Costa Rica national parks -- the nearly three dozen Costa Rica national parks in this Central American country fall into three basic categories: volcanoes, tropical forest, and wildlife refuges. Several underwater regions also form a unique part of the Park system. You will find one or more park in each region of the country. This page lists them by region: National Parks of Costa Rica
Volcanoes and Tropical Forests.
For volcano action, Arenal Volcano and Poas Volcano are both convenient to San Jose. You will want to spend at least one night in the Arenal vicinity because there are so many other things to do, including fishing, sailing and windsurfing on the lake. And Arenal can be visited from most parts of Guanacaste, such as Playas del Coco or Tamarindo. Irazu, east of San Jose, is the country's highest volcano. Parque Volcan Barva, opened in late 2006, is less than an hour north of San Jose.
Just north of Liberia, Guanacaste, is Rincon de la Vieja, called the local "Yellowstone" because of its extensive hot springs, geysers and other geothermal features. Tropical moist forest, waterfalls and wildlife make this a top attraction. Take a peek at Guanacaste for more things to do in this area.
Guayabo, set in a cloud forest 2 hours east of San Jose, is home to the country's most extensive stone ruins
Click Guayabo National Park for a full review.
For more cloud forest andrainforest, visit Monteverde and Santa Elena west of Arenal. Lots of butterflies, quetzals, other wildlife here. Also a picture perfect view of Volcan Arenal in the distance.
Farther south, near Drake Bay along the Pacific Coast, Corcovado National Park offers rain forests, wildlife and gorgeous birds for the bird watching enthusiasts in the group. You may even spot a whale or two. This is the country's most remote and secluded, with the greatest variety of flora and fauna
Marine Parks.
The tropical forests of Manuel Antonio Park, in addition to nature trails along its seven secluded beaches, has attractions for underwater tourists too. Most of it, in fact, lies beneath the waves. See Manuel Antonio National Park for more on the seven secluded beaches here. In Guanacaste, the Leatherback Turtles nesting grounds are on the beaches of Las Baulas National Marine Park south of Tamarindo.
Las Baulas is an important nesting area for the Leatherback Turtle. It is near on northwest Guanacaste's Playa Grande (also good surfing, nice beach). On the Caribbean side, Cahuita Marine National Park has fine diving and snorkeling at a coral reef. So do another beach farther south, at Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. Turtle watchers will want to visit Ostional Wildlife Refuge (nesting grounds of the Pacific Ridley turtle) near Nosara.
On the Caribbean side, Tortuguero Park (Atlantic Green Sea Turtles, July-September) also boasts rain forests, lagoons and canals, and lots of wildlife and at nearby Barra Colorado Wildlife Refuge. info@costaricauncovered.com for more information.
