The Ministry of Energy and the Environment (Minae) decided to raise the entrance fees to national parks an average of 67%, because of inflation. Instead of paying $7, foreigners will be charged $10 to enter most parks, where as Costa Ricans will be charged 1,000 colones instead of 600 colones.

Costa Rica Travel — Viewing Costa Rica Wildlife to Cost More $$

This is the first price hike since May 2002, and Minae argued that the 65% inflation since that date must be accounted for in the park entrance fees to cover park costs. Minae made an agreement with the Treasury that all of the resources generated would be reinvested in the parks, where as in the past, the money could be invested in other government projects.

Part of the money will go to cover the salaries of 160 park rangers who were never on the state’s payroll. Some are new rangers, where as others had been paid by private foundations, which has since been declared unconstitutional. The rest of the money will be invested in better security against illegal hunters and other improvements.

This ironically comes just before the expiration of the National Conservation Areas System’s (Sinac’s) contract to provide workers to collect the fees at park entrances. As of Jan. 31st the National Park Foundation will have no one designated to attend the park entrances. If no solution is found, they will be forced to put their own personelle at the entrances to collect money from tourists, even though most have not been trained in accounting or foreign languages

The contract expiration came as an order from the Costa Rica Supreme Court which prohibited the use of 15% of the parks’ $5 million annual income to go toward collecting the money. A solution is currently being sought.

The biggest price increase was applied to enter the Chirripó National Park. Foreigners will now pay $15 per day to enter, which would add up to $65 for a 2-night stay and the typical three days it takes to do the hike. Instead of paying $11 for a 3-day entrance, Costa Ricans will be charged $24, which does not include the $10/night fee if they wish to stay at the Minae shelter near the summit.

Nationals will now be charged more than $3 to enter Manuel Antonio and Las Baulas National Parks, while foreigners will pay $10.

A complete list of price increases was printed in yesterday’s La Gaceta, the government newspaper.

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Filed under: Travel on January 11th, 2008