National Parks

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

Location: 35 km north of Liberia in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.
  
Santa Rosa Sector GPS Coordinates: 10.877586,-85.585908 (10°52’39.31″N, 85°35’9.27″W)
Murcielago Sector entrance GPS Coordenates: 10.924295,-85.694911 (10°55’27.46″N, 85°41’41.68″W)
Size: 49,515 ha (123,500 acres)
Altitude: sea level to 500m (1640ft)
Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Santa Rosa National Park Phone: +506 2666-5051
Fax: +(506) 2666-5020
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 Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Santa Rosa National Park Costa Rica: created as a National Monument by law on July 1st 1966, and was declared as Santa Rosa National Park on March 27th, 1971, along with the surrounding land, to commemorate and preserve an historic site where the Battle of Santa Rosa took place, including the historic mansion and corrals of stone walls. The park also protects beautiful beaches, savannahs, grasslands, mangroves and abundant wildlife, including some endangered species, and also a great extension of one of the last dry tropical forests of the world. In 1980, it was expanded with the addition of the Murcielago Sector by Executive Order.

The Santa Rosa National Park is the largest and oldest park in the country located in the Santa Elena Peninsula, which is part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG in Spanish), so it has a warm climate with an average temperature of 28°C (83°F) and an average rainfall of 1500mm. Santa Rosa has more cultural, historical and geological interest than most other national parks. The rocks on the Santa Elena Peninsula are amongst the oldest in Costa Rica, dating back to some 130 million years ago.

The park is divided into two areas, the Santa Rosa Section and the Murcielago section. The section of Santa Rosa is home to La Casona, a historic mansion which contains photographs, pictures, paintings and military equipment that commemorates the Battle of Santa Rosa.

The Hacienda Santa Rosa is recorded in the pages of the Costa Rican battle history since the XIX century. The first, and the most famous, was on March 20th, 1856, when the North American William Walker and his filibusters were defeated at La Casona of Santa Rosa. The battle is said to have lasted a mere 14 minutes. The second battle occurred in 1919 against the Nicaraguans, and the third was in 1955, when the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza was put to flight. This is the sum total of Costa Rica´s recent military history, which gives and indication of how peaceful the country has been.

In this sector, you will also find well marked out walking trials, which lead visitors through spectacular forests and gushing waterfalls. Some popular trails are the Naked Indian loop trail and the Los Patos trail. Located 13 km from La Casona, are the stunning Naranjo and Nancite beaches. The white sand of Nancite Beach is famous for the nesting of Olive Ridley turtles, which combined with their ecological characteristics, makes access restriction to be required, while the gray sand of Naranjo beach, surrounded by mangroves, is home to the famous Witch’s Rock (Roca Bruja), besides being one of the best places for surfing in the world. The Murcielago sector, located 9 km from Cuajiniquil (60 km north of Liberia along the Pan-American Highway), mostly consists of extraordinary rock peaks and valleys, in which extraordinary efforts of conservation and reforestation haven been carried out, you will find an old CIA training camp, as well as the home of the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza. Visitors can also enjoy water sports at Blanca Beach, Santa Elena bay and El Hachal bay.

However, the main attraction of Santa Rosa National Park is that it is the only park in the world where you can find 10 different habitats, including deciduous forests, oak forests, mangrove swamps, littoral woodlands, evergreen forests, marshlands and savannahs which cover the entire park area, being the home of at least 115 species of mammals like White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata), white-faced or capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus), spider monkeys, White-nosed Coatis (Nasua narica), agouti, tapirs, coyotes, collared peccary, anteaters, armadillos, jaguars, margays, ocelots, pumas, jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi) and bats are just few of the many animals that can be found roaming freely in this park. More than 10,000 species of insects, 250 species of birds, predominating the White-throated Magpie-Jay (Calocitta formosa), Orange-fronted Parakeets (Aratinga canicularis), Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa), Scaly-breasted Hummingbird (Phaeochroa cuvierii) and the Grey-necked Wood-Rail (Aramides cajanea) as well as about 100 species of amphibians and other reptiles such as the famous Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), tropical rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus) and the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis).

The Santa Rosa National Park forest is characterized by a marked difference between rainy and dry season filled with lush vegetation during the rainy season, the park turns into a tropical dry forest in summer, with many meandering trails and stunning beaches. Santa Rosa preserves the most important collection of protected dry forest of Central America, forest species such as Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), the Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba), the Pochote (Bombacopsis quinata), the Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and the Guapinol (Hymenaea courbaril). Another interesting feature about the dry forest trees and plants is that many of them have spines and thorns. Furthermore, in the coastal area predominates the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), as well as other species of mangrove vegetation in Costa Rica.

