Struggling to book Costa Rica National Parks tickets online? This guide makes the confusing SINAC system easy—with every step clearly explained.

I’ve booked timed-entry tickets to Lake Moraine in Banff and navigated the strict visitor quotas in New Zealand’s national parks. But buying tickets to Costa Rica national parks? I was pulling my hair out in frustration!

The process isn’t just clunky—it’s confusing, unforgiving, and time-sensitive.

After several trips to Costa Rica, multiple national parks, and more than one meltdown in a Wi-Fi-dead zone, I’ve finally figured it out. And that is exactly why I created this guide—to save you all the headaches and frustration.

I will walk you through the exact steps to buy Costa Rica national park tickets online using SINAC, including screen shots and clear directions.

I’ve done the research and the trial-and-error, so you don’t have to. Let’s make this easy.

PLAN YOUR TRIP WITH OUR
FAVORITE TOOLS

– Best Lodging site: Booking.com
– Book Day Tours here: Viator.com
– Rent Cars here: DiscoverCars.com

Why You Need to Buy Tickets Ahead of Time

Here’s the part that surprises a lot of travelers: most Costa Rica national parks don’t sell tickets at the entrance. You can’t just show up, pay, and walk in.

Instead, you need to purchase tickets online in advance through SINAC, the government’s reservation portal. If you arrive without a reservation, the park rangers will turn you away—even if you’ve driven hours to get there.

This rule applies to many of the most popular Costa Rica national parks:

• Manuel Antonio National Park
• Poás Volcano National Park
• Tortuguero National Park
• Carara National Park
• Rincón de la Vieja National Park
• Tenorio Volcano National Park

Many of these parks manage daily crowds by capping the number of visitors allowed during each time slot. If you’re visiting during dry season, holidays, or weekends, it’s essential to book early—or risk missing out. You can reserve your tickets up to 60 days in advance.

View the full list of parks requiring advance reservations below in the FAQs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the SINAC Website

Buying tickets for Costa Rica national parks online through SINAC shouldn’t be this confusing—but it is. There’s a countdown timer, and if you don’t have everything ready before you start, you’ll be scrambling.

Below is a step-by-step walkthrough to help you book your park tickets online. I’ve included screenshots with arrows pointing to the buttons and fields you need to click.

Step 1: Go to the Official SINAC Website

Start at https://serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr/ This is the ONLY official site for reserving most Costa Rica national park tickets. Bookmark and save it.

By default, the site opens in Spanish. You can change the language to English using the toggle button at the top right. However, be prepared: the system often switches back to Spanish mid-process, and many screens are only partially translated.

Kari’s Travel Tip: I’ll be blunt. The site is REALLY glitchy. And it works way better on a computer than on a mobile phone. So if you know your dates, I highly recommend booking your park reservations from home before your trip, as long as it’s within 60 days.

It’s a mistake I really regretted when I was standing in the hot parking lot for over 30 minutes, trying to hotspot off of Bill’s phone to make the reservation on my phone. Don’t be like me. Plan ahead!

Step 2: Create a User Account

You’ll need to register with your name, email and password before you can reserve anything.

Kari’s Travel Tip: Knock this step out at home with a strong Wi-Fi connection.

Step 3: Log In and Check Availability

Once logged in, look at the left-hand menu. Click on “Buy”, then click on:
“Check the availability of spaces in the national parks.”

This will bring you to a screen where you can select a park and a date from a drop down menu:

Important to note that the date format follows the Costa Rican standard: DD/MM/YYYY, not MM/DD/YYYY like we use in the United States. So 09/10/2025 means October 9th, not September 10th.

Kari’s Travel Tip: Click directly into the date field to open a calendar pop-up. That’s the easiest way to make sure you’re picking the right day—especially if on a phone screen.

Then you’ll be shown the results of your query with how many spaces are available in each time slot.

Now you’d think this would be where you select the time you want to enter, right? Nope, it’s just showing you what’s available and then you have to navigate to a different screen to actually reserve your spot.

