Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, Active volcano in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.
Rincón de la Vieja is a stratovolcano in Guanacaste Province that rises to 1916 meters (6286 feet) and features several craters. Around the summit stretches a protected area with dry forests in the lower zones and cloud forests at higher elevations.
Indigenous groups gave the mountain its name after a legend about a princess who withdrew near the crater following a family tragedy. Scientists have documented regular eruptions and fumaroles since the 19th century, marking the mountain as active.
Many families in the area run small lodges with hot springs fed directly by volcanic thermal water from the ground. Hikers often meet riders on narrow paths heading to the crater rim, people who have known these trails for generations.
The trails through the park are well marked, with some routes passing through dense forest and others offering more open sections with views of steam vents. Starting early in the morning usually brings quieter conditions and better chances to spot wildlife.
Beneath the crater lie extensive geothermal reserves that energy companies have studied for decades and partially use for power generation. In some places on the mountainside, warm steam rises directly from small cracks in the rock and stains the surrounding earth orange and yellow.
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