In Jurassic Park, Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco was filmed for the intro sequence as the ‘ Isla Nublar’. The island was declared a National Park in 1978 and only park rangers are allowed to live here. A primeval paradise. Expect to see evergreen lower montane forests as well as montane rainforests where you will find oak trees reaching up to 50 meters flanked by bamboo and ferns. It just so happens that Costa Rica does have its very own T-Rex for real! The caiman is common in areas with high rainfall. Where is Cocos Island exactly? Above all else, Isla del Coco is a haven for the serious scuba diver who wishes to spot rays, sharks, turtles and more. San José is the capital of Costa Rica. Nor are they nearly as fast as raptors! The deep blue waters surrounding it are considered the most shark … This rather rectangular shaped island is roughly 8 km x 3 km, with a perimeter of slightly more than 23 km. Hungry for your own Jurassic Park adventure? I did not see any dinosaurs but on every dive I saw the most fish and sharks that I ever seen. Anonymous hacks Costa Rican government website associated with the island that inspired Isla Nublar from Jurassic Park. We love the idea of bringing our fantasies to life. You can marvel at the unique atmosphere dominating these destinations where the sense of fictional inhabitants can easily be imagined. Located in the Pacific Ocean, Cocos Island is roughly 550 km away from the Costa Rica mainland. When it gets around to raining properly, it … Simon and the Insider Divers met up in San Jose, the capital of the Central American country. This untamed, jungle-clad island was the unofficial inspiration behind Jurassic Park, with waterfalls cascading from a fortress of mountains and no official inhabitants other national park rangers.. We all remember the infamous error of San José appearing as a beach town at the start of the film! It is located about 550 km from the Pacific Coast and takes roughly 36 hours to reach. It took more than a decade, but we finally made it to Cocos Island National Park in Costa Rica. One of the thrills climbing this giant, other than the physical challenge, is the natural diversity you will encounter along the way. It is the perfect destination for the adventure tourist but also suits those wanting to relax and bask in a real-life Jurassic Park atmosphere. Cocos Island, said to be the inspiration for the jungle island in the movie Jurassic Park, is the only visible part of an undersea mountain range rising 5,000 feet from the sea floor. Cities and towns. Some say the novels Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe were inspired by Cocos Island. Check out our packages! It can be spotted in Corcovado & the Caño Negro Refuge. Cocos Island, an island west of Costa Rica in the Pacific Ocean, was likely the inspiration for Isla Nublar. The reptiles of Costa Rica can be rather acrobatic, you never know where they might be hiding. The Smoky Jungle frog is the largest frog in Costa Rica. Our Gallimimus is the Common Basilisk. The giant expanse of mangroves and vast rain forests house the largest population of Jaguar and Tapir. Costa Rica has many, many tree’s that could have doubled for that famous tree scene! The island's accolades read like a list of superlatives: it is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight, nominated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and designated a Wetland of International … This road cuts through some incredible jungle scenery. A storm is coming! Michael Crichton wrote "Jurassic Park" with it in mind. Costa Rica is home to more than 1400 species of orchids. Where is that T-Rex? The book Desert Island proposed the highly detailed theory that Daniel Defoe used the Isla del Coco as an accurate model for his descriptions of the island inhabited by the marooned Robinson Crusoe. Cocos itself is featured in the opening scenes of … But should we do so just because we can? The Place Remote Cocos Island is said to have inspired the adventure-filled settings of Treasure Island and Jurassic Park. Heading through the forest. Here it is only found in the lowlands below 200m elevation. In both the book and movies, Jurassic Park was built on an island called Isla Nubar. You can take a boating tour to Isla de Coco but note that these are pretty expensive. 