Corcovado National Park, National park in Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Corcovado National Park spans 424 square kilometers of primary rainforest along the Pacific coast, containing half of Costa Rica's plant and animal species.
The park was established in 1975 to protect the region from international logging operations that threatened the survival of numerous tropical species.
Local communities near Corcovado have shifted their livelihoods from traditional gold mining activities to supporting conservation and tourism initiatives.
Visitors must arrange guided tours and obtain permits through certified operators, with access available through Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay.
The park contains the sole remaining old-growth rainforest on the Pacific coast of Central America, hosting all four Costa Rican monkey species.
Location: Puntarenas Province
Inception: 1975
Elevation above the sea: 63 m
Operator: Área de Conservación Osa (ACOSA)
GPS coordinates: 8.55000,-83.58333
Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:41
Costa Rica spans 19,700 square miles (51,100 square kilometers) between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, offering photographers a concentration of varied landscapes within a compact area. The country maintains over 30 national parks and protected areas, including Arenal Volcano, whose near-perfect cone rises 5,479 feet (1,670 meters) above surrounding rainforest, and Monteverde Cloud Forest, where mist drifts through canopy vegetation supporting rare species such as the resplendent quetzal. Rio Celeste flows through Tenorio Volcano National Park, displaying its characteristic turquoise color from volcanic minerals, while Tabacon Hot Springs delivers naturally heated water from underground sources. Coastal regions present diverse subjects, from the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park, where white-faced capuchin monkeys move through trees, to Cahuita National Park on the Caribbean coast with its coral reefs. The Nicoya Peninsula and Papagayo Peninsula provide access to Tamarindo Beach and Santa Teresa Beach, while the southern zone includes Marino Ballena National Park, named for its whale-shaped sandbar visible at low tide. Tortuga Island, off the coast of Puntarenas, serves as a day-trip destination. Inland, San Jose Central Market documents daily commerce, the National Theater displays neoclassical architecture from 1897, and Guayabo National Monument preserves pre-Columbian ruins. Cerro Chirripó rises to 12,533 feet (3,820 meters) as the country's highest point, offering views of both oceans in clear conditions.
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181.1 km
Poás Volcano
196.7 km
Irazú Volcano
162 km
Turrialba
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La Selva Biological Station
213.7 km
Tortuguero National Park
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Guayabo National Monument
158.8 km
Barva Volcano
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Braulio Carrillo National Park
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Irazú Volcano National Park
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Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles
150.7 km
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
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La Paz Waterfall
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Parque del Este
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Cerro Zurquí
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Volcán Cacho Negro
190.3 km
Volcán Congo
202.5 km
Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge
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Barbilla National Park
156 km
Turrialba Volcano National Park
166 km
Las Mercedes
180 km
Tortuguero Volcano
226.5 km
Our Lady of Carmel Cathedral, Cartago
151.1 km
Río Parismina
195.5 km
Dr. Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge
225.8 km
Puerto Limón Lighthouse
171.7 km
Playa Cieneguita
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UnderFire Paintball
167.8 kmReviews
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