Guanacaste

Location: canton: Liberia, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
GPS Coordinates: 10.772675,-85.349739 (10°46’21.63″N, 85°20’59.06″W)
Size: 14,161 ha ( 34,800 acres)
Altitude: from 650m (2132ft) to 1965m (6449ft) above sea level
Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Las Pailas Sector from Rincón de la Vieja National Park Phone: +506 2661-8139
Guanacaste Conservation Area Telephone (ACG): +506 2666-5051
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Rincon de la Vieja National Park in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Rincon de la Vieja National Park Costa Rica: created on November 16th, 1973, to protect and conserve watersheds that supply water to the city of Liberia, as well as the local flora and fauna. It is part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG in Spanish). It is located in the northwestern part of Costa Rica which comprises a remote volcanic complex in the Guanacaste Mountain Range, encompassing the Rincón de la Vieja and Santa María volcanoes, as well as the dormant Cerro Von Seebach.

The name Rincon de la Vieja is translated as ‘Old Woman’s Nook’ and refers to the legend of a young girl whose lover was thrown into the volcano by her father, after which she became a recluse with healing powers. This probably originated from the local Guatuso indigenous tribe, who believed there was an old witch on the summit of the mountain, who was thought to send columns of smoke into the air when she was angry. The park’s remoteness has allowed it to maintain a unique healthy and abundant population of wildlife. Visitors can also find thermal mud pools, waterfalls and freshwater lakes ideal for swimming. In fact, the heat has lead to one of the largest geothermal electricity generation plants in the world located right here.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park is a still relatively undiscovered gem of the Costa Rican territory. It is home to an incredible combination of volcanic geological wonders and pristine tropical forests that span six life zones. As you ascend the flanks of the volcano you will pass through varying elevations, accompanied by changes in the flora and fauna around you. Of course, the main attraction is the smooth cinder cone volcano, Rincon de la Vieja (1895m / 6217 ft), an andesitic stratovolcano comprising of nine contiguous craters that sprinkle the volcanic national park. Among the craters is the Santa Maria Volcano, the highest peak at 1916 m (6385 ft). It was formed by the simultaneous explosion of several volcanic cones that grew and merged into a single mountain. It has been possible to identify 9 sites of volcanic activity on the summit, however the most active area is on Von Seebach peak which contains a crater with an acidic lake, continually venting steam and the occasional volcanic hiccup. This collection of volcanic peaks are the most active in the Guanacaste Mountain Range, where major volcanic activity occurred during the second half of the 1960’s decade. In fact, the last major eruption of Rincon de la Vieja occurred about 3,500 years ago. All subsequent eruptions, including numerous historical events dating back to the 16th century, being the last eruption in 1998.

It is possible to reach the summit of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, which is best done during the dry season from February to April, if you want to get any views, due to a higher probability of sunshine and clear skies. However, one of the best times to visit Rincon de la Vieja National Park is in the rainy season (from May to November) as this is when the fumaroles and boiling mud pots are most active, and is also the time when the hot springs form small streams with very hot water, and solfataric lakes (containing sulfur dioxide) fill small hollows with constantly bubbling muddy water. Ironically this very evident activity is also the reason why the volcano is considered safe. Volcanoes that are literally ‘letting of steam’ are less likely to have a big eruption as they are not building up pressure. However, the crater is usually covered in clouds and so it is not the best time to hike to the top. If you want to do this, check weather reports and head off early in the morning to have the best chance.

The hike to the volcano’s summit, is a somewhat rigorous all-day endeavor, but certainly worth the effort. The trail traverses several life zones and distinct ecosystems as it climbs higher up the mountainside. The 8 km trail starts from Las Pailas Ranger Station. The first 6 km have a upward gently slope, and the final 2 km ascend steeply to the crater, where you will arrive, out of breath, to view the spectacular volcanic landscape. With luck, clear skies will reveal an uninhibited view of endless country-virtually the whole Costa Rica, including both coasts and the shimmering sea beyond. Be careful at the top because it has strong winds combined with low visibility. There are no rails or guards to stop you leaning over the edge and considering that you are standing on gravel and ash it is not advisable to do so unless you wish to plunge 200m into the acidic lake! Moreover, it may start out warm at the bottom, but you are likely to find it a little or a lot cooler at the top, so you need to be prepared with long pants and rain jacket.

