Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja

Introducing Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja

This 14, 161-hectare national park is named after the active Volcán Rincón de la Vieja (1895m), the steamy main attraction, but within the same volcanic range are several other peaks, of which Volcán Santa María (1916m) is the highest. The region bubbles with multihued fumaroles, lukewarm hot springs, lively mud pots hurling clumps of ashy gray mud in flatulent (the sulfur smell in these hills is strong) Dr Seuss-style fun, a young and feisty volcancito (small volcano), plus a cacophony of popping, hissing holes in the ground. All these can be visited on well-maintained but sometimes-steep trails, and if you’ve never visited Yellowstone National Park, this is a good substitute.

The park was created in 1973 to protect the 32 rivers and streams that have their sources within the park, an important water­shed. Its relatively remote location means that wildlife, rare elsewhere, is out in force here, with the major volcanic crater a rather dramatic backdrop to the scene. Volcanic activity has occurred many times since the late 1960s, with the most recent eruption of steam and ash in 1997. At the moment, however, the volcano is gently active and does not present any danger (ask locally to be sure, as volcanoes do have a habit of occasionally blowing their tops).

Elevations in the park range from less than 600m to 1916m, so visitors pass through a variety of different habitats as they ascend the volcanoes, though the majority of the trees in the park are typical of those found in dry tropical forests throughout Guanacaste. One interesting tree to look out for is the strangler fig, a parasitic tree that covers the host tree with its own trunk and proceeds to strangle it by competing for water, light and nutrients. Although the host tree eventually dies and rots away, the strangler fig continues to survive as a hollow, tubular lattice. The park is also home to the highest density of Costa Rica’s national flower, the increasingly rare purple orchid (Cattleya skinneri), locally known as guaria morada.

Most visitors to the park however flock to the hot springs, where you can soak the day away to the tune of howler monkeys bleating overhead. Many of the springs are reported to have therapeutic properties, which is always a good thing in case you’ve been hitting the Guaro Cacique a little too hard. In the past, the park was not heavily visited due to its remote location, though things are slowly picking up due to increased tourist traffic in nearby Liberia. There are several lodges just outside the park that provide access and arrange tours, though most tourists these days arrange transportation directly from Liberia.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009