antonio is the smallest, and also one of the most popular, of Costa Rica’s national parks. However, don’t let this put you off as it offers an incredible amount of biodiversity in a compact package where the rainforest comes right down to the beach, and is one of the best places to see wildlife including sloths and monkeys at close quarters. The trails that runs through the park lead to sheltered coves with magnificent sandy beaches. With excellent beach resorts nearby, it is no wonder so many people choose to spend time at Manuel Antonio.
4 Arenal Volcano National Park
In the volcanic highlands north of San Jose, Arenal Volcano National Park covers the summit and foothills of the famous volcano. Arenal Volcano was once thought to be dormant until a massive eruption in 1968, and while it has not been as active in recent years, the summit is still off limits to visitors. However, the reforested base of the park offers hiking trails and ziplines, with the neighbouring private reserve of Mistico Hanging Bridges giving the opportunity to walk between the trees of the highland rainforest at canopy level, looking out for the sloths, monkeys and birdlife for which the region is famous. There are many lodges and resorts around the base of Arenal offering tours within the park and surrounding region.
5 Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve
In the hills of the central highlands, south of Arenal Lake at an altitude of around 1,500m, the ‘green mountain’ of Monteverde is known for its spectacular cloud forest. At this altitude, fog and clouds support a diverse ecosystem which is known for its dense foliage, butterflies and birds, including the iconic Resplendent Quetzal. Lodges in the nearby small town of Santa Ella provide comfortable accommodation for exploring the trails of the reserve to learn more about this unique environment.
6 Cahuita National Park
On the Southern Caribbean Coast, not far from the border with Panama, Cahuita covers both a strip of coastal rainforest as well as large marine reserve which encompasses the best reefs in Costa Rica. Tours from the nearby resort town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca allow visitors to walk the trail that leads through the coastal rainforest of Cahuita where you may see species such as monkeys, sloths, raccoons, iguanas and colourful birds, as well as to head out by boat to snorkel off the reef where you can encounter sea turtles, angelfish, parrotfish, sting rays and occasionally reef sharks.
7 Los Quetzales National Park
The resplendent quetzal is famed for its beautiful plumage and long tail, and the Los Quetzales National Park is one of the best places in Costa Rica to see this incredible bird. Located in the cloud forest of the Continental Divide south of San Jose at an altitude of around 2,000m, the small community of San Gerado de Dota bordering the park is home to several excellent birdwatching lodges which offer their own protected reserves and excellent guides.
Discover Los Quetzales on our birdwatching tour of Costa Rica
8 Carara National Park
Just a few miles from the Pacific Coast, Carara National Park lies in a region where the dry tropical forest of the north meets the humid rainforest of the south. A birding hotspot, the noisy and colourful scarlet macaws are a big draw, but there are well over 400 other species of birds to see here. The Tarcoles River which borders the park is known for its crocodiles who can be seen on boat trips, and you may be lucky to see some of the mammals who shelter in the dense forest, including sloths, monkeys and jaguarundi. Carara is also notable for its universal trail which is suitable for wheelchairs and equipped with braille signage and other features which makes it accessible for all visitors.
9 Bahia Ballena Marine National Park
This Marine National Park on the Pacific Coast just north of Corcovado was created to provide a safe haven for humpback whales from both the northern and southern hemisphere who can be found here for much of the year. The waters are also home to pods of dolphins, manta rays and hammerhead sharks. You can explore the waters of Bahia Ballena on a boat trip from the nearby town of Uvita and also visit the ‘whales’ tail’, a split of land jutting out to sea within the national park home to sandbars and tidal pools.
10 Poas Volcano National Park
Poas Volcano is just a short drive from the centre of San Jose, and the summit is within Poas Volcano National Park. While little wildlife can be seen here at an altitude of around 2,700m, viewing platforms allow visitors to see into the crater where steam is often seen rising from the depths while trails lead through the cloud forest to an inactive crater lake. This is still a very active volcano with several small eruptions in recent years, and the park can be closed in times of heightened activity.
11 Rincon de la Vieja National Park
While this national park in the north-west of Costa Rica is known for its tropical dry forest, it is more famous for its waterfalls and geothermal activity. The impressive mass of the active volcano of Rincon de la Vieja forms the heart of the park, with many rivers flowing down its flanks. Staying at nearby lodges, you can hike through the forest to beautiful waterfalls and hot springs.
