# Cocos Island National Park

Cocos Island is a nationally protected jungle-covered island and national park off the coast of Costa Rica. The park also includes surrounding ocean surface of about 60,000 square miles that were added to the park to protect several species of shark. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

## Understand

Cocos Island is in the Eastern Tropical Pacific approximately 300 mi (480 km) southwest of Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica. A rugged and incredibly beautiful island, today Cocos Island is the most sacred National park in Costa Rica's extensive park system.
Among Cocos Island's many attributes is a startling degree of biodiversity. This island's world-renowned waters explode with life, including innumerable white tip reef sharks, schooling hammerhead sharks, dolphins, mantas and marbled rays, giant moray eels, sailfish, and of course the occasional whale shark. Other common encounters are large schools of jacks and tuna, silky sharks, silver tip sharks, marlin, Creole fish, green turtles and octopus. On the Island you will encounter a lot of pigs and not much else besides the usual vegetation.

### History

The island is supposed to hold three of the largest treasure troves of all time. From pirates to the entire horde of Lima which was hidden there from Simon Bolivar and his troops in 1821. A large numbers of treasure hunting expeditions have come through the island over the last 50 years. Over 400 large scale expeditions have been assembled along with tens of thousands of smaller and independent searches.

### Landscape

Cocos Island is a very hilly, dense tropical jungle with over 200 waterfalls and averages over 400 in (10,000 mm) of rain a year. It has three bays and is 24 km² of land.

### Flora and fauna

No animals inhabit Cocos Island naturally. The only animals found there are those that were brought to the island by humans. There are pigs as well as some dogs and cats.

### Climate

Is hot and very humid. Expect showers lasting a few hours most days between March and December.

## Get in

Cocos Island is a 36-hour boat ride from Puntarenas and government permits are required to visit the island. Tourists are not permitted to stay overnight on the island.
As tourists are allowed ashore only with permission of island rangers, there are very limited ways to be able to step foot on the island but one of the best ways to experience this natural beauty is through a dive trip. There are two fully equipped dive boats that do week-and-a-half trips out to the island and back, they are the Okeanos Aggressor$^{[formerlydeadlink]}$ and Undersea Hunter$^{[deadlink]}$.

## Fees and permits

In order to set foot on the island requires a permit from the Costa Rican Government.

## Get around

Getting around the island is a little tricky. The main types of transportation are by foot or bike usually used for hikes and sight-seeing tours. The few locals who live here mainly use foot, or bike, or small motor bikes and dirt bikes.

## See

Since this is an island you will see a lot of ocean, but if you ever get the chance to step foot on the island and are somewhat physically fit, hike to the top of the island with a guide. It is a magnificent view.

## Do

The main attraction for Coco island is its unbelievable scuba-diving with its schooling hammerhead sharks. On the island hiking and biking to the top of the island for the spectacular view is an almost must. Other main activities include snorkeling, island hopping, and fishing the waters surrounding the island. Many people go to Cocos just to relax on the beach and enjoy the scenery.

## Sleep

Tourists and are not permitted to stay on the island.

## Stay safe

The only possible dangers in Cocos Island are the sharks, eels, and other creatures that might be seen while diving, snorkeling, boating, or fishing.

## Go next

* Central Pacific
* Guanacaste
* South Pacific Costa Rica