Rincón de la Vieja National Park, National park in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.
The park spans 34,000 acres of land containing two volcanoes, 32 rivers, dwarf cloud forests, and tropical ecosystems at 521 meters elevation.
Established in 1973, the park has protected multiple habitats and experienced several volcanic activities, including a substantial ash eruption in April 2023.
Local haciendas within and around the park maintain traditional Costa Rican ranching practices while providing accommodations and guided expeditions for visitors.
The Las Pailas sector opens Tuesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 3 PM, with entrance tickets available exclusively through the SINAC website.
Visitors can observe geological phenomena including fumaroles, boiling mud pots, hot springs, and 32 waterfalls within the same protected area.
Location: Guanacaste Province
Inception: 1973
Elevation above the sea: 521 m
Website: http://acguanacaste.ac.cr/1997/principaling.html
GPS coordinates: 10.83000,-85.32389
Latest update: March 3, 2025 11:30
Costa Rica spans 19,700 square miles (51,100 square kilometers) between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, offering photographers a concentration of varied landscapes within a compact area. The country maintains over 30 national parks and protected areas, including Arenal Volcano, whose near-perfect cone rises 5,479 feet (1,670 meters) above surrounding rainforest, and Monteverde Cloud Forest, where mist drifts through canopy vegetation supporting rare species such as the resplendent quetzal. Rio Celeste flows through Tenorio Volcano National Park, displaying its characteristic turquoise color from volcanic minerals, while Tabacon Hot Springs delivers naturally heated water from underground sources. Coastal regions present diverse subjects, from the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park, where white-faced capuchin monkeys move through trees, to Cahuita National Park on the Caribbean coast with its coral reefs. The Nicoya Peninsula and Papagayo Peninsula provide access to Tamarindo Beach and Santa Teresa Beach, while the southern zone includes Marino Ballena National Park, named for its whale-shaped sandbar visible at low tide. Tortuga Island, off the coast of Puntarenas, serves as a day-trip destination. Inland, San Jose Central Market documents daily commerce, the National Theater displays neoclassical architecture from 1897, and Guayabo National Monument preserves pre-Columbian ruins. Cerro Chirripó rises to 12,533 feet (3,820 meters) as the country's highest point, offering views of both oceans in clear conditions.
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
1.4 km
Lake Arenal
54 km
Hacienda Santa Rosa
31.6 km
Tenorio Volcano National Park
35.6 km
Solentiname Archipelago National Monument
52 km
Puente La Amistad de Taiwán
65.4 km
Maderas
71.4 km
Santa Rosa National Park
49.7 km
Volcán Tenorio
38.5 km
Orosí Volcano
23.1 km
Palo Verde National Park
48.2 km
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
61.5 km
Guanacaste National Park
0 m
Playa Conchal
71.7 km
Area de Conservación Guanacaste World Heritage Site
32.1 km
Barra Honda National Park
72.9 km
Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Guatuzos
49 km
Miravalles National Park
23.9 km
Río Orosí
28 km
Junquillal Bay Wildlife Refuge
41.7 km
Agua y Paz Biosphere Reserve
63.4 km
Llanos de Cortés Waterfall
34.1 km
Playa Virador
46.6 km
Cascada de San Ramón
71.3 km
Playa El Ostional
56.8 km
Hermosa Beach
48.4 km
Playa Arenilla
43.4 km
Rio Celeste
37.1 kmReviews
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