Costa Rica’s National Parks System protects parts of nearly all the ecosystems that exist in the country, covering about 25% of the national territory. Those parks and protected areas are not only great places for hiking and observing wildlife, but some of them also include great spots for diving, spelunking, surfing, and other outdoor activities.

No matter what your vacation priorities are, you will want to visit at least a couple national parks or other protected areas. In addition to the national parks, there are a variety of other areas that enjoy some degree of protection, such as wildlife refuges and biological reserves, and a growing number of private reserves.

The following are some of the country’s most popular parks and protected areas in alphabetical order:

Parks and Protected Areas

1.	Santa Rosa National Park		16.	Chirripó National Park
2.	Rincón de la Vieja National Park		17.	Hitoy-Cerere Biological Reserve
3.	Ostional National Wildlife Refuge		18.	Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge
4.	Las Baulas National Park		19.	Cahuita National Park
5.	Cabo Blanco Strict Nature Reserve		20.	Tortuguero National Park
6.	Barra Honda National Park		21.	Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge
7.	Palo Verde National Park		22.	Braulio Carrillo National Park
8.	Guayabo, Negritos & Pájaros Island		23.	Poás Volcano National Park
9.	Peñas Blancas Wildlife Refuge		24.	Irazú Volcano National Park
10.	Carara National Park		25.	Guayabo National Monument
11.	Manuel Antonio National Park		26.	Tapantí National Park
12.	Caño Island Biological Reserve		27.	Coco Island National Park
13.	Corcovado National Park		28.	Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
14.	Golfito Wildlife Refuge		29.	Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
15.	La Amistad National Park		30.	Piedras Blancas National Park