The National Park of San Lucas Island consists of both land and marine areas and occupies 1.8 square miles. It features new trails, toilets, water , electricity and 24-hour surveillance systems. The island is reached from the town of Puntarenas, 60 miles from San José, with a 40-minute boat ride.
The goal of the new park is to encourage tourists to discover the hidden gems of the world, to develop sustainable tourism and to contribute to the area's socio-economic growth.
“San Lucas Island is part of Costa Rica’s history and heritage, so we are very pleased to reopen it as the country’s 30th national park. It will greatly surprise visitors looking for quieter spots when on holiday," stated Gustavo Segura Sancho, Costa Rica’s tourism minister.
The island's wildlife includes howler monkeys, spiders, rodents, deer and pheasants.
It was a penal island built by the dictator Tomás Miguel Guardia Gutiérrez from 1873 to 1991, where the lives of the prisoners were short and the treatment was brutal. Its former buildings are considered sites of cultural heritage, and more than 50 guides have been qualified to show the historic island.
Maritime Business World
[Image: Courtesy Office of the First Lady of Costa Rica]