Approximately 18% of Costa Rica’s territory is made up of national reserves and parks, including two parks declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. This means that access to parks and reserves is easy from anywhere in the country, making Costa Rica the ideal destination if you want to be surrounded by nature. With more than 615 species of wildlife spread across 10,000 sq. km, Costa Rica tops the list as the most biodiverse region in the world. Home to an incredible plethora of exotic and tropical flora and fauna, this small Latin American country is home to 12 key ecological zones. With an estimated 5% of the world’s biodiversity found here, there is no doubt that many scientists and naturalists from around the world refer to Costa Rica as “the living Eden.” In an effort to conserve much of Costa Rica’s natural beauty and surroundings, 25% of the country’s land has been set aside and converted into protected parks and reserves to safeguard the beauty and spectacular nature of the environment and prevent deforestation and exploitation. Costa Rica has 25 national parks, 58 wildlife refuges, 32 protected areas, 15 wetland swamp areas, 11 forest reserves, and 8 biological reserves, as well as 12 other conservation regions that protect the diverse natural habitats found throughout the country.
Costa Rica is home to an astonishing 10,000 species of plants and trees, at least 850 species of indigenous and migratory birds, 205 species of mammals, more than 35,000 species of insects, 160 species of amphibians, 220 species of reptiles, and approximately 1,013 species of freshwater and saltwater fish. This diversity and richness of wildlife and natural beauty make Costa Rica a true paradise.

Old-growth forests, mangrove swamps, rainforests, herbaceous swamps, cloud forests, riparian forests, forested wetlands, and coral reefs are just some of the habitats protected by Costa Rica’s parks and reserves. Areas of geological and geophysical interest such as active volcanoes, caves, mountains formed as a result of the settling of the Teutonic plates, areas of historical and archaeological interest such as pre-Columbian battlefields and settlements, areas of beautiful scenery such as beaches and waterfalls, and important conservation areas such as islands where the brown pelican nests and the magnificent frigatebird nest, or enclaves with the last remaining Mesoamerican dry forests, or beaches where immense whales congregate—all of these are within the protected parks and reserves of Costa Rica. Some of Costa Rica’s most popular parks include Arenal Volcano National Park – home to the most active volcano in the country, Barra Honda National Park – with its PRE-Columbinas limestone caves, Chirrido National Park – home to Costa Rica’s highest mountains, Corcovado National Park – considered the most biologically intense site in the world, Las Baulas National Marine Park – where thousands of Leatherback turtles nest, Turrialba Volcano National Park – with the largest volcanic craters, and La Amistad International Park – which is a biosphere project.