The national parks and reserves of Costa Rica protect the nation's most outstanding natural heritage.

These wilderness areas provide shelter for most of the 205 species of mammals, 849 species of birds, 160 species of amphibians, 218 species of reptiles and 130 species of freshwater fish.

Tamarindo
The Tamarindo Refuse holds one of the most important nesting sites for the leatherback turtle in the world.

Corcovado
Corcovado National Park in Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Cocos Island
Cocos Island National Park in Costa Rica

Rincón de la Vieja
An active volcano with its slopes covered with forests containing hidden lakes, rivers, waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife.

Poás Volcano
Poás Volcano National Park in Heredia, Costa Rica

Irazu Volcano
Irazu Volcano National Park in Cartago, Costa Rica

Guayabo
Guayabo National Monument in Turrialba

Tapantí
Tapantí National Wildlife Refuge

Chirripó
Chirripí National Park & La Amistad Costa Rica - Panamá International Park

Hitoy-Cerere
Hitoy-Cerere Biological Reserve

Caño Negro
Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge

Barra del Colorado
Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge

Tortuguero
Tortuguero National Park in Limón, Costa Rica

Cahuita
Cahuita National Park in Limón, Costa Rica

Gandoca-Manzanillo
Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge

Negritos Islands
Negritos Islands Wildlife Refuge

Golfito
Golfito National Wildlife Refuge

Caño Island
Caño Island Biological Reserve in Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Braulio Carrillo National Park
The park is covered with wet tropical and mountain forests, very little of which has even been explored.

Bolaños Island
Bolaños Island National Wildlife Refuge is especially important for the conservation of seabirds.

Lomas Barbudal
A wild land reserve full of insect species, especially bees, wasps, butterflies and moths.

Santa Rosa
The country's most historical park was originally created to protect an old ranch house.

Ostional
Ostional National Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica

Las Baulas
Small refuge on the Pacific coast north of Tamarindo beach

Cabo Blanco
Cabo Blanco Strict Nature Reserve in Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica

Barra Honda
There are nearly 42 caves of which only 19 have been explored to date. Some of the resident species are white-faced capuchin monkeys, coyotes and long-nosed armadillos.

Palo Verde
Palo Verde National Park & Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodriguez Caballero National Wildlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Guayabo Island
Guayabo Reserve Biological Reserves in Nicoya Gulf, Costa Rica

Peñas Blancas
Peñas Blancas Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica

Carrara
Carrara Biological Reserve in Costa Rica

Curú
National Wildlife Refuge in Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park

Los Pajaros Island
Los Pajaros Island Biological Reserve

Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Fumaroles, thermal water, waterfalls

Beach near the Corcovado National Park
Courtesy of CostaRicaPhotos.com

View of Poas volcano crater and lagoon
Courtesy of CostaRicaPhotos.com

Fasciated Tiger-Heron
Courtesy of CostaRicaPhotos.com