CostaRicaPhotos.com

National Parks

258 photos

About a quarter of Costa Rica's territory is under some form of protection. These are photos from its national parks, from the trails to the wildlife along them.

Browse National Parks

Active Turrialba volcano seen from Chirripo, La Amistad National Park, Costa Rica

La Amistad National Park

54 photosBird watching, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Corcovado National Park

36 photosBarva volcano´s Flora, Barva volcano national park, Costa Rica

Barva volcano national park

29 photosCatarata Tapanti Cartago, Tapanti National Park, Costa Rica

Tapanti National Park

23 photosEl Tómbolo, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa Rica

Ballena National Marine Park

21 photosBurial site, Isla del Caño Biological Reserve, Costa Rica

Isla del Caño Biological Reserve

17 photosBridge, Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, Costa Rica

Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve

16 photosMirador Nacaome, Barra Honda National Park, Costa Rica

Barra Honda National Park

13 photosBraulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica

Braulio Carrillo National Park

12 photosPico Blanco in Escazu, Pico Blanco Reserve, Costa Rica

Pico Blanco Reserve

11 photosBosque Seco Guanacaste, Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Area de Conservacion Guanacaste

10 photosLodge pier, Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Tortuguero National Park

8 photosQuebrada Bonita, Carara National Park, Costa Rica

Carara National Park

8 photos

Selected photos: National Parks

Barva volcano´s Flora, Barva volcano national park, Costa RicaBarva volcano´s FloraTaking the mountain view at Barva volcano, Barva volcano national park, Costa RicaTaking the mountain view at Barva volcanoEntrance sign, Tapanti National Park, Costa RicaEntrance signMountain waterfall, Tapanti National Park, Costa RicaMountain waterfallCatarata Tapanti Cartago, Tapanti National Park, Costa RicaCatarata Tapanti CartagoHacienda Ganadera Tapantí, Tapanti National Park, Costa RicaHacienda Ganadera TapantíLa Catarata path, Tapanti National Park, Costa RicaLa Catarata pathEl Tómbolo, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaEl TómboloBird watching, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaBird watchingLodge pier, Tortuguero National Park, Costa RicaLodge pierBridge, Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, Costa RicaBridgeRio Orosi Tapanti, Tapanti National Park, Costa RicaRio Orosi TapantiForest hole, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaForest holeSun peaking through the leaves at Barva volcano, Barva volcano national park, Costa RicaSun peaking through the leaves at Barva volcanoCloud forest at the Barva volcano national park, Costa RicaCloud forest at the Barva volcano national parkLos Patos Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaLos Patos StationTree trunk, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaTree trunkBeachfront at Ballena marine park, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaBeachfront at Ballena marine parkWood bridge, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaWood bridgeEgret in the canals, Tortuguero National Park, Costa RicaEgret in the canalsForest canopy, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaForest canopyLos Patos path, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaLos Patos pathAerial view of National Park Marino Ballena, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaAerial view of National Park Marino BallenaBurial site, Isla del Caño Biological Reserve, Costa RicaBurial siteCloud Forest´s Flora, Barva volcano national park, Costa RicaCloud Forest´s FloraScarlet macaw, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaScarlet macawSteaming forest, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaSteaming forestTortuguero beach, Tortuguero National Park, Costa RicaTortuguero beachSnorkeling, Isla del Caño Biological Reserve, Costa RicaSnorkelingRoca Corcovado, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaRoca CorcovadoRio Sirena park house, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaRio Sirena park houseTortuguero canals, Tortuguero National Park, Costa RicaTortuguero canalsActive Turrialba volcano seen from Chirripo, La Amistad National Park, Costa RicaActive Turrialba volcano seen from Chirripo.Shore, Corcovado National Park, Costa RicaShoreHigueron Tree, Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, Costa RicaHigueron TreeMountain flowers, La Amistad National Park, Costa RicaMountain flowers

Who manages the national parks?

SINAC, the National System of Conservation Areas, sits under the Ministry of Environment and Energy and groups the country's protected land into 11 conservation areas. Parks are only one of several categories; reserves, refuges and forest zones follow different rules, which is why a name like Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve does not match the word "park".

Where did protection begin?

A SINAC management plan dates the first protected area to 21 October 1963, when Executive Decree No. 10 created the Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. The initiative is credited to Olof Wessberg and Karen Mogensen, who were responding to heavy deforestation on the peninsula.

What do three of the parks look like?

Tapantí is one of the wettest places in the country. SINAC reports average rainfall above 6,500 mm a year, more than 150 rivers, and the sources of the Reventazón and Pacuare rivers in its highlands.

A thin waterfall drops down a steep forested mountainside at Tapanti, Tapanti National Park, Costa
A thin waterfall drops down a steep forested mountainside at Tapanti.

The photo shows a single thin waterfall dropping through unbroken forest on a steep slope, the kind of view the rainfall figures lead you to expect.

At Ballena National Marine Park, SINAC describes the "whale tail" as a rock and sand formation built by tidal sedimentation. It can be walked only at low tide, and its shape reads best from high ground or from the air, as in this aerial view.

Punta Uvita, Puntarenas El Tómbolo resembles the tail of a whale when viewed from the air, Ballena
Punta Uvita, Puntarenas El Tómbolo resembles the tail of a whale when viewed from the air.

SINAC also notes that humpback whales arrive every year between July and October to breed in the park's waters.

Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula was created by decree on 24 October 1975.

Inside the Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
Inside the Corcovado National Park

This photo shows a small group on a forest trail with a spotting scope on a tripod, aimed up into the canopy.

Is access the same every year?

No. Trails, rivers and entrances close for weather, maintenance or safety, and entry rules differ by park. Check SINAC before planning a visit, and see La Amistad National Park for the largest of the groups in this archive.