National Parks in Costa Rica

Cost Rica National Park FAQs

How many National Parks are in Costa Rica?

There are 29 national parks in Costa Rica, and they are managed by the National Parks System of Costa Rica. You can explore them more fully in the park presentations above as they become available.

What is the largest national park in Costa Rica?

Corcovado National Park is the largest national park in Costa Rica. It covers an area of 164 square miles (424 sq km). 

What is the smallest national park in Costa Rica?

Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest national park in the country. It covers an area of 7.66 square miles (19.93 sq km).

What was the first national park in Costa Rica?

Poas Volcano National Park was the first national park in Costa Rica.  It was established in 1955.

What percentage of Costa Rica is protected land?

The protected areas of Costa Rica account for more than 25% of the country's landmass.  This is the largest percentage of protected areas for any country in the world.

Costa Rica

The country is officially known as the Republic of Costa Rica. San Jose is both the capital and largest city in the country. There are approximately 5 million people living in the 19,714 square miles (51,060 sq km) that make up the countries borders.

Where is Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is located in the lower tail of Central America. It sits atop Panama to the south, underneath Nicaragua to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean to the east.

Costa Rica Tourism

Costa Rica is the most visited country in Central America.  The country is recognized as a leader in ecotourism which is reflected in the percentage of the country committed to protection. It is considered one of the most ethical and environmentally friendly tourism destinations throughout the world.

The Arenal Volcano and Corcovado are two of the most popular destinations in the country.