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RINCON DE LA VIEJA • Guanacaste mountain range • Active volcano with 9 craters • Wild purple orchids • Blue lagoon fed by waterfall • Volcanic geysers/bubbling mud pits • 350 species of birds • Horseback riding in rainforest • Strenuous hike to volcano summit • Ranger controlled Summit hikes • Ranger Tel - 011 (506) 661-8189 
MANUEL ANTONIO • Top 3 Costa Rica national parks • 7 km south of Quepos on Pacific • Beautiful tan sand beaches • Plenty of wildlife-lots of monkeys • Busiest park in country • Excellent area tour options • Over 100 species of mammals • 180 species of birds • Nauyaca Waterfall A+ swimming) • Open 7:00-4:00-Closed Monday • Ranger - 011 (506) 777-0654 
ARENAL VOLCANO • Top 3 Costa Rica national parks • World famous active volcano • Most audible and visual volcano • West & SW side fewest clouds • Fun waterfalls & streams hikes • 5350' (1630 m) volcano • Excellent area tour options • Cano Negro tour recommended 
MONTEVERDE • World famous cloud forest • 450 species of birds • See the beautiful quetzal • Over 100 species of mammals • Over 400 types of orchids • 1200 species of reptiles • Approx 4700ft (1440 m) elevation • Excellent area tour options • Close to the Arenal volcano • Open 7:00-4:00 • Ranger - Tel 011 (506) 645-5122 
POAS • 37 km from Alajuela • Central Volcanic range • Huge volcanic crater • Easy short hike to summit • Best view early morning • Cold if cloudy day • Busy on weekends! Visit midweek • Bring your own food • 80 species of birds • See the La Paz waterfall gardens • Tel 011 (506) 482-2165 
TORTUGUERO • North of Limon on Caribbean • Green sea turtle spawning area • 11 different habitats very diverse • 300 species of birds • 13 of 16 endangered species • Very remote destination • Green turtle nesting June-October • Leatherback nesting-March-July • Hawksbill turtle nesting in July • Plenty of rainfall all year • Tel - 011 (506) 710-2929 
BRAULIO CARILLO • Northeast of Central Valley • Very rugged remote area • Just north of San Jose • Includes Volcan Barvas (inactive) • 400 species of birds • Landslides on road rainy season • San Jose closest aerial tram • Easy hiking from San Jose 
IRAZU • Northeast of Cartago • Just north of San Jose • tribal meaning - Point thunder • Large crater 300 ft deep • Gets cool - looks like the moon! • View of both oceans if clear day • Arrive early for best view 
CAHUITA • Limon province on Caribbean • tan secluded beaches • Largest coral reef in country • Plenty of wildlife • Very little infrastructure • Thousands of coconut palm trees • Great walking trails 
GANDOCA-MANZANILLO • Almost to Panama on Caribbean • Best kept secret in Costa Rica • Largest coral reef in country • Plenty of wildlife • Very little infrastructure • Thousands of coconut palm trees • Great walking trails • Ranger Tel - 011 (506) 754-2133 
CORCOVADO • Top 3 Costa Rica national parks • Almost to Panama on Pacific • Amazon of Costa Rica • 400 species of birds • 116 species of reptiles • 139 species of mammals • Heavy rains April-November • Half or full day hikes • Park Tel - 011 (506) 735-5036 
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Costa Rica National Parks
ARENAL VOLCANO
• World famous active volcano
• Top 3 Costa Rica national parks
• Most audible and visual volcano
• West & SW side fewest clouds
• Fun waterfalls & streams hikes
• 5350' (1630 m) volcano
• Excellent area tour options
• Cano Negro tour recommended
Braulio Carrillo National Park
• Northeast of Central Valley
• Very rugged remote area
• Just north of San Jose
• Includes Volcan Barvas (inactive)
• 400 species of birds
• Landslides on road rainy season
• San Jose closest aerial tram
• Easy hiking from San Jose
Cahuita National Park
• Limon province on Caribbean
• tan secluded beaches
• Largest coral reef in country
• Plenty of wildlife
• Very little infrastructure
• Thousands of coconut palm trees
• Great walking trails
Corcovado National Park
• Top 3 Costa Rica national parks
• Almost to Panama on Pacific
• Amazon of Costa Rica
• 400 species of birds
• 116 species of reptiles
• 139 species of mammals
• Heavy rains April-November
• Half or full day hikes
• Park Tel - 011 (506) 735-5036
Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge
• Almost to Panama on Caribbean
• Best kept secret in Costa Rica
• Largest coral reef in country
• Plenty of wildlife
• Very little infrastructure
• Thousands of coconut palm trees
• Great walking trails
• Ranger Tel - 011 (506) 754-2133
Irazu Volcano National Park
• Northeast of Cartago
• Just north of San Jose
• tribal meaning - Point thunder
• Large crater 300 ft deep
• Gets cool - looks like the moon!
• View of both oceans if clear day
• Arrive early for best view
Manuel Antonio National Park
• Top 3 Costa Rica national parks
• 7 km south of Quepos on Pacific
• Beautiful tan sand beaches
• Plenty of wildlife-lots of monkeys
• Busiest park in country
• Excellent area tour options
• Over 100 species of mammals
• 180 species of birds
• Nauyaca Waterfall A+ swimming)
• Open 7:00-4:00-Closed Mondays
• Ranger - 011 (506) 777-0654
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
• World famous cloud forest
• 450 species of birds
• See the beautiful quetzal
• Over 100 species of mammals
• Over 400 types of orchids
• 1200 species of reptiles
• Approx 4700 ft (1440 m) elevation
• Excellent area tour options
• Close to the Arenal volcano
• Open 7:00-4:00
• Ranger - Tel 011 (506) 645-5122
Poas Volcano National Park
• 37 km from Alajuela
• Central Volcanic range
• Huge volcanic crater
• Easy short hike to summit
• Best view early morning
• Cold if cloudy day
• Busy on weekends! Visit midweek
• Bring your own food
• 80 species of birds
• See the La Paz waterfall gardens
• Tel 011 (506) 482-2165
Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and National Park
• Guanacaste mountain range
• Active volcano with 9 craters
• Wild purple orchids
• Blue lagoon fed by waterfall
• Volcanic geysers/bubbling mud pits
• 350 species of birds
• Horseback riding in rainforest
• Strenuous hike to volcano summit
• Ranger controlled Summit hikes
• Ranger Tel - 011 (506) 661-8189
Tortuguero National Park
• North of Limon on Caribbean
• Green sea turtle spawning area
• 11 different habitats very diverse
• 300 species of birds
• 13 of 16 endangered species
• Very remote destination
• Green turtle nesting June-October
• Leatherback nesting-March-July
• Hawksbill turtle nesting in July
• Plenty of rainfall all year
• Tel - 011 (506) 710-2929
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End of Costa Rica national parks
There are many Costa Rica national parks, volcanoes, and rainforests throughout the country. These are the most fun to visit and provide an excellent sample of the wonder and excitement found in exploring a diverse country like Costa Rica.
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