World Heritage Identification Number: 820
World Heritage since: 1997
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Protected Areas & National Parks
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Continent: Americas
UNESCO World Region: Latin America and the Caribbean
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Cocos Island National Park: A Biodiversity Hotspot in the Eastern Pacific
Cocos Island National Park, located approximately 550 kilometers off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is a unique and captivating destination that offers an extraordinary blend of terrestrial and marine biodiversity. This remote island, which is the only island in the tropical eastern Pacific with a tropical rainforest, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Cocos Island National Park, located 550 km off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is the only island in the tropical eastern Pacific with a tropical rainforest. Its position as the first point of contact with the northern equatorial counter-current, and the myriad interactions between the island and the surrounding marine ecosystem, make the area an ideal laboratory for the study of biological processes. The underwater world of the national park has become famous due to the attraction it holds for divers, who rate it as one of the best places in the world to view large pelagic species such as sharks, rays, tuna and dolphins.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (ix): The property harbours a rare and complex mosaic of land and sea environments, including forested mountains, rivers, waterfalls, estuaries, cliffs, sandy and rocky beaches, bays, and extensive and highly diverse coral reefs and pelagic environments. The oceanic island, more than 500 kilometers off the continent, is mostly occupied by tropical rainforest and, from around 500 m.a.s.l. to the highest elevation at 634 m.a.s.l., by cloud forest. The isolation has been allowing ongoing evolutionary processes on land, giving origin to countless endemic species in the most diverse taxonomic groups, including several vertebrate species. The geographic location at the meeting point of the North Equatorial Countercurrent with other major marine currents and the ecological interactions between a remote island and the surrounding marine ecosystems are of major scientific importance. The currents and the island affect the movements and distribution of the many migratory marine species aggregating for feeding and reproduction in the waters around the island. The property serves as a dispersion centre of larvae of numerous marine species coming from the entire Pacific. The islets and rocks around the main island are reported to also serve as important cleaning stations, i.e. pelagic species aggregate to have parasites removed by specialised fish and other species.
Criterion (x): The small island supports the only tropical forest ecosystem located on an oceanic island within the Tropical Eastern Pacific. It is home to some 70 endemic species of vascular plants and several endemic animals, including three birds, two reptiles and even two freshwater fish. Smaller satellite rocks around the island support nesting and resting habitats for numerous migratory and resident bird species. However, the main species conservation value derives from critical marine habitat and the corresponding role of the property in the conservation of large pelagic species, especially several species of sharks. Among the latter are exceptional aggregations of the near-threatened Silky and Lemon Shark, the vulnerable Bigeye Thresher Shark and Galapagos Shark, the emblematic and endangered Hammerhead Shark, as well as White-tip Reef Shark and Black-tip Shark. Among some 300 recorded fish species are important aggregations of large pelagic fish, such as the vulnerable Whale Shark and Blue Marlin, as well as Sailfish Broadbill Swordfish, Shortbill Spearfish, Giant Manta Ray and Pelagic Stingray. Blue Whale and Bottlenose Dolphin are among the visiting marine mammals.
Encyclopedia Record: Cocos Island
Cocos Island is a volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean administered by Costa Rica, approximately 550 km southwest of the Costa Rican mainland. It constitutes the 11th of the 15 districts of Puntarenas Canton of the Province of Puntarenas. With an area of approximately 23.85 km2 (9.21 sq mi), the island is roughly rectangular in shape. It is the southernmost point of geopolitical North America if non-continental islands are included, and the only landmass above water on the Cocos tectonic plate.Additional Site Details
Area: 199,700 hectares
Number of Components: 1
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: 5.533333333 , -87.06666667
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Cocos Island National Park reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Cocos Island National Park from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Seamount aggregation effects for threatened species at Cocos Island National Park: Insights from a Long-Term Monitoring Framework in the Eastern Tropical Pacific
A long-term monitoring study from 2021 to 2024 at Cocos Island National Park revealed that seamounts, particularly the West Cocos and Gemelas seamounts, serve as critical aggregation sites for threatened pelagic species such as hammerhead sharks, thresher sharks, and silky sharks. The research found significantly higher abundance and diversity of these species near the seamount peaks compared to areas 10 nautical miles away, highlighting the localized biological importance of these underwater features. Hammerhead shark populations were particularly sensitive to environmental factors like water temperature, thermocline depth, and oxygen levels. This study provides a baseline for assessing the effectiveness of the expanded Cocos Island National Park and supports the establishment of a regional seamount monitoring initiative through the MigraMar network, aiming to protect these vulnerable species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
Cambra, M., Villalobos, F., Clarke, T., & Espinoza, M. (2025). Seamount aggregation effects for threatened species at Cocos Island National Park: Insights from a Long-Term Monitoring Framework in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1550
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Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) aggregations at Cocos Island National Park, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, between 2017-2022
Research on bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) aggregations at Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica, from 2017 to 2022 reveals that the northeastern and southwestern quadrants serve as critical feeding grounds, likely due to high productivity near seamounts. The study found no significant seasonal or annual differences in sightings but noted an increase in individuals per group during 2020-2021, possibly linked to reduced human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. While juveniles and pups were consistently present until 2022, their absence that year suggests potential shifts in habitat use or population dynamics. The research used systematic monitoring via the PRONAMEC protocol, dividing the park into quadrants and analyzing group composition, location, and seasonality to inform conservation strategies for this remote yet ecologically vital marine area.
