COCOS ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

It is located in the Pacific Ocean at 532 Km from Cabo Blanco in Costa Rica, with southwest direction. It was created by Executive Order No. 8748-A, of June 22, 1978. Has an extension of 2.400 hectares in land and 97.235 in the sea.
The island is considered a natural laboratory for studying the evolution of the species. It is extremely rainy, about 7.000 mm per year and is covered with evergreen forest, which presents a cloudy condition in Hill Iglesias at 634 meter over sea level. The topography is very irregular, resulting in the formation of many waterfalls, some of which fall dramatically to the sea, from a great height. The coast is very winding, has cliffs up to 183 meters height and a lot of underwater caves. The sea is turquoise blue of extraordinary transparency.

The island territory was discovered in 1526 by the pilot Joan Cabezas and in 1556 was contained in the planisphere of Nicolás Desliens as Coco`s Island. During the seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries was a haven for pirates who flourished along the Pacific coasts of the Spanish America. According to legends, here are hidden valuable treasures such as Lima treasure, consisting of tons of gold and silver bullion, gold leaf covering domes of churches; the William Davies treasure that was hidden in 1684 and the Benito "Bloody Sword" Bonito in 1819. We can find an evergreen forest, thick and dense, covering the rugged island territory of 2.400 hectares, often cloudy and battered by heavy and torrential rains.

Here are identified 235 species of plants (70 endemic), 362 insects (64 endemic) and 2 of endemic reptiles: lizard and salamander; 3 spiders, 85 birds including marine birds (4 endemic), 57 crustaceans, 118 marine mollusks, more than 200 fish and 18 corals. In its water are abundant White tipped sharks, giant hammerhead sharks, tuna, parrot fish, stingrays and horse mackerel. Among the most distinctive species of trees on the Island highlights the copey, the ironwood and the endemic palm. Among the endemic birds stand out the endemics: the Coco`s Island flycatcher, cuckoo of the Coco`s Island and the Cocos Island finch. In the forest is common the holy spirit, white bird that visits the island to nest and is distinguished by hovering over the heads of visitors.

Coco`s Island is a territory of a great landscape richness and a real laboratory for the study of the nature. There are a lot of ferns, bromeliads, rivers, streams and waterfalls, valleys, cliffs and islets frequented by countless seabirds and nesting site for gulls and bobo birds. The park has several programs. Protection program ensures compliance of the conservation laws of the natural resources, maintaining a proper balance of the island ecosystems within marine and terrestrial. Another function is to ensure the safety of domestic and foreign visitors who come to the Island. Manage program aims to achieve the planning of all the work of the park in the short and medium term.

The research and monitoring program aims to lay the foundation for the development of scientific research in the area and encourage it according to the priorities of the park. Finally, the Public use program, which aim is to raise awareness among groups engaged in fishing within the boundaries of the area, on the importance of preserving the populations of marine organisms of commercial use most endangered.

Park facilities and hours
Cocos island can be reached by launch or small boats from the port of Puntarenas, a journey that takes approximately 36 hours. Easy anchorage can be found in Bahía Wafer and Bahía Chatham, where there are also dining huts and rest areas, and sanitary services and showers. There are two houses for the park's staff, one in Bahía Wafer, and other in Bahía Chatham.


www.costarica-nationalparks.com
http://www.infoweb.co.cr/turismo/parques/isla_del_coco.html

Our reception desk will be pleased to answer any questions you may have about these or other tours. Tours can be booked through our receptionists prior to or during your trip. 

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