Costa Rica National Parks

Costa Rica has 30 national parks. SINAC runs them. The visit is usually a morning.

The busiest parks sell tickets online only, through SICORE (serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr). Book before you drive. At some parks only certain sectors are sold that way. Corcovado is arranged through ACOSA, and you go in with a guide.

Go at opening. Most parks open at 7:00 or 8:00 and close between 15:00 and 16:00. Manuel Antonio and Santa Rosa close on Tuesdays. Las Pailas, at Rincón de la Vieja, closes on Mondays.

Fees differ for foreigners and for residents. SINAC's posted fees usually include 13% IVA. 24 August is free for everyone. The third Wednesday of each month is free for nationals and residents.

If you are choosing a first park, read which parks are worth it. Then pick the region and sleep in a town near the gate. Most parks are a morning, not a day.

Before you go

Tickets: SICORE online-only for 12 parks (at some parks only certain sectors). Corcovado is through ACOSA, with a mandatory guide.

Typical fee: US$16.95 for foreign adults at Poás, Irazú, Arenal, Tortuguero, Corcovado and Rincón de la Vieja; US$18.08 at Manuel Antonio; US$20.34 at Chirripó. IVA included, as of Oct 2026.

Hours: Most parks open at 7:00 or 8:00 and close between 15:00 and 16:00. Manuel Antonio and Santa Rosa close on Tuesdays, and Rincón de la Vieja's Las Pailas sector closes on Mondays.

Free days: 24 August is free for everyone, and the third Wednesday of each month is free for nationals and residents.

Map of the national parks

Map of Costa Rica

Parks by region

Central Valley

Poás Volcano, Costa RicaCentral Valley

Poás Volcano

A steaming acid lake above Alajuela. Book a morning slot and look from the rail.

Irazú Volcano, Costa RicaCentral Valley

Irazú Volcano

The highest volcano, a drive above Cartago. Go early: the craters cloud over by noon.

Arenal Volcano, Costa RicaCentral Valley

Arenal Volcano

The cone is the view, not the climb. Lava-flow trails and lake views west of La Fortuna.

Braulio Carrillo, Costa RicaCentral Valley

Braulio Carrillo

Cloud and rainforest on the road to the Caribbean, and a cold crater lagoon above Heredia.

Tapantí, Costa RicaCentral Valley

Tapantí

River and rainforest at the end of the Orosi road, a day trip from Cartago.

Los Quetzales, Costa RicaCentral Valley

Los Quetzales

Cold oak forest at km 76, for quetzals. Pair it with a night in San Gerardo de Dota.

La Cangreja, Costa RicaCentral Valley

La Cangreja

A quiet river park south of Puriscal. Twelve kilometers there and back, with swimming holes.

Turrialba Volcano, Costa RicaCentral Valley

Turrialba Volcano

An active volcano east of Cartago. Book ahead and check the alert level before you drive.

Juan Castro Blanco, Costa RicaLimited accessCentral Valley

Juan Castro Blanco

The 'water park' above Ciudad Quesada: cloud forest and river sources. Call before you drive.

Pacific Coast

Manuel Antonio, Costa RicaPacific Coast

Manuel Antonio

The short Pacific park: monkeys, sloths, and a swim inside the gate. Closed Tuesdays.

Marino Ballena, Costa RicaPacific Coast

Marino Ballena

The whale-tail sandbar at Uvita. You walk it only at low tide, and pay at the ranger hut.

Corcovado, Costa RicaPacific Coast

Corcovado

The big lowland forest on the Osa. You go with a guide, by boat or a long beach walk.

Carara, Costa RicaPacific Coast

Carara

Macaws and a flat accessible trail, 20 minutes before Jacó. Book the ticket online.

Chirripó, Costa RicaPacific Coast

Chirripó

The highest peak in the country. A booked permit, a 3 a.m. start, and a night at the base lodge.

Cocos Island, Costa RicaPacific Coast

Cocos Island

Sharks, 36 hours offshore. A liveaboard trip, not a day out.

La Amistad, Costa RicaPacific Coast

La Amistad

The largest park in the country, shared with Panama. Remote trails from the Coto Brus side.

Piedras Blancas, Costa RicaPacific Coast

Piedras Blancas

Rainforest on the Golfo Dulce, near Golfito. Rivers decide the day in the wet months.

San Lucas Island, Costa RicaPacific Coast

San Lucas Island

The old prison island off Puntarenas. A boat, a guided walk through the cells, and back.

North Pacific

Tenorio Volcano, Costa RicaNorth Pacific

Tenorio Volcano

The blue river near Bijagua. A muddy 3 km trail to the waterfall and the place the color starts.

Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, Costa RicaNorth Pacific

Rincón de la Vieja Volcano

Mud pots, fumaroles, and waterfalls an hour from Liberia. Las Pailas closes Mondays.

Santa Rosa, Costa RicaNorth Pacific

Santa Rosa

Dry forest, a battle museum, and a far surf beach north of Liberia. Closed Tuesdays.

Barra Honda, Costa RicaNorth Pacific

Barra Honda

Caves under the dry hills near Nicoya. You go down on a rope with a guide, in the morning.

Diriá, Costa RicaNorth Pacific

Diriá

Hill forest inland from Tamarindo, above Santa Cruz. A 4x4 and a river crossing.

Las Baulas, Costa RicaNorth Pacific

Las Baulas

The leatherback beach north of Tamarindo, at night, with a guide, October to February.

Palo Verde, Costa RicaNorth Pacific

Palo Verde

Wetlands on the Tempisque, full of birds from September to March. Gravel from Bagaces.

Guanacaste, Costa RicaLimited accessNorth Pacific

Guanacaste

Two volcanoes and research stations north of Liberia. You arrange it with Santa Rosa first.

Miravalles, Costa RicaNot open to visitors yetNorth Pacific

Miravalles

The newest volcano park, north of Bagaces. Not set up for visitors yet; the hot springs nearby are private.

Caribbean

Tortuguero, Costa RicaCaribbean

Tortuguero

Canals, not a highway. You arrive by boat and stay the night for the turtle beach.

Cahuita, Costa RicaCaribbean

Cahuita

A reef you can walk to from town. Playa Blanca runs on donations.

Barbilla, Costa RicaCaribbean

Barbilla

Rainforest south of Siquirres, with a guided river hike. Few people, gravel road in.

Other protected areas

These are not national parks, but you will see them on the same trips.

Plan where to stay

The park is a morning. You sleep in a town in the same region.

Central ValleyPacific CoastNorth PacificCaribbean