Costa Rica National Parks

Costa Rica is a country rich with national parks and forests. It all began in 1970 when much of the land was being taken over by settlers and logging. As the land vanished, the people of Costa Rica realized something had to be done. With that, the people formed a national park system to save the remaining wilderness. By law, 10.27% of the land was declared inviolate. In addition to this land, another 17% of the land was set aside and deemed forest reserves, wildlife refuges, Indian reservations, and “buffer zones.”

Today, the National Conservation Areas System has the responsibility of protecting more than 186 areas that consists of eight, biological reserves, 13 forest reserves, 51 wildlife refuges, and 32 national parks. Interestingly, 90% of all people visiting Costa Rica are lured to the national parks for their natural beauty, magnificent wildlife, and once in a lifetime opportunity to experience something special. While there are too many national parks to outline in this one article, we have chosen two of the top parks to detail. In addition, we have provided you with a list of other parks to consider.

Ballena Marine National Park

This park was first protected in 1990 as a means of maintaining the beautiful shoreline of Bahia de Coronado. Part of the park attraction is the small mangroves but the largest coral reef on the Pacific coast is what draws people in. As you look out over the green-blue water, you will see marine iguana basking in the sun, catching the sun’s rays. When the temperatures cools less than 90 degrees, they head for the water where they search for food. The water is also home to hawksbill and ridley turtles that typically make their way to the shore from the months of May and November to lay eggs.

Other fascinating life form includes the bottle-nosed dolphin that jump in and out of the water offshore, playing a game of tag and the humpback whale that migrates from Alaska, Hawaii, and California from December to April. Because of the diverse sea life, scuba diving and snorkeling are favorite activities. Below the water are colorful anemones, corals, sponges, and even caves where you can explore many more mysteries of the sea.

Irazu Volcano National Park

The views from this national park are stunning. The picturesque landscape is dotted with brightly painted houses of yellow, green, orange, red, and blue, and little farming villages that are simply charming. People visiting this park are mesmerized by the 328-foot deep Diego de la Haya crater. Sometimes, this crater is filled with a pea green water while other times, it has a red ting from the minerals.

If you enjoy hiking, the Irazu Volcano National park offers some of the most amazing trails that lead to the craters. Just remember as you approach the rim of the crater that they are unstable so you need to appreciate the phenomenon from a distance. Just be sure to dress warmly since temperatures average 45 to 50 degrees but the trip is well worth it. Along your walk you will discover many different species of stunted dwarf oak, lichens, ferns, and other flora and fauna.

While these are just two of the many incredible national parks in Costa Rica, others that are just as amazing include the following:

• Arenal Volcano National Park
• Barra Honda National Park
• Braulio Carrillo National Park
• Cahuita National Park
• Chirripo National Park
• Corcovado National Park
• Guanacaste National Park
• Juan Castro Blanco National Park
• Manuel Antonio National Park
• Palo Verde National Park
• Piedras Blancas National Park
• Playa Grande Marine Turtle National Park
• Poas Volcano National Park
• Rincon De La Vieja National Park
• Santa Rosa National Park
• Tenorio Volcano National Park
• Tortuguero National Park
• Whale Marine National Park

Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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