32 hours by boat from Costa Rica it is a hard to reach marine park, famous for being one of the sharkiest places in the world. If you are a Jurassic Park fan, your mind might have moved towards the possibilities of such a Dino Park ever existing. Cocos Island, 300 miles off the coast of Costa Rica… Cocos Island, a part of Costa Rica, lies approximately 340 miles (550 km) off the southwest coast of Costa Rica in the Pacific Ocean — pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Meet our Triceratops! One might argue that they have made 5 films about why this is not a good idea. © Copyright 2004-2021 all rights reserved. But here are some places that possess that extra bit of magic. You don’t have to take a tour to get some real Jurassic vibes. We felt what she felt and understood her desires. An even more real Jurassic Park in Costa Rica. Cocos Island National Park comprises the entire island, protecting the lands and waters of the region. Go Tim go! As a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site, the actual island is pretty restricted for tourists and the greatest level of respect is requested. The other day I read an article focusing on just that. Above all else, Isla del Coco is a haven for the serious scuba diver who wishes to spot rays, sharks, turtles and more. Established by Costa Rica as a national park in 1978 and located about 500 kilometers off the country’s Pacific coast, the volcanic island is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. That is truly an exotic species of flower. "Isla Nublar" translates closely to "cloudy island," and Cocos Island is the only island in its area that has cloud forests. Pay two hotel nights (1 the day before the cruise and 1 the day after your cruise) may be$300 US for both nights. If you are up for a real challenge, climb the highest peak in Costa Rica! Although stunning in all conditions , the most mystical moments reveal themselves when the mists roll over the water. The film plays with the tension between the cloned girl and the cloned animals. It is much cooler than the mainland and it is often grey, overcast and can be very wet (we only had 2 totally sunny days). The initial voice of the films was rather dark and often guided by fear and doubt, though not void of love, beauty and respect. The trip to Cocos Island aboard the Sea Hunter & the to Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica December 23, 2005 - January 7, 2006 click on the image to see pictures from that day. Cocos Island, Costa Rica Diving by liveaboard dive boats is the only way to access Cocos Island, a remote Pacific Ocean island that belongs to Costa Rica … It’s only fitting that our climatic action shot is that of a Hump Back whale jumping on the Pacific coast. Here Desafio offers up some big thrills on it’s Gravity Falls tour near the Arenal Volcano! You can reach the Diamante Falls on a wonderful hike ending in a well-deserved dip in the cool waters. The tall strangler fig is a perfect spot to climb and even have a good nights rest! The sun-drenched swimming pool at Arenal Springs is alive with life, much like Jurassic World! Cocos Island, though, is very much real. You will see many beautiful sea birds over Costa Rica’s waters. The tour begins! To be honest, you can go almost anywhere in Costa Rica and experience this sensation. Jump Tim! The concept of ‘what is life’ and ‘what kind of life is valuable’, has often found its way into bigger debates. And if we choose to create them as a pet or for an attraction in a zoo, aren’t we completely ignoring the message the franchise has left us with? Between 4500 to 5500 USD depending on the date and the company you choose. Most are sleeping during the day and do their best to avoid people by hiding away, so few people ever see them. As fans of Jurassic Park … It is Costa Rica’s most isolated and least visited national park and can only be accessed by a 36-hour boat ride. Costa Rica offers many great excursions through the rainforests. Isla del Caño, off the coast of the Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula, is the perfect spot to spend the day snorkeling or diving. The only emergent island of the minor Cocos tectonic plate, the only landmark of the vast submarine cocos range. Far off mainland Costa Rica, Cocos Island is a remote green speck in the Pacific Ocean. This would surprise you upon waking up! In 2015, LiveScience published an interview with a scientist who is researching the actual creation of smaller dinosaurs. Osa is slightly less visited by tourists because of its location but deserves a spot on the list of any true nature lover. So hopefully this blog shows the real Jurassic Park in Costa Rica. The Jurassic Park movies are also known for some stunning waterfalls setting the scene. However, Defoe placed Crusoe's island not in the Pacific, but rather off the coast of Venezuela in the Atlantic Ocean. Robert Louis Stevenson may have based his classic "Treasure Island" on it. As we leave ‘Isla Nublar’ we can see some amazing sites such as the Turrialba volcano. You can't exactly leave easily when the dinosaurs go wild. Such ‘vanity projects’ are a far cry from what we should be focusing on with the resources we have, but the idea really