Top 5 National Parks You Can Visit During Your Costa Rica Wildlifе Tour
Costa Rica is world-renowned for its incredible natural beauty and wildlife diversity. With ovеr 25% of its land protеctеd by thе government as national parks or biological rеsеrvеs, Costa Rica wildlifе tours allow visitors to explore and еxpеriеncе divеrsе ecosystems, including rainforеsts, cloud forеsts, bеachеs, and volcanoеs. For thosе intеrеstеd in prеsеrving thе wildlifе in this country of uniquе biological divеrsity, visiting its protected natural arеas can bе a positivе stеp.
National Parks Of Costa Rica: What Can You Expect?
Some of the most popular national parks in Costa Rica include Manuеl Antonio National Park, Tortuguеro National Park, and Corcovado National Park. Thеsе parks arе homе to various flora and fauna, including sloths, monkеys, toucans, and macaws. During thеir Costa Rica advеnturе tours, visitors can еnjoy hiking, wildlifе watching, birdwatching, and swimming in thе bеautiful natural pools and watеrfalls within thеsе parks.
Are you looking to take a trip to Costa Rica’s bеst national parks?
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1. Manuеl Antonio National Park
Forbes has ranked the Manuel Antonio National Park as one of the world’s most beautiful parks. Though the smallest park in the country, it is also one of the most popular. It is located southeast of Quepos on the Pacific Coast and was discovered by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in the year 1519 as he was searching for the fountain of youth.
The park boasts a biodiversity of 109 species of animals and 184 species of birds . These include everything from the mantled howler monkey to tree frogs to three-toed sloths. Hikers can experience several natural habitats, such as primary and secondary rainforests, mangrove swamps, and lagoons, with the trails offering some spectacular views. During your Costa Rica adventure tours, you can also enjoy swimming and scuba diving with its white sand beaches and beautiful coral reefs.
Personal insight: Manuel Antonio is great place to visit if you are looThking for a comfort and easy wildlife hike. However, the park is visited by over 800 people per day and the trails are often crowed. So, if you are looking for an authentic experience, Manuel Antonio is not good fit.
The area around the park showcase a lot of beautiful hotels, lookout points and restaurants. This destination is great if you are looking for a nice break from the other more challenging parks.
For the ones, that love authentic experiences, I would recommend los campesinos tour and rain maker park.
2. Arenal Volcano National Park
Located in La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park hosts two tall volcanoes at 5,357 feet. It has an area of about 30,000 acres, with the volcanoes as its centrepiece. The park is home to a diverse set of fauna and flora. You can observe rare species of parrots, white-faced monkeys, and lizards during your Costa Rica wildlife tours.
The Arenal Lake at the foot of the volcano is a beautiful sight to behold. It also contributes to the country’s hydroelectric energy production.
Personal insight: Remember that you are not allow to walk up to the volcano. So the main interest of visiting the area is the tourism infrastructure and hotsprings.
You can find, amazing lodges with hotsprings pools surrounded by amazing gardens or spas.
Regarding the activities around the arenal volcano area, I personally recommend doing the arenal observatory lodge hike.
You can also go to tabacon river which has free access or tabacon hotel and spa which is around $120 per person for one evening with dinner and access to hotsprings.
I personally love los Laureles ($8 per person)
Finally, Arenal area is very convenient because is the hub for other destinations such as: rio celeste (light blue river) caño negro or Bajos de toro Amarillo.
Bajos del toro amarillo is one of my favorite findings because it can offer authentic experiences and amazing landscapes.
3. Corcovado National Park
Corcovado National Park has been hailed as “one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth in terms of biodiversity” by National Geographic. Located in the southwest, within the Osa Peninsula, it is a point of interest for animal lovers. You can observe animals such as Tamandua anteater, flocks of red macaws groups of monkeys, tapirs, peccaries, even dolphins and whales.
The park displays up to 13 significant ecosystems, varying from lowland rainforests to the highland cloud forests. The garden is relatively secluded from other parts of the country, so you will only come across a few people here. Hence,Corcovado National Park tours can be the best choice for your Costa Rica adventure, offering an unparalleled experience in one of the most remarkable places to visit.
Personal insight: Very simple Corcovado and Osa peninsula area is the best of the best in Costa Rica: sustainable, natural, authentic, beautiful and best place to see wildlife in Costa Rica. I recommend staying in Drake Bay over, uvita or Puerto Jimenez because Drake Bay offers the most jungle inmmersive experience, the best access to Corcovado National Park and to Cano Island.
Expert tip: If you are looking for the ultimate authentic and wild experience; check on tamandua canyoning tour and sirena and san pedrillo overnight. Just make sure you have good physical level to carry on with this hikes.
4. Tortuguero National Park
The Tortuguero National Park was named after the marine turtle species that lay their eggs here. It is located along the Caribbean coast northwest of Limon. It is a paradise for beach lovers, having a long coastline of beaches. At night, the Leatherback Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle nest on the beaches, and enthusiasts can visit where the main nesting activity occurs.
The park also contains a vast network of lagoons and freshwater creeks, which hosts several species of river turtles and freshwater fish. Tortuguero National Park protects both the loss of habitat and employs guards to watch over their eggs so poachers do not affect the Costa Rican population.
Personal insight: Tortuguero is the second or third best place to see wildlife, only overcome by Corcovado national park and sierpe mangrove. The most important highlight is the opportunity to see the turtles nesting on the beach and the very particular way that the town is set between the jungles, rivers, and the ocean.
5. Rincon de la Vieja National Park
With an area spanning almost 35,000 acres, the Rincon de la Vieja National Park contains gorgeous volcanos and tropical forests. The main attraction is Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, the largest volcano in the northwest. The dormant Volcano – Santa Maria and Cerro Von Seebach sit beside it. Costa Rica wildlife tour enthusiasts can enjoy the vast trails throughout the park.
Swimming is an accessible activity here with hot sulfuric springs, thermal mud pools, waterfall swimming holes, and freshwater lakes.
Expert tip: Visit la leona waterfalls around rincon de la vieja and if you can do a boat safari in palo verde national park. Both, palo verde and rincon de la vieja are the best national parks on the north dry lands of the pacific.
Animals You Can Spot During Your Costa Rica Wildlife Tour
Costa Rica is home to some of the world’s most unique and wondrous wildlife. Some animals are easy to spot, while others require more effort. Carrying a pair of binoculars or scopes is always a good choice. Some of the most popular animals you can observe during your Costa Rica adventure tour include:
- Sloths
- Hummingbirds
- Turtles
- Red-eyed tree frogs
- Quetzals
- Monkeys
- Ocelots
Closing Thoughts
Ecotourists and traditional travellers to Costa Rica support the national parks system by paying park fees, taking nature tours, and staying at the private reserves, as well as through their work and contributions to the many conservation foundations operating in Costa Rica.
Wildlife enthusiasts worldwide visit Costa Rica annually and indirectly chip in to support the local economy, further reducing the cost of maintaining the national parks. Preserving the natural beauty and biodiversity of Costa Rica’s National Parks is essential and should be enjoyed by future generations.
