Click here to see more results

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts

FOR YOU, FOR FREE: 17 years' worth of firsthand Costa Rica trip planning and travel advice compiled into hundreds of articles, plus exclusive discounts. Created by a Costa Rican and a four-time published Costa Rica guidebook author. Welcome, amigos, and as we say in Costa Rica, pura vida!

NEW! Our awesome Costa Rica Destination Tool filters 66 destinations by nearly 150 criteria to help you quickly and easily decide where to go in Costa Rica according to your unique preferences, wants, and needs. Learn more and access the tool on our sister site, DIY Costa Rica, here.

A List Of 50+ Costa Rica Entrance Fees: How Much It Costs To Enter National Parks, Reserves, and Refuges

A List Of 50+ Costa Rica Entrance Fees: How Much It Costs To Enter National Parks, Reserves, and Refuges

Last updated on September 8th, 2023 at 03:25 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)


Written by Nikki Solano

Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️

Costa Rica Travel Consulting Nikki Solano


WANT TO SAVE MONEY IN COSTA RICA?
Our sister site, Pura Vida! eh? Inc., has discounts for Costa Rica tours and activities. Con mucho gusto (you’re welcome) and pura vida!
🙂

What to know about Costa Rica entrance fees

As we explain in our related blog post Costa Rica Guided Tours: Are They Necessary, Valuable, And/Or Worthwhile?, having a tour guide at your side as you explore Costa Rica’s many national parks, biological reserves, and wildlife refuges is a smart idea. If you plan to tour some of these places on your own, though (you may be interested in our related blog post Self-Guided Adventures: 20 Things To Do In Costa Rica Without A Guide in that case), you’ll still need to pay the entrance fee(s) to the national park(s), reserve(s), or refuge(s) you decide to visit.

In the charts below, we outline the current entrance fees that you’ll be charged at Costa Rica’s most popular (and a few less-visited) national parks, reserves, and refuges as a foreign visitor (lower rates apply to Costa Rican nationals). Please note that none of the rates provided below include Costa Rica’s governmental tax (13%), so be sure to keep this in mind when budgeting for your trip. For more information about tax in Costa Rica, don’t miss our related blog post What You Need To Know About The 13% VAT Tax In Costa Rica.

Where and how are Costa Rica entrance fees paid?

Costa Rica entrance fees are typically paid at an attraction’s booth, wicket, or office upon arrival. In most cases, entrance fees can be paid in cash (USD or Costa Rican colones) or by credit card (Visa and Mastercard).

Some parks, including the Poas Volcano National Park, the Corcovado National Park, the Manuel Antonio National Park, and the Chirripo National Park (plus some sectors of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park and the Santa Rosa National Park) require that the entrance fee be purchased online prior to arrival. To explore the most popular of these national parks, you’ll likely need to pay the entrance fees weeks or months before you travel (usually via the SINAC website), depending on the time of year you intend to visit.

Do guided tours include Costa Rica entrance fees?

Most tour operators automatically include the cost(s) associated with Costa Rica entrance fees in the price of their guided tour experiences. A few companies don’t, though, so it’s best to have each tour operator that you communicate with confirm whether or not you need to purchase an entrance fee separately. This is particularly true for surf tours that visit popular breaks within the Santa Rosa National Park.

Do Costa Rica entrance fees apply year-round?

Yes; however, there are a handful of national parks, biological reserves, and wildlife refuges that permit free entry at certain times of the year and charge an entrance fee during others, so in these cases, the entrance fee isn’t enforced year-round. Some attractions that normally charge an entrance fee allow Costa Rican nationals to visit for free on the second Wednesday of each month, but this loophole doesn’t apply to foreign visitors.

Which Costa Rica attractions charge an entrance fee?

Most national parks, biological reserves, and wildlife refuges require paid entry. Though Costa Rica entrance fees are subject to change at any time and without notice, our tables below display the most current adult and child entrance fee rates.

Looking for the hours of operation for Costa Rica’s national parks, biological reserves, wildlife refuges? Don’t miss our related blog post:

The Operating Hours For 20+ Costa Rica National Parks, Reserves, And Refuges

Looking for trail maps to Costa Rica’s national parks, biological reserves, wildlife refuges, and other attractions? Don’t miss our related blog post:

Photos of Costa Rica Trail Maps

Arenal Volcano National Park Entrance Fee

Per adult (age 13+), per day $15.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day $5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per day FREE

Barra Honda National Park Entrance Fee

Per adult (age 12+), per day $12.00 USD
Per child (age 6-11), per day $5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-5), per day FREE

Braulio Carrillo National Park Entrance Fee

Quebrada Gonzalez Sector

Per adult (age 66+), per dayFREE
Per adult (age 13-65), per day$12.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day $5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per day FREE

Volcan Brava Sector

Per adult (age 66+), per dayFREE
Per adult (age 13-65), per day$12.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day $5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per day FREE

Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve Entrance Fee

Per adult (age 13+), per day$12.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Cahuita National Park Entrance Fee

Playa Blanca Sector

Per person, per day FREE; donation recommended

Playa Vargas Sector

Per person, per day $5.00 USD

Cano Negro Mixed Wildlife Refuge Entrance Fee

Per person, per day sometimes $5.00 USD and sometimes FREE, depending on the season

Carara National Park Entrance Fee

Per adult (age 13+), per day $10.00 USD
Per child (age 6-12), per day $5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-5), per day FREE

Chirripo National Park Entrance Fee

Per person, per day$18.00 USD

Corcovado National Park Entrance Fee

Per adult (age 13+), per day$15.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per day FREE

Guayabo National Monument Entrance Fee

Per person (age 2-65), per day $6.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Isla del Cano Biological Reserve Entrance Fee

