Costa Rica National Park Tickets: How to Book on SINAC

To buy Costa Rica national park tickets, use SINAC’s official site, serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr. SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación) is the agency that runs the parks. Manuel Antonio, Poás, Tortuguero, Tenorio (Río Celeste), Carara and several other parks sell entry online only, with timed slots and no tickets at the gate. You’ll need each visitor’s passport number and a Visa or Mastercard. Tickets can’t be refunded unless the park closes.

This guide is for travelers booking park visits in Costa Rica. It covers which parks need advance tickets, how to buy them step by step, what to do when the site acts up or a park sells out, and how to avoid fake ticket sites.

National park tickets	At a glance
Official site	serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr (switch the language to English)
You need	A free SINAC account, each visitor’s passport number, a Visa or Mastercard
Typical price	About $10–$18 per foreign adult, plus 13% tax at some parks
Entry	Timed slots; arrive during the slot you booked
Ticket limits	6 per purchase at Manuel Antonio, 4 at Chirripó, 10 at most parks
Refunds	None, even for bad weather; date change only if SINAC closes the park

Which parks

Which Costa Rica National Park Tickets Must Be Booked Online?

The busiest parks sell entry only through SINAC’s site, with daily caps. Others still sell at the entrance. Prices below are for foreign adults and change from time to time; the final price shows at checkout.

Park	How to get tickets	Foreign adult
Manuel Antonio	SINAC online only; closed Tuesdays	About $18 with tax
Poás Volcano	SINAC online only	About $15
Tortuguero	SINAC online	About $17 plus tax
Tenorio (Río Celeste)	SINAC online only	$12 plus tax
Carara	SINAC online only	$10 plus tax
Irazú Volcano, Rincón de la Vieja, Chirripó, Tapantí, San Lucas Island, Los Quetzales, Braulio Carrillo (Barva sector)	SINAC online	Shown at checkout
Arenal Volcano	Pay at the entrance by card	About $15
Cahuita	Pay on site: donation at Kelly Creek, fee at Puerto Vargas	Varies
Corcovado	Book through an authorized guide or tour operator	Guide required

Volcano parks can close or limit visits with little notice when activity rises. Check SINAC’s site before you go, and see our guide to volcano alert levels in Costa Rica.

Step by step

How to Buy Tickets on SINAC

1. Create an account. Go to serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr, switch the language to English and register with your email. One free account works for every park.
2. Choose the park and date. Pick the park, then a date on the calendar. If a date shows no availability, it’s sold out.
3. Pick a time slot. You must arrive during this slot. Morning slots are usually best, especially at volcanoes, where clouds often roll in later in the day.
4. Add visitors. Choose non-resident tickets and enter each person’s full name, age and passport number exactly as on the passport. Rangers can check IDs at the gate.
5. Pay. Use a Visa or Mastercard. A timer runs during checkout, so have the card ready; if it expires, you start over.
6. Save your confirmation. Keep the email with the QR code and take a screenshot, since many parks have weak cell signal.

Ticket names can’t be changed, and tickets can’t be moved to another park. At Manuel Antonio, the limit is 6 tickets per purchase and one purchase per account per day; Chirripó allows 4; most other parks allow 10.

Timing

How Far Ahead to Book

• Manuel Antonio and Poás: book as early as you can from December to April, on weekends and around holidays. Popular morning slots go first.
• Chirripó: permits are limited and book up far in advance. Plan this one before anything else.
• Most other parks: a few days ahead is usually enough, a week or more around Christmas, Easter and other holidays.

SINAC doesn’t publish set booking windows, so check availability as soon as your dates are firm.

Problems

SINAC Site Not Working? Common Fixes

The site is often slow or overloaded. These fixes solve most problems:

• Use a computer, not a phone or tablet, and avoid Safari.
• Turn off autofill and type every field by hand. Remove extra spaces before or after names and numbers.
• If a page freezes, try a private window or another browser, and retry later.
• If your card is declined, ask your bank to allow online charges from Costa Rica, or try another card.
• If you’re charged twice, contact your bank and SINAC through the site’s contact options.

Sold out

What to Do If Park Tickets Are Sold Out

• Change the date or time. Weekdays and the rainy season, May to November, have more space. Check back for cancellations.
• Book a guided tour that includes entry. Many tours to Manuel Antonio, Poás and Tortuguero include the park ticket. Ask the company to confirm it has bought yours.
• Visit a private reserve. Many private reserves and wildlife refuges sell tickets at the gate and have good trails and guides.
• Skip the resellers. People outside popular parks may offer entry at well above face value. Unofficial tickets may not be valid.

Free entry

Free Entry on National Parks Day

On August 24, National Parks Day, entry to national parks is free for Costa Ricans, residents and international visitors. At parks that normally require booking, you still reserve on SINAC; the ticket price shows as zero. Daily caps still apply, and parking, guides and transport still cost extra.

At the park

Tips for Park Day

• Arrive within your time slot. Late arrivals may be turned away, especially at Poás.
• Bring your passport or a clear copy that matches the ticket details.
• Most parks are cash-free. Bring a card, plus some colones for parking and snacks outside the gate.
• Check park rules before you pack. Manuel Antonio bans single-use plastics, drones and alcohol, and no park allows feeding wildlife.

For more planning help, see our Costa Rica travel tips and our overview of Costa Rica’s protected areas.

Avoid these

Common Mistakes

• Buying from a look-alike site instead of serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr.
• Showing up at Manuel Antonio, Poás or Tenorio without a ticket.
• Booking Manuel Antonio for a Tuesday, when it’s closed.
• Typing a passport number with typos or extra spaces.
• Booking a late slot at a volcano and arriving to a crater full of clouds.

FAQ

Costa Rica National Park Tickets FAQ