Costa Rica’s National Parks Guide

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A complete list of all the national parks in Costa Rica, plus an overview of the most popular national parks to visit in Costa Rica.

About Costa Rica National Parks

Despite its relatively small size, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse and conservation-protected countries in the world. So it makes sense the country would be home to almost 40 national parks despite being just under 20,000 square miles.

Costa Rican national parks were founded by the government agency SINAC beginning in 1970 with the idea that more of Costa Rica’s ecological treasures should be formally protected by the government. The first national park to be formally recognized was Poas Volcano National Park, and since then more than 34 national parks have been formed and maintained by the government.

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Visiting National Parks: What You Need To Know

Entrance Fees

Many, if not all national parks in Costa Rica are fairly remote and require an entrance fee. You will most likely need your own transportation to arrive at the entrance, and an experienced guide is always the best way to see the most wildlife species and plants in the area.

Guides are not included in the entrance fee for the national parks. Often there are less experienced guides at the entrance to the parks. they are looking to gain more experience guiding, and you can easily negotiate a guiding fee right there in most cases.

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Know that the entrance fee for nationals and of foreigners is different, but you can expect to pay between $7-$15 per person to enter the national parks in Costa Rica. These fees can be paid in USD or colones upon arrival at the ranger station. Note the national parks are closed on Mondays and generally close at 3 pm, so plan your visit accordingly.

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What To Pack

National parks have very few amenities and services. There is generally, but not always a bathroom at the entrance, and sometimes a small soda or another restaurant. Apart from this, you need to pack in (and out!) everything you will need for your time in the park. Here is a quick packing list for Costa Rican national parks- you can find a complete Costa Rica Packing list here.

There can be a lot (like a LOT) of bugs in all of Costa Rica’s national parks, so I generally advise visitors to wear light long sleeves and long pants- it’s the best bug repellent there is.

• Daypack
• Hiking shoes (close-toed)
• Plenty of water, or a water filter
• Food for the day
• Map
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Bug Repellent

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Note that cell phones generally do not work in national parks as they tend to be in remote areas where there is no signal. Please let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back if you are doing some major hiking in the national parks, as there are definitely tourists who get lost or even die in the national parks each year.

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Complete List of National Parks in Costa Rica

Here is a complete list of every national park in Costa Rica (at the time of writing), and the province in which each is located. Some of these national parks, such as Manuel Antonio National Park, are also Costa Rican landmarks.

National Park	Province
Braulio Carrillo National Park	Heredia, San José
Barra Honda National Park	Guanacaste
Santa Rosa National Park	Guanacaste
Guanacastse National Park	Guanacaste
Las Baulas Marine Park	Guanacaste
Diriá National Park	Guanacaste
Juan Castro Blanco National Park	Alajuela
Corcovado National Park	Puntareanas
Manuel Antonio National Park	Puntarenas
Los Quetzales National Park	San Jose
Arenal Volcano National Park	Alajuela
Tenorio Volcano National Park	Guanacaste
Palo Verde National Park	Guanacaste
Chirripó National Park	San Jose
Tortuguero National Park	Limon
Tapantí – Cerro de la Muerte Massif National Park	Cartago
Volcán Irazú	Cartago
Cahuita National Park	Limon
La Cangreja National Park	San Jose
La Amistad International Park	Limon
Irazú Volcano National Park	Cartago
Barbilla National Park	Cartago
Carara National Park	Puntarenas
Rincón de La Vieja Volcano National Park	Guanacaste
Poás Volcano National Park	Alajuela
Ballena Marine National Park	Puntarenas
Cocos Island National Park	Puntarenas
Miravalles Jorge Manuel Dengo National Park	Guanacaste
Piedras Blancas National Park	Puntarenas
San Lucas Island National Park	Puntarenas
Turrialba Volcano National Park	Cartago

Best National Parks To Visit in Costa Rica

The following are the best national parks to visit on your next Costa Rica trip.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the most popular destinations in all of Costa Rica- and the park I get most asked about. Located about halfway down the Pacific Coast, the closest town to the park is Quepos.

