eco de la isla

A mythical island at the edge of the world

Rising abruptly from the Pacific Ocean, over 500 kilometres from mainland Costa Rica, Cocos Island occupies a place somewhere between geography and mythology. Jacques Cousteau famously described it as "the most beautiful island in the world," while its dense rainforest, towering waterfalls and surrounding waters later inspired the fictional Isla Nublar in Jurassic Park. Long before becoming a symbol of conservation, however, the island served as one of the few reliable fresh water refuges in the Eastern Pacific. Pirates, corsairs, whalers, treasure hunters and scientific expeditions all passed through its bays, leaving behind stories that continue to shape its identity today.

The island's importance extends far beyond its legends. In 1869, during a government-sponsored treasure expedition, the Costa Rican flag was raised on Cocos Island for the first time, formally incorporating the territory into the country's national imagination. Later attempts to establish permanent settlements—including an agricultural colony and a penal settlement—ultimately failed, leaving the island largely untouched by human development. In 1978, Cocos Island was declared a National Park, and in the decades that followed it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's most important marine protected areas.

Today, despite covering only 24 square kilometres of land, Cocos Island safeguards an Exclusive Economic Zone of more than 290,000 square kilometres, making it one of Costa Rica's most strategically important territories. A small group of park rangers rotates through month-long shifts, living in near-complete isolation while protecting one of the richest marine ecosystems on Earth. Working with limited resources, they face increasing pressure from illegal fishing fleets, international drug trafficking routes and the psychological demands of prolonged separation from family and ordinary life back in the mainland.