image of bird Costa Rica National Park

3 Must-See Costa Rica National Parks From Tamarindo

Over one quarter of Costa Rica has been dedicated as protected area. This includes, of course, reserves and national parks. With this substantial amount of land set aside for preservation, it can seem like a daunting task to choose the best national parks to visit during your stay in the Tamarindo area of Costa Rica.

While the entire country is clearly filled with great parks to visit, including the lovely Corcovado National Park and Tortuguero National Park, here are three park options at a reasonable distance from Tamarindo. You can easily visit these overnight or for a weekend stay.

Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antoni0 is one of the most beloved national parks of Costa Rica. At over 5 hours away from Tamarindo, it is important to plan for at least an overnight stay, if not an entire weekend excursion. The wildlife alone is reason to visit this national park along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

Manuel Antonio is home to sloths, monkeys, and over 184 species of interesting tropical birds. You will also be able to explore the forests, swamps, lagoons, and beaches of the area. Booking a tour is a great way to take in the glory of Manuel Antonio while also enjoying adventure activities like repelling or white water rafting.

Tenorio Volcano National Park

Tenorio Volcano National Park

In the beautiful region of Guanacaste, Tenorio Volcano National Park is under three hours away from Tamarindo. Tenorio Volcano National Park may be a lesser known spot, but don’t let that take away from its beauty. Locals know it’s a must-go.

Tenorio is home to the Rio Celeste Waterfall. The vibrant blue of the water amidst the tropical greenery makes for the perfect day trip to relax and take stunning pictures. Though you cannot swim in the natural hot springs in the area, you can still spend your day hiking up to the waterfall and enjoying one of the loveliest spots in Guanacaste along the way.

Carara National Park

Carara National Park

Just a little over 3 hours away from Tamarindo, Carara National Park is your go-to stop to see a wide array of Costa Rican birds. In fact, over 400 kinds of birds have been found in this wonderful national park near Jaco. Like the other national parks, you can enjoy this wildlife while you are leisurely walking easy trails or taking more advanced hikes.

The popular tourist spot, the Tarcoles River (AKA “The Crocodile Bridge”) can also be found in the park. It’s a great spot to see some large Costa Rican crocodiles.

If you are interested in visiting any of these three parks or want to enquire about tour options contact info@bluemoonproperty.com for more information.