National ParkUNESCO World Heritage
Cocos Island
Central America (Pacific, oceanic island)Designated in 197824 km²
Nicknamed the Galápagos of Central America; one of the greatest concentrations of hammerhead sharks on the planet
Area
24 km²
Protection category
IUCN II
Parque nacional —
Designated in
1978
Declared a national park in 1978 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Cocos Island is nicknamed the Galápagos of Central America for its oceanic isolation — over 500 km from the Costa Rican mainland — and its very high endemism. Its waters hold one of the greatest documented concentrations of hammerhead shark on the planet, which gather in schools of several hundred around the nearby seamounts, a spectacle that has made the island one of the most coveted and least accessible dive destinations in the world, reachable only after 30 to 36 hours of sailing from the mainland. Its landscape of waterfalls dropping straight into the sea was a visual inspiration for the fictional island of Jurassic Park.
Location
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1 dive site within 300 km is also shown.
Cocos Island: 43 documented species
Mammals8Birds10Reptiles3Cartilaginous fish
Flora and ecosystems
Ecosystems found in Costa Rica, where Cocos Island lies.
Tropical rainforestMarine / coastal
Experiences in this park
Diving and snorkellingBirdwatching
Nearby dive sites
Where can I dive near here?
1 km away
Wildlife you can see now
What is worth looking out for this month in Costa Rica?
Now is a good time: Olive ridley arribada at Ostional (July to November (largest arribadas; smaller ones occur year-round))
Now is a good time: Sea turtle nesting in Costa Rica (July to October at Tortuguero (peak in August and September); March to July for leatherbacks)
Now is a good time: Sea turtle nesting in Costa Rica (July to October at Tortuguero (peak in August and September); March to July for leatherbacks)
Similar parks
Which other parks are like this one?
Same country: Costa Rica
Same country: Costa Rica
Same country: Costa Rica
Same country: Costa Rica
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about this park.
Costa Rica
