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National
Parks of Costa Rica
Costa Rica's National Parks System protects examples of
nearly all the ecosystems that exist in the country, covering
about 14 percent 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 skin diving, snorkeling, surfing and other outdoor
activities. No matter what your vacation priorities, you'll
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 preserves. The following are some
of the country's most popular parks and protected areas,
according to what part of the country they are located in.
Admission to any national park costs US $6.
Conservation
Areas
The protection of Costa Rica's existing habitats is the
responsibility of the National Parks Service, which is in
charge of the management of 20 National Parks, 8 Wildlife
Reserves and a National Monument. The Forestry Management
has 26 protected areas, 9 forest reserves and 7 fauna sanctuaries
with a total of 72 units covering an extension of 1,077,308
hectares, which represents 21% of the national territory.
The protection is not only provided to areas where flora
and fauna are threatened with extinction, but is also offered
to areas of historical, archeological and scenic interest.
This is why Costa Rica was awarded the SAN FRANCISCO DE
ASIS prize, the Ecology award by ASTA (American Association
of Travel Agencies), and the Smithsonian Institute's price
for its dedicated efforts toward the conservation of natural
resources.
The
conservation areas in Costa Rica are:
Arenal, Guanacaste, Tempisque, Central Volcanic Cordillera,
Osa, Amistad & Tortuguero.
Arenal Conservation Area: this area is famous for its variety
of wildlife species: twenty five species of fish have been
identified, 500 species of flora (algae, lichens, palms,
ferns and orchids). At the same time the scenery is rich
and varied, with magnificent views of the Arenal Volcano
eruptions.
Guanacaste Conservation Area: is composed by the Santa Rosa,
Guanacaste and Rincon de la Vieja National Parks and the
Junquillal Bay Recreational Area. The variety of species
and ecosystems range from sea level up to 1,916 meters above
sea level. One of the most important sites is Nancite beach,
where the olive riddle turtle lays its eggs.
Tempisque Conservation Area: includes the Palo Verde, Barra
Honda and Las Baulas National Parks as well as Lomas de
Barbudal Wildlife Reserve and the Tamarindo and Ostional
Wildlife Refuges. This area is characterized by dry forests,
lime hills with caves and is one of the sea turtle's egg-laying
grounds. At the same time is an area with the largest concentration
of sea and land birds (native and migratory), almost 300
species use this land for breeding or as a place to stop
in their migrations.
Central Volcanic Mountain Range Conservation Area: includes
the National Parks of: Irazú Volcano, Poás Volcano, Braulio
Carrillo, Juan Castro Blanco; La Selva Biological Station,
the Central Volcanic Mountain Range Reserve and the Guayabo
National Monument.
This area is characterized by humid tropical forests, river
forests on the mountain slopes and bleak moor lands with
shrubs and scrubby undergrowth.
Osa Conservation Area: is composed by the Corcovado National
Park, the Golfito Wildlife Reserve, the Golfo Dulce Forest
Reserve, the Sierpe and Terraba swamps and the Guaymi Indian
reservation. This area contains the largest variety of wildlife
specimens in Costa Rica: 500 types of trees, 140 varieties
of mammals, 40 species of fish, 367 birds, 177 amphibians
and reptiles, and about 6,000 species of insects.
Amistad Conservation Area: includes the National Parks of
Amistad, Tapanti, Chirripo, Cahuita, the Rio Macho Forest
Reserve, Hitoy Cerere and the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife
Reserves. Nine of the twelve wildlife areas are found in
this region, approximately 70% of the birds and animals
in Costa Rica inhabit this region, especially the quetzal
and the harpy eagle.
Tortuguero Plains Conservation Area: is made up by the Tortuguero
National Park, the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Reserve and
the Tortuguero Protected Area. This area is characterized
by very humid tropical forests (yolillales, marsh plants,
sea coast vegetation, high forests, forests on mountain
slopes, swamp jungles, lakeside and floating plants). Animal
life is abundant: 160 species of mammals, 400 species of
birds, 52 types of continental fishes of which the gas par
fish is considered a living fossil. The best known and studied
species is the green turtle, which led to the creation of
the Tortuguero National Park.
Turtles
in Costa Rica
Tourists interested in Costa Rica and in turtles, have a
year round-opportunity to view the turtles coming ashore
to lay their eggs, as this small country is the home of
six of the eight world-wide turtle species in existence.
Caribbean Coast
* Green and Hawks bill Turtles: these species can be seen
in Tortuguero from July to October.
* Leather backs: can be found north of Limon at Barra de
Matina from February to July.
* Loggerheads: are found along different areas of the Caribbean
Coast.
Pacific Coast
* Leather backs: can be seen in Playa Grande, Nancite and
Playa Naranjo from October to March.
* Olive Ridleys: come ashore at Playa Grande, Ostional Wildlife
Refuge, Nancite and
* Playa Naranjo, most of the year, but peak nesting is from
July to December.
* Pacific greens: found at Nancite and Playa Naranjo, most
of the year.
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