Costa Rica, which means Rich Coast, is well-known for its stunning treasure of natural life, plenty of biodiversity which ultimately make it one of the favorite destinations of nature lovers.
And luckily, with the country’s Lilliputian size, this natural treasure can be easily accessed by all visitors during their vacations.
However, with nearly 30% of the country designated as environmentally saved land, the only fear is in trying to figure out which of the 35 national parks you must squeeze in to your Costa Rica vacations.
Choosing among the various Costa Rica’s national parks may not be an easy task; however, here is the best 5 national parks list by our team of experts.
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
- Corcovado National Park
- Tortuguero National Park
- Cahuita National Park
- Manuel Antonio National Park
The dense and thick blanket of Monteverde Cloud Forest is spread over 10,000 hectares of land and is one of the most famous protected regions of Costa Rica. Its mysterious atmosphere, ethereal, astonishing mountaintop views and a huge collection of exotic, however sometimes elusive, wildlife are few of the best characteristics of this park.
Tropical research Center, which is a private and non-profit organization, is the owner of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The region has over 10 km of trails with marked routes of different lengths. The access to trails is very easy as trails are very well-maintained, however the paths do get muddy throughout the year so o bring sturdy boots.
It is home to hundreds of bird species which makes it a renowned bird-watching destination worldwide. It is mainly popular for its most dazzling inhabitant, the gorgeous quetzal, though sightings of this shy bird are quite uncommon. Mammals like sloth, guinea-pig and howler monkeys are also found here.
The nearby town Santa Elena is a town with pleasing settlement and has sufficient restaurants and hotels to cater for the region’s popularity, however as with most of the Costa Rica hotels, you must consider booking in advance so as to secure availability.
If you are looking for seclusion during your Costa Rica vacation, Corcovado National destination, located on the remote Osa Peninsula, is an ideal destination spot.
This is one of the most isolated parks of Costa Rica. You can arrive here by taking a flight followed by a boat travel. However, your hard work will be definitely bear fruits. Corcovado National Park is home to over 40,000 hectares of protected land consisting of 13 different ecosystems.
Undoubtedly, this national park is a real natural gem as it is the only major lowland tropical forests in the world. It is home to a shocking number of species comprising of pumas, jaguars, crocodiles, sloth, tapirs, giant anteaters and various species of monkey.
Overall, Corcovado National Park is a sanctuary fro around 500 tree species, 400 kinds of birds, 140 different species of mammal and over 100 kinds of reptiles and amphibians. Alongside, the entire regions under visited serenity, increases the probability of actually seeing few of these beings is much higher than anywhere else.
Getting to the park can be a little tricky; hence hiring a tourist guide can be of great help.
Well, Tortuguero is almost equally isolated as Corcovado; however it is situated several hundred kilometers away on the far northern side of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.
Tortuguero National Park is spread on 32,000 hectares of land and possesses some strange geography. The semi-marine ambience is made up of interconnected rivers, lagoons and manmade canals. Adding to it, there are also dense mangrove swamps, marshes and sandy beaches, thus makes it a perfect home for a large concentration of exotic wildlife.
Well, the regions most popular inhabitants are the female green sea turtles. They mainly return on the land to lay their eggs before returning back to the ocean. This entire event is a main attraction and you can definitely have a glimpse of it visiting the beaches and witness the gathering of the turtle’s epic annual voyage.
Apart from turtle watching, Tortuguero presents waterways for that perfect boat trips and spot few of the regions wildlife, like spider monkeys, sloth, capuchins, manatees and vast number of bird species.
Most of the visitors prefer to stay within the national park in some jungle-style lodges. However, you can also choose to stay in some hotel in the nearby Tortuguero village, from where you can take trip into the park.
Marching towards the south Costa Rica, you will finally land in an accessible part of the country, a region which is under a lot of Caribbean influence, mainly in the bustling town of Puerto Viejo.
Cahuita, a nearby village is home to this small however attractive reserve, Cahuita National Park. This long and narrow park runs along the coast located south of Cahuita and is featured by its dense, tropical vegetation, with pristine blue water of the Caribbean coast and beautiful coconut palms scattered all over the white sands.
The reserve is home to sloth, herons and howler monkeys. Well, bold capuchins are favorites of visitors. The visitors love to capture them in their cameras. Feeding the animals in this park is strictly prohibited as this can disturb the delicate balance of the weak ecosystem.
Reaching here should not be a problem at all as it is the most accessible parks in whole of Costa Rica and can prove to be pleasant day hike from the Cahuita. The beautiful beaches and warm waters perfect for enjoying swimming however are careful about dangerous riptides. Snorkeling is another popular activity here but access is only given with an official guide.
Manuel Antonio National Park is another more accessible and protected regions of Costa Rica and is located some hours from San Jose.
It presents a magnificent arrangement of tropical forests, ocean views and secluded beaches. It is definitely one of the most gorgeous parks in Costa Rica, which makes it one of the busiest parks of the country.
However, the huge volume of wildlife and scenic ambience for hiking, swimming and snorkeling are some reasons that makes it a favorite destination worldwide.
A visit to this beautiful park will present you sightings of the monkey population. If lucky, you can also catch a glimpse of armadillos, sloths, snakes and iguanas.
The park operates from the town of Quepos and several hotels/lodges to help you in accommodation. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most beautiful and most-visited parks of Costa Rica. January to March is the best season to visit the park.