You can find lowlands and plains on either side of the entrance road and all throughout the park. These lands are not a natural occurrence, but the result of extensive slash and burn practices used by farmers on their lands.

Santa Rosa National Park has several ranger stations, viewpoints, research center, biological station, camping area, restrooms, drinking water, lunch area with food, information area, trails, museum and parking lot.

The park entrance station at the Santa Rosa Sector sells maps showing trails and campgrounds. The Dry Tropical Forest Investigation Center, next to the administrative center, undertakes biological research. It is not open to visitors.

Santa Rosa National Park has an internal paved road of 7 km in length that leads to the Historical Museum La Casona of Santa Rosa, camping area and administrative area. Other nearby parks include the Guanacaste National Park, Iguanita National Wildlife Refuge, Bahia Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge and Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

Santa Rosa Sector

The Historical Museum at La Casona in Santa Rosa National Park contains exhibit rooms with antiquities, information and specimens from around the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG). Trails around the site lead to interesting artifacts of the various battles in the area. The Museum is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the camping area is open 24 hours. It has picnic areas with tables and charcoal cookstoves, potable water, restrooms and showers.

Getting there

From San José, drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway to Liberia and continue about 35 km (22 miles) to the Santa Rosa National Park entrance, which is on your left. This route requires a total of 5 hours from San José.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), follow the highway to Liberia and continue about 35 km (22 miles) to the Santa Rosa National Park entrance, which is on your left.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – La Cruz – Peñas Blancas, Nicaraguan Border, which takes 5 hours, making the stop at Santa Rosa National Park entrance (Transportes Deldú, +506 2256-9072).

By plane

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Liberia airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive to Santa Rosa National Park, which takes about 20 minutes.

Naranjo Station

Some 12 km from the administration is Naranjo Beach, a gorgeous beach where the route can be done only by foot or with a four wheel drive vehicle in the dry season, following the trail. The beach at Naranjo is popular with surfers and is home for the famous Witch’s Rock is located in Naranjo Bay. The camping area at Naranjo Beach is open 24 hours and provides picnic tables and charcoal cookstoves. Restrooms and showers are available, but no potable water.

Getting there:
Playa Naranjo is reached by an 8 mile stretch of dirt road from the Santa Rosa Station. This road is only accessible during dry season with 4WD.

Nancite Station

Some 17 km from the administration, is Nancite beach, one of the world’s largest nesting grounds for Sea Olive Ridley Turtles, along with Ostional Beach to the south. The arrivals, when hundreds of thousands of turtles arrive to lay their eggs, are primarily from July through November. This area is an absolute protected zone, with restricted access. There are very rustic lodging facilities available at the Nancite Biological Station for investigators and students. Nancite Beach can only be reached by a hiking trail from Naranjo Station through the Royal Estuary (Estuario Real).

Santa Elena Sector

The Santa Elena Sector, covering the central portion of the peninsula, was finally annexed into the Guanacaste Conservation Area in 2004. The entrance to the Santa Elena Station can be found along the Interamerican Highway, about 8 miles past the entrance to Santa Rosa Sector.

Murcielago Sector

Murcielago Sector (Murcielago is the Spanish word for bat) covers the northern portion of the Santa Elena Peninsula and provides access to multiple beaches, bays and coves along the coast. The camping area in Murcielago is open 24 hours with visitors attention from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It provides picnic tables and charcoal cookstoves, potable water, restrooms and showers. There are also a few buildings that provide rustic lodging for investigators and students. Other important beaches located in the Murcielago sector are: Blanca Beach (17 km from the camping area) and Santa Elena and El Hachal Bays.

Getting there:
Follow Costa Rica’s Interamerican Highway, about 12 miles past the entrance to Santa Rosa Sector, turn left toward the town of Cuajiniquil, and continue for 15 km (9 miles) over a dirt road until you reach the entrance to the Murcielago station from Santa Rosa National Park. Since this road is often inaccessible, it is best to stop at Santa Rosa Station ahead of time to inquire about road conditions throughout the park.

Islas Station

The Islas Station is located on a small string of islands known as the Murcielagos (Bat Islands). These islands provide a home for many marine species and are popular for scuba diving. The station is manned and camping is allowed. It has minimal facilities and no potable water. The Murcielagos Islands are accessible only by boat.

