Santa Rosa National Park

Santa Rosa National Park is located about 35 kilometers north of Liberia in Guanacaste. The park measures over 122,354 acres, making it the largest protect area of dry forest in the country. Santa Rosa was declared a national park in 1971 just five years after “La Casona” was declared a national monument.

The park is divided into three sections: the Santa Rosa sector and the Murcielago Sector whose entrance is north via Cuajiniquil.

Important Historical Relevance

La Casona which in English translates to the Big House, was the scene for the most important battle in Costa Rican history.  La Casona is Costa Rica’s most cherish national monument. The magnificent ranch style colonial homestead surrounded by a stone corral was the sight of the Famous Battle of Santa Rosa on March 20^th 1856 where Costa Ricans fought for liberty, justice, and freedom; and won

The turmoil started in 1855, when American William Walker saw an opportunity in Nicaragua while the country was undergoing extreme internal political mayhem. He quickly legalized slavery and continued to build up his army. His intention was to conquer neighboring countries (Costa Rica) as his power grew and turn its people into slaves. Walker’s American influence provided Nicaraguans with guns and ammunition to take the land in Costa Rica.

To defend against this new threat, President Juan Mora led three thousand of his men to the town of Santa Rosa for a surprise attack against Walker’s 240 troops for battle.  Successful in their surprise, the Costa Ricans left Walker’s army in shambles and turned to alcohol to drown their sorrows.

Then again on April 11, 1856 Costa Rican history was forever changed. The Costa Rican army fired on Walker and his men as they entered Rivas. During this battle, Walker and his men were holding out in a thatched roof building. In a heroic act of bravery, young Costa Rican drummer Juan Santamaria volunteered to torch the building. Santamaria ran into the open street with his torch, leaving himself totally exposed to Walker’s gunfire. Santamaria managed to make it to the building and throw the torch on it before he fell from the shower of bullets.

Santamaria did not actually kill anyone, he just scared them. As a result of Santamaria´s display of courage and bravery against all odds, Costa Ricans still honor his memory. Santamaria also is said to have single handedly defeated Walker and his men as they fled the city that same night. For a country with little previous national identity, Juan Santamaria, or at least the idea of him, acted to bring pride to the Costa Rican people. Santamaria’s heroism has given a sense of belonging to a nation.

Shortly, after was the Battle for Santa Rosa. Inside the Casona are an exhibition of photos, antiques from the time period, illustrations, artifacts from the great battle, military paraphernalia, and an explanation of the history. One of the rooms was left as is in the time of the period. There is also a small chapel.

Right outside La Casona is an impressive Guanacaste tree. Near La Casona is a lookout tower you can climb up and catch a fantastic glimpse of the park.

Other battles were founght on this same territory including the 1919 Sapoa Revolution and another battle in 1955.

Nature                                                             

Santa Rosa National Park is the largest sector of dry forest that includes over ten different habitats; such as, savannah, prairie, marshlands, deciduous forest, and mangroves. Unfortunately, this area is very dry and therefore vulnerable to fires during the dry season. This affects the regeneration of the forest and kills hundred of animals that cannot escape from fire and die.

The Indio Desnudo or Naked Indian trail is a 1.5 km walk that offers the best opportunities to view wildlife just after dawn and before dusk. Be sure to bring bug spray and plenty of liquids.

There are other trails in the park as well. The Los Patos or Duck trail is a great one for wildlife viewing. Then there is Laguna Escondida or Hidden Lake, Caujiniquil River Trail, La Penca, and Platanar Lake which are much longer about 14 km.

There are over 240 species of trees and shrubs that can be found in the Santa Rosa National Park include:

·          Guanacaste tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) that is the national tree of Costa Rica

·         Huge Cenízaro (Samanea saman)

·         Cortéz Amarillo (Tabebuia chrysantha /Tabebuia ochracea)

·          Acacia trees that have an interesting parasitic mutualism with ants

·         Pochote

·         Guapinol

·         Jinocuave

·         Mahogany

·         Oak

·         Shoemaker’s tree

·         Rough leaf tree

·         Ear tree

·         Gumbo-limbo

·         Mayflower

·         Locust

·         Chicle or gum tree

·         Tempisque

·         Bitterwood

·         Nance

·         Chumico

·         Respaguacal

·         Jicaro

·         Cornizuelo

·          

More than 155 species of mammals, 100 amphibians, and insects can be found in the Santa Rosa National Park include:

• 22 different species of bats
• 3140 different species of butterflies and moths
• Bees
• Monkeys (howler, spider, & white-faced)
• Deer
• Pumas
• Raccoon
• Coatimundia
• Anteaters
• Mice
• Peccaries
• Pizotes
• Coati
• Armadillos
• Jaguars
• Margays
• Ocelots
• Jaguarondis
• Crabs
• Lizards
• Garrobo
• Sea snakes
• Sea turtles (lora, baula, & verde)

Of the 250 species of birds that can be found in the park you are likely to spot:

• Magpie jay
• Parakeets
• Trogan
• Wrens
• Caracara
• Curassows
• Black hawks
• Manakins
• Vultures
• Red widow
• Soterrey
• Cargahuesos
• Pavon
• Sparrow hawk
• Danver colilargo

Surfing, Beaches, and Scuba

The Naranjo beach is reached by a challenging dirt road and constitutes a nice place to swim and enjoy a wild beach as well as for surfing. Naranjo is very popular and is kilometers of pale gray sandy beach. Naranjo beach is surrounded by manglars and therefore is surrounded by wildlife. You may need bug spray.

The greatest surfing locations are Roca Bruja or Witches rock and just