There are currently 26 National Parks in Costa Rica. These are managed by SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion), a department of Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE). Costa Rica manages to protect a larger proportion of its land than any other country in the world. In 1970 Costa Rica formed a national park system and by law they declared inviolate 10.27 percent of the land plus an additional 17 percent is set aside as forest reserves, buffer zones, wildlife refuges and native population reserves.

At Vajra Sol retreat you are closest to Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve; 1.2 hours to Refugio Nacional Curu and just over 1.5 hours to both Diria National Park and Parque Nacional Barra Honda. The most famous parks in Costa Rica are Manuel Antonio, with amazing beautiful beaches; Braulio Carrillo, with an easy to access rainforest; Tortuguero, meandering waterways and mangroves; Iraz’ Volcano, where you can see both the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts; and Poás Volcano, where you can look down into the active crater. Check out this web page for links to details: Click Here

Here is a comprehensive list in alphabetical order.

  1. Arenal Volcano National Park
  2. Barbilla National Park
  3. Barra Honda National Park
  4. Braulio Carrillo National Park
  5. Cahuita National Park
  6. Carara National Park
  7. Chirrip’ National Park
  8. Cocos Island National Park
  9. Corcovado National Park
  10. Diria National Park
  11. Guanacaste National Park
  12. Iraz’ Volcano National Park
  13. Juan Castro Blanco National Park
  14. La Amistad International Park
  15. La Cangreja National Park
  16. Las Baulas National Marine
  17. Park Manuel Antonio National Park
  18. Maquenque National Park (proposed)
  19. Palo Verde National Park
  20. Piedras Blancas National Park
  21. Poás Volcano National Park
  22. Rinc’n de la Vieja Volcano National Park
  23. Santa Rosa National Park
  24. Tapant’ National Park
  25. Tenorio Volcano National Park
  26. Tortuguero National Park
  27. Turrialba Volcano National Park