Of all parks in the country, the Manuel Antonio National Park is the most visited but also ranked as one of the most gorgeous national parks in the entire world. Every year, roughly 500,000 people come to the park to take in the amazing scenery. R R elatively small in area, this park is located in very humid tropical forest, and has plentiful wildlife of all varieties. Over 100 species of animals and nearly 200 species of birds live in the park. All three species of monkeys found in Costa Rica reside in the park - the white-throated capuchin monkeys, the endangered squirrel monkeys, and the white-faced monkeys. In addition to monkeys, you can expect to see colorful birds, iguanas, sloths, and other animals. The park is best known for its splendid beaches. Because the number of visitors is limited, it is best to visit the park in the morning and during the week. Also worth exploring are the waters just off the beaches. Snorkeling reveals bright, florescent colored fish swimming among the exquisite corals. Further out in the water it is possible to see dolphins and migrating whales.
Mammals: raccoon, porcupine, the guatusa, two and three-fingered sloths, the whiteface monkey, the Congo monkey. Migratory bird species like the tucanillo, the pelicano o buchon, the guaco, the gavilán pescador, the martín pescador verde, and the water rooster are popular. The Park also houses a variety of reptile species namely lizards and snakes, besides innumerable insects
Vegetation
Beach vegetation of the park comprises the manzanillo, tree that has a milk sustance and poisonous fruits, the almendro, the roble sabana and the coco. The Forest has guácimo Colorado, the pilón, the cedro maría, the guapinol, the guapinol negro, the árbol maderable endanger extinct, the lechoso, the madrono, the cenizaro and the ceiba, plus balsa, the peine de mico, the guarumo, the guácimo, the capulín blanco and the garocho. The manglar covers approximate 18 hectares and consists of mainly mangle Colorado, botoncillo and mariquita.
Services
Information center, picnic areas, primitive latrines, showers, potable water
The entrance to OrosiNational park is located in the town of Orosí, a 90 minute drive from San Jose. The Park is surrounded by the MachoRiver forest reserve and El Rio Grande de Orosí (a river) runs through the center. Over 150 waterways and rivers trek down to the sea from the OrosiValley. This is one of the rainiest places in Costa Rica, with 6.500 to 8.000 mm (xx inches) expected each year. The heaviest showers between March and August, but usually in the afternoon; all-day rains are rare. This park has two main eco-systems: the lower slope rain forest and the low mountainous rain forest.
Attractions
Well-maintained dirt roads make it a popular destination for mountain bikers; bird watchers, orchid enthusiasts
Animals
Over 45 different species of mammals are here, including kinkajous, tapir, brocket deer, cotton tail rabbit, raccoons monkeys, jaguar, ocelot, jaguarondi and margay.. There are also 260 kinds of birds, the most common are the quetzal, hawks, falcons, tanagers, doves, parrots and humming birds. Reptiles have been identified, including snakes, toads, frogs, and salamanders. Plus rare insects.
Vegetation
Ferns, bromeliads, epiphytes, palms, moss, orchids and heliconias
Services
Information center, picnic areas, restrooms, potable exhibits and parking
This park is largely reclaimed pastureland, and in the case of Palo Verde, the haciendas that preceded the park were somewhat different than the clear-cut ranches of the volcanic highlands. The underlying limestone, and the drier climate of the region gave rise to native forests where trees were sparser and there was more grass and forage in the natural ecosystem. Clear-cutting was not always necessary to ranching, and the Park escaped with less damage than most clear-cut areas. As a result, Palo Verde National Park has spectacular wetlands as well as being one of the best examples of tropical dry forests remaining anywhere in the world.
Attractions
Tropical dry forest, bird watching
Animals
250+ species of moths, bats, and wasps pollinate the flowers. Mammals include monkeys, squirrels, peccaries, This Park is known as a bird-watchers' paradise with more than 300 bird species of yellow-naped parrot, king vultures, curassows; the only permanent colony of scarlet macaws in the dry tropics. The park is lucky to have ¼ of a million wading birds and waterfowls that gather at onset of winters. Isla de Pájaros, in the middle of the Rio Tempisque, abounds with water birds, including white ibis, roseate spoonbills, anhinga, and wood storks, besides jabiru storks- the largest storks in the world. The park is also a sanctuary to nation's largest colony of black-crowned night herons.
