Rincon de la Vieja National Park and Volcano

Rincon de la Vieja National Park is located in a remote area of the northwest part of Guanacaste, due north of Liberia. Rincon de la Vieja National Park was created in 1973 and measures 34,800 acres. The andesitic stratovolcano of Rincon de la Vieja is active & has a maximum elevation of 6,286 feet above sea level. The volcano has not had a major eruption for over 3500 years. In recent years, the volcano has been deemed active only because it registers some minor yet numerous events below the lake which has formed in the crater. In that case, the very last phreatic eruption happened in 1998.  

Rincon de la Vieja was formed by the simultaneous explostion of various volcanic cones that grew and eventually merged into one single super mountain. For this reason, Rincon de la Vieja is a twin cone volcano, her sister volcano, Santa Maria, is now dormant but is the highest peak of the two and has a crater that measures 500 meters in width.  Between the two sisters there are at least nine eruptive vents. These vents allow the volcano to slowly release heat, pressure, and steam which is a major reason that Rincon de la Vieja has seen such little activity.  Additionally, Rincon de la Vieja is one of five volcanoes located in the mountain range known as the Cordillera de Guanacaste.

The best time to visit Rincon de la Vieja is from May to November which is typically rainy season. Dry season is simply too dry, hot, and unbearable. During these months is also when the fumaroles and boiling mud pots are in action.

In order to avoid the rain you should set out early as casually hiking the volcano’s lake will take at least five to six hours. The trails are well marked and will lead you to the attractions.   Hiking to the summit is not for the weak of heart or for anyone who is out of shape. The trail goes as follows:

·         Starting from the Las Pailas Ranger Station you will walk comfortably for about 6 kilometers on a gentle switchback slope, much of which is covered in shade and alongside a river.

·         Keep an eye out for the Costa Rican national flower, the Guaria Morada orchid, this area is claimed to have one of the largest populations of the flower in the country.

·         There is a little diversion from the main path if you want to see the Catarata La Cangreja.

·         You will quickly begin to notice many changes in the flora and fauna around you.

·         The next kilometer is a steep slope of lose black pebbles which is difficult to maneuver.

·         The next kilometer is a flat desert of stones, rocks, and strange tiny vegetation, no joke it looks like you are going to run into Frodo at any moment or an alien from Mars.

·         When you cross the desert you will be on top of the Cerro Von Seebach looking over to see the crater of Rincon de la Vieja’s acidic lake.

·         You then carefully walk across the top of a very narrow ridge of gravel to get closer to the crater. Be cautious here because the wind is strong and there are no guard rails.  

·         Once at the crater it is not recommended that you stay more than 10 or 15 minutes as the gases can seriously affect you and even lead to detoxification or death.

·         Now you will begin to decent down the steep slope of shrubs.

·         At one point you will see a small cliff with a hanging rope you can repel down.

·         This path will take you to a small waterfall and freshwater pond called Cataratas Escondidas, the perfect place to refresh your spirit after an intense adventure.  

Like other protected dry forest areas in the Pacific you will find trees such as the:  

·         Guanacaste

·         Jicaro danto

·         Bitter cedar

·         Freijo

·         Manwood

·         Crespon

·         Gumbo-limbo

·         Calabash

·         Capulin

·         Didymopanax

·         Cupey

·         The poor man’s umbrella (plant)

Birds (257 types), animals, and insects to be seen in the area include:

·         4 speicies of morpho butterflies

·         Tapir

·         cougars

·         jaguars

·         quetzales

·         white-fronted amazon

·         guaco

·         three-wattled bellbird

·         eagles

·         blue-throated goldentail

·         long-tailed manakin

·         peccaries

·         kinkajous

·         northern tamandua

·         highland tinamous

·         agouti

·         skunks

·         coatis

·         trayra

·         black guan

·         white-faced, spider,  & howler monkeys

·         2-toed sloth

·         armadillos

·         anteaters

·         agouti

·         deer

·         laughing falcon

·         spectacled owl

·         Montezuma oropendola

·         Curassow

·         Red trogon

·         Whitefronted parrot

·         Emerald toucanet

·         Black-faced solitaire

There are camping areas in the Rincon de la Vieja National park, but I highly recommend against it, it is simply too windy to camp. The park has restrooms, showers, and picnic areas.

How to get there:

From San Jose take the Interamerican highway to Liberia and then follow signs northeast to the park. Once at the south end of the park you will run into the Santa Maria Station. If you continue on the highway 5 more miles and turn right towards Curbande which will take you down a 21 km dirt road prefer you will arrive at the Pailas ranger station.