Per adult (age 13+), per day $15.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Isla del Coco National Park Entrance Fee

Per person (scuba diver), per day $70.00 USD
Per person (non-diver), per day$50.00 USD

Marino Las Baulas National Park Entrance Fee

Per person, per dayFREE

Los Quetzales National Park Entrance Fee

Per adult (age 13+), per day$10.00 USD
Per child (age 6-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-5), per dayFREE

Manuel Antonio National Park Entrance Fee

Per adult (age 13+), per day$16.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Marino Ballena National Park Entrance Fee

Per adult (age 11+), per day $6.00 USD
Per child (age 0-10), per dayFREE

Palo Verde National Park Entrance Fee

Per person, per day$12.00 USD

Poas Volcano National Park Entrance Fee

Per adult (age 66+), per dayFREE
Per adult (age 13-65), per day$15.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Rincon de la Vieja National Park Entrance Fee

Pailas Sector

Per adult (age 13+), per day$15.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Santa Maria Sector

Per adult (age 13+), per day$15.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Santa Rosa National Park Entrance Fee

Santa Rosa Sector

Per adult (age 13+), per day$15.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Murcielago Sector

Per adult (age 13+), per day$15.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Santa Elena Sector

Per adult (age 13+), per day$15.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Tenorio National Park Entrance Fee

Per adult (13+), per day$12.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Tortuguero National Park Entrance Fee

Per adult (13+), per day$15.00 USD
Per child (age 2-12), per day$5.00 USD
Per child (age 0-1), per dayFREE

Costa Rica entrance fees for 20+ less popular sites of interest

Agua Juan Castro Blanco National Park entrance fee$10.00 USD per person, per day
Barbilla National Park entrance fee $5.00 USD per person, per day
Camaronal Wildlife Reserve entrance fee $12.00 USD per person, per day
Cerro Tortuguero entrance fee $2.00 USD per person, per day
Cipanci Wildlife Refuge entrance fee $5.00 USD per person, per day
Diriá National Park entrance fee $5.00 USD per person, per day
Golfito Wildlife Refuge entrance fee $10.00 USD per person, per day
Grecia Forest Reserve (Bosque del Niño) entrance fee $5.00 USD per person, per day
Guanacaste National Park entrance fee $15.00 USD per person, per day
Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve entrance fee $5.00 USD per person, per day
Iguanita Wildlife Refuge entrance fee $5.00 USD per person, per day
Isla San Lucas Wildlife Refuge entrance fee $12.00 USD per person, per day
La Amistad International Park entrance fee $10.00 USD per person, per day
La Cangreja National Park entrance fee $10.00 USD per person, per day
Las Camelias Lagoon Wildlife Refuge entrance fee $5.00 USD per person, per day
Maquenque Wildlife Refuge entrance fee $5.00 USD per person, per day
Ostional Wildlife Reserve entrance fee FREE
Piedras Blancas National Park entrance fee $10.00 USD per person, per day
Playa Hermosa Wildlife Refuge entrance fee $10.00 USD per person, per day
Río Macho Forest Reserve (Villa Mills) entrance fee $5.00 USD per person, per day
Tapantí National Park (Macizo de la Muerte) entrance fee $10.00 USD per person, per day
Tivives Protected Zone entrance fee $5.00 USD per person, per day
Turrialba Volcano National Park entrance fee $12.00 USD per person, per day

What if I’m looking for Costa Rica entrance fees not currently listed above?

Feel free to leave us a comment below if you’re looking for an entrance fee not yet displayed on this page. If we know the fee, or are able to obtain it from our colleagues, we’ll happily add it to this page.

QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Which protected land or marine site in Costa Rica is your favorite to visit and why?

Pura vida!



Hey, Costa Rica Travel Blog reader, thank you for visiting and reading our blog! We're truly grateful for your time and preference.

Do you know that your spam-free reading experience is most important to us? Unlike some other Costa Rica blogs, we do not to sell your personal information, and we choose not to display ads, sponsored content, or affiliate marketing on our blog so we can keep your visit as distraction- and junk-free as possible. Because we prioritize your privacy, we don't earn money when you visit us, when you sign up for our e-course, or when you click on our links, which means the time and work we put into this blog—including its 300+ articles—is entirely voluntary! If you find our content valuable, and you'd like to thank us for making the trip-planning process easier and your Costa Rica vacation more enjoyable, please consider making a small donation ($1, $2, $3, or an amount of your choosing) to our blog. Doing so is a great way to pat us on the back if you feel we deserve it. 😊 Pura vida, amigos!

Click on the button above to donate through PayPal. (If you cannot see the PayPal button above, click here.) A PayPal account is not required to make a donation; credit and debit cards are also accepted. PayPal donations are confidential; we never see your payment details.


Love our blog? Check out our other Costa Rica-related projects, too:


DIY Costa Rica

Costa Rica tour discounts

DIY Costa Rica

Costa Rica Travel Consulting Nikki Solano

Costa Rica Recommendations Map

Costa Rica Destination Tool

Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course

Costa Rica Travel Shop



Summary
A List Of 50+ Costa Rica Entrance Fees: How Much It Costs To Enter National Parks, Reserves, and Refuges
Article Name
A List Of 50+ Costa Rica Entrance Fees: How Much It Costs To Enter National Parks, Reserves, and Refuges
Description
We list adult and child rates for Costa Rica entrance fees to national parks, biological reserves, wildlife refuges, and other attractions!
Author
Publisher Name
The Official Costa Rica Travel Blog
Publisher Logo

Viewing 6 reply threads
Viewing 6 reply threads
  • The forum ‘Costa Rica Travel Blog Forum’ is closed to new topics and replies.