COSTA RICAN NATIONAL PARKS.

What is a National Park?

A national park is a categorical protected area that has a certain legal status that allows the goverment to protect and preserve the richness of its flora and fauna, is it characterized of being representative of a region and have scientific interest and connotation.

What is a Natural Reserve?

A natural reserve or ecological reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora or fauna and geological features of special interest that is protected and managed by man, these reserves are used for conservation purposes and to provide opportunities for investigation and education.

Who manages the National Parks?

Nature reserves appear to preserve and rehabilitate tropical ecosystems of Costa Rica and biodiversity. Reserves differ from national parks in the aspect that the community and conservation groups are who manage the land. Income from visitors is used to maintain the trail system, park staff and buy surrounding land to expand protected areas.

How are Funded National Parks?

Biological resources are fundamental to economic and social development of mankind. As a result, there is a growing recognition of biodiversity as a global asset of inestimable value to the survival of present and future generations. Thus, within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) and ratified by Costa Rica in 1994, was created in Article 14 of the Biodiversity Law No. 7788 the National Commission for Biodiversity Management (CONAGEBIO) as a decentralized agency of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (formerly MINAE), with legal instruments.

CONAGEBIO is established to strengthen national technical authority on the issue of access to the elements and genetic and biochemical resources of biodiversity and protection of associated knowledge. It is also a body that suggests the definition of policies relating to conservation, ecologically sustainable use and restoration of biodiversity.

It is important to clarify that most of the national parks and biological reserves get the profit from donators phisical people or institutions that identify with the cause of preservation working or danating money.

How can I help to contribute with the conservation and protection of natural areas and endangered species?

Friends of National Parks is a membership program created by ProParques, Fundecor and SINAC and provides the opportunity to demonstrate your commitment with Costa Rica's National Parks.

Call free Costa Rica: +506 2263-4162
Mail: info@amigosdelosparques.org
Web: www.amigosdelosparques

Don’t be just a tourist to Costa Rica’s National Parks.

Costa Rica National Parks

• » GUANACASTE NATIONAL PARK

  GUANACASTE NATIONAL PARK

  This new park extends from Santa Rosa to the skirts of the Volcano Rincón de la Vieja in the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, and its intention is to create a biological runner between the sea and the mountain Range of Guanacaste. Total area: 56,450 hectares without counting Santa Rosa National Park.

  
• » RINCON DE LA  VIEJA NATIONAL PARK

  RINCON DE LA  VIEJA NATIONAL PARK

  Total area 14 084 hectares. This semi active volcano of an altitude of about 1800 meters is an hidden treasure in the mountain range of Guanacaste. Boiling his pailas of mud, their interminable footpaths, their thermal tranquillity and its waters are some of their attractiveness. Ideal site to realise long walks, horsebacks riding and to discover the blue lagoon of the secondary crater as well as the main crater. Their dwarfed forest, its savannahs and their vegetation are very interesting to visitors.

   
• » CAÑO NEGRO NATIONAL PARK

  CAÑO NEGRO NATIONAL PARK

  Total area 9 969  hectares. It contains a lake of 800  hectares that is rebalse of Cold River, which ends at San Juan. Ideal site to observe aquatic birds, terrestrial crocodiles, birds and life animal generally. It is possible to go by boat, this lake, which dries in summer, offers a vision of the flora and fauna of plains of the North.

  
• » TURTLE NATIONAL PARK

  TURTLE NATIONAL PARK

  Total area 1 8947  hectares. Tortuguero is located in the Caribbean Sea, and covers the natural channels that cross, as well as the extensive zone of rainy tropical forest of the Caribbean area. Suitable site to see turtles, birds, great crocodiles, birds, monkeys. It is known for having one of the most outpost for tourism, as much in the variety of hotels like the system of terrestrial and aquatic transport. Its access is only by boat or airplane. The park is very recommended for lovers of nature.

  
• » BARRA DEL COLORADO NATIONAL PARK

  BARRA DEL COLORADO NATIONAL PARK

  One of the zones of more extensive forest of the country, since it is contiguous with Nicaragua. Its location similar to the one of Tortuguero causes that it to offer attractive similar. It is located in the opening of Rió San Juan, which divides Costa Rica of Nicaragua. Great wealth of flora and fauna for visitors to enjoy peacefullly.

  
• » BAULA NATIONAL PARK

  BAULA NATIONAL PARK

  Terrestrial total area 500 hectares and 22,000 of marine area. Great Beach is the greater site of enlistments of egg-layings of Baula Turtles, the greater turtle of the world which shell is semi smooth and elastic. The park is attractive by its beaches and aquatic activities like Surfing.

  
• » BARBUDAL HILLS NATIONAL PARK

  BARBUDAL HILLS NATIONAL PARK

  Total area 2 279 hectares. Famous by its savannahs and their typical charral guanacasteco that covers half with the area. The other half is Dry Tropical forest. The area is very abundant in insects and other species of wildlife.

