
Costa
Rica has 26 national parks protecting over 11%
of the country. Reviews below are from Frommer's.
Carara
National Park -- Located just off the
highway near the Pacific coast, on the road
to Jacó, this is one of the best places
in Costa Rica to see scarlet macaws. There are
several trails through the park, including one
that is wheelchair accessible. The park is comprised
of various ecosystems, ranging from rainforests
to transitional forests to mangroves. Location:
102km (63 1/4 miles) west of San José.
Chirripo
National Park -- Home to Costa Rica's
tallest peak, 3,761m (12,336-ft.) Mount Chirripó,
Chirripó National Park is a hike, but
on a clear day you can see both the Pacific
Ocean and the Caribbean Sea from its summit.
There are a number of interesting climbing trails
here, and camping is allowed. Location: 151km
(94 miles) southeast of San José.
Manuel
Antonio National Park -- Though relatively
small, Manuel Antonio is the most popular national
park and supports the largest number of hotels
and resorts. This lowland rainforest is home
to a healthy monkey population, including the
endangered squirrel monkey. The park is best
known for its splendid beaches. Location: 129km
(80 miles) south of San José.
Corcovado
National Park -- The largest single
block of virgin lowland rainforest in Central
America, Corcovado National Park receives more
than 200 inches of rain per year. It is the largest and only tropical primary lowland rainforest in the world. It's increasingly
popular but still very remote. (It has no roads;
only dirt tracks lead into it.) It is home to scarlet macaws, the red-eyed tree frog and the tapir, the largest terrestial mammal in Central and South America. Additionally, you may find countless other Neotropical
species, including two of the country's largest
cats, the puma and the endangered jaguar. There is more than just large mammals, however. There are also four species of sea turtles. Hiking is extremely popular here as there are many of trails to choose from. There
are camping facilities and trails throughout
the park. Location: 335km (208 miles) south
of San José, on the Osa Peninsula. |