Costa Rica National Parks and Volcanoes Costa Rica Travel Guide

Volcano Arenal National Park is located 150km from San Jose, in the Tilaran mountain range and the northern plains region, 15km from the Fortuna community and 40km from Ciudad Quesada. This active volcano is one of the most representative tourist spots in Costa Rica. It became active in 1968 after being latent for 500 years. Up to today it is maintains the volcanic activity, characterized by constant lava strains producing an amazing scenario especially at night. This protected area is a live laboratory, for its geological abundance, geomorphology and for its complex biological processes developments since it includes from pioneer vegetation to a primary forest.

Located in the southern side of Rio Frio basin in the northern plains, 222km from San Jose, the Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge contains a concentration of endangered animal species, it is a wetland with a migratory avifaunal, several mammals and endemic fresh water fishes. Its principal attraction is the lagoon and swamp covering over 880 hectares, where you’ll be able to observe reptiles as the caiman, migratory birds fishes and swamps.

Divided between Sarapiqui, Heredia, Vasquez de Coronado and Oeramuno it is the most extense national park in the central region of Costa Rica. Braulio Carrillo is highly important for the conservation of groundwater it counts with an always green forest filled with a high density of flora. Most of the protected area covers a primary forest, where it is estimated exist over 6000 plants representing half of the total species in Costa Rica, additionally it is recognized for having approximately 515 species of bird, both residents and migratory.

Locates in Turrialba, part of the Cartago province, 74km from San Jose, the Turrialba Volcano is on the western end of the Central Mountain Range and is the second highest volcano in Costa Rica. It is the only national park where you can walk inside a volcanic range. From several high points on a clear day you’ll be able to appreciate a panoramic view of the Caribbean plains, the Braulio Carrilo massifs, the Poas Volcano, Turrialba valley and the Chirripo Peak.

Located northeast from the city of Alajuela with an extension of 6506 hectares, the Poas Volcano National Park is the most visited protected area in Costa Rica. With an extensive natural wealth, its primary crater is a spectacle complemented by an incredible biodiversity.

On the northeastern side of the Cartago province the Irazu Volcano massif takes part of the Central Volcanic Range. With an altitude of 3432 meters over sea level it is the highest volcano in Costa Rica. On the way to the crater you’ll be able to observe low vegetation with a diversity of flora and fauna species. For its geological characteristics it is an area of interest for students and scientists from all over the world since it has kept eruptive manifestations in recent years.

Located in the district of Orosi in the province of Cartago the Tapanti National Park maintains important ecosystems, containing several rivers and a beautiful variety of scenarios. It is the rainiest area in Costa Rica with around 45 mammals species and 260 birds species.

On the mountainside of the Turrialba Volcano, 70km from San Jose, the Guayabo National Monument was established to conserve one of Costa Rica’s most important archeological resources. In an area between 15 and 20 hectares, on which there have only been 4 excavations, archeologists have found several Pre-Columbian engravings representing still unknown expressions. In 2009 the American Civil Engineers Society recognized the Guayabo National Monument as a World Heritage Site due to its complex aqueduct and engineering.

In the Guancaste province the Barra Honda National Park represents thousands years of geologic history forming an ample independent cavern system with stalactites and stalagmites. Currently only the Terciopelo Cavern is open to the public out of the entire limestone caverns network, of which only 50% has been explored by scientists.

On the northern pacific in the Guanacaste Province the Baular Marine National Park is made up by mangroves protected by the RAMSAR wetlands convention, for its high relevancy as habitat for marine birds and being an area where different marine and forest species come to breed. The most important tourist attraction is the Baula Turtles nestling in the protected beaches, specie at risk of extinction.

Locates in Santa Cruz, Guancaste, 220km from San Jose near the Arado and San Juan communities the Diria Natual Park thanks to its important ecosystems was granted the status of National Park after it was first created only as a protected zone. It was established for conservation and tourist enjoyment as it offers the sustainable advantage of storing water. The area is recognized for its scenic beauty and panoramic view which can be appreciated from the park’s higher zones. You’ll be able to observe a large number of mammals and birds while hiking along the well designed forest trails.

105km from San Jose, located in the southern part of the Nicoya peninsula a few miles from Montezuma Beach the Cabo Blanco National Reserve belongs to the Tempisque Conservation Area, declared as a protected reserve in 1963 it experiences a natural forest rebirth proving to be a monument to a better future for humanity and nature in search of balance.  The Cabo Blanco reserve is made up of a primary forest and the regenerated forest with 140 species of trees, it hosts a wide variety of fauna and several marine birds.

