Costa Rica will begin enforcing new fines on April 30 against people who enter national parks and other protected wild areas through illegal access points or take part in unauthorized activities inside them. The measure was published yesterday and takes effect 10 days later because the text does not include an immediate start clause.
Illegal entry into protected areas has become a growing problem in Costa Rica in recent years, with some visitors and tour operators using unofficial routes to reach off-limits beaches, trails, viewpoints, and fragile ecosystems. Authorities have argued that these trips put people at risk and add pressure to areas that are supposed to remain protected under each park’s technical management plan.
The new law strengthens the National Parks Service Act by expanding the list of prohibited conduct. It bans access to areas that are not designated for public use under the planning rules for each protected area. It also prohibits the organization, promotion, or operation of unauthorized activities, including those advertised online or through digital platforms.
Fines will be calculated using Costa Rica’s 2026 base salary, which the Judicial Branch set at ₡462,200. Under that formula, people who enter restricted areas or violate access rules can face a fine equal to three base salaries, or ₡1,386,600. The same amount applies to people who organize or promote unauthorized activities in protected wilderness areas.
Tour operators face steeper penalties. If they promote or sell tours to unauthorized sites, they can be fined seven base salaries, or ₡3,235,400. If a guide or operator takes visitors into high-risk areas inside a protected zone, the penalty rises to ten base salaries, or ₡4,622,000, and authorities may also confiscate the equipment used during the activity.
The law also raises penalties for repeat offenders. A second violation can bring a 50 percent increase over the original fine. If the offense is repeated again after that, SINAC may bar the person from entering protected wilderness areas for one year. The measure also includes added penalties when an illegal entry leads to a specialized rescue operation.
In those cases, authorities can impose a fine of five base salaries for each rescued person and ten base salaries on the responsible guide or operator. Part of that money will go to SINAC, while the rest will be directed to the Costa Rican Red Cross.
The change gives authorities a stronger legal tool to go after a practice that has often operated in plain sight, especially in areas where unofficial trails and social media promotion have helped normalize illegal access. It also sends a clear warning to visitors ahead of the high season for domestic travel and weekend park visits.
For tourists visiting our country, it’s a financial reminder to stick to official entrances, marked trails, and authorized tours is no longer only a matter of safety and conservation. Starting April 30, breaking those rules can also bring a costly fine.
