Policy · Irazú, Cartago, and protected areas nationwide

Costa Rica Caught 408 People Entering Parks Illegally Over Holidays

During patrols over the end of 2025 and start of 2026, Costa Rica's National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) caught 408 people entering parks and refuges through unauthorized routes, 200 of them at Irazú Volcano National Park. At the time, the main penalty was an on-the-spot order backed by a disobedience charge, but a new law with direct fines for visitors and tour operators took effect on April 30, 2026.

By Pura-Verde.com Editors · Published October 30, 2026
Original report: La Nación: Sinac detectó a 408 personas ingresando ilegalmente a parques nacionales durante operativos de fin de año (2026-01-16)

Over the 2025 to 2026 holidays, Costa Rica's park rangers caught 408 people slipping into national parks and refuges through trails and gaps that aren't open to the public. Half of them were on one volcano. The count helped push a new law with direct fines, which has been in force since April 30, 2026.

The numbers, park by park

As La Nación reported on Jan. 16, the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) tallied the 408 cases during year-end patrols that ran from late 2025 into early January 2026. Volcanic parks drew the most trespassers:

• Irazú Volcano National Park: 200 people, by far the most.
• Isla San Lucas National Park: 88.
• Bahía Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge: 30.
• Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge: 24, according to a later Teletica summary.

SINAC also logged illegal entries at Juan Castro Blanco, Corcovado, Chirripó and other areas.

The holiday count isn't new. A year earlier, in January 2025, SINAC reported 507 illegal entries over the same holiday stretch, again led by volcanoes. The periods and methods may not match exactly, so the two figures are best read as a sign of a persistent problem rather than a precise trend.

Why rangers worry about volcanoes

Unofficial routes skip the safety systems built into a park visit. SINAC warned of toxic gases, sudden steam-driven (phreatic) eruptions, hypothermia, cliffs, acid rain and mudflows, especially near active craters.

Yeimy Cedeño, head of SINAC's Control and Protection Department, said these entries mostly benefit unscrupulous operators who offer no safety gear or insurance. When rangers show up, she said, illegal guides often run off and leave their clients on their own. Someone hurt on a closed trail may also be far from help.

What the penalties were in January

At the time of the report, a person caught in a restricted area received an administrative order to leave right away. Ignoring it could lead to a charge of disobedience under Article 314 of the Penal Code, which carries six months to three years in prison. There was no simple fine.

SINAC said it was working on a bill to change that, and things moved quickly.

Follow-up: fines became law on April 30

• Feb. 12, 2026: The Legislative Assembly approved the reform in its second and final vote, 34 to 9, Delfino.cr reported.
• April 2026: The law was published in the official gazette, La Gaceta, and took effect on April 30 as Law 10.861, a reform of the National Parks Service Law.
• May 2, 2026: Four people caught near the summit of Arenal Volcano became the first processed under the new rules, according to CRHoy.

The fines are set in multiples of the official base salary. Based on Delfino.cr's breakdown:

• Visitors entering closed sectors, or promoting unpermitted activities online: three base salaries (about ₡1.4 million in 2026).
• Operators selling tours to off-limits sites: seven base salaries.
• Operators or guides taking people into high-risk zones: ten base salaries, plus seizure of equipment.
• Rescues caused by a violation: five base salaries per person rescued, and ten for the responsible guide or operator.
• Repeat offenders pay 50% more, and a further offense can bring a one-year ban from all protected areas.

General fines go to the National Parks Fund. Rescue-related fines are split 60% to SINAC and 40% to the Costa Rican Red Cross.

How to visit legally and safely

• Buy tickets through SINAC's official system. Popular parks, including Poás, sell entry online through SICORE.
• Stay on open trails and viewpoints. If a sign, rope or ranger says a sector is closed, it's closed, even if a guide says otherwise.
• Choose licensed operators. A tour that promises a crater rim, summit or beach that the park doesn't open is a red flag. Our guide to responsible ecotourism tours explains what to check before you book.
• Report illegal tours. Call 1192 or file a complaint on the government's SITADA environmental complaints site.

Volcano access can change fast. Read how a damaged bridge shut Poás Volcano National Park for a week in January, or see SINAC's stepped-up patrols ahead of Semana Santa. For open parks, browse our national parks map.

Frequently asked questions

Is it illegal to enter closed areas of Costa Rica's national parks?

Yes. Since April 30, 2026, Law 10.861 lets SINAC fine visitors who enter sectors that aren't open to the public, with higher fines for tour operators and guides.

Which park had the most illegal entries over the 2025 to 2026 holidays?

Irazú Volcano National Park, with 200 of the 408 people SINAC caught, followed by Isla San Lucas with 88.

How much is the fine for entering a closed area of a Costa Rican park?

For a visitor, three base salaries, about ₡1.4 million in 2026. Operators and guides face fines of seven to ten base salaries, and repeat offenders pay 50% more.

How do I report an illegal tour in a Costa Rican park?

Call SINAC's 1192 line or file a complaint online through the SITADA environmental complaints system.

Sources and original reporting

1. La Nación: Sinac detectó a 408 personas ingresando ilegalmente a parques nacionales durante operativos de fin de año (2026-01-16)
2. Delfino.cr: Al menos 408 personas ingresaron a áreas protegidas de manera ilegal en fin y principio de año (2026-01-16)
3. Teletica: SINAC reporta 408 ingresos ilegales a áreas protegidas durante este año (2026-06-24)
4. Delfino.cr: Asamblea aprueba en segundo debate multas millonarias por ingreso ilegal a parques nacionales (2026-02-12)
5. Delfino.cr: Multas millonarias por ingresos ilegales a parques nacionales se aplicarán a partir del 30 de abril (2026-04-21)
6. El Observador: Multas a ingresos ilegales en parques nacionales (2026-04-30)
7. CRHoy: 4 personas estrenan multas por ingreso ilegal al volcán Arenal (2026-05-05)
8. El Observador: Sinac reportó 507 ingresos ilegales a zonas protegidas durante fin y principio de año (2025-01-16)
9. SITADA: Sistema Integrado de Trámite y Atención de Denuncias Ambientales
10. SINAC: SICORE online ticket system

We wrote this story from the published reports and official sources above. We didn't interview the people named unless the story says so.