San Lucas Island National Park

San Lucas Island National Park is located in the Gulf of Nicoya, facing Puntarenas — the country's smallest national park (declared in 2020) and with a unique history: the island functioned as a prison for more than a century before becoming a protected area, and today you can explore part of that historic infrastructure along with trails and beach.

**Access**: only by sea — there is no way to arrive by land. Tours usually depart from the ICT Tourist Dock, on Calle 27, El Carmen, Puntarenas. It is recommended to coordinate or book in advance.

**Hours**: daily, starting at 8:30am.

**Entrance fees (SINAC, separate from the boat tour cost)**:

• Nationals/residents: approximately ₡1,000 adults, ₡500 children (6-12 years old and high school students) — plus VAT.
• Non-residents: approximately $12 — plus VAT.

**Cost of the full tour**: since you can only arrive by boat, you must add the cost of the tour operator (this is not the same as the park entrance) — it varies between approximately $45 and $90 per person depending on if it includes lunch, snorkeling, or a visit to nearby islands such as Isla Tortuga. The tours last around 4 hours.

Note: entrance tickets are usually purchased online in advance through the SINAC system, although many tour operators handle it directly as part of the package.