Costa Rica Just Made It Easier to Visit Its Former Prison Island with a New Dock

Costa Rica has opened a new tourist pier at Isla San Lucas National Park, making it a little easier to visit the former prison island. The island sits in the Gulf of Nicoya and can only be reached by boat.

The new pier opened on September 29 after construction began earlier this year. The Costa Rican Tourism Institute said the older dock had deteriorated and needed replacement.

The new one can accommodate up to four boats at a time and includes accessibility features for visitors.

Isla San Lucas was used as a prison for more than 100 years before closing in 1991. Today, visitors can still see parts of the old prison along with trails, wildlife, and plenty of history.

The Old Pier Needed To Be Replaced

Embedded media follows. Please allow a moment for it to load.

The project included roughly 490 square meters of construction along the coast and out over the water. The new pier can receive four boats at the same time. It was also designed to meet Costa Rica’s accessibility requirements.

Crews had a few extra challenges during construction, including tides, weather, and the fact that they were working inside a national park. The design also had to work around the historic buildings already on the island.

The finished project cost more than 1.1 billion colones, according to the September 29 opening announcement.

The Island Was A Prison Until 1991

San Lucas served as a prison until 1991. The island later became a wildlife refuge before officially becoming a national park in 2020. Visitors can see old buildings, ruins, and graffiti left behind from the years when inmates lived on the island.

There is plenty to see outside the old prison too. ICT said the island has about 15 kilometers of trails and one of the last tropical dry forests in Mesoamerica. White-tailed deer, anteaters, howler monkeys, and several kinds of birds can also be found around the island.

You Still Have To Get There By Boat

Isla Sucas is reached by water. Guided boat tours are usually available from Puntarenas.

The park is open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. SINAC currently lists admission at $12 for nonresident adults.