2018 United Nations List of Protected Areas of Costa Rica

Information extracted from the July 2018 WDPA release

This list was compiled from data based on the July 2018 version of the WDPA. In addition to protected areas with spatial data in the WDPA, the 2018 version of the UN List includes sites for which no spatial data is available but which have been provided by the relevant country. Management effectiveness information is extracted from GD-PAME. Both databases are updated and released via www.protectedplanet.net on a monthly basis. The depiction and use of boundaries and related data shown on maps are not guaranteed to be error free nor do they necessarily imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
Designation Type/ Designation in English / Name of Protected Areas Status Year of designation Area (km2) IUCN category PAME methodology Year of PAME assessment
International
Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance
Caño Negro Designated 1991 99.69 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Cuenca Embalse Arenal Designated 2000 672.96 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Gandoca-Manzanillo Designated 1995 94.45 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Humedal Caribe Noreste Designated 1996 753.10 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Humedal Maquenque Designated 2010 596.92 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Isla del Coco Designated 1998 996.23 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Laguna Respringue Designated 1999 0.75 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Manglar de Potrero Grande Designated 1999 1.39 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Palo Verde Designated 1991 245.19 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Tamarindo Designated 1993 5.00 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Terraba-Sierpe Designated 1995 306.54 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Turberas de Talamanca Designated 2003 1925.20 Not Reported Not Reported 0
UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve
Aqua y Paz Designated 2007 1499.60 Not Applicable Not Reported 0
Cordillera Volcánica Central Designated 1988 1443.63 Not Applicable Not Reported 0
La Amistad Designated 1982 5845.92 Not Applicable Not Reported 0
World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)
Area de Conservación Guanacaste Inscribed 1999 1470.00 Not Applicable Not Reported 0
Cocos Island National Park Inscribed 1997 1997.90 Not Applicable Not Reported 0
Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park Inscribed 1983 5678.45 Not Applicable WHA Outlook Report 2014
National
Biological Reserve
Alberto Manuel Brenes Proposed 1975 78.00 Ia SINot ReportedD 2016
Cerro Las Vueltas Designated 1994 8.02 Ia SINot ReportedD 2016
Hitoy Cerere Designated 1978 99.42 Ia METT; SINot ReportedD 2011; 2016
Isla del Caño Designated 1976 55.33 Ia METT; SINot ReportedD 2010; 2016
Isla Guayabo Designated 1973 0.06 Ia Not Reported 0
Isla Pajaros Designated 1976 0.11 Ia SINot ReportedD 2016
Islas Negritos Designated 1973 1.43 Ia Not Reported 0
Lomas Barbudal Designated 1986 26.11 Ia SINot ReportedD 2016
Conservation Easement
Lapa Rios Reserve Designated 2013 3.91 Ib Not Reported 0
Forest Reserve
Cordillera Volcánica Central Designated 1975 612.78 VI Not Reported 0
Golfo Dulce Designated 1978 599.76 VI SINot ReportedD 2016
Grecia Designated 1974 22.94 VI Not Reported 0
Los Santos Designated 1975 560.45 VI SINot ReportedD 2016
Pacuare-Matina Designated 1973 4.76 VI Not Reported 0
Río Macho Designated 1964 226.31 VI SINot ReportedD 2016
Río Pacuare Designated 1985 131.46 VI Not Reported 0
Taboga Designated 1978 2.97 VI SINot ReportedD 2016
Zona Emerg Volc Arenal Designated 1969 2.35 VI Not Reported 0
National Park
Arenal Designated 1991 120.80 II SINot ReportedD 2016
Barbilla Designated 1982 119.29 II SINot ReportedD 2016
Barra Honda Designated 1974 22.95 II SINot ReportedD 2016
Braulio Carrillo Designated 1978 472.72 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Cahuita Designated 1970 243.93 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Carara Designated 1978 52.81 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Chirripó Designated 1975 501.41 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Corcovado Designated 1975 444.83 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Diría Not Reported 2004 54.26 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Guanacaste Designated 1991 337.80 II SINot ReportedD 2016
Internacional La Amistad Designated 1982 1983.90 II PROARCA/CAPAS 2001
Isla del Coco Designated 1978 1971.41 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2011; 2016
Juan Castro Blanco Designated 1975 143.10 II SINot ReportedD 2016
La Cangreja Not Reported 2002 25.09 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Las Baulas de Guanacaste Not Reported 1991 271.47 II SINot ReportedD 2016
Los Quetzales Not Reported 2006 41.12 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Manuel Antonio Designated 1972 1262.31 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Marino Ballena Designated 1992 53.55 II SINot ReportedD 2016
