National Parks

Costa Rica contains 30 national parks, as well as several reserves and other protected areas that comprise more than a quarter of the country. Poas National Park has smoking calderas filled with water, Tortuguero National Park has Amazonian-like canals, Rincon de la Vieja National Park has a blue river and waterfall, Corcovado National Park has abundant wildlife, Guanacaste National Park has dry forests, and Manuel Antonio National Park has golden beaches.

Costa Rica has one of the highest biodiversities in the world due to national parks, and although being a tiny country in terms of overall area, the density of diverse animal species is out of this world. In order to preserve the country's beautiful beauty and rich animal population, over 28% of the land in Costa Rica is designated as a park or reserve.

With its deep, lush rainforest and numerous fauna, Corcovado National Park has been considered one of the most ecologically intensive areas on the planet. Tortuguero National Park, on the Caribbean's north coast, is a turtle refuge that draws visitors from all over the world. Check out our list of the most popular parks and reserves to see which ones you should visit on your holiday.