Costa Rica has some of the most famous National Parks in the world that offer astounding bio diversity. The government is doing a commendable job at aligning its economic policies and activities with the conservation efforts.
Currently the country boasts of 25 national Parks which are under the patronage of and managed by the Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion (SINAC); a Ministry of Environment and Energy department.
Costa Rica has always championed environmental protection and sustainable eco tourism. Consequently, the National Park System in Costa Rica has been studied extensively by several scientific organizations and universities.
Corcovado National Park
The first National park the Poas Volcano National Park was established in 1955. It covers an area of almost 16000 acres. The summit is 8,900 feet and the main crater is 950 feet deep. The volcano is active with frequent small lava eruptions and geysers. Apart from the main crater two other craters, the Botos and the Von Frantzuis crater are also a part of the national park. The last major eruption from the main crater was during 1952-54 while the Botos crater has remained inactive for the last 7500 years. Studies have indicated magma build up over the last decade which may lead to a new eruption. The park is home to varied flora and fauna like the Bang’s mountain squirrel, the quetzal with its emerald green plumage, clay colored robins, fly catchers, tanagers, a variety of hummingbirds and toucans.
Even though the Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest national park in the country it is by far the most famous and receives thousands of tourists each year. It is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the Central American Conservation area. It was established in 1972 and encompasses an area of 4,104 acres. The area offers some of the most stunning beaches and the most spectacular hiking trails in the country. The park has four beaches within its territory: Manuel Antonio, Playita, Escondido and Espadilla Sur. The small size of the park hasn’t stopped it from playing host to some of the most diverse species of flora and fauna found anywhere in the world. It is home to dolphins, crocodiles, the squirrel monkey, the white faced monkey, the black spiny tailed iguana, common basilisk, snakes, bats, parakeets, hawks, dolphins, whales and many more. The area offers superb scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking and mountain biking facilities.
La Amistad International Park is the largest national park in the country with an area of 401, 000 ha. The management of the park is Costa Rica and Panama and the park represents the largest nature conserve in Central America. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However the park remains relatively unexplored because of the perilous terrain.
Other popular national parks include the Corcovado National Park, Cocos Island National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Palo Verde National Park and the Santa Rosa National Park. With so many nature reserves it can be safely suggested that no visit to Costa Rica can be complete without a visit to one of its famous national parks.
