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NATURE |
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Costa Rica protects 25 percent of its total territory under the
aegis of a carefully structured system of national parks, wildlife
refuges and biological reserves whose role in protecting the country's
rich fauna and flora against the expansion of resource-extracting
activities and human settlement has been generally lauded. In all there
are currently some 75 protected areas, established gradually over the
past thirty years.
In total the parks and reserves protect approximately four percent of
the world's total wildlife species and life zones, among them
rainforests, cloudforests, páramo (high-altitude moorlands), swamps,
lagoons, marshes and mangroves, and the last remaining patches of
tropical dry forest in the isthmus. Also protected are areas of
historical significance, including a very few pre-Columbian settlements,
and places considered to be of immense scenic beauty. Measures have also
been taken to protect beaches where marine turtles lay their eggs, as
well as a number of active volcanoes.
The national parks , which cover 12 percent of Costa Rica's protected
land, provide more services and activities than the refuges and
reserves, and tend to be more heavily touristed. That said, it's
important to remember that none of the protected areas has been set up
with tourists in mind - biologists, scientists and researchers make up a
large portion of visitors. While we give information as to which animals
inhabit the specific parks, bear in mind that you are in no way
guaranteed to see them - although you'll probably see some of the more
common or less shy ones, you'll be very lucky indeed to spot the larger
mammals such as the jaguar, ocelot or tapir.
Visiting Costa Rica's parks
All national parks have entrance puestos , or stations, where you pay
your fee and pick up a map. Typically, the main ranger stations , from
where the internal administration of the park is carried out, and where
the rangers live,...
All national parks have entrance puestos , or stations, where you pay
your fee and pick up a map. Typically, the main ranger stations , from
where the internal administration of the park is carried out, and where
the rangers live, are some way from the entrance puesto . It can be a
good idea to drop by the main station, where you can talk to rangers (if
your Spanish is good enough) about local terrain and conditions, enquire
about drinking water, and use the bathroom. In some parks, such as
Corcovado, you can sleep in or camp near the main stations. All parks
now charge an entrance fee of $6 per day. If you want to camp overnight
in any park, you'll have to pay for both days - $12 in total.
Outside the most visited parks - Volcán Poás, Volcán Irazú, Santa Rosa
and Manuel Antonio - opening hours are somewhat theoretical. Many places
are open daily, from around 8am to 3.45pm, though there are exceptions -
Manuel Antonio is closed on Monday and may be closed on Tuesdays in the
future, while other parks may open a little earlier in the morning.
Unless you're planning on camping or staying overnight, there's almost
no point in arriving at a national park in the afternoon. In all cases,
especially at the volcanoes, you should aim to arrive as early in the
morning as possible to make the most of the day and, in particular, the
weather (especially in the wet season).
The only central office where you can make reservations and get detailed,
up-to-date information or buy permits , where required, is the Fundación
de Parques Nacionales (Av 15, C 23/25, San José, tel 257-2239,
www.minae.go.cr/accvc ), who will contact those parks for which you need
reservations, chiefly Santa Rosa, Corcovado and Chirripó (see the
individual accounts in the guide for more details). Other parks can be
visited on spec.
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