Cocos Island is located 550km off the southwest coast of Costa Rica in the Pacific Ocean and is the 11th district of the Puntarenas Canton of the Province of Puntarenas. With an area of 23.85km2, the island is roughly rectangular in shape. It is the southernmost point of North America if non-continental islands are taken into account. There are no permanent inhabitants on the island besides the Costa Rican park rangers as the entire area has been designated as a National Park since 1978. The surrounding waters are full of a variety of marine species, such as hammerhead sharks, rays, dolphins, and more, making it a popular destination for scuba divers. For its unique ecology, Cocos Island National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. It can only be reached by sea, taking 36-48 hours.