Fernández, S., Ulate, K., & Golfín, G. (2025). Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) aggregations at Cocos Island National Park, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, between 2017-2022. https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-911
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Microplastic distribution in the marine and freshwater ecosystems of Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica
A uniform distribution of microplastics (MPs) around Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica, suggests that local human activities are not significant sources of MP pollution. The study, which analyzed 288 samples from marine and freshwater ecosystems, identified 178 MPs, with higher abundance and larger sizes found in the marine environment. While ocean currents likely contribute to marine MP distribution, sources in the freshwater ecosystem remain uncertain but may stem from atmospheric deposition, air-sea exchange, or long-range transport. These findings highlight Cocos Island's vulnerability to plastic pollution due to its insular nature and underscore the need for global conservation efforts to address MPs as a planetary boundary threat.
Astorga, A., Ulate, K., Golfin-Duarte, G., Madrigal-Ramirez, D., Murillo-Corrales, M., García-Rojas, A., Arias-Zumbado, F., Solís-Adolio, D., & Chacón, I. (2025). Microplastic distribution in the marine and freshwater ecosystems of Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1474(1), 12019. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1474/1/012019
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Species associations and community structure in an oceanic elasmobranch assemblage
A 26-year underwater visual survey of elasmobranchs at Cocos Island National Park reveals significant shifts in community structure and species associations, highlighting the dynamic nature of marine predator assemblages. The study identified a transition from a sparse, low-diversity network in the early 1990s to a more densely connected assemblage by 2014, with distinct seasonal sub-communities: migratory oceanic species during the wet season and resident coastal species in the dry season. Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) and whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) were key drivers of these changes. Negative associations among species suggest complex predator-prey dynamics and intraguild competition, with three distinct patterns—competition, predation, and environmental preference—explaining interspecific interactions. This research advances understanding of elasmobranch community evolution in oceanic ecosystems.
Gómez García, M. d. J., Moll, R. J., Hearn, A. R., Espinoza, M., & White, E. R. (2026). Species associations and community structure in an oceanic elasmobranch assemblage. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 779, 1–13. CLOCKSS. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps15053
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A report of sea cucumbers collected on the first dedicated deep-sea biological survey of Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories around Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea)
A new species of sea cucumber, Deima oloughlini, was discovered during the first dedicated deep-sea biological survey of Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories around Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The survey, conducted in 2021 and 2022 aboard the RV Investigator, used beam trawls to collect sea cucumbers from seamounts and the seafloor, revealing previously unknown biodiversity. The study also documented range extensions for several species and provided genetic data for taxonomic identification. Samples are now housed at Museums Victoria, with findings to be integrated into the Australian Faunal Directory and Atlas of Living Australia. Funded by multiple institutions including Parks Australia and Ocean Census, this research highlights the ecological significance of deep-sea environments in these remote territories.
Mackenzie, M., Davey, N., Burghardt, I., & Haines, M. L. (2024). A report of sea cucumbers collected on the first dedicated deep-sea biological survey of Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories around Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea). Memoirs of Museum Victoria, 207–316. https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2024.83.03
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An enigmatic new octocoral species (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Malacalcyonacea) from Isla del Coco National Park
Researchers have discovered a new genus and species of octocoral, Aliena parva gen. et sp. nov., from Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica. This enigmatic species, characterized by its thin encrusting mats and transparent polyps, is the first member of the family Pterogorgiidae reported in the eastern Pacific. Using an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological and genetic analyses, the study found that Aliena gen. nov. differs significantly from all other known taxa, necessitating an amendment to the diagnosis of Pterogorgiidae. The findings suggest that this species may have evolved from a gorgonian ancestor by losing its internal skeletal axis, contributing new insights into marine biodiversity and the octocoral diversity of Cocos Island.
Breedy, O., McFadden, C. S., & Cortés, J. (2023). An enigmatic new octocoral species (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Malacalcyonacea) from Isla del Coco National Park. ZooKeys, 1169, 317–331. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1169.100576
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Comparative analysis of spatiotemporal trends in sea surface temperature in the major marine protected areas of the Eastern Tropical Pacific
A comparative analysis of sea surface temperature (SST) trends across six major marine protected areas in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, including Cocos Island National Park, reveals a general increase in SST from 1982 to 2019, with notable exceptions. West Galápagos stands out as the only site without an upward trend, while Malpelo, Coiba, Gorgona, and La Plata exhibit seasonal decreases in SST anomalies between February and April, likely due to upwelling events influenced by the Humboldt Current. The study used remote sensing data to assess monthly, annual, and decadal variations, highlighting the need for long-term monitoring to distinguish local, regional, or global drivers of these trends. These findings underscore the importance of consistent SST tracking in marine conservation planning.
Zevallos-Rosado, J., Chinacalle-Martínez, N., Murillo-Posada, J. C., Veelenturf, C., & Peñaherrera-Palma, C. (2023). Comparative analysis of spatiotemporal trends in sea surface temperature in the major marine protected areas of the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Revista de Biología Marina Y Oceanografía, 58(1), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.22370/rbmo.2023.58.1.4145
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