Anyone can enter Costa Rica’s national parks without paying an admission fee on Monday, August 24, to celebrate National Parks Day. The free entry applies to Costa Ricans, legal residents and international visitors. It is offered each year under a 1986 government decree that established August 24 as a day to recognize the country’s protected areas.
However, free does not necessarily mean you can simply arrive without planning. Parks that normally require online reservations will still require you to reserve a ticket through the official National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) website. During the reservation process, the admission price for August 24 should appear as zero colones.
Online reservations are currently for Manuel Antonio, Poás Volcano, Irazú Volcano, Tenorio Volcano, Rincón de la Vieja, Tortuguero, Carara, Chirripó, Tapantí, San Lucas Island and the Barva Volcano sector of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Visitors should reserve early because parks will continue to enforce their daily limits. A park can stop accepting visitors once all available spaces are taken, even when admission is free.
At parks that sell tickets at the entrance, you can obtain a free pass upon arrival. They should still check the park’s opening hours and arrive early, especially at popular destinations. The offer covers the basic entrance fee only. Parking, guides, transportation, lodging, food, equipment rentals and other services may still cost money.
Keep in mind that weather could still affect some visits. Costa Rica has had some serious flooding and landslides in recent days, particularly in the Caribbean and northern regions. Turrialba Volcano National Park and Guayabo National Monument have been closed since August 18 because of flooded trails, damaged access roads and saturated ground. Authorities said the closures would remain in place until conditions are safe.
SINAC may close other parks or trails at short notice if heavy rain, flooding, volcanic activity or infrastructure problems create a risk. Check SINAC’s official social media pages before leaving home, particularly if traveling to the Caribbean, Turrialba or the Northern Zone.
This year’s main National Parks Day celebration is taking place in Puntarenas from August 21 through August 24. The program includes environmental education, conservation talks, cultural activities and events focused on protecting Costa Rica’s marine areas. A scientific forum called “Voices of Conservation” is being held today and tomorrow at Parque Marino del Pacífico. Workers from Costa Rica’s 11 conservation areas are sharing their experiences managing national parks and other protected areas.
The program also includes recognition of park rangers on Sunday the 23rd. This year’s tribute honors Maynor Zúñiga Siles, an Isla del Coco National Park ranger who was seriously injured while working in October 2025. Costa Rica protects roughly one-quarter of its land and more than 30% of its marine territory.
National Parks Day is intended to give the public a chance to visit those protected areas while recognizing the work involved in preserving them. Visitors are encouraged to carry water, wear shoes suitable for wet trails and take all trash with them. Pets are not allowed inside Costa Rica’s protected wilderness areas.