Palo Verde Designated 1978 182.92 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Piedras Blancas Designated 1991 151.31 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Rincón de la Vieja Designated 1974 141.22 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Santa Rosa Not Reported 1966 855.41 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Tapantí-Macizo Cerro la Muerte Not Reported 2000 583.66 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Tortuguero Designated 1970 792.49 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Volcán Irazú Designated 1955 19.98 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Volcán Poás Designated 1970 65.59 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Volcán Tenorio Designated 1976 129.03 II METT; SINot ReportedD 2006; 2016
Volcán Turrialba Designated 1955 12.57 Ib SINot ReportedD 2016
National Wildlife Refuge
Aguabuena (privado) Designated 1995 1.82 IV Not Reported 0
Ara Macao (mixto) Not Reported 2005 0.76 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Aviarios del Caribe (privado) Designated 1996 0.55 IV Not Reported 0
Bahía Junquillal (estatal) Designated 1995 4.38 IV SINot ReportedD 2016
Barra del Colorado (mixto) Designated 1985 810.48 IV SINot ReportedD 2016
Boracayán (privado) Not Reported 2002 3.69 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Bosque Alegre (mixto) Designated 1994 8.40 IV Not Reported 0
Bosque Escondido (privado) Not Reported 2006 7.11 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Cacyra (privado) Designated 1995 0.39 IV Not Reported 0
Caletas-Arío (mixto) Not Reported 2006 203.44 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Camaronal (mixto) Not Reported 1994 2.32 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Caño Negro (mixto) Designated 1984 101.35 IV Not Reported 0
Carate(mixto) Not Reported 1998 1.90 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Cataratas Cerro Redondo (privado) Designated 1997 6.45 IV Not Reported 0
Cerro Dantas (privado) Designated 1998 0.46 IV Not Reported 0
Chenailles (privado) Not Reported 2007 4.63 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Cipanci (estatal) Not Reported 2001 34.92 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Corredor fronterizo (estatal) Designated 1961 600.71 IV SINot ReportedD 2016
Costa Esmeralda (privado) Designated 1994 0.21 IV Not Reported 0
Cueva del Murciélago (privado) Not Reported 1998 0.93 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Curi Cancha Designated 1997 0.71 IV Not Reported 0
Curu (estatal) Designated 1983 0.96 IV Not Reported 0
Donald Peter Hayes (privado) Designated 1998 2.11 IV Not Reported 0
Dr.Archie Carr (estatal) Designated 1994 0.42 IV Not Reported 0
Duaru (privado) Not Reported 2003 3.49 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Fernando Castro C. (mixto) Designated 1994 14.11 IV SINot ReportedD 2016
Finca Baru del Pacífico (mixto) Designated 1995 3.47 IV SINot ReportedD 2016
Finca Hda. La Avellana (privado) Designated 1988 5.10 IV Not Reported 0
Forestal Golfito S.A. (privado) Designated 1995 0.87 IV Not Reported 0
Gandoca-Manzanillo (mixto) Designated 1985 108.53 IV Not Reported 0
Golfito (mixto) Designated 1985 28.20 IV SINot ReportedD 2016
Hacienda Copano (privado) Designated 1995 2.60 IV Not Reported 0
Iguanita (estatal) Designated 1994 1.07 IV SINot ReportedD 2016
Isla Chora (estatal) Not Reported 2002 0.04 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Isla San Lucas (estatal) Not Reported 2001 9.39 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Jaguarundi (privado) Designated 1998 1.25 IV Not Reported 0
Jardines de la Catarata (privado) Not Reported 2005 0.25 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Joseph Steve Friedman (privado) Designated 1997 0.22 IV Not Reported 0
La Ceiba (privado) Designated 1995 2.70 IV Not Reported 0
La Ensenada (mixto) Designated 1998 4.84 IV Not Reported 0
La Marta (privado) Designated 1993 13.26 IV Not Reported 0
La Nicoyana ( privado) Not Reported 2005 0.34 Not Reported Not Reported 0
La Tirimbina (privado) Not Reported 2001 2.94 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Laguna Las Camelias (estatal) Designated 1994 0.58 IV Not Reported 0
Lagunazul (privado) Not Reported 2000 0.14 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Limoncito (mixto) Designated 1994 10.96 IV Not Reported 0
Maquenque (mixto) Proposed 1994 524.11 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Mata Redonda (estatal) Designated 1994 3.72 IV SINot ReportedD 2016
Montaña El Tigre (privado) Not Reported 2003 2.73 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Nogal (privado) Not Reported 2006 1.08 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Osa (mixto) Not Reported 0 17.26 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Ostional (estatal) Designated 1983 85.70 IV SINot ReportedD 2016
Páramo (pivado) Not Reported 1999 5.69 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Pejeperro (mixto) Designated 2000 5.91 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Peñas Blancas (mixto) Designated 1985 24.00 IV Not Reported 0
