Diriá National Park, National park in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica

Diriá National Park covers roughly 28 square kilometers in the central highlands of the Nicoya Peninsula, featuring deep valleys and steep hillsides. The landscape consists of tropical forest covering different elevation zones.

The park was established as a forest refuge in 1991 and gained national park status in 2004. This designation protected essential water basins in Guanacaste Province.

The park lies in the community of Arado, south of Santa Cruz. Howler monkeys are known locally as congos, a name visitors may hear from rangers. The ranger station is the starting point for two trails, one leading to the Brasil Waterfall, which flows only in the rainy season.

The visitor center is located at the ranger station entrance, where you can get information about trails and current conditions. Good hiking shoes and water are essential, as the paths have steep sections and humidity is high.

Wildfires in April 2015 burned nearly half of the park; authorities suspect local hunters set them to clear land and draw animals once the rains begin. Between 2012 and 2016 the park recorded only 4,336 visitors, and efforts are under way to draw more. The ranger station also has a basic dormitory for overnight stays.