Piedras Blancas National Park was established in 1991 and is located in the southern Puntarenas Province. The park occupies 34,642 acres of land and has a main purpose of protecting the rainforests and beaches along the Golfo Dulce. Located near Golfito, it also connects to Corcovado National Park via a protected zone with an overall goal to conserve and protect the biological corridor located along the Golfo Dulce. This park is considered by many to have the best birdwatching in Costa Rica. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife and contains a dense forest that with waterfalls, tropical plants, and rivers.
To access Piedras Blancas National Park you must enter from the town of La Gamba. Once in the park, one quickly realizes this is the rainforest, as it can receive up to 200 inches of rain per year. This creates for habitat for extraordinary plants and trees that are only native to this area. The national park also includes mountains and watersheds from the Esquinas and Piedras Blancas rivers.
Piedras Blancas National Park provides habitat for a great number of mammals, birds, and reptiles. There have been 96 mammal species recorded in the park including jaguars, pumas, coatimundi, skunks, sloths, monkeys, rodents, and bats. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded within the park including scarlett macaws, red lored parrots, trogons, oropendolas and many species of hummingbirds. Some 42 reptile and 37 amphibian species have been recorded within the park including dart frogs and highly venomous fer-de-lance snakes. The towering trees which are covered with epiphytes, bromeliads and orchids provide an amazing backdrop for some photo opportunities. Piedras Blancas National Park truly is one of the most beautiful parks in Costa Rica to explore and observe wildlife in its natural form!
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. Check our packing list for more ideas.
Fun Fact: Giant anteaters were last seen in the area of the soon to be Piedras National Park in the early 1980s by local hunters. They are now extinct, which goes to show the important role these protected areas play.
| Golfito | 6 km |
| Sierpe | 70 km |
| Uvita | 98 km |
| Puerto Jimenez | 98 km |
| Dominical | 115 km |
Latitude: N 8° 42' 11.52"
Longitude: W 83° 14' 57.12"
To access Piedras Blancas National Park you must enter from the town of La Gamba. Once in the park, one quickly realizes this is the rainforest, as it can receive up to 200 inches of rain per year. This creates for habitat for extraordinary plants and trees that are only native to this area. The national park also includes mountains and watersheds from the Esquinas and Piedras Blancas rivers.
Piedras Blancas National Park provides habitat for a great number of mammals, birds, and reptiles. There have been 96 mammal species recorded in the park including jaguars, pumas, coatimundi, skunks, sloths, monkeys, rodents, and bats. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded within the park including scarlett macaws, red lored parrots, trogons, oropendolas and many species of hummingbirds. Some 42 reptile and 37 amphibian species have been recorded within the park including dart frogs and highly venomous fer-de-lance snakes. The towering trees which are covered with epiphytes, bromeliads and orchids provide an amazing backdrop for some photo opportunities. Piedras Blancas National Park truly is one of the most beautiful parks in Costa Rica to explore and observe wildlife in its natural form!
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