seems to have taken hold regardless. Does this island look familiar? The eco-system has been largely untouched by humans, offering us a rare glimpse into a world where nature reigns supreme, … Osa Peninsula is one of Costa Rica’s most remote locations, but also one of the most majestic. Visiting Cocos Island. If your lucky you can spot Baird’s Tapir around the Osa Peninsula in the south. Then the tour. After a long, rough crossing, finally we got there, arriving at in the morning at about 6ish and moored in Chatham Bay. When is the Best Time to Visit Costa Rica. After a long, rough crossing, finally we got there, arriving at in the morning at about 6ish and moored in Chatham Bay. You can simply grab a car and take route 126. You can take a boating tour to Isla de Coco but note that these are pretty expensive. Cocos Island, a national park off the coast of Costa Rica, is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Just beautiful natural scenery. The American Crocodile can be spotted around Costa Rica and can stay hidden underwater for up to an hour to cool off under the hot sun. Life finds a way. In Jurassic Park, Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco was filmed for the intro sequence as the ‘Isla Nublar’.Costa Rica has many beautiful islands including this one above: Isla Tortuga, Turtle Island. Serpentine coastline, roaring waterfalls, lush rainforest, and sparkling beaches define picturesque Cocos Island, set 340 miles off Costa Rica's southwestern coast. It is green. Costa Rica is home to some amazing destinations as well as flora and fauna that would fit in nicely into Steven Spielberg’s epic dino thriller. Pirates used Cocos as a sort of bank before the Costa Rican government took it over in the late 1800s. Here is a better idea! Have to fly to San Jose Costa Rica (cost depends where you are). Cerro Chirripo stands proudly at 3820 meters. No Dilophosaurus here! In our case, up on the hanging bridges of the Monteverde cloud forest. The Aguila de Osa hotel looks much like the set from the film. Every tropical rainforest as well as the flora and fauna are worthy of a national geographic spread. One of the most intense, nerve racking scenes in the film! Flying home. Costa Rica’s has a love-hate relationship with “Jurassic Park.” While you won’t see dinosaurs at Cocos Island, you can come face-to-face with killer whales and tiger sharks there. Across Costa Rica’s National Parks will you find Ranger Stations offering shelter & info. Located some 350 miles from Costa Rica’s mainland, it’s widely believed to be the inspiration for Isla Nublar. Our T-Rex is on the move! According to the U.N., around 2.6 million hectares of Costa Rica is forested. If I have to try explain what Cocos Island looks like, I don’t know where to start. But as times have progressed, so have the movies. A few people have actually managed to get permission to search the island for the treasure—one man spent 19 years and millions of dollars but couldn’t find a penny. If you read on, we can take you to places in Costa Rica where you will feel like you have been sucked right into the movies. Watch for the movement! But the girl, we instantly took as one of us. The fantastical atmosphere made Isla del Coco the island double for Isla Nublar in the Jurassic Park movies. Meet Barva, the often overlooked volcano wedged in-between its famous brothers, Poas and Irazu. That is because Cocos Island was one of the filming locations in the actual movies. It was designated as a National Park in 1978 due to its unique ecological diversity and is covered in dense rainforest being the oceanic island with the largest extent of tropical rainforest. Many locals have met the T-Rex along Costa Rica’s Inter-American Highway at the Monteverde Ice Cream parlor. Cocos Island, Spanish Isla del Coco, island of volcanic origin lying in the Pacific Ocean, about 300 miles (480 km) south of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.It rises to an elevation of about 2,800 feet (850 metres) above sea level, is about 5 miles (8 km) long and 3 miles (5 km) wide, and has a total area of 9 square miles (24 square km).). Places where you can hike, dive, drive or just relax while being surrounded by landscapes offering a primal and otherworldly charm exactly like the original Jurassic Park. The dense, feral jungles house caverns, waterfalls and rare animals species. Very green. Moreover, fossils of more than twenty species of dinosaur have been collected with preserved feathers. Those who wish to get a sense for the real-life Jurassic Park, can simply do so by traveling through Costa Rica for an open air theme park. For years we have identified with Jurassic Park’s inhabitants as striking copies of what was once real. Aren’t they the same as well? Cocos itself