To view more detailed information on the protected areas, click on the names
Parque Nacional Chirripó
The difference in altitude that ranges from 1400 meter to 3819 meters above sea level on Chirripó peak together with the variated climate and soil give rise to the largest ecological diversity in the country. About 400 species of birds and 260 amphibians have been identified. The park of "eternal waters" is full of incomparable sites of great beauty, such as the summit of Chirripó peak surrounded by several lakes of glacial origin or the imposing mass of crags known as the crestones. 
Parque Internacional La Amistad
This park is the largest wilderness area in Costa Rica. It covers almost 200,000 hectares of paramo, rainforests and cloud forests. The park protects a wealth of flora and fauna and also the upper and middle watersheds of extremely important rivers. The wildlife is very rich and provides shelter for many endangered species such as the jaguar or the tapir. La Amistad International Park has its counterpart in Panama and forms part of the Amistad Biosphere Reserve which also includes Chiripó National Park, Las Tablas, Hitoy Cerere and 5 Indian reserves.
Hitoy Cerere
This area is located south of Limon and is composed of very moist evergreen forests and many, many rushing rivers, such as the "Hitoy" that means wooly and refers to the moss that covers almost everything in this park and the "Cerere" that means clear. This park is part of the Talamanca Mountain Range and protects many endangered species. The hot and humid habitat is naturally also home to snakes, frogs and many butterflies.
Parque Nacional Barbilla
This park protects a region where mankind has not altered nature. The area still conserves its natural state due to its hard access location. It is part of the "Reserva de la Biosfera de la Amistad" which was declared by the UNESCO as a world heritage site. It is one of the few places in Costa Rica where all 5 feline species can still be found.
Refugio de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo
This wildlife reserve is very important from an ecological point of view because it contains the only intact mangrove swamp in the Atlantic, and the primary lowland small rainforest found here is the only one of its kind in the region. The Refugio Gandoca Manzanillo is also the nesting area for several species of turtles. It is a good spot to observe dolphins.
Parque Nacional Cahuita
This area protects one of the most developed coral reefs of the Caribbean coast and one of the most important in Costa Rica. It also protects a small area of swamp forest and beautiful white sand beaches. The reef consists of 240 hectares around Cahuita Point, a site endangered by the built up of silt and other sediments. It also suffered major damage after a very strong earthquake in 1991 that elevated a large part of the Caribbean Coast, leaving the reef exposed, killing the corals.
Parque Nacional Tortuguero
Tortuguero consists of an infinite number of channels, waterways, lagoons and small lagoons that are fed by the rivers that flow from the rainy Central Mountain Range and by the torrential rains that fall in the area. It is not accessible by car, only by boat or plane. The straight dark-sand shores and the wild surf make Tortuguero an ideal place for the sea turtles to lay their eggs. Actually Tortuguero is the most important hatchery for the Pacific green turtle in the entire western half of the Caribbean. They nest from July to October.
Refugio de Vida Silvestre Barra del Colorado
Barra del Colorado is located just north of Tortuguero National Park borders with Nicaragua in the North. Like Tortuguero Barra del Colorado consists of channels, lagoons, rivers, river islands, forests, marshes and small hills. Barra del Colorado is a well known fishing site and famous for tarpon fishing.
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