360km from San Jose along the Santa Cruz and Nicoya coast in the Guanacaste Region, the beach of Ostional measures about 7.5 miles long. Being a place where sea turtles come to lay their eggs it was established as a wildlife refuge. Several species of sea turtles come to the Ostional beach including the Olive Ridley Turtle, nesting all year long, plus the Leatherback Turtle and Green Turtle which come to nest their eggs between September and February.

Covering the mouth of the Bolson River until the Toro Island it is located 200km from San Jose on the right side of the Tempisque River. The Cipanci Wildlife Refuge was declared a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance by the convention of Wetlands. Mangroves, marshes, rivers, forests and diverse lands and aquatic flora and fauna, as well as beautiful scenery, all make up its main attractions.

Made up of the sectors: Martiza, Pitilla and Cacao, where biological stations are located for scientists and enthusiasts; the Guanacaste National Park is located 35km from the city of Liberia in Guanacaste. This park is considered an altitudinal biological corridor that allows the seasonal migration of a large number of species including insects, birds and mammals; they come down to Santa Rosa during the dry season and ascend to the high areas including the Orosi Volcano and the Cacao Volcano. The Guanacaste National Park is part of the Guanacaste Conservation declared a World Heritage by the UNESCO in 1999.

Between Liberia in Guanacaste and Upala in Alajuela its location is in the massive with the same name, Rincon de la Vieja. Approximately 600,000 years old the Rincon de la Vieja massif is a compound structure, where nine volcanic centers have been identified. On the southern side of the volcano, visitors may find the hot springs zone, fumaroles lagoons, mud pots and steam emanations. It is said that the Rincon de la Vieja volcanic activity was the main natural attraction for ancient seamen in the area.

35km from Liberia Guanacaste the Santa Rosa national park has one the largest protected dry forests in Central America. This forest is characterized by its marked difference during the wet and dry seasons when it loses most of its foliage. You may find the stone yard in the park, along with the Santa Rosa Historical Mansion Museum, which was created as a national monument. This is the place where the most important battle took place against the incoming North American filibusters from Nicaragua.

Located in the la Cruz, Guanacaste, 45km from Liberia the Bahia Junquillal refuge brings together ecological aspects of the dry forest and the local culture, featuring a scenic beach that stretches over a mile.

80km north of Limon city Tortuguero is an extremely important area because of its very moist tropical forests. Within these forests, rivers, canals and lagoons abound used by the locals and tourists to navigate the park area. Nature lovers may admire the area’s lush flora and fauna. The park is comprised of land and marine areas. Its creation stems from the desire to protect the Green sea turtle because this nestling area is important in the western Caribbean. One of the main attractions is the sea turtle nestling that includes the giant leatherback sea turtle, the green sea turtle, the brown loggerhead turtle and the hawksbill sea turtle all in danger of extinction.

Located in the northern Caribbean, along the Nicaraguan border approximately 150km from San Jose Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge has a system of water canals combined with a beach eco-system and marine wildlife. The flora in the region is one of the most diverse in Costa Rica; in the Coronel and Cocori hills there are 58 native plant species. Within this area you may find the manatee or sea cow, caimans, crocodiles and gar fish among others. It is also home to the tapir, jaguar, puma, howler monkey, white faces monkey, ocelot, the otter cat and the three toed sloth.

On the Osa Peninsula in the southern pacific region of Costa Rica 408km from San Jose, the Corcovado National Park is home to the last of the Tropical Wet Forest in the Meso-American Pacific. Its location, climate characteristics, changing soil and topography conditions make it a site for amazingly diverse biological species. Its flora includes thousand of species, many of which are scarce and have disappeared in the regions. The fauna also stands out for its diversity of species, even more so when considering that many are in danger of extinction.

Located on the Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica in the Puntarenas province in the Ballena Bay, the Ballena Marine National Park was created to ensure the survival of critical habitats for marine species’ reproduction and nesting, as was as to preserve the productivity of biological communities that inhabit the coastal areas. The park is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Because of its scientific value it is a great place for environmental education and tourism development. You’ll be able to see common and bottled-nose dolphins, during certain times of the year even humpback whales are visible.

In the Costa Rican Central Pacific a few hours from San Jose Manuel Antonio National Park is a small biological island surrounded by various production activities such as agriculture, farming and vast tourism development. It is one of the most scenic and beautiful national parks in Costa Rica.

56 miles from San Jose, near the Orotina highway, along the Tarcoles River you’ll find the Carara National Park which is locates in the transitional zone between the dry and moist forests of the Pacific Region. It could be said that no other wildlife area in the country protects the abundance of plant and animal species that live in this bioclimatic region. This wildlife area is considered and excellent living laboratory, where the structure and workings of the tropical eco-systems and the relationship between them can be studied.

In the Chiris and Mercedes Sur districts of Puriscal its name comes from the shape of Mount la Cangreja which towers over the park at 4281 feet. Native legend speaks of a large crab that settled on the hill and blocked the passage of locals travelling to other towns, until one day a warrior fought back and was able to cut off its leg in a rage. Facing defeat the crab decided to change into a rock, so according to the legend part of the mountain became a rocky formation. The Cangreja National Park shelters 15% of the vascular plants known in Costa Rica of which 44 are endemic.

On the Pacific Side of the Talamanca mountain range in the San Jose province just 47miles from San Jose city Los Quetzales is named after the Mesoamerican bird that according to the World Union for Nature, is currently endangered. Los Quetzales National Park was inaugurated in 2008, making it the newest park in the country and is home to a variety of endangered species including the quetzal, puma, jaguar and tapir. Additionally the park is home to three types of forests and 14 ecosystems. The park has a beautifully preserved oak tree forests as well as springs, species native to the grasslands above 3300m.

On the Caribbean coast 37 miles from the city of Limon the Cahuita National Park protects one of the most developed coral reefs on the Caribbean coast and one of the most important in Costa Rica. It also protects a unique swamp forest with large areas of pinecone palm trees and sangrillo. The scenic white sand beach is perfect for camping, snorkeling along the coral reef and surf.

On the Caribbean side of the Talamanca mountain range, about 117km from San Jose city the Barbilla National Park produces a high volume of water. The neighboring Chirripo Native Reserve is home to the second largest ethnic group in Costa Rica: the Cabecar. It forms an integral part of the land declared by UNESCO as La Amistad Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage since 1983.

On the Caribbean coast in Talamaca the Gandoca-Manzanillo is a mixed between state and private National Wildlife Refuge, where the combination of landscapes, beaches and ocean scenery together with the local culture makes it a very attractive place for visitors from all over the world.

Situated in the Talamanca mountain range, northeast of San Isidro del General, Mount Chirripo is the highest mountain in the country at 3820 meters above sea level. One of the most interesting geomorphic discoveries found in Chirripo is the rock formation left behind by glaciers, which are a testament to the glacier formation extending 126 miles and dating back 25,000 years.

About 280km from San Jose up to the Panamanian border La Amistas park is considered one of the most biologically diverse protected wildlife areas in Costa Rica due to its range altitudes, severe climate changes and soil types which make for diverse ecosystems and large number of local species.

In the Pacific Ocean, 332 miles southeast of Cabo Blanco the Coco Island is considered a natural laboratory to study the evolution of species as well as a spectacular place for diving. Discovered in 1526 by Joan Cabezas, it was a refuge for pirates and seamen in the 17^th and 18^th centuries that according to legends hid valuable treasures. This riches have led to more than 500 expeditions, including one by the Costa Rican government in which led to Costa Rica taking over the island on September 15, 1869. In 1997 Coco Island was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for the critical habitats the site provides for marine wildlife including large pelagic species, especially sharks.

Located in Bagaces, Guanacaste 209km from San Jose the Palo Verde National Park houses a diverse group of wetland habitats bordered by rivers and a row of limestone hills. Within these lie salt and fresh water lagoons, in addition to swamps, grasslands, mangroves, pastures, open area forests, mixed forests, water born trees, and tree lined grasslands, freshwater swamp forests and evergreens. It also has a large concentration of aquatic and wading birds, local as well as migratory. This zone is said to be one of the best bird watching areas in all of Central America.

Located in the Guanacaste mountain range the Tenorio Volcano national park’s climate is influenced by the Caribbean and Pacific basin, which is reflected in the quantity and distribution pattern of the local habitats. Apart from the flora and fauna major attractions are the waterfalls, panoramic views, thermal steam, forest steams and “the dyers” where the water appears naturally “dyed” turquoise blue.