The park has a variety of wildlife, such as over 300 species of birds, including the Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata), Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens), Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus), Blue-Throated Goldentail (Hylocharis eliciae), White-fronted Parrot (Amazona albifrons), Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata), Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota), Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans), Black-faced Solitaire (Myadestes melanops), Montezuma Oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma), as well as quetzals, curassows, eagles, etc. Among the mammals that can be sighted in the park include monkeys (white-faced, spider and howler), peccaries, tapirs, kinkajous, deer, coatis, skunks, armadillos , anteaters, sloths, pumas, jaguars and many more. The volcanic vents and geysers are habitat for certain extremophile micro-organisms.

The east side of the park is exposed to Atlantic trade winds bringing a large amount of rainfall. The average recorded annual rainfall is 2,000 mm of rain. A drenching 200 inches (500 cm) is liable to fall in any given year, covering the mountainside with lush vegetation and keeping the average annual temperature at 26ºC. Conversely, the Pacific side has a distinct dry season, from February to April, making it ideal for visitors wanting to hike the higher elevations. It has various ecosystems and plant communities, due to the different altitude, rainfall and the effect of volcanic eruptions. In the upper parts forests are of low stature, the trees are twisted and covered with epiphytes. Tropical forests, including sections of montane and dwarf cloud forest, form the park’s base, providing safe haven for a host of flora and fauna. The park also has probably one of the largest populations of the national flower of Costa Rica, the orchid Guaria Morada (Guarianthe Skinneri), as well as a lot of trees like Spanish Elm or Ecuador Laurel (Cordia alliodora), Guanacaste or Elephant Ear Tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata), Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba) and Autograph Tree or Copey (Clusia major).

Rincón de la Vieja is part of the watershed between the Atlantic and Pacific, of the northeast part of the country. This feature makes it a true “water factory”, which has been performing services for many years to the province of Guanacaste, especially to the city of Liberia. In this region thirty-two rivers are born, including the Colorado, Blanco and Ahogados. In addition, there are sixteen intermittent streams, which together supply rivers as important as the Tempisque.

Rincon de la Vieja is the most accessible of the volcanoes in the range, although it is still remote enough to maintain it’s natural wilderness, and up to the date with little negative impact from tourism. The nearest city is Liberia to the south of the park. There are two facilities at the park, the Santa Maria and Pailas stations for visitors information and guides, which are both on the southern side of the park.

A well marked trail system through Rincon de la Vieja National Park leads visitors to the Park’s attractions and between Stations. The lower slopes have many well marked trails that lead you to mud pots, fumaroles, waterfalls and swimming holes, most of which are near the entrance to Las Pailas. One trail leads to the summit. Another 5km trail leads you through forest and grasslands to Catarata La Cangreja where a beautiful waterfall crashes into a shimmering blue lagoon. There is also a 4.3 km trail to the Cataratas Escondidas, a slightly smaller waterfall.

There are other trails which zigzag their way through the park, covering over 1,525 vertical meters (5,000 ft). Some 3 km up the trail from the ranger station is a sulfuric hot spring, allowing visitors to relax in its naturally heated pools and then cool off in a nearby stream. In close proximity, a trail reveals a number of adjoining waterfalls with perfect swimming holes. Some 3 km beyond the hot springs, bubbling pools of mud can be found, where visitors can observe Rincon de la Vieja’s powerful geological forces at work. Always ask for local advice to know the best and safest trails at the moment, as steaming vents and boiling mud border all the volcano’s flanks. Guided trail tours can be arranged at either the Pailas or Santa Maria Station.

Camping is allowed throughout the park with restrooms, showers and picnic areas, however, food is not available onsite and should be packed beforehand. Camping areas at Rincon de la Vieja National Park are open 24 hours.

Other nearby parks include the Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste National Park, Bahia Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge and Iguanita National Wildlife Refuge.

LAS PAILAS SECTOR:

Las Pailas Sector is within an area of forest, which is named after the volcanic eruptions that are located in the area, including fumaroles, mud pots and fumaroles gaps.

