Costa Rica has reopened 15 more protected wildlife areas, the Environment Ministry (MINAE) announced this week.
Below are the protected areas that have opened as of June 1:
- Santa Rosa National Park
- Tortuguero National Park
- Tenorio National Park
- Isla del Coco National Park
- Barra Honda National Park
- Diriá National Park
- Las Baulas National Park
- Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
- Cipanci Wildlife Refuge
- Ostional Wildlife Refuge
- Camaronal Wildlife Refuge
- Iguanita Wildlife Refuge
- Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve
- Grecia Forest Reserve (Bosque del Niño)
- Monte Alto Protected Zone
The 15 locations join 12 national parks, plus the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which reopened to the public in mid-May.
- Irazú Volcano National Park
- Poás Volcano National Park
- Guayabo National Monument
- Braulio Carrillo National Park
- Carara National Park
- Corcovado National Park
- Manuel Antonio National Park
- Cahuita National Park
- Arenal Volcano National Park
- Rincón de la Vieja National Park
- Los Quetzales National Park
- Tapantí National Park
“We hope that with these new openings, communities will be positively impacted and nearby businesses and ventures reactivated,” said Grettel Vega, executive director of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC).
Authorities have established capacity limits and will follow strict sanitary guidelines in order to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission. Some trails or attractions may remain closed within parks, SINAC said, and employees will wear personal protective equipment.
With the exception of Poás Volcano National Park, tickets can be purchased on-site. Credit or debit cards are preferred and in some cases required.
Costa Rica’s borders are still closed to arriving tourists. While the country is reactivating its tourism sector, it’s focusing on domestic visitors first.
