National parks, wildlife refuges, and biological reserves are found throughout the country. They range from swampy wetlands to dry-forest environments, and from lowland rainforests to high-mountain cloud forests.
Sign up for guided natural-history excursions or hire a local naturalist guide. You’ll see many times more critters in the company of an eagle-eyed guide.
Barra de Matina/Parismina [1]: Leatherbacks, greens, and hawksbills come ashore at this private sanctuary.
Corcovado National Park [2]: This remote and dense rainforest is one place you may be able to spot tapirs and jaguars, and scarlet macaws are a dime a dozen.
Curú National Wildlife Refuge [3]: Three species of turtles come ashore at this private refuge.
Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge [4]: Turtle lovers are sure to spot leatherbacks (Apr.–May), greens (July–Sept.), and hawksbills (Mar.–Aug.).
Jungle Safari on the Tárcoles River [5]: Guaranteed close-up sightings of giant crocodiles.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens [6]: This splendid park has a fabulous aviary plus snake, butterfly, hummingbird, and frog exhibits.
Manuel Antonio National Park [7]: This popular park offers easy wildlife-viewing from wide-open trails.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve [8]: Monteverde draws bird-watchers keen to spot a quetzal.
Ostional National Wildlife Refuge [9]: This 248-hectare refuge protects the major nesting site of olive ridleys.
Palo Verde National Park [10]: This national park is known for its vast flocks of waterfowl and migratory birds.
Playa Camaronal [11]: Olive ridleys nest year-round and leatherbacks nest March and April.
Los Quetzals National Park [12]: Your chances of seeing quetzals are vastly improved at this national park.
Tortuguero National Park [13]: This is my favorite place for wildlife-viewing. You may see river otters, caimans, and even manatees. Turtle-viewing at night is icing on the cake.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/the-caribbean-coast/puerto-limon-and-vicinity/puerto-limon-tortuguero
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/golfo-dulce-and-the-osa-peninsula/the-osa-peninsula/corcovado-national-park
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/the-nicoya-peninsula/southeast-nicoya/curu-national-wildlife-refuge
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/the-caribbean-coast/manzanillo-and-vicinity/gandoca-manzanillo-national-wildlife-refuge
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/central-pacific/orotina-playa-herradura/jungle-crocodile-safari
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/central-highlands/alajuela-and-vicinity/the-slopes-poas-volcano/la-paz-waterfall-gardens
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/central-pacific/quepos-and-manuel-antonio/manuel-antonio-national-park
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/guanacaste-and-the-northwest/monteverde-and-santa-elena/sights/monteverde-cloud-forest-biological-reserv
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/the-nicoya-peninsula/playa-lagarto-ostional/ostional-national-wildlife-refuge
[10] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/guanacaste-and-the-northwest/canas-and-vicinity/palo-verde-national-park
[11] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/the-nicoya-peninsula/playa-camaronal-manzanillo/playa-camaronal-punta-bejuco
[12] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/central-highlands/cartago-and-vicinity/san-gerardo-de-dota
[13] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/the-caribbean-coast/tortuguero-and-barra-del-colorado/tortuguero-national-park