The park is home to a large number of spider monkeys. There are three beautiful beaches inside the park, and it’s a great place to spend the day wildlife watching and relaxing on the beach- just don’t forget to pack a lot of food and sunscreen.

Arenal Volcano National Park

By far my favorite of Costa Rica’s national parks, Arenal National is home to one of the most famous active volcanoes in the world- the Arenal Volcano. Here you can find sloths, howler monkeys, poison dart frogs and more. Plus, the proximity of the park to some of the most gorgeous hot springs in the world makes it easy to soak sore muscles after a long day of hiking.

The closest town to this national park is La Fortuna and there are lots of places to stay. We’ve stayed at Volcano Lodge and Springs, Baldi Resort and Rancho Margot to access the park.

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Tortuguero National Park

Most famous for its turtle nesting, this national park sits to the north of the country bordering Nicaragua. You’ll find the town of Tortuguero right inside the park. Most visitors arrive and stay on the south end of the park to see the large leatherback turtles nest.

There are also tons of amazing river floats allowing ample opportunities to see tropical birds, crocodiles, green turtles, and tons of unique insects.

This is a fairly remote part of Costa Rica, and it takes the better part of a day to arrive from San Jost. Be wary of single-day trips to this area as the road is long and you likely won’t get much time in the park.

Corcovado National Park

Corcovado Park is one of the largest and most remote national parks in Costa Rica, and you could hike it for days. It is one of the few parks that allows overnight stays inside the park, and the one that I most recommend people have a good guide for as you can see so many amazing species. It’s one of the most intense places I’ve ever visited.

You can see tapirs, turtles, poison dart frogs, tropical birds, humpback whales, jaguars, and more if you are patient and have a good local guide. I enter the park via Drake Bay, where you can stay and take a day trip to the edge of the forest. The park is located on the Osa Peninsula.

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Cahuita National Park

This national park is also on the Caribbean coast and is the closest park to Panama. The park is lined with beautiful beaches and has been protected because of the gorgeous coral reef just offshore. You can also see leatherback turtles nesting here.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park

I love this park because it has hot springs right in the park, and you can waterfall chase to your heart’s content. We stay at Hacienda Guachepelin to visit this park, and it is one of my favorite protected areas. Many people say you can hike forever in this park, and on a clear day, you can see several volcanoes.

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Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

This park is known for the possibility of seeing the world-famous resplendent quetzal, an elusive species of bird known for its emerald green tail feathers. Hiking through the cloud forests is an experience in itself, and you can discover poison dart frogs very easily. In the rainy season this park comes alive, but anytime is a great time to visit. We have several accommodations we like when we go there.

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Cocos Island National Park

Known as the place Jurassic Park was filmed, this national park is part of Costa Rica but requires several days of boat travel to arrive. Some of the best scuba diving in the world is here. The trip to Cocos Island is expensive and I have never done it, but everyone I have talked to says it is a life-changing experience.

Tenorio Volcano National Park

This park is known for the blue river, one of the most famous waterfalls in all of Costa Rica. It is also known for the natural hot springs that move through the park via the Tenorio River. When we visit here we either stay a La Carolina Lodge or Casitas Tenorio.

Carara National Park

I add this park because of its close proximity to Jaco Beach and to San Jose, making it a very easy park to visit. It is a great example of tropical dry forests. The park is most known for its large population of scarlet macaws, but you can see a wide variety of tropical birds here. The park also is home to the famous Crocodile Bridge over the Tarcoles River, an attraction you can see roadside on your way to Jaco.

We have several favorite accommodations and restaurants in the area.

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If you would like to talk to me about a customized itinerary or specific Costa Rica travel advice for your family, (zero sales- just advice!) check out my “Ask Christa” page for more information on custom Costa Rica trip planning geared towards families.