Cocos Island National Park
Costa Rica ·
Description
550 km off Costa Rica's coast, Cocos Island emerges from the Pacific as a solitary green dot where pirate treasure legends have attracted seekers for centuries. But the real treasure is underwater: schools of hammerhead sharks, giant mantas, dolphins, whales, and the world's highest shark concentration. The island, perpetually shrouded in mist and waterfalls, inspired Jurassic Park's Isla Nublar.
Why It's a World Heritage Site
Cocos Island harbors marine ecosystems of exceptional richness thanks to its position at the convergence of ocean currents. The surrounding waters contain the world's highest biomass of large pelagics, including spectacular hammerhead shark concentrations.
UNESCO Criteria
Frequently Asked Questions
Only accessible via diving liveaboard boats from Puntarenas (32-36 hours sailing). There's no airport or tourist infrastructure on the island.
Yes, currents and depths require advanced certification and experience. Many sites have strong currents. Not for beginners.
8-10 day liveaboards cost approximately $5,000-7,000 USD. It's expensive but unique: the planet's highest shark concentration.
Only with special permits for rangers. Liveaboard visitors occasionally make short island excursions but the focus is diving.
June-December for hammerhead sharks in greatest numbers. January-May has calmer waters. Year-round is excellent but unpredictable.