Protected areas
Non-volcanic national parks with practical guidance on access, trails, reservations, safety and conservation.
Protected areas
Compare region, access and difficulty before choosing. Each guide covers access, experience and key precautions. Confirm reservations, sectors and closures with SINAC before departure.
Quepos, Puntarenas
Manuel Antonio combines tropical coastal forest, trails and beaches inside one of Costa Rica’s most visited protected areas. Capacity is limited and admission should be purchased only through official SINAC channels.
Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas
Corcovado protects a large expanse of rainforest, coast and rivers on the Osa Peninsula. Its sectors have different access, distances and rules; a responsible visit requires booking, planning and an authorized guide on several routes.
Tortuguero, Pococí, Limón
Tortuguero protects canals, lagoons, very humid forest and a beach essential to sea turtles. There is no direct road access: navigation, weather and nesting-observation rules are central to planning.
Cahuita, Talamanca, Limón
Cahuita protects beaches, coastal forest, mangrove and one of the Costa Rican Caribbean’s most important coral reefs. Its entrances operate differently and marine activities depend on weather and authorized operators.
Uvita, Osa, Puntarenas
Marino Ballena protects beaches, mangroves, reefs, islets and marine habitat off Uvita. The Whale Tail tombolo can only be walked during a safe tidal window.
Turrubares and Garabito, San José and Puntarenas
Carara protects the transition between tropical dry and humid forest near the Grande de Tárcoles River. It is known for birdlife, particularly scarlet macaws, and has a universal-access trail.
Talamanca Range
Chirripó protects páramo, montane forest, lakes and glacial landforms around Costa Rica’s highest elevations. The main route is a demanding expedition requiring reservations and coordinated services.
La Cruz and Liberia, Guanacaste
Santa Rosa combines tropical dry-forest conservation with the history of the 1856 National Campaign. The historic sector has road access, while Playa Naranjo and other sectors require different logistics and conditions.
Bagaces, Guanacaste
Palo Verde protects Ramsar wetlands, lagoons, mangroves and dry forest in the lower Tempisque basin. It is among Costa Rica’s best parks for concentrations of resident and migratory waterbirds.
Central Volcanic Range and Caribbean slope
Braulio Carrillo protects a vast band of montane rainforest between the Central Valley and Caribbean lowlands. Its visitor sectors are separate and should never be confused with informal roadside stops on Route 32.
There are no published national parks for this province yet.
