Central Provinces

San José	Chirripó National Park At 12,606 feet in altitude, Mount Chirripó is the highest mountain in Costa Rica. This park features lakes which originated in the glacial period, and extensive paramos and cloud forests. The flora and fauna are very diverse with quetzals and other endangered species.
Alajuela	Poás Volcano National Park One of the few accessible active volcanoes on the North American continent, mysterious Poás stands 9,000 feet abov sea level. Active fumaroles can be observed at the bottom of the crater. Around the volcano in the National Park, an abundance of birds and other small mammals are residents of a vast cloud forest. Carara Biological Reserve At 68 miles from San José, this biological mecca covers 4,700 hectares. Sights include a wet tropical forest, numerous species of ferns and the isolated life of the canopy is very rich and abundant.
Cartago	Irazú Volcano National Park Irazú is the highest volcano in the country, commanding an altitude of over 11,000 feet. Just 33 miles from San José, Irazú's five craters are all presently dormant. The cloudforest's vegetation is characterized by young colonies of arrayans. Guayabo National Monument Guayabo is the most important archaelogical site in Costa Rica. Located 52 miles from San José, anthropological wonders are all about the site including petroglyphs, mounds, aqueducts and other stone structures of great cultural significance. The natural vegetation of Guayabo is dense and very beautiful.
Heredia	Ojo de Agua Located in San Antonio de Belé, 12 miles from San José, is the water park, Ojo de Agua (eye of water). The central attraction is the "eye" itself, which spouts 6,300 gallons of fresh water per minute from a subterranean river. Braulio Carrillo National Park Within the boundaries of this famous national park, there are five distinctly spearate forests - each natural reserve captures a different and varied segment of Costa Rica's natural kingdom. Located just 15 miles from the nation's capital (San José), Braulio Carrillo National Park is home to most every variety of native Costa Rican bird. Both the wet tropical forest and the wet permontane forest house hundreds of varieties of orchids and ferns.