Cocos Island National Park
Cocos Island National Park is a scuba diving paradise that contains 11,500 acres of water filled with hammerhead sharks, tropical fish and coral reefs. Established as a national park in 1978, the island is located in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Cabo Blanco and requires an extensive two day boat ride to access.
Scuba Diving
Cocos Island was named one of the best diving spots in the world. Hammerhead sharks are very prominent in these waters as are sting rays, dolphins and whales. The wildlife of Cocos Island National Park has evolved over years and over time, forming new species that are unique to Cocos Island. Such species are known as endemic and can be found nowhere else in the world. The Cocos Cuckoo, Flycatcher, and Finch are a few examples of these endemic species.
Location
Cocos Island National Park is isolated in the open ocean. The nearest land is Costa Rica 360 miles (600 km) to the east. The Galapagos Islands are a few hundred miles further southwest. This area is very wet, allowing for some amazing plant life to come about. There are over 230 known species of plants on this island as well as fungi, mosses, and ferns.
Weather and Packing List
The South Pacific is a region of vast contrasts in weather. Temperatures remain the same nearly year round with average day time highs in the upper 80s to low 90s and night time lows in the upper 70s. Precipitation varies by month with the months of December through April being the driest.
Visitors should pack a bathing suit, towel, shorts, tee shirts, appropriate shoes, rain gear, sun block, and insect repellent.
Fun Fact: Due to the abundance of documented Pirate activity in the area, Cocos Island is believed by many to be a place to find pirate treasure.