  
• » PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK

  PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK

  Total area 16 804 hectares. Located in the margins of Rio Tempisque, the greater fundamental river because it irrigates the plains of Guanacaste, this park is synonymous of fluvial marine life and forest of laughed as well as alluviums. Ideal and very known by enlistment aquatic birds as well as great crocodiles.

  
• » BARRA HONDA NATIONAL PARK

  BARRA HONDA NATIONAL PARK

  Total area 2 295 hectares. Honda Bar was declared Park due to the formation of caves that there are in it, besides being a vestige of Dry Tropical Forest in the middle of the Peninsula of Nicoya. Its geomorphological structure is of limestone and great grottos and rocky crags.

  
• » MONTE VERDE NATIONAL PARK

  MONTE VERDE NATIONAL PARK

  It is located in the Mountain Range of Guanacaste, Monteverde and Santa Elena are the example of how handling a protected zone. These Parks, are very attractive due to the vegetation and climate, which is cloudy. Its fast ascent of the pacific coast is equally interesting, since from its top it is possible to appreciated the Islands of the Gulf. Famous by the enlistment of the Quetzal, it is a paradise for lovers of the birds, hummingbirds and the famous bird bell. The footpaths that cross these reserves, do possible independently to discover the treasures of the cloudy tropical forest. There are museums of insects and several viewpoints from where the Volcano is appraised Sandy ground.

  
• » VOLCAN POAS NATIONAL PARK

  VOLCAN POAS NATIONAL PARK

  Total area of 5600 hectares. Known to have the greatest crater of the world, 1,5 kilometers, this volcano type geyser due to its gas eruptions, is located only 1,5 hours of the capital San jose. Excellent infrastructure, its altitude does that this place setting by an interesting dwarfed forest. It has in addition a lagoon and an interesting museum.

  
• » BRAULIO CARRILLO NATIONAL PARK

  BRAULIO CARRILLO NATIONAL PARK

  Total 45 899 hectares. Located in the Central Volcanic mountain range, this extensive park place setting in its majority by dense cloudy and tropical forest. There are some footpaths that are selves-steering, nevertheless, due to the topography, it is recommended to go with a guide. In the lower part is located the cableway of the rainy forest, from where 1½ tour by Aerial Tram offers the opportunity to be near the canopy layers. It is considered the principal lung of Costa Rica.

  
• » OSTIONAL NATIONAL PARK

  OSTIONAL NATIONAL PARK

  Terrestrial total area 162 hectares and 587 hectares marine portion. Like the Baulas, this park is known by the dark-brown arrival of hundreds of turtles, other species in extinction danger. Very showy also it is the beauty of beaches of the average part of the Peninsula of Nicoya, near beaches like Nosara and Guiones.

  
• » COCO ISLAND

  COCO ISLAND

   Terrestrial total 2400 hectares and 73,1000 sailor. The Island of the Coco is day and a half of the coasts of the country, and is the famous destiny for lovers of the diving. Its attractive while still alive animal is not great, due to the little wealth of the island, but it is the paradise for lovers of aquatic activities. One thinks that in the island the Benito Pirate hid his treasure in 18th century.

  
• » CABO BLANCO NATIONAL PARK

  CABO BLANCO NATIONAL PARK

   Total area 1 172 hectares. Call thus to be in the Tip of the Peninsula, this reserve was the first zone protected in the country in 70s. Gorgeous solitary beaches, footpaths in the middle of the forest, rich life animal and excellent infrastructure are some of the qualities of this park. Its strategic location allows to see so much Half of the North Pacific like the South and the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

  
• » CORU NATIONAL PARK

  CORU NATIONAL PARK

  Total area 84 hectares. This park is located in the South part of the Peninsula of Nicoya, in the union of Gulf with open Sea. This zone is very little visited, anyhow, it is extremely interesting due to its distance, its rich life animal and mainly by the type of climate and vegetation, since it is semi dry climate. It can be accesed by automobile and ferry. Attractive by its tranquillity, matting and their trails.

  
• » ISLA NEGRITOS NATIONAL PARK

  ISLA NEGRITOS NATIONAL PARK

  Negritos and Pájaros. This rocky formation and islands in the middle of the Gulf of Nicoya are accessible only by sea, and turtles can be appreciated in the Tour to Islands. Its Total area is 91 hectares, and its attractive main one is the nesting of marine birds.

  
• » CARARA NATIONAL PARK

  CARARA NATIONAL PARK

   Total area 4 700  hectares. Easy access by automobile. This park is one of the most visited for two fundamental reasons, the Great Red Macaw that often is seen in the park, and its proximity with Rio Tárcoles, that have a big bridge from where great groups of Crocodiles can be observed. The proximity to San Jose, its excellent trails and its good infrastructure causes that it be a destiny to visit.