Vegetation
Tropical dry forests undergo a dramatic seasonal transformation and include trees such as espavel, the ciba, the pochote, the Ron Ron, the cibo barrigón, the guayabón, the javillo, the cocobolo, the níspero and the panamá. The mangrove swamps offer good sight to observe plants species like the tifa, the trista, the zacate gamalote and platanilla.
Services
InformationCenter, picnic areas, camping, scientific station, potable water and restrooms.
Famous for beautiful scenery and variety of habitats including cloud forest. One of the most heavily visited sites in the country. The volcano has been active since 1894, causing extensive environmental damage to the surrounding area. Check with Park Service before visiting for park hours.
Attractions
Poas Volcano, volcanic hot lagoon, smoke spots
Animals
Mammals are not very common in the high land but you can see some coyotes, rabbits, skunks and some felines, plus 79 species of birds.
Vegetation
Fourhabitats-- luxuriant forest that surrounds the two craters, forests with short trees, areas with very little flora and also the cloudy forest. In the cloud forest it is very common to find plants that grow attached to the trees, like orchids, ferns etc. There is a stunted growth of the forest near the crater. Quite characteristic of the effects of the acid rains that result from the poinous fumes of the crater, the vegetation is not only the stunted in size but it is also black and brown in color.
Rincón de la Vieja (1,895 meters), is the featured active volcano here that is in a period of relative calm. It is the largest of five volcanoes that make up the Cordillera de Guanacaste. This one volcano is composed of nine separate but contiguous volcanic craters. At the Sorthern foot of the volcano are areas called Las Pailas and the Hornilllas, where there are thermal fountains, lagoons occupied by small depressions in which the water boils continually, vapor holes and mud volcanoes.Rincón de la Vieja National Park also protects a vast network of rivers and streams that feed the basin of Nicoya Gulf and the floodplains south of Lake Nicaragua.
Attractions
Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, a freshwater volcanic lagoon, geological features, preservation area for large felines.
Animals
Mammals: large felines, wild goat, saíno, guatusa, tolomuco, armadillo, two-fingered sloth, bear, congo, white face monkeys. Birds: calandra, pavón, linnet, oropendula de Montezuma, swallow, tucán, red widow, hummingbirds, ropopo, white front parrot and guaco. Insects are also very abundant -- you can observe 4 species of the beautiful morfo butterflies.
Vegetation
The major population in wild state of the "Guaria Morada", the national flower.Depending on elevation: muss and toras, copey, papayillo, and the crespo oacute, cuajada, jacaro danto, papayillo, burro ratón, yos, iguano, oak, killing people, white cypress, laurel, guanacaste, aceituno, ardillo, naked Indian, bitter cedar and capulin blanco.
Services
Information center, picnic areas, campaing, potable water, restrooms
Park Size
14, 083 hectares ( 34,785acres)
Location
Provinces of Guanacaste & Alajuela; 6 km (3.6 miles) north of Liberia, along the Pan-American Highway
This Park is one of the areas of mayor history importance of the country -- the old house and the rock yard were the stage for the major national battle: The Santa RosaBattle, on March 20,1856.
The park is important for the protection and restoration of the Pacific Dry habitats. The beaches of Nancite and Naranjo are of great beauty and very important for the spawning of the sea turtle's like the parrot and baula.
Mammals: congo monkey, whiteface monkey, armadillo, tapir, venado, danta, pizote, saíno, puma, jaguar, raccoons, and the most abundant of all -- the spiny mouse. Birds: magpie, orange front parrot, red widow, soterrey matraquero, carga huesos, pavón, gavilán cangrejero, saltarín colilargo, plus 3.140 species of butterflies.
Vegetation
10 habitats: deciduos forests, encino forests, always-green forests, mangrove, swamps, riberenos forests, short forest, beach vegetation and savannas.
Tropical lowland park lying across a system of natural lakes and canals, one of the last remaining and most important breeding grounds for the green turtle.
Attractions
Marked hiking trails, wildlife, turtle watching
Animals
Jaguar, ocelot, manatees, macaw, turkey vulture, black hawk and howler, white-faced capuchin and spider monkeys. The canals and lagoons form a part of the geography of the area result in many habitats for fish. crocodiles, turtles, manatees, and crabs.
Vegetation
11 ecological habitats, from high rainforest to herbaceous marsh communities
Services
InformationCenter, primitive latrines. Accessible only by boat; tour companies operating in the park provide complete services.
Park Size
19,000 hectares land (46,930 acres)
52,265 hectares marine (129,095 acres)
Location
Limón Province, 87 km (52 miles) NW City of Limón on the Caribbean Coast
