Rincón de la Vieja Area

An eco-adventure hotspot, the Rincon de la Vieja area is one of Costa Rica’s most fascinating places to explore. With four volcanoes namely the Rincon de la Vieja, the Orosi, the Santa Maria and the Miravalles within close proximity to each other, this area is surrounded by dense lush forestation and is home to a plethora of wildlife and insect species.

National Parks & Reserves

Easily accessible via the Daniel Oduber International Airport Liberia, which is under an hour’s drive away by car, the Rincon de la Vieja area encompasses four of Costa Rica’s most stunning national parks; the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, the Santa Rosa National Park, the Guanacaste National Park and the Miravalles Protected Zone. While the Santa Rosa National Park is among the oldest, largest and historically significant in Costa Rica, the Rincon de la Vieja National Park is a magical mysterious place with its rich and varied foliage and fauna.

Adventure

An adventure lovers delight, there is much to see and do here. With some of the best horseback riding trails in the country, the Rincon de la Vieja area lets tourists explore the largest and last remaining tropical dry forest in Central America, some of the best surfing in the world at Witches Rock on Playa Naranjo in Santa Rosa National Park, and access to one of Costa Rica’s most active volcanoes, the Rincon de la Vieja with its stunning vistas of the surrounding landscape, boiling mud pots and fresh water volcanic lagoon.

Map of Rincón de la Vieja

Click to enlarge map - Rincon de la Vieja Area Map

The best way to explore the Rincon de la Vieja area is via a canopy tour of the forests. Offering some of the best views of the national parks below, these tours give tourists a glimpse into Costa Rica’s spectacular natural beauty. For the more daring, try white water tubing or take a relaxing dip in the therapeutic sulfur hot springs near the Volcan Rincon de la Vieja.

Hacienda Santa Rosa

This area is also of important historical value because the Battle of Hacienda Santa Rosa was fought here in March 1856, between William Walker and the Costa Rican people, who historically drove the adventurer out of the country. In this battle Costa Rica’s most famous and beloved national hero Juan Santamaria, the drummer boy died defending his country. La Casona in the Santa Rosa National park is a colonial home paying tribute to this war and is filled with military memorabilia.