We want to make it as easy as possible to check new destinations off your list and see what our country has to offer. This list provides a full review of national parks, monuments, reserves and refuges that will help you plan your next trip in a snap.
All that’s left is to pack your bags and get out there!
Cartago
Hours of operation:
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $5
Río Macho Forest Reserve
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡800 Foreigners: $5
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $5
Volcán Irazú National Park (Sector Cráteres)
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $15
Irazú Volcano National Park (Sector Prusia)
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $15
Volcán Turrialba National Park
Closed to the public due to volcanic eruptions.
Tapantí-Macizo Cerro de la Muerte National Park
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡800 Foreigners: $10
Limón
Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $5
Limón/Panama Border
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡800 Foreigners: $10
Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
- Seven days a week. Free admission.
Tortuguero National Park - Sector Cuatro Esquinas
- Seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $15
Tortuguero National Park - Sector Jalova
- Seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $15
Cahuita National Park - Sector Puerto Vargas
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed on the first Monday of the month
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $5
Cahuita National Park - Sector Playa Blanca
- Seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Voluntary fee
Puntarenas
- Seven days a week. 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the dry season (December to April) and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the rainy season (May to November).
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $10
Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve
- Wednesday-Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1600 Foreigners: $12
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡800 Foreigners: $10
- Open seven days a week during high period (December to April).
- Closed Mondays during the low period (July to November). Open from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1600 Foreigners: $16
Corcovado National Park - Sector Leona
- Seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1600 Foreigners: $15
Corcovado National Park - Sector San Pedrillo
- Seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1600 Foreigners: $15
Corcovado National Park - Sector Los Patos
- Seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1600 Foreigners: $15
Corcovado National Park - Sector Sirena
- Seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed during the entire month of October due to heavy rains and for maintenance.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1600 Foreigners: $15
Marino Ballena National Park - Sector Piñuelas
- Seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $6
Marino Ballena National Park - Sector Ballena
- Seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $6
Marino Ballena National Park - Sector Colonia
- Seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $6
Marino Ballena National Park - Sector Uvita
- Seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $6
Piedras Blancas National Park - Sector El Bonito
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡800 Foreigners: $10
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans $25 per day Foreigners: $50 per day
San José
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $10
- Seven days a week from 7:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $10
Braulio Carrillo National Park - Sector Quebrada González
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $12
Braulio Carrillo National Park - Sector Volcán Barva
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $12
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡4000 Foreigners: $18 (by bank deposit).
Guanacaste
- All visits must be coordinated with the Santa Rosa Sector
- Costa Ricans: ₡1100 Foreigners: $15
Rincón de la Vieja National Park - Sector Pailas
- Tuesday to Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $15
Rincón de la Vieja National Park - Sector Santa María
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $15
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1100 Foreigners: $15
Ostional Wildlife Refuge
- Seven days a week from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., except during sea turtle nesting season, when the park is open from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1600 Foreigners: $12
Bahía Junquillal Wildlife Refuge
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1500 Foreigners: $13
Las Baulas de Guanacaste Marine National Park
- Seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1600 Foreigners: $12
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The caves can be entered between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $12
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $5
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $12
Alajuela
Grecia Forest Reserve (Sector Bosque del Niño)
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡600 Foreigners: $5
Alajuela/ Guanacaste
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., exit remains open to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡800 Foreigners: $12
Juan Castro Blanco National Park
- *The park is not currently admitting tourists.
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $15
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡800 Foreigners: $5
- Seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Costa Ricans: ₡1000 Foreigners: $15
Important notes:
*Admission for resident children aged 2-12: ₡500.
*Admission for non-resident children aged 2-12: $5.
*Admission for primary and secondary school students on previously organized field trips: ₡500.
*Admission for non-residents is charged in US dollars, or the equivalent in colones at the time of purchase.