Parque Internacional La Amistad

Parque Internacional La Amistad (PILA) is one of the largest and most biodiverse protected areas in Central America — it spans both sides of the border between Costa Rica and Panama, on the Cordillera de Talamanca. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve. In Costa Rica it covers territory in Puntarenas and Limón.

**Divided administration**: unlike most parks that have a single Área de Conservación in charge, this one is managed by two: Área de Conservación La Amistad Pacífico (ACLAP) and Área de Conservación La Amistad Caribe (ACLAC) — the sector you enter determines which office will assist you.

**Hours**: like the rest of the SINAC system, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

**Fees and entry sector**: because it is so extensive, it has several possible access points (for example the Altamira sector on the Pacific side) with fees that do not always match those of other parks — **confirm directly with SINAC which sector is appropriate based on your destination and the current fee for that specific sector** before planning your visit.

**Who it’s for**: due to its size, remoteness, and the lack of tourist infrastructure as developed as in Manuel Antonio or Arenal, it is more suited to those seeking serious hiking in relatively untouched primary forest than to a short or family visit — it is not a typical “day‑trip” park.

Note: because it is a binational and very large park, specific access information (exact routes, whether a guide is required) can vary considerably by sector — confirm with the appropriate ACLAP or ACLAC office before you go.