Travelers can learn much from Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Bubbling mud pot in Rincon de la Vieja National Park
While there are numerous reasons why one might book a tour of the Central American paradise that is Costa Rica, one of the top draws for the diminutive nation is biodiversity. Thanks to a series of government initiatives, more than one-fourth of all land in the country has been officially designated as protected spaces for national parks, nature reserves and other projects designed to preserve the natural beauty of the country's undeveloped jungles, beaches and volcanoes, as well as the habitats of all the creatures that live within them. Those travelers hoping to catch a glimpse of the natural side of Costa Rica while learning a lot about unique scientific phenomena should consider a visit to Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
Located in the Guanacaste range in northwestern Costa Rica, Rincon de la Vieja National Park is home to an impressive array of wildlife, plants and natural wonders rarely witnessed outside of the region.
The key draw for education-minded travelers is the titular volcano, Rincon de la Vieja. This nearly 6,300-foot tall andesitic complex volcano has been a hotbed of volcanic activity over the years, with its most recent major eruption occurring in 1983, and smaller emissions coming forth in 1991 and 1998 as well. Though its eruptions may have ceased for the moment, the volcano is still a popular learning destination for budding and amateur geologists, who have learned much about the history of Costa Rica from studying the shape of the volcano, the depth of its craters and the emissions from the many fumaroles, vents and hot springs that liter Rincon de la Vieja's slopes.
The sheer size of the caldera, massive cavities formed by land collapses following eruptions, indicates that Rincon de la Vieja withstood one of the largest eruptions in all of Central America thousands of years ago, while raw pyroclastic material found in the area hint at a second major, though smaller, eruption roughly 3,500 years ago.
Renewable Source of Energy?
While geologists may be interested in what occurred in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park in the past, specialists in geothermal energy have also expressed an interest in utilizing the volcano's volatile energy to perhaps provide a renewable source of energy. This aspect is only a theory at the moment, as the Costa Rican government has strict policies as they pertain to drilling in a national park, but noted geothermal analyst G.W. Huttrer believes that Rincon de la Vieja volcano has the potential to generate upwards of 140 megawatts of energy if utilized correctly.
7 Days / 6 Nights
Starting at $932 per person
10 Days / 9 Nights
Starting at $1,193 per person
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