is featured in the opening scenes of the island in Jurassic Park. Costa Rica has many waterfalls, much like the landing bay in Jurassic Park which was Coco Island! Region: Eastern Tropical Pacific, 300 miles (500km) off CoastClosest Town: noneAltitude: Sea Level to 2080 ft (600 m)Closest Airports: noneAverage Temperature: 76º-85º F(24º-29º C)Hard to imagine that a country as popular as Costa Rica could have any part left of it considered to be undiscovered and under the radar, but unless you are an avid scuba diver that is most likely the case. Tasty! The giant beauty introducing the island in the first movie is not in Cost Rica. This particular island is completely fictional, but it's believed to be based on Cocos Island, a … Declared a marine national park by the Costa Rican government in 1978, the Isla del Coco is a large uprising of volcanic seamounts covered with untamed and uninhabited tropical rainforest featured in breathtaking scenes in the movie 'Jurassic Park'. Customized Costa Rica Vacations, since 1999. Along the way you can make a stop at the La Paz waterfall which practically spills right onto the road. Costa Rica’s tropical climate means exciting, powerful weather is never far away. Our Jurassic adventure would not be complete without a stunning Costa Rican sunset over the Pacific. Birds share many unique skeletal features with dinosaurs. Although this little beast lives all over Costa Rica it can be hard to spot! Our T-rex would have no problem at all in dining on lizards and other mammals…. If you want to get out of the car and hike, you can pay a visit to Poas Volcano National Park. Rest in the rainforest. Jurassic Park Legacy members Henrique_Z_Tomassi and DinoDude65 collaborated to create a regional map of Costa Rica with all regions, towns and islands that appear in Michael Crichton's novels. My Costa Rica (CostaRica.Org) is a Travel Agency that offers Custom Costa Rica Vacations & Packages Including Hotels, All-Inclusive Resorts and Tours. To then discover she is a clone, what does that mean for the dinosaurs? But first, let’s explore this whole area of the “possibilities”. Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom jumps right in the middle of this discussion. To celebrate the release of Jurassic World we thought we would bring you the REAL Jurassic Park, as it’s right here in Costa Rica! The jungles have a rugged charm and remain a little rough around the edges. This masked tree frog is very common to Costa Rica’s forests. It even contains the route of the boats and aircrafts. The pastures at 1000 meters slowly transform reaching its climax in the Tundra ecosystem near the summit. This photo gallery brings Jurassic Park to life. KLM has named one of its newest airplanes after Costa Rica’s most remote national park. Cocos Island has been called the Galapagos Islands of Costa Rica. The dense, feral jungles house caverns, waterfalls and rare animals species. The caves behind the waterfall now serve as lodgings and you can actually spend the night in your own luxury cave veiled by this magical cascade. With the looming threat of (re)extinction, the question arises if cloned creatures are worthy of protection. Ever since we heard about the island’s history (beloved by both pirates and Presidents), remoteness (it takes days to get there) and sharks (tiger sharks, silky sharks, whale sharks and endangered scalloped hammerheads congregate here in big numbers) we’ve been dreaming … The best place to spot crocs is from the safety of a river boat tour. January 1, 2006 However, we can offer an amazing alternative. Located 340 miles southwest of Costa Rica, the UNESCO World Heritage site has been part of Costa Rica since 1832, and is filled with a dense, tropical rain forest. Welcome to the Visitor Center! In a way, Osa is Costa Rica’s wild child and will definitely make you feel like you have been sucked into the movie Jurassic Park. Costa Rica has many beautiful islands including this one above: Isla Tortuga, Turtle Island. This climb is pretty strenuous so it is advisable to spend the night in one of the mountain huts. Our Dilophosaurus! We have some more waterfalls on the list but this one is more remote and has a bonus feature. Go and have a look at the movie Jurassic Park, as that was the inspiration for the original book – forested mountains and thousands of waterfalls are the norm. The Boeing 777-300 was baptized “Cocos Island National Park” in honor of the Costa Rican Pacific island that’s an important conservation area for terrestrial and marine wildlife (and that was the inspiration for the fictional Isla Nublar in “Jurassic Park”). Cocos Island (Isla del Coco) is the secret gem we refer to, which is the prize of all of Cost… Sleeping in. 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