The Most Beautiful National Parks in Costa Rica

Thanks to the concentrated diversity of flora, fauna, and ecosystems, a Costa Rica nature vacation feels like visiting several countries at once. If you can’t decide which of the 30 parks to visit within Costa Rica’s national park system, we hope the following list serves as inspiration.

When searching for national parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park is usually the first one that comes up, and for good reason. It consistently ranks among the best national parks in Costa Rica, and reality lives up to its reputation: hiking trails wind through deep-green, lush forests before opening onto magnificent snow-white, palm-fringed beaches where you can take a refreshing dip to cool off.

The park’s hiking trails range from easy, family-friendly walks to more challenging routes. Manuel Antonio is also one of the best national parks in Costa Rica for wildlife. Get ready to spot animals such as sloths, monkeys, anteaters, iguanas, and other reptiles. Larger animals like jaguars and pumas live here too, though they tend to stay hidden. The park draws big crowds, so arriving early on a weekday gives you the best chance of a quieter experience and more encounters with local wildlife.

Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica is entirely defined by the volcano that gives it its name. From many spots in the park, you get a stunning view of this picture-perfect volcano and its perfect conical shape. It’s one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica and in the whole world. For safety reasons, visitors must keep a safe distance from the volcano, but that doesn’t make the views any less stunning.

Beyond its natural and unique beauty, Arenal Volcano National Park is also known for its fun activities such as rafting, ziplining, and horseback riding. The hanging suspension bridges are also a highlight and give you breathtaking views of the rainforest canopy. The park also boasts some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful hot springs, set against a picture-perfect backdrop.

Corcovado National Park is a special place. National Geographic once described it as the "most biologically intense place on Earth," as no other area of comparable size shelters so many species. It is also home to a large number of endangered animals and plants, some of them endemic. If you're looking for the best national park in Costa Rica for wildlife, this is it.

Access is understandably limited. You must book in advance, and you must explore the park with a professional guide at all times. But the experience is truly unique: anteaters, monkeys, jaguars, tapirs, macaws, and hundreds of other species going about their lives in an untouched jungle. The effort is absolutely worth it. 

Tortuguero National Park sits on the Caribbean coast and ranks among Costa Rica’s most popular ecotourism destinations. Its ecosystems include rivers, canals, mangrove forests, lagoons, and marine habitats, and they support an extraordinary range of wildlife, including caimans, monkeys, sloths, raccoons, macaws, and otters. The real star of the park, though, is the sea turtle the park is named after. Tortuguero National Park is the most important nesting site for green sea turtles in the western Caribbean, and strict protections reflect that status. Only one percent of the park is open to visitors.

Boat tours are the most popular and practical way to explore the park, and among the best things to do in Tortuguero. Other popular Tortuguero activities include nighttime tours to watch baby turtles hatch, but make sure you book ahead and follow park rangers' instructions closely to continue protecting these sea creatures.

National parks in Costa Rica have no shortage of volcanoes, but Tenorio Volcano National Park stands apart thanks to one extraordinary feature: the Río Celeste, or “sky-blue river,” which forms what many consider one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. The river's almost otherworldly color has inspired many legends. Costa Ricans say that after God painted the sky, he washed his brushes in this river. The scientific explanation for its color is that an optical illusion is created by the concentration of minerals in the riverbed. 

The Río Celeste is the main draw, but Tenorio Volcano National Park has plenty more to offer. The volcano is still active, so visitors can explore geysers, bubbling mud pools, and hot springs alongside a landscape shaped by dramatic elevation changes and several distinct ecosystems.

This is one of the lesser-known national parks in Costa Rica, which is sometimes easily overlooked despite its size. But if you're spending a few days in San José, Braulio Carrillo National Park deserves a spot on your itinerary, as you can reach it from the capital city in under half an hour. The park sits in the central volcanic mountain range between the Irazú and Poás volcanoes, and ranks among the largest in the country.

What sets Braulio Carrillo National Park apart is its rugged geology and dramatic elevation changes, which produce both breathtaking views and an exceptionally diverse range of plant life. Roughly half of all plant species in Costa Rica grow here. The park is predominantly tropical rainforest, home to a rich fauna that includes over 500 bird species. One of the best ways to experience it is the aerial cable car, which carries you through multiple vegetation zones of the rainforest canopy.

Rincón de la Vieja National Park is one of the most diverse of Costa Rica's national parks. A single visit takes you through dry forests, rainforests, and cloud forests, many of them pristine old-growth, with waterfalls and sweeping views around nearly every bend.

The volcanic activity here is spectacular. One of the park's most popular and accessible trails winds past fumaroles, bubbling mud pots, steaming lakes, and hot pools that can exceed 212°F (100°C). A summit hike to the crater's acidic lake is sometimes off-limits due to high volcanic activity, but you'll feel the volcano's power throughout the park regardless.

Cahuita National Park occupies a special place among Costa Rica's national parks because most of its protected area lies beneath the surface of the sea. Like Tortuguero, Cahuita National Park sits in Limón Province on the Caribbean coast, and its white, coconut-palm-lined beaches make it one of the most idyllic spots in the country. If you simply want to relax and swim in turquoise water, Cahuita delivers.

The Cahuita coral reef just offshore teems with sea cucumbers, lobsters, rays, turtles, and scores of colorful tropical fish, including the striking parrotfish. Cahuita National Park is one of the best spots for snorkeling and diving in Costa Rica. A walk along the coast is one of the best options for Cahuita National Park hiking too. You may not encounter as many animals as in other parks in Costa Rica, but sloths and capuchin monkeys have a habit of appearing when you least expect them.

There are plenty of great hotels to choose from in Costa Rica, from all-inclusive gems to urban spots in the city. If you want to combine your national parks tour with a bit of surfing, consider Tamarindo Bay or the Nicoya Peninsula. If you’re more of a hustle-and-bustle type explorer, definitely stay in San José and spend at least 24 hours exploring the city.