Location: north from Potrero Beach, district: Tempate, canton: Santa Cruz, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 50304.
Potrero Beach GPS Coordinates: 10.4458,-85.772253 (10°26’44.88″N, 85°46’20.11″W)
Size: 22ha (54 acres)
Elevations: sea level
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Costa Esmeralda National Wildlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Costa Esmeralda Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica: private refuge created on May 17th 1994, to protect mangroves and tropical forest areas near Punta Gorda on the Pacific Coast of the Nicoya Peninsula.

Mangroves and estuaries scattered throughout the area are ideal for observing the incredible diversity of flora and fauna, there are thousands of species, including plants, birds, butterflies, insects, reptiles and mammals.

Costa Esmeralda Wildlife Refuge is located in an area where the sun commands. Cool winds from northern latitudes lower temperatures pleasantly along the coast from December to April. From May to November, the prevailing is a warm and sunny weather, although occasionally may be accompanied by some rain, usually in the afternoon.

There are no public park facilities at this national wildlife refuge. Nearest tourist attractions are at El Coco and Ocotal beaches. To the south you will find the Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge and Las Baulas National Marine Park. To the north you will find Iguanita Wildlife Refuge and Santa Rosa National Park.

Getting to Costa Esmeralda Wildlife Refuge:

From San José, drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway to Liberia until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, turn right and follow the signs to Flamingo and Brasilito, before arriving to Flamingo you should take the exit to Potrero, that should be on your right. This route requires a total of 4 hours from San José.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, turn right and follow the signs to Flamingo and Brasilito, following the signs to Flamingo and Potrero. Before arriving to Flamingo you will need to take an exit to your right, towards Potrero.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Brasilito/Conchal – Flamingo – Playa Panama, which takes 5 hours (Alfaro-Tracopa, +506 2222-2666).

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Huacas – Flamingo – Brasilito, which takes from 4 to 5 hours (Tralapa, +506 2221-7202).

In both cases you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi from Flamingo to Costa Esmeralda Wildlife Refuge, which takes about 15 minutes. We also recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport tothe Tamarindo airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Costa Esmeralda Wildlife Refuge, which takes about 20 minutes.

Location: just due north from Tamarindo, covering the districts: Cabo Velas and Tamarindo, canton: Santa Cruz, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Grande Beach GPS Coordinates: 10.334744,-85.847781 (10°20’5.08″N, 85°50’52.01″W)
Size: 445ha (1100 acres) on land and 22,000ha (54,362 acres) of ocean
Elevations: sea level
Ranger Station Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Las Baulas Marine Station Telephone: +506 2653-0470
Toll Free: +1 2506 653-0470
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

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

Las Baulas Marine National Park Costa Rica: established by Presidential decree in 1990 and formalized in law on June 9th, 1991 to protect the endangered Leatherback turtles from profit-making egg poachers, being one of the foremost nesting sites for the leatherback turtle, as it supports the largest nesting colony of this turtles on the Pacific Ocean with a population size of about 800 female turtles nesting per year. The park also protects swampy mangrove coastline as well as inland forest and it is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica near the village of Tamarindo in the Province of Guanacaste. More than half the park is underwater and protected but allows recreation such as scuba diving.

It is made up of three nesting beaches, Grande Beach, which is 3.6 km long, Langosta Beach, which is 1.3 km long, Ventanas Beach, which is 1.0 km long and Carbon Beach. It also protects two mangrove estuaries, the Tamarindo Estuary and mangroves at the mouth of the Matapalo River, the largest mangrove estuary in Central America, and the smaller San Francisco River Estuary.

On Grande Beach, female leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs from October to May-an incredible spectacle to behold. Watching one of these great ancient creatures come ashore at night to continue the age-old tradition of nesting in tropical sands is a very moving experience for most people.

Leatherbacks sea turtles, known as Baulas in Costa Rica, are not only the world’s largest turtle, but its largest reptile, which can weigh from 250 to 700 kg (550 to 1,500 pounds) and more than 1 to 2m (3.3–6.6 ft) in length. Leatherbacks wander the open seas in search of their favorite food, jelly fish, which they will dive to a depth of 1,220m (4,000 ft) to pursue. Unlike other species of turtle that have external carapaces, the leatherback has a tough leathery skin and internal skeleton.

In Costa Rica, this species can be found nesting at a number of beaches on both coasts, however, two of the more heavily used beaches are Grande Beach and Langosta Beach, to the north and south, respectively, of Tamarindo Beach. Together, the aforementioned beaches make up Las Baulas Marine National Park.

Although Las Baulas is remote from even the major population centers of Costa Rica, it suffers from the same pressures as found on sea turtle beaches in Florida, Greece and elsewhere around the world. Conservation faces many challenges at Las Baulas National Marine Park, ranging from over development, through excessive tourism activities, to the stealing of eggs. The park has been chronically understaffed so that the beaches are sometimes left unprotected during the day. Because of an active education campaign which began in 1988 when Maria Teresa Koberg, the turtle mother of Costa Rica, started to bring Scouts, students and friends to the beach to help stop poaching, making local residents no longer steal (poach) eggs from the beach. In fact, local residents now protect the beach and the Park. She was also the one that campaigned vigorously to get the Park established by decree and then law. EARTHWATCH teams, concerned local residents, guides, local business leaders, scientists and Park rangers continue working to improve the protection provided by the park.

The number of leatherbacks has been declining from the early 1980’s when Peter Pritchard first “discovered” up to 200 leatherbacks a night nesting on Grande Beach, number that to 1994-95 declined to 30 turtles a night and by 1996-97 only as few as 10 turtles a night nested there. This decline is due to many years of heavy poaching, development behind the beaches, and the incidental capture of turtles in fisheries.

Protection of turtles and their nests is the responsibility of National Park guards. Research and conservation efforts are spearheaded by Dr. Frank V. Paladino, Department of Biology, Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 and his colleagues through their EARTHWATCH Inc. project which runs from late September to March each year. Professors, students and volunteers not only conduct scientific investigations of the turtles and their eggs, but help in local conservation efforts and protection.

Successful protection of 99% of the nests started in 1993 and the hatchery started to operate in 1998-99, being the time needed for maturation for a leatherback an average of 13-14 years as reported by Zug and Parham. Therefore, we might expect to see numbers of leatherbacks increasing in the next few years. The real question is whether there are enough adult leatherbacks left to keep the population healthy until the hatchlings produced thanks to beach protection over the last 10 years can reach adulthood and rebuild the population.

Incredible white-sand beaches separate the park’s protected seas from its vibrant forests that are home to 174 species of birds such as White Ibis, the Cattle Egret, the Roseate Spoonbill, the Blue-winged Teal and the Muscovy Duck as well as countless other animal species like capuchin monkeys, raccoons, crocodiles, caimans, agoutis and grey squirrels. Also, mangroves and estuaries are plentiful, packed with a biodiversity known to few places outside of Costa Rica. It consists of the six species of mangrove known on the Pacific Costa Rican coast. Red and black mangrove, which grows in almost uniform groves, are the predominant species, and other species of trees reaching as high as 30 meters.

Climate here is hot during the daytime, and evenings have a very pleasant temperature, although when the winds pick up from December through February, a jacket or sweater might be wanted while out looking for turtles. The rainy season lasts from May to November.

Las Baulas Marine National Park is a great place to visit with family, this national park also has a turtle museum and night tours during the turtle nesting season. But it is important that visitors be aware of certain things when touring this national park. All visitors on the beach at night must be accompanied by a certified local guide (available at the entrance to the beach during the nesting season). Do not use cameras with flashes or flashlights, do not approach the turtles and do not walk on the dry sand that lies above the high tide markings or else you would end crushing eggs and hatchlings in the nest. In order to see the turtles you will have to go on a tour with a certified guide, without a guide you will not be allowed on the beach.

The ranger station at Playa Grande is open to the public, where guided tours are available with bi-lingual park employees. For minimum impact, a limited number of visitors are allowed each evening. Other nearby Costa Rican parks include Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge and Diria National Park.

You can help the leatherbacks of Las Baulas by joining an EARTHWATCH expedition, taking a tour to the beach to see a leatherback with the local guide associations, and by contributing to the Leatherback Trust.

Getting to Las Baulas Marine National Park:

From San José drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the highway to Liberia until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, go straight ahead following the signs to Las Baulas Marine National Park for 9 km (5.5 miles) passing through Matapalo, until you get to the park entrance. This route requires a total of 4 hours from San José.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, go straight ahead following the signs to Las Baulas Marine National Park for 9 km (5.5 miles) passing through Matapalo, until you get to the park entrance.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Tamarindo, making the stop at Huacas which takes 4 to 5 hours (Alfaro-Tracopa, +506 2222-2666).

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Huacas – Flamingo – Brasilito, which takes from 4 to 5 hours (Tralapa, +506 2221-7202). In both cases you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi from Huacas to Las Baulas Marine National Park, which takes about 15 minutes. We also recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport tothe Tamarindo airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Las Baulas Marine National Park, which takes about 20 minutes.

Location: district: Tamarindo, canton: Santa Cruz, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Tamarindo GPS Coordinates: 10.299858,-85.841369 (10°17’59.49″N, 85°50’28.93″W)
Size: 385ha (953 acres)
Altitude: sea level
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Tamarindo National Widlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica: created on 1987 in order to protect mangrove swamp areas around the estuary and river mouth of the Matapalo River and in a response to the perceived threat the estuary faced from plans to build large tourism complexes on its fringes, near Las Baulas National Marine Park. In fact, this small reserve is now part of Las Baulas National Marine Park and is part of the Tempisque Conservation Area too. This river empties into the Pacific Ocean between Tamarindo and Grande beaches, being an unusual river, since it doesn’t receive a freshwater input for nearly half a year, and given the severity of the dry season in this coastal region of northern Guanacaste, the creeks that feed the estuary during the rainy season completely dry up after the rains have stopped, from December to April.

There are three beaches that form this park, Grande Beach, Ventana Beach and Langosta Beach. The Langosta Beach is a beautiful estuary with beautiful sands, while Grande Beach, part of Las Baulas National Marine Park, is one of the most important nesting sites for the leatherback sea turtle, but as well the Pacific Green turtles, Olive Ridley turtles and Hawksbill turtles nest here. The leatherback turtle can measure up to 2m and weigh 700 kg. These creatures come for nesting between the months of November till February and about 200 of them can arrive to lay eggs in one night. In fact, Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge got the status of the wildlife refuge due to its importance as a nesting site and the threat it faced from the development of tourist complexes around the area.

The part of the beach set aside as a refuge extends 1 km. long and corresponds to the main sector where the turtles arrive every year to dig their nests in the sand. The rest of the refuge is made up of the Tamarindo mangrove swamp.

There are five species of mangroves (botanically unrelated trees that have each evolved methods for tolerating life in a salty water environment where the soil is so waterlogged that oxygen cannot readily be obtained through the underground roots) that flourish here, the black, white, tea, buttonwood and the red mangrove, which is the most abundant of all. The mangroves can be seen in the estuary and when the tide is out, the protruding vertical roots can be seen sticking out of the mud, which helps to aerate the plants. During the dry season, you can also see how this species of mangrove plant exudes particles of salt on the surface of its leaves (in the rainy season the salts are washed off and do not accumulate so as to be visible). These mangroves are also a breeding site and provide an important spawning site for many fish and other marine creatures.

Life in the mangroves is varied, many of them seasonal migrants from North America, with some 57 species of birds, including Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Blue Herons, White Ibis, Muscovy Duck, Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, Franklin’s Gull, Roseate Spoonbill, frigate bird and sandpipers. An unusual species here is the nocturnal Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis), related to the European Nightjar and the North American Whip-poor-will, which spends the daylight hours lying camouflaged on the mangrove branches. Howler monkeys are sure to be heard and there is a good chance of seeing White-faced monkeys as well as raccoons, white-nosed coati, iguanas, basilisk lizards, spinytail iguanas (ctenosaura), crocodiles and caimans, and a great variety of marine life such as the famous roosterfish, snappers, mullets (Mugilidae), Crevalle Jack, snook and stingray. Crabs can be seen scurrying around the mud. Boats may be hired at Tamarindo to tour the mangroves, being early in the morning the best time to see the most species.

The Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge is a pleasure for all the water sports lovers with its beautiful beaches and blue waters. You could go for some scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing and kayaking. You can also go for bicycling or horse riding in the mountainside or perform some sport fishing, as the refuge is located in the most developed part of the country for deep-sea fishing. There are several operators offering charter boat services between El Coco and Tamarindo beaches. There’s action year long on the coast and the favorite sporting targets are Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Pacific Sailfish, Dorado (Mahi-mahi), Wahoo and Roosterfish. And, just 30 minutes away from the refuge, there are two world- class golf courses- Hacienda Pinilla and Hotel Melià Conchal Golf Course.

The Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge has a hot climate year round and the dry season lasts from mid-November to mid- May. Other nearby national parks include Las Baulas National Marine Park and Diria National Park.

Getting to Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge:

From San José drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the highway to Liberia until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, turn right to Tamarindo for 8 km (5 miles), turn right and follow the road for 4 km (2.5 miles) until you get to Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge. This route requires a total of 4 hours from San José.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, turn right to Tamarindo for 8 km (5 miles), turn right and follow the road for 4 km (2.5 miles) until you get to Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Tamarindo, which takes from 4 to 5 hours (Alfaro-Tracopa, +506 2222-2666). We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Tamarindo airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge, which takes about 5 minutes.