Note the time you want, click the X in the upper right corner, and go on to Step 4.

Step 4: Click “Online Reservation” to Begin Booking

After checking availability, go back to the left-hand menu and click:
“Online Reservation” under the “Buy” section.

Here’s what you’ll need to have ready to go:

• Name of the park
• Visit date
• Preferred time of entry
• Number of people in your group
• Visitor type: foreigner, Costa Rican resident, child, etc.
• Each traveler’s full name, passport number, and country of origin
• Credit/debit card for payment

Then scroll to find your park and click the green “Make Reservation” box.

Once you’ve chosen a park, you will be asked to enter the date you want to reserve.

On the right side of the screen,

• Feche Entrada = the Date you will enter the park
• Feche Salida = the Date you will leave the park and
• Sector / Horario = the Time that you want to enter the park.

Once you’ve selected the dates and times, a whole series of fields will appear below. Scroll past the National and Resident Admission section and find the Foreigners Admission section.

Once you enter the quantity of people in the green boxes, it will calculate the prices for you below. Don’t forget to check the Terms and Conditions box on the left, before you hit “Continuar” on the right to continue.

Step 5: Complete Your Booking (Fast!)

Ready. Set. Go! You now have 12 minutes to finish and pay for the reservation before the system times out. They provide a helpful countdown clock on the top of the screen.

Kari’s Travel Tip: It’s useful to have your group’s full names (as shown on their passport) and passport number saved in a note or document so you can easily copy and paste to the SINAC site. Trying to type it on a phone while juggling spotty Wi-Fi is maddening and time consuming.

For Country, the SINAC site uses United States for us. Just start typing “Un” and it should appear as a choice.

Kari’s Travel Tip: If you try to go backwards (perhaps to verify something on a previous screen), you’ll have to do that step all over again.

After all the participant information is entered, it’s time to enter your payment info. You’ll have to re-enter the payers Passport number again. And in the payment section, our country is USA, not United States. Strange, right?

Click the Captcha in the lower left corner and then the blue Continuar/Continue in the lower right.

Now you will see a validation screen to check over your information. After reviewing, click the blue Confirm Payment box at the top.

Success!

Click Acept and on the next screen you’ll see:

Step 6: Watch for a Confirmation Email

Once your reservation goes through, you’ll get a confirmation email with:

• A barcode (which serves as your ticket)
• A reservation code

Here’s what the email looks like:

You do not need to print this—just show the barcode on your phone at the park entrance.

Kari’s Travel Tip: I always screen shot it too and save as a photo on my phone. That way, if I can’t get the email to come up at the park entrance due to poor cell service or no Wi-Fi, I still have the barcode handy.

Don’t forget to Log Out when done!!

Tips to Make the Process Easier

Even after you know the steps, the SINAC system can still trip you up—especially if you’re trying to book from your phone or a remote area with sketchy internet. Here are a few ways to make the whole process smoother and less stressful.

Book Before You Leave Home (If You Can)

If you already know your dates and destinations, reserve your Costa Rica national park tickets while you still have access to a reliable internet connection—and a full keyboard. The site is much easier to navigate on a laptop or desktop.

This is especially important if you’re visiting during high season or planning to hit popular parks like Manuel Antonio, Poás Volcano, or Tortuguero.

Prep All the Info in Advance

Before you start the booking process, make a quick note on your phone or computer that includes:

• Full names of each traveler (as shown on their passport)
• Passport numbers
• Credit or debit card details

That way, when the countdown timer starts, you can copy and paste instead of scrambling to type everything manually.

Watch the Clock

The countdown timer starts as soon as you enter the reservation screen. If the clock runs out, your session resets and you’ll have to start all over again.

Kari’s Travel Tip: Don’t begin the process until you have all your details ready to go. There’s no autosave, and no one wants to re-enter passport numbers multiple times.

Book Early for Morning Entry Times

Morning entry slots tend to sell out quickly, especially at high-demand parks. Book at least a day or two in advance to secure an early start—and to enjoy cooler temps and fewer crowds.

Don’t Count on Cell Service

Some parks are in areas with poor cell service, and the ranger station’s Wi-Fi is often overloaded or unreliable. Don’t assume you’ll be able to book on-site. Plan ahead and save yourself the stress.

Kari’s Travel Tip: At Carara National Park, we ended up using Bill’s phone as a hotspot just to complete the booking on my phone. It worked—but I wouldn’t want to repeat that game of “tech Tetris”.

What to Expect at the Park Entrance

What happens once you arrive depends on which Costa Rica national park you’re visiting—but in general, expect to:

• Show your barcode on your phone (screen shot or email)
• Show your passport or ID
• Be admitted based on your time slot, if applicable

At some of the bigger, more popular parks, you’ll encounter queuing lines, staffed entry points, or even turnstiles.

At others, it may be as simple as checking in with a ranger at a small station before hitting the trails.

Kari’s Travel Tip: Always arrive early and have your reservation barcode handy. If in doubt, ask a park ranger where to check in.

What If You’re Visiting with a Tour Group?

Some guided tours bundle the park entry fee into your booking, especially at high-traffic parks. In that case, the tour company handles the reservation and the guide meets you outside the entrance.

But just as often, you’re expected to buy your own ticket separately through SINAC, then meet your guide at or inside the entrance. If you miss this detail and arrive without a reservation, you won’t be allowed in—even if your guide is waiting.

It gets even trickier when your tour start time doesn’t match available park entry slots. For example, if your tour is booked for 10:00 a.m. but only 7:00 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. slots remain, you’re out of luck.

Kari’s Travel Tip: I’ve booked plenty of tours around Costa Rica, and I’ve seen this go both ways—sometimes the admission was included, sometimes it wasn’t. Never assume!

Bottom line:

• Read the fine print when booking a tour
• Confirm whether park admission is included—or if you need to book it yourself
• Don’t wait until the last minute to buy a ticket, especially if you’re coordinating with a tour start time

A little planning upfront can save you a lot of stress on the day of your visit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Costa Rica National Parks

Do I need to print my ticket?

No. Your confirmation email includes a barcode that you can show on your phone.

Kari’s Travel Tip: I always screenshot and save the barcode as soon as I get the email. It takes two seconds and has saved me more than once when I couldn’t get a cell signal to open the email.

What happens if I miss my time slot?

Most parks admit visitors within a defined entry window. If you show up late, you may not be allowed in—especially during busy hours or at fully booked Costa Rica national parks. Plan to arrive early and give yourself plenty of buffer time.

Can I get a refund or change my ticket date?

The SINAC site does not offer refunds or rescheduling options. Once your ticket is booked, it’s final. Double-check your park, date, and time slot before you confirm your purchase.

What if the SINAC website isn’t working?

If the site crashes, try refreshing or switching browsers. It’s notoriously glitchy. You can also try again at a different time of day, or from a computer instead of a phone. If you’re booking from overseas, make sure your payment method works for international transactions.

Kari’s Travel Tip: I’ve had the SINAC site crash on me more than once. When that happens, I close the tab completely, wait 10–15 minutes, and try again using a different browser. That usually does the trick.

Do all Costa Rica National Parks use SINAC?

While most Costa Rica national parks require reservations through the SINAC website, some use other systems—and a few still allow you to buy tickets on-site. Here’s how to know what to expect for each park.

Parks That Require Online Booking Through SINAC

Reserve in advance at https://serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr for the following parks:

• Braulio Carrillo National Park (Barva Volcano Sector)
• Carara National Park
• Chirripó National Park (San Gerardo, San Jerónimo, and Herradura Sectors)
• Irazú Volcano National Park (Prussia and Craters Sectors)
• Los Quetzales National Park
• Manuel Antonio National Park
• Poás Volcano National Park
• Rincón de la Vieja National Park
• San Lucas Island National Park
• Tapantí National Park
• Tenorio Volcano National Park
• Tortuguero National Park (Cuatro Esquinas Sector and Tortuguero Hill)

Parks Where You Can Buy Tickets On-Site (Credit/Debit Only)

These parks allow entry without a reservation. You can buy tickets at the gate using credit or debit card only—cash is not accepted:

• Arenal Volcano National Park
• Braulio Carrillo National Park (Quebrada González Sector)
• Brabilla National Park
• Cahuita National Park
• Guayabo National Monument
• La Amistad International Park
• La Cangreja National Park
• Marino Ballena National Park
• Palo Verde National Park

Parks That Require Reservation by Email or Phone

Reserve by Email (acosa.reservaciones@sinac.go.cr):

• Caño Island Biological Reserve
• Corcovado National Park
• Golfito National Wildlife Refuge
• Piedras Blancas National Park

Reserve by Phone:

• Barra Honda National Park
  Phone: 2659-1551 / 8721-2444 / 8539-1010

Parks That Use Independent Booking Websites

These parks use their own reservation systems outside of SINAC:

• Horizontes Forest Experimental Station
  → https://reservaciones.acguanacaste.ac.cr
• Santa Rosa National Park (Marine and Historical Sectors)
  → https://reservaciones.acguanacaste.ac.cr
• Turrialba Volcano National Park
  → www.icetur.com/volcán-turrialba or email info@icetur.com

Is Booking Your Costa Rica National Parks Ticket Online Worth It?

Absolutely! Costa Rica’s national parks are one of the country’s biggest highlights. But showing up without a reservation—or fumbling through the SINAC site at the last minute—is a recipe for stress or disappointment.

That’s why I put this guide together: so you don’t have to go through the same frustration just to explore Costa Rica’s incredible places. Now you can:

• Guarantee your spot (especially during busy seasons)
• Avoid last-minute ticket drama
• Spend less time stressing and more time spotting wildlife, hiking trails, and soaking in hot springs

If you follow the steps above, you’ll breeze through the process like a pro—and actually enjoy your visits to the Costa Rica national parks you came to see.

More Info on Costa Rica

Here are some more posts about Costa Rica, including some that I’m still working on. If you’d like to receive emails when I’ve posted new content to the site, please complete the short form above.

• Amazing Costa Rica 7 Day Itinerary for Nature Lovers
• Ultimate 2 Week Costa Rica Travel Itinerary for Nature Lovers
• What to Pack for Costa Rica: A Nature Lover’s Packing List
• Costa Rica Facts & Travel Tips – For First Timers
• Colorful Birds of Costa Rica – A Photo Album
• Sodas in Costa Rica – An Affordable & Delicious Experience
• How to Make the Most of Your Day at La Paz Waterfall Gardens
• Buy Costa Rica National Park tickets without pulling your hair out
• Everything You Need to Know about Driving in Costa Rica
• Costa Rica on a Budget: Lodging, Food & Fun For Less

Monteverde / Santa Elena Rainforest Area

• Where to stay in Monteverde / Santa Elena – Luxury to Budget to Unique
• 25 Epic Things to do in Monteverde / Santa Elena
• Where are the Best Places to Find Birds in Monteverde?
• 14 Awesome Cheap and Free Things to Do in Monteverde

Manuel Antonio / Quepos Area

• Manuel Antonio National Park: How to Have an Amazing Day
• Beyond the Park: 25 Great Things to Do in Manuel Antonio
• The 12 Best Hotels in Manuel Antonio & Quepos for Every Budget
• Carara National Park: Macaws, Monkeys & the Crocodile Bridge
• Whale Watching in Costa Rica at Marino Ballena National Park
• 12 Best Free and Cheap Things to Do in Manuel Antonio / Quepos

La Fortuna / Arenal Volcano Area

• 10 Best Places to Stay in La Fortuna Costa Rica
• Don’t Miss These 24 Unique Things to Do in La Fortuna
• Our Costa Rica Cooking Class – Did it Live up to the Hype?
• 10 Best Free and Cheap Things to Do in La Fortuna / Arenal