A pioneering country for sustainability and conservation, Costa Rica has long been committed to protecting its extraordinary natural environment. Protected areas cover approximately 30% of the country, encompassing more than 30 national parks, 51 wildlife refuges and 21 reserves. One of the most biodiverse countries in the world, these parks and protected areas showcase an amazing range of flora and fauna with environments ranging from low lying wetlands to lofty cloud forests, and smoking volcanoes to rugged beaches.
Information on some of Costa Rica’s better-known parks and reserves can be found on their own destination pages. Below, we highlight a few of the country’s lesser-known natural gems. Often overlooked in favour of Costa Rica’s more famous parks, these quieter reserves offer the chance to escape the crowds and enjoy a more peaceful, intimate experience with nature.
Trailfinders offers a wide range of Costa Rica’s national parks holidays and our expert travel consultants are a mine of information about what to do here, often with first-hand travel experience. Whether you want to explore with your own private driver and local guides, join a sociable small group tour, or are simply looking for advice on the best national parks for wildlife spotting – they are the perfect people to ask.
Here's a snapshot of some of our most popular holidays features Costa Rica's lesser known national parks. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, click on the link below them to see our complete range of holidays and tours in Costa Rica or give us a call and speak to one of our travel experts.
Enchanting Costa Rica
Private Tour
14 days / 13 nights
Discover the natural beauty of this enchanting country.
Embrace the Costa Rican philosophy of ‘Pura Vida’ and immerse yourself in this tropical environment whilst enjoying yoga and meditation, nature walks and world-class surfing.
Hit the road and combine discovering some of Costa Rica’s beautiful natural gems with relaxing beach time on the stunning Caribbean coast on this marvellous road trip.
Nature is a huge draw to Costa Rica and the diversity in this small country is simply phenomenal!
Drive through the vast wetlands of Palo Verde National Park surrounded by hundreds of birds, watch nature in action as you witness the immense thermal power of Poas Volcano, or search for crocodiles on a river cruise in the Carara National Park. Whether you want to be active and zipline through the trees or chill out in a natural hot spring we have the destination for you.
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Within this reserve you can find crater lagoons, waterfalls and towering dormant volcanos. One of the largest protected areas in Costa Rica and easily reached from San José, the park can be explored on hiking trails through dense rainforest.
Palo Verde National Park
Combining vast wetlands with tropical dry forest, this little-known park is one of the most biodiverse areas in Costa Rica. A birdwatcher’s paradise, in green season these wetlands swell and attract huge numbers of birds.
Tenorio Volcano National Park
Famous for Río Celeste, a striking turquoise river that flows through the park, this beautiful national park is one of northern Costa Rica’s natural highlights. Trails wind through lush rainforest to viewpoints and the spectacular Río Celeste Waterfall.
Carara National Park
Located on the Pacific Coast, Carara National Park is home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, including scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, racoons and three-toed sloths. Rio Tarcoles forms a northern boundary to the park and is inhabited by large crocodiles for most of the year.
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park
Rincón de la Vieja is one of Costa Rica's largest and most active volcanos, its volcanic activity is what makes the national park so spectacular. Mini geysers, bubbling volcanic mud pits and natural hot springs are dotted across the landscape, promising its visitors a unique experience.
La Selva Biological Station
La Selva is a fascinating neotropical research station offering nature lovers a unique opportunity to learn about the ecosystems of this incredible area. Here you can see many colourful tree frogs, toucans and howler monkeys.
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Off the beaten track on the Nicaraguan border, the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge occupies 25,000 acres of wetlands and rainforest. Primarily known for its bird watching, it is also home to many animals and a variety of flora native to these wetlands.
Póas Volcano National Park
Only 90 minutes from San José, Póas Volcano National Park is home to Póas Volcano, one of Costa Rica's largest and most active volcanoes with one of the largest craters in the world. The park is a great example of the geothermal forces that shaped Costa Rica.
OUR RECOMMENDED HOTELS IN COSTA RICA'S NATIONAL PARKS
We feature a great range of accommodation in and around Costa Rica's National Parks, with something to suit all tastes. Maybe you're looking for a family-run hacienda where you can take an open-top jeep safari through vast wetlands, or perhaps you want a hotel that can only be reached on a rafting adventure! Or maybe you're looking for a lodge that offers a wide choice of adventure activities?
What you won't find here are thousands of hotels to wade through. We've done the hard work for you and selected the best places to stay and our travel consultants are on hand to help, often with first-hand experience.
Rio Perdido, Guanacaste Province
Bagaces
Situated between two converging canyons at the point where two rivers meet, the remote and stunning location of this fantastic lodge provides the perfect eco-adventure escape.
Surrounded by lush rainforest and nestled in the Talamanca Mountains, Selva Bananito Lodge is a family run eco-lodge providing guests with a unique wilderness experience.
This remote hotel is located in the middle of the rainforest, a 5 minute drive from the entrance of the Tenorio Volcano National Park which is home to the magnificent Rio Celeste waterfall.
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