RSSGuayabo & Negritos Islands Biological Reserve (Isla de Pajaros)
These two small islands were set aside as a biological reserve in 1973, with 143.5 hectares set for the preservation of sea bird nesting areas. Thus, the island of Guayabo is especially known for having one of the most important nesting grounds of the brown pelican. The Negritos Island, made a biological reserve in 1976 with 4 hectares of area, is also a protected area for sea bird nesting.
Juan Castro Blanco National Park
Juan Castro Blanco National Park, spread over 24,000 hectares, is located in the northern lowlands and to east of Ciudad Quesada. It is over a hundred kms from San Jose. It covers the rain-forested part of the Platanar Volcano, one of the lesser-known volcanoes of the country. The area receives plenty of rainfall and that results in the varied vegetation here and many rivers and springs. Some of the finest and most exotic birds can be found here like the magnificent quetzal. Accommodation is available in Ciudad Quesada.
La Amistad International Park
Amistad means friendship in Spanish, and this park is so named since it is an international park extending across the border into Panama. Panama has over 200,000 hectares of the park while the Costa Rican part covers 194,000 hectares. The United Nations declared this park, along with its surrounding protected areas, a biosphere reserve in 1982 and a World patrimony site a year later in 1983.
The park merges with Chirripo National Park, along the top of the Talamanca Mountain Range, which in turn borders other protected areas, thus making it part of a mammoth complex of protected areas covering major parts of the two countries. Bordered on the Caribbean side, by the Chirripó, Tayní and Telire Indian reserves; and the Ujarrás, Salitre and Cabagra reseres on its Pacific side.
The park covers some very wet forest, cloud forest, paramo and bare rocky peaks. According to the Holdridge Life Zones Classification, there are 7 different life zones and 6 areas in transition here. This area lies right on the land bridge between the North and South American Continents, and is very rich and diverse biologically with a variety of flora and fauna existing here. Specimens of Canadian flora can be spotted growing side by side. There are also hectares of high elevation fern swamps filled with Spagnum moss. There are impressive stands of the great Costa Rican oak with branches laden with masses of epiphytes. This huge park has several unexplored pockets that are a host to an abundance of wildlife. It also contains watersheds of numerous important rivers and is a source of water for future populations down in the coastal areas.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is a relatively smaller park covering less than 700 hectares but it is Costa Rica's most frequented and famous national park. It comprises a small forested area and three exceptionally beautiful beaches. The forest has a heavy population of monkeys and raccoons and is one of the few remaining areas where the squirrel monkey is found. The trail passes through secondary forest and primary forest, dominated by bastard cedar and balsa and mangrove swamps. The spectacular beaches are fringed with coconut palm. A tombolo makes a footbridge, connecting the mainland to an island, Punta Catedral. Camping and accommodation are available within walking distance of the park.
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