Most tourists who come to Costa Rica visit at least one national park while in the country. And many travel here specifically to visit Costa Rica’s renowned national parks with their rich array of diversity, beauty, and flora and fauna. From cold alpine climates to hot and humid tropical rainforest, from rare dry tropical forest to coral reefs and marine parks, from remote and wild areas to the national parks that can be seen an hour away from downtown San Jose – all encompass the wonders of nature available to see and experience in Costa Rica’s national park system.
Close to 26 percent of Costa Rica’s territory is protected under the National Conservation Areas System (SINAC). Established in 1998, it protects the 11 conservation areas in Costa Rica, which include 31 national parks, 34 wildlife refuges, 15 biological and forest reserves, 11 wetlands, and 33 protected zones. Further, the nation protects 15.7 percent of its marine territory. In addition, there are dozens of private reserves that extend Costa Rica’s protected areas. From very small parks to popular spots like the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, private reserves play an essential role in the country’s nature conservation efforts.
Horizontes Nature Tours includes a visit to at least one national park in Costa Rica in all of its tailor-made Costa Rica eco-tours. They know every corner of the country and all of the most amazing places.
Costa Rica naturalist guide Gustavo Abarca, who has been guiding trips with Horizontes Nature Tours for 30 years, gives us his recommendations for four of his favorite Costa Rica national parks and one private reserve.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a private, nonprofit reserve managed by the Tropical Science Center. Monteverde was primarily settled by a group of Quakers from the U.S. in the 1950s, and it was some of these original settlers who helped create the reserve. At 4,662 feet (1,440 m) above sea level, Monteverde is similar to the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. – always green due to frequent precipitation and moisture-filled clouds which produce mist and fog in the forest on an almost daily basis.
The story of Costa Rica’s national parks is interwoven with the country’s successful recuperation of its forests. Decades of aggressive deforestation for agriculture, livestock production, and logging left Costa Rica with only 26 percent of its forest cover. In 1960, nature lovers Nicolas Wessberg from Sweden and his Danish wife, Karen Mogensen, bought a farm near the town of Montezuma to protect the forest and began a movement for conservation. In October 1963, they convinced the Costa Rican government to award it the status of the country’s first privately protected reserve – the Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve. Then, in 1970, Costa Rican biologists Alvaro Ugalde and Mario Boza began promoting the idea of converting watersheds, already protected by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) to preserve the country’s hydroelectric capacity, into national parks. Their idea found powerful support from then-President Daniel Oduber and former First Lady Karen Olsen, the wife of the three-time head of state José “Pepe” Figueres. The Costa Rican people also wanted their beautiful country to be protected for future generations. So, that same year, the Poás Volcano National Park was founded – the first of Costa Rica’s world-famous national park system. Thanks to these protective policies, Costa Rica is the first tropical country to have stopped and reversed deforestation. Today the country has restored its forests to cover almost 52 percent of its landmass. “Costa Rica made a sacrifice to create its national parks, but it was easy to convince people that conservation was important,” remarked Gustavo Abarca. “It is an extraordinary accomplishment for a developing nation. People are always surprised that a country so small has managed to create so much protection.” Information about Visiting National Parks in Costa Rica Many of Costa Rica’s national parks are open every day; some are closed on Mondays. It is best to check the operating hours for each individual park to plan your visit. Entrance fees for tourists range between $10 and $16; rates for locals, legal residents, and children are lower. Private reserves set their own entrance fees, which could be higher or lower than the national system. Costa Rica also is making an effort to make some of the most popular national parks to be wheelchair accessible. Check with Horizontes Nature Tours for which parks provide universal access. Some national parks require a certified guide to be with you at all times – Tortuguero and Corcovado. In terms of learning and enjoying the natural features of any of Costa Rica’s fantastic national parks, a guide is indispensable since they know what to look for to spot wildlife and can explain the ecosystem around you. Horizontes Nature Tours works with a team of highly professional, certified naturalist guides who will make your visit to Costa Rica’s national parks an unforgettable experience.
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