The National Parks and Wildlife Refuges of Costa Rica are under the responsibility of MINAE, the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energia. Responding to new policies, MINAE established eleven Conservation Areas in 1998 to oversee and manage the public lands of Costa Rica. These conservation areas integrate the Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion, or SINAC.

The most popular National Parks and Wildlife Refuges in Costa Rica are:

• Arenal Volcano National Park: Costa Rica's most active volcano 
• Barra Honda National Park: to explore the limestone caves 
• Braulio Carrillo National Park: just an hour from San Jose 
• Cahuita National Park: beaches, scuba and coral reefs 
• Carara National Park 
• Chirripo National Park: the tallest mountain in Costa Rica 
• Corcovado National Park: the jewel of the Osa Peninsula 
• Guanacaste National Park: the largest tropical dry forest 
• Irazu Volcano National Park: overlook into the volcano crater 
• La Amistad International Park: a world biosphere project
• Las Baulas National Marine Park: leatherback turtles at Tamarindo
• Manuel Antonio National Park: beaches and wildlife 
• Ostional Wildlife Refuge: Olive Ridley turtles nesting site 
• Palo Verde National Park: bird watcher's heaven 
• Piedras Blancas National Park: rainforest biodiversity 
• Poas Volcano National Park: the most visited park in Costa Rica 
• Rincon de la Vieja National Park: hot springs and mineral baths 
• Tapanti National Park: the place to spot a quetzal 
• Tortuguero National Park: famous sea turtle conservation
• Turrialba Volcano National Park: the largest volcano craters