Las Pailas Sector offer visitors the opportunity to spend the night in the adjacent campgrounds, located 200 m from the information booth in a wooded area with capacity for 40 people. It has an information booth, restrooms, bathrooms with cold water, potable water and laundry room, as well as a lunch area, located in a beach area along the Colorado River, with tables and dumps, with access only during the dry season. At the entrance of Las Pailas Sector is a parking lot on a private property located outside the national park.

Getting there:

The entrance to Sector Pailas is located on the western edge of the park. To arrive at this site from San Jose, drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway to Liberia and continue for about 5 miles north on the Panamerican Highway, then turn to the west through a 20km dirt road to the sector. Due to the characteristics of the roads a 4WD vehicle is recommended. This route requires a total of 5 hours from San José.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), follow the highway to Liberia and continue for about 5 miles north on the Panamerican Highway, then turn to the west through a 20km dirt road to the sector. Due to the characteristics of the roads a 4WD vehicle is recommended. Driving time from Liberia to Rincon de la Vieja is about 45 minutes.

SANTA MARÍA SECTOR

The Santa Maria sector was since the late nineteenth century and until 1973, one of the largest estates in the area. It’s activities were the dual purpose cattle (meat and milk) and the cultivation of coffee and sugar cane. Within this sector is the Casona Santa Maria, a small display to the public, with a maximum capacity of 20 people, access to which is subject to availability of staff. In addition, there is a gazebo, located on a small hill behind the Casona de Santa Maria, with a maximum capacity for 20 people, with year-round access. From here you can see the Miravalles volcano, the sorroudings of the village of San Jorge and the lowlands of Guanacaste near the Tempisque river.

This sector also has toilets, bathrooms, potable water, tables, grills and laundry room, as well as ample room around the house where visitors are allowed to leave vehicles.

Getting there:

The entrance to Sector Santa Maria is located in the southwest corner of the park. To reach this place from San Jose, drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway to Liberia and take the road that begins in the neighborhood of La Victoria, then take the road leading to the village of Colonia Blanca, then veering to the left. In total the path is 25 km to the administration office. Due to the characteristics of the roads a 4WD vehicle is recommended. This route requires a total of 5 hours from San José.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), follow the highway to Liberia and take the road that begins in the neighborhood of La Victoria, then take the road leading to the village of Colonia Blanca, then veering to the left. In total the path is 25 km to the administration office. Due to the characteristics of the roads a 4WD vehicle is recommended. Driving time from Liberia to Rincon de la Vieja is about 45 minutes.

By bus:

You can take a bus from San Jose to Liberia, which takes about 4 hours (Pulmitan Liberia Terminal, +506 2222-1650) and then take a bus from Liberia-Curubandé and/or Liberia-Colonia Blanca (which stops at the entrance of Santa Maria Sector). The bus to Curubande runs three times a day from the bus station in Liberia, with access throughout the year.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Liberia International Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From here you can rent a car and drive to the park.

Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Parque Nacional Guanacaste Costa Rica

Guanacaste National Park Costa Rica: The Guanacaste National Park is located on the east side of the Pan-American Highway across from Santa Rosa National Park, it was created on June 5th, 1991, to protect the evergreen forest slope and the Orosi and Cacao volcanoes cloud forests.

The Guanacaste National Park was established in 1989, largely due to an ambitious project spearheaded by the American ecologist Dr. Daniel Janzen whose efforts were critical in raising the international donations that were necessary to purchase the land in question. Using the clever slogan, “How to Grow a National Park”, Janzen stressed the need to reclaim degraded pasture land and regenerate more of the severely threatened tropical dry forest habitat, as well as creating a biological corridor to make them cooler and moister.

In fact, the Guanacaste National Park was established with the main purpose of creating a biological corridor to connect Santa Rosa National Park with high elevation cloud forest and caribbean rain forest slope. This huge park extends from the Santa Rosa National Park border with the Pan-American Highway northeastward to the peaks of the Cacao and Orosi Volcanoes and across the Continental Divide on the Caribbean slopes of these two volcanoes. The Orosi Volcano (1487m / 4878ft) is dormant, while the spectacular conical Cacao Volcano is notable for the contrast between the rainforest on its eastern slopes and the dry plains on its lower western slopes. It includes a variety of habitats, such as dry forest, dry plains, rainforest and cloud forest.

This project was created to help secure a migration route for those animals that move into the highlands during the dry season. When the park was created there were two aims: one was to provide a natural biological corridor to protect the seasonal migratory route of birds and animals to and from the rainforest in the east and the dry plains in the west. The second aim was to carefully monitor the areas of cattle pasture within the park and as a result aid the forest natural regeneration.

Another of the main goals of Guanacaste National Park was the desire of being “user friendly”, to encourage local participation in environmental programs, and hire as many of the previous ranch workers as park personnel. In fact, many of the fired cattlemen have since been trained to work as park personnel. Fortunately, the conservation campaign came at a time when international world beef prices were at a historically low level and many of the ranch owners with extensive holdings in the area were quite willing to sell up their less productive pasture land.

This extension of Santa Rosa will hopefully provide a sufficiently large area of protected land to ensure the future of wide-ranging species, while at the same time allowing species of birds and insects that make local seasonal migrations between the dry forest and the evergreen cloud and rain forests to live without the threat of continued loss of habitat.

Wildlife in the Guanacaste National Park is varied, with some 140 species of mammals, over 300 birds, many of which move seasonally between the varying habitats, 100 amphibians and reptiles, and over 10,000 species of insects have been identified. The most common mammals are howler monkeys, white-faced Capuchin, long-nosed armadillos and coatis, as well as collared peccaries, pocket mice, white-tailed deer, pumas, ocelots, jaguars, sloths, tapirs and many others.

The park also has a wide variety of climates given the change in elevation from 300m to 1,659m (the summit of Cacao Volcano) within the park, crossing from dry forest to rain forest as one goes eastward over the Continental Divide. Usually it’s very hot throughout the year, with a rainy season from May to November.

Guanacaste National Park carries more research than any other national park in Costa Rica. The park has several interesting trails and four research stations, located in varying habitats, of which at least one is open to the public for tourists, researchers and photographers. All research stations offer some rustic accommodations, but access is by gravel roads requiring the use of 4WD vehicles.

Maritza Sector

It is located further north, at an elevation of 650m in the Orosi Volcano (1450m) west foothills, at the junction of the wet and dry forest. Here visitors can find hills that are relics of Plio-Cuaternary volcanoes and plains formed by the accumulation of ash, pyroclasts and ignimbrites. The western slope of these volcanoes is covered with evergreen rain forests. Trees here can grow up to 30m in height with predominating species such as the Santa María (Baccharis trinervis), Tempisque (Sideroxylon capiri) and the Pond-apple (Annona glabra). This sector protects the headwaters of several important rivers at the continental divide. Near the station is located a water Continental Divide, that separates by a few hundred meters the headwaters of the Tempisque River, which empties into the Pacific Ocean, and the Sapoá River, which flows into Lake Nicaragua, that drains into the Caribbean Sea, and also a large number of creeks and streams, which makes Maritza Sector an ideal site for the study of aquatic biology and insects, under the direction of the Stroud Water Research Center in Costa Rica. Archaeologically, Maritza Sector, and especially a place known as El Pedregal, has great historical significance, because here are hundreds of petroglyphs more than 1500 years old, scattered over a large area, which still lack much research.

This Biological Station is open 24 hours with visitor attention from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It has dormitory style lodging of four rooms with capacity for 32 people, showers, bathrooms with potable water, dining room, radio communication, electricity, a research lab and classroom.

Getting here:

From San José, drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway to Liberia and continue north for about 42km (29 miles), or 15km south of La Cruz city, until you reach the intersection that takes you to the Cuajiniquil community, from this point starts an 18km road that climbs to the station in the Orosi volcano foothills (eastern side). Access during the rainy season is difficult; it is recommended year-round use of a 4WD vehicle. This route requires a total of 5 hours from San José.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), follow the highway to Liberia and continue north for about 42km (29 miles), or 15km south of La Cruz city, until you reach the intersection that takes you to the Cuajiniquil community, from this point starts an 18km road that climbs to the station in the Orosi volcano foothills (eastern side). Access during the rainy season is difficult; it is recommended year-round use of 4WD vehicle.

Cacao Sector

Cacao Volcano (1659m) is located in the Guanacaste mountain range, on the volcanic mountain known as Orosi-Cacao. This volcano has clearly the remains of a volcanic depression that destroyed its south side. Today it is a dormant volcano.

The Cacao Sector is located on the edge of the cloud forest on the southwestern side of the Cacao Volcano, at 1.100m high. It features steep terrain surrounding the volcano, with transitions from dry tropical forest in the lowlands to cloud and rain forest in the higher altitudes. The cloud forest vegetation consists of a squat with less than ten meters high, tree trunks and branches twisted by the wind and with lots of orchids, lichens, mosses and bromeliads. The average annual temperature ranges between 18.5ºC and 21.7ºC, however during the months of December through February it can drop to nearly 10ºC. The Biological Station at Cacao Sector is open 24 hours with visitor attention from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It has dormitory style lodging of four rooms with capacity for 32 people, 4 restrooms and 2 showers with potable water, caretaker on-site, kitchen, dining hall, laboratory, trails, horses for transportation and radio communication equipment, but no electricity.

Getting there:
From San Jose, take the Pan-American Highway to Liberia and continue northwest of the city for about 24km (miles), or 33km south of the La Cruz city, until you reach the intersection located in the town known as Potrerillos; then turn onto a paved road for 9 km to the community of Quebrada Grande, and continue for 18km along a more difficult path, up to the station. During the dry season, the vehicles can arrive where the trail path starts, at 300m from the Biological Station. In the rainy season usually vehicles can reach up to the Gongora River sector, located 5km before the station. At any time of year a 4WD vehicle is required.

Pitilla Sector

It is located on the eastern side of Cacao Volcano, set inside the rainforest, with great influence from the Caribbean. Most of the forest is primary, with a few patches of secondary forest, and thus has a high biodiversity, being one of the best sites inside the ACG (Guanacaste Conservations Area) to see a great variety of birds. From this site, visitors can see the Nicaragua Lake, which also influences the climate of the sector. It has a largely unexplored rain forest area with trails to Orosilito Hill and Orosi Volcano. The Station at Pitilla Sector is open 24 hours with visitor attention goes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It also has two room dormitory with 20 beds, 3 showers and restrooms with potable water, food services, trails, radio communication, but no electricity, a laboratory and classrooms.

Getting there:
From San Jose, take the Pan-American Highway to Liberia and continue to the northwest of the city for about 58km, or 1km south of the La Cruz city, until you reach the intersection to the community of Santa Cecilia. Continue east on this road for about 35km until you reach Santa Cecilia. One kilometer after passing Santa Cecilia, and continuing along the road leading to the community of Brasilia, you should see a gravel road on your right, that ascends 7km to the southeast of the Orosilito foothills where the Pitilla Biological Station is, at 600 meters elevation.

Tropical Dry Forest Research Center

It is an administration building and offices for the ACG (Guanacaste Conservation Area). It’s one more service from ACG, whose responsibilities include teaching courses for groups, whether national or foreign, wishing to visit the ACG, as well as administration and management of Information and Documentation Centre, which collects, organizes and provides general biological information available, such as books, research results, and administrative information of the area as reports, business plans, articles, etc., together with audiovisual material on various topics. It has laboratories, documentation center and conference hall, and it offers dormitory style lodging for up to 64 people, with dining area, electricity, water, laundry, telephone, fax and photocopying.

Getting there:
From San Jose, take the Pan-American Highway to Liberia and continue north for 42km (29 miles) to Potrerillos, you will find the Research Center near the entrance to the Santa Rosa Sector.

Other nearby parks includes the Santa Rosa National Park, Rincon de la Vieja National Park,Bahia Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge and Iguanita National Wildlife Refuge.

By bus:

You can take a bus from San Jose to Liberia, which takes about 4 hours (Pulmitan Liberia Terminal, 2222-1650) and then take a bus from Liberia to Cuajiniquil (González García Terminal), or a bus from Liberia to La Cruz (Empresa Arrieta).

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Liberia International Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From here you can rent a car and drive to the park.

Location: east of the Pan-American Highway, Guanacaste, 280km from San Jose, Costa Rica.
Potrerillos GPS coordinates: 10.844325,-85.491597 (10°50’39.57″N, 85°29’29.75″W)
Size: 38.000ha (94.000 acres)
Altitude: from 200m (820ft) to 1500m (4757ft)
Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Guanacaste Conservation Area Telephone (ACG): + (506) 2666-5051
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Guanacaste National Park in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps