Costa Rica’s National Parks System protects parts of nearly all the ecosystems that exist in the country, covering about 25% of the national territory. Those parks and protected areas are not only great places for hiking and observing wildlife, but some of them also include great spots for diving, spelunking, surfing, and other outdoor activities.

No matter what your vacation priorities are, you will want to visit at least a couple national parks or other protected areas. In addition to the national parks, there are a variety of other areas that enjoy some degree of protection, such as wildlife refuges and biological reserves, and a growing number of private reserves.

The following are some of the country’s most popular parks and protected areas in alphabetical order:

Parks and Protected Areas

1. Santa Rosa National Park 2. Rincón de la Vieja National Park 3. Ostional National Wildlife Refuge 4. Las Baulas National Park 5. Cabo Blanco Strict Nature Reserve 6. Barra Honda National Park 7. Palo Verde National Park 8. Guayabo, Negritos & Pájaros Island 9. Peñas Blancas Wildlife Refuge 10. Carara National Park 11. Manuel Antonio National Park 12. Caño Island Biological Reserve 13. Corcovado National Park 14. Golfito Wildlife Refuge 15. La Amistad National Park

16. Chirripó National Park 17. Hitoy-Cerere Biological Reserve 18. Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge 19. Cahuita National Park 20. Tortuguero National Park 21. Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge 22. Braulio Carrillo National Park 23. Poás Volcano National Park 24. Irazú Volcano National Park 25. Guayabo National Monument 26. Tapantí National Park 27. Coco Island National Park 28. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve 29. Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge 30. Piedras Blancas National Park