How to Easily Avoid the Alcohol Scandal in Costa Rica
A - G
National Parks that start with A - G
Arenal
Volcano Arenal is Costa Rica's most active volcano with lava and gas errupting on a continuous basis. Hotsprings and the Lake (Lago de Arenal) surrounded by tropical rain forests makes this one of Costa Rica's top travel destinations. With several hiking trails around the volcano, hot springs (Baldi and Tabaccon), as well as an amazing waterfall and canopy tours close by make this a perfect place to stay a while. Volcano Arenal is reachable by paved roads from both La fortuna and Canas off of the Panamerican highway from the north.
Ballena Marine
The word “Ballena” means whale." This park received this name because of the shape of the rocky formation on the beach that resembles the tail of a whale. From this peaceful setting you can enjoy watching whales and dolphins. Here, marine species are protected from overfishing and exploitive commercial practices for the preservation of marine life, the protection of the coral reef, and well-being of local fishers. This park is part of the Osa Conservation Area.
Barra Honda
Barra Honda is Costa Rica's only National Park protecting an underground wonder, limestone caves. It consists of an array of limestone caves that were once part of the coral reef about 60 million years ago. Barra Honda National Park is located in the western part of Costa Rica, and is within the Tempisque Conservation Area about 12 km (7.46 mi) from the Tempisque River.
Braulio Carrillo
Braulio Carrillo National Park is located on the eastern edge of the Central Volcanic Cordillera Conservation Area between San Jose and Puerto Limon, with a driving time of just one hour from San Jose. With the majority of its terrain being covered in primary forest makes this a nature lovers dream destination.
Cahuita
Cahuita National Park is located in the Tropical Atlantic Coastal Region of Costa Rica. The park protects the flora and wild life of app. 1,067 hectares of forest land and swamp forest, and coral reefs and several sea ecosystems of app. 22,400 hectares in the ocean. The park has incredible white Caribbean sand beaches that make this a very popular destination among locals and tourists.
Carara Natl. Park
Carara National Park is a famous park for its population of Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao), and also because it’s the place where the transition between dry and wet forest occurs. This park has a unique combination of typical dry forest plants mixed with wet forest species. The park is located in the Tárcoles river basin, near Jacó and Orotina. Originally it was a Biological Reserve, but in 1998 it was declared a National Park. Whenever you travel by the road next to the park, take a look at the sky and you will probably become one of the few fortunate people that see macaws flying free in the wild.
Chirripó/Tapanti/Orosi
Chirripo National Park is located in the heart of the Talamanca Range at the south of the country and borders two reserves and Tapanti National Park forming a largest protected area of Costa Rica. Chirripo NP protects the highest peak at 3821 m (12,536ft) in the country and the second highest of Central America, and it is connected to the Tapantí National Park, constituting a continuum of forest. Those who reach the summit on a sunny day will have the privilege of seeing both coasts of Costa Rica, and the Turrialba and Irazú volcanoes. The Chirripó National Park was declared a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
Corcovado
Corcovado is known for offering extreme Amazon-like biodiversity, exuberant wildlife, and a striking nature experience. This is probably the place in Costa Rica where you are most likely to see wild animals. About 50% of the species reported for Costa Rica can be found in Corcovado. This park also boasts jaguars and tapirs. This National Park has mountains, forests, rivers, mangroves and beaches.
Diria
This National Park is located South of Santa Cruz in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica. It is one of the newest National Parks of Costa Rica as it just got declared a National Park in 2004.
Guanacaste
The Guanacaste National Park, together with the Santa Rosa National Park, constitute the largest area of tropical dry forest in Central America. The continuous protected area that goes from the sea and the lowland forest in Santa Rosa to the highlands of the Guanacaste National Park allows the altitudinal migration of several species, ensuring their conservation and the maintenance of their populations. Promoted by the respectable biologist Daniel Janzen, who both does research in the park and fought for its constitution and expansion, the Guanacaste National Park is a remarkable example of conservation in the tropics and home to the Orosi, Cacao and Pitilla Volcanoes.
Barbilla
Barbilla National Park is a National Park in the Caribbean La Amistad Conservation Area of Costa Rica located on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca. It also protects the Laguna Ayil and Cerro Tigre and the Dantas River watershed, stretching over both parts of the Cartago and Limón Provinces.