Portalón (mixto) Designated 1996 4.49 IV Not Reported 0
Preciosa Platanares (mixto) Designated 1998 2.23 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Punta Leona ( privado) Designated 1994 0.35 IV Not Reported 0
Punta Río Claro (mixto) Designated 1997 3.20 IV Not Reported 0
Pya Hermosa -Pta Mala (estatal) Not Reported 1998 27.76 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Quillotro (mixto) Not Reported 1999 0.77 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Rancho La Merced (mixto) Designated 1995 4.10 IV Not Reported 0
Rancho Mastatal (privado) Not Reported 2004 0.79 Not Reported Not Reported 0
RHR Bancas (privado) Designated 1995 0.61 IV Not Reported 0
Río Dantas (privado) Not Reported 2006 0.95 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Río Oro (estatal) Not Reported 1999 17.65 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Río Piro (privado) Not Reported 1999 0.31 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Romelia (mixto) Not Reported 1997 2.32 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Saimiri (mixto) Not Reported 2007 1.25 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Santuario Ecológ (privado) Not Reported 2003 3.31 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Surtubal (privado) Not Reported 1997 1.18 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Transilvania (privado) Designated 1998 0.63 VI Not Reported 0
Werner Sauter (mixto) Designated 1995 1.85 VI Not Reported 0
Nature Reserve
Cabo Blanco Designated 1963 29.21 Ia SINot ReportedD 2016
Nicolás Wessberg Designated 1994 0.61 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Not Reported
No protegida Not Reported 0 0.38 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Other Reserve
Areas anexas a ASP Not Reported 0 162.60 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Estación Exp. Horizontes Designated 2002 72.79 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Monumento Nal. Guayabo Not Reported 1973 2.30 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Parque Natural Recreativo de Liberia Not Reported 0 0.10 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Protected Zone
Tivives Designated 1986 24.66 VI METT; SINot ReportedD 2011; 2016
Protective Zone
Acuíferos Guácimo y Pococí Designated 1987 42.63 VI Not Reported 0
Arenal-Monteverde Designated 1977 283.14 VI SINot ReportedD 2016
Caraigres Designated 1976 32.05 VI Not Reported 0
Cerro Atenas Designated 1976 9.00 VI Not Reported 0
Cerro de Escazú Designated 1976 71.76 VI SINot ReportedD 2016
Cerro El Chompipe Not Reported 1999 0.97 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Cerro La Cruz Designated 1994 1.99 VI Not Reported 0
Cerro Nara Designated 1984 23.48 VI Not Reported 0
Cerros de la Carpintera Designated 1976 23.91 VI Not Reported 0
Cerros de Turrubares Designated 1983 28.28 VI Not Reported 0
Cuenca del Río Abangares Designated 1995 43.67 VI SINot ReportedD 2016
Cuenca del Río Siquírres Designated 1995 6.71 VI Not Reported 0
Cuenca del Río Banano Designated 1990 93.21 VI Not Reported 0
Cuenca del Río Tuis Designated 1986 40.88 VI Not Reported 0
El Chayote Designated 1984 7.60 VI Not Reported 0
El Rodeo Designated 1976 21.09 VI Not Reported 0
La Selva Designated 1982 24.23 VI Not Reported 0
Las Tablas Designated 1981 199.48 VI Not Reported 0
Miravalles Proposed 1976 116.70 VI SINot ReportedD 2016
Monte Alto Not Reported 1994 9.10 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Montes de Oro Designated 1994 18.30 VI Not Reported 0
Península de Nicoya Designated 1994 213.17 VI Not Reported 0
Quebrada Rosario Designated 1997 0.27 VI Not Reported 0
Quitirrisí Designated 1982 1.12 VI Not Reported 0
Río Grande Designated 1976 14.99 VI Not Reported 0
Río Navarro-Río Sombrero Designated 1984 64.19 VI Not Reported 0
Río Tiribi Designated 1976 7.02 VI Not Reported 0
Río Toro Designated 1994 43.80 VI Not Reported 0
Tenorio Designated 1976 55.89 VI Not Reported 0
Tortuguero Designated 1990 55.82 VI Not Reported 0
Wetland
De San Vito Not Reported 1994 0.19 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Estero Puntarenas y manglares Not Reported 2001 51.73 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Lacustrino Bonilla-Bonillita Designated 1994 0.47 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Lacustrino Pejeperrito Designated 1994 0.63 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Laguna Madrigal Proposed 1994 0.47 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Manglar Térraba-Sierpe Not Reported 1994 270.52 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Marino Playa Blanca Designated 1994 0.09 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Nacional Cariari Designated 1994 8.92 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Palustrino Corral de Piedra Designated 1994 24.25 Not Reported SINot ReportedD 2016
Palustrino Lag. del Paraguas Not Reported 1994 0.50 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Riberino Zapandi Designated 1993 6.11 Not Reported Not Reported 0
Río Cañas Not Reported 1994 6.58 Not Reported Not Reported 0