Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Costa Rica

The Rincon de la Vieja National Park is one of the most protected parks in the Guanacaste province. It is one of Costa Rica’s most diverse parks. The park has a rich collection of flora and fauna. The park also contains two volcanoes, including Santa Maria and Rincon de la Vieja. Six volcanic peaks and nearly thirty-two rivers and streams serve as the backdrop for the park.

The park boasts fantastic sceneries, wonderful waterfalls, comforting hot springs, mud pits and a fresh water lagoon. The place is ideal for picnics and hiking due to the long and winding trails. You can even experiment with horseback riding. The park lies nearly 25 km northeast of Liberia, which is the capital of Guanacaste province.

The national park is divided into two sectors: Las Pailas and Santa Maria. It extends on both the Pacific and Caribbean sides. The Pacific slopes are distinctly dry, while the Caribbean side is wet.

The park comprises more than 14,000 hectares. The spider monkey, blue-crowned motmot, and emerald toucanet are some of the popular species. Besides, there are plenty of jaguars, cougars, and tapirs. Guaria Morada orchid, which is the national flower of Costa Rica, is present in large numbers. The laurel and Guanacaste trees are present in abundance.

The park gets its name from a native American legend. It is an active volcano, and over a million years old. Lava emanated from its sides in 1991. The volcano last erupted in 1983. From the top of the volcano, you get a view of the Nicoya Peninsula and Lago de Nicaragua. Los Jilgueros Lake lies within the boundaries of Von Seeback, which is the main crater of the park.

If you intend to climb the summit, carry plenty of water and a light coat to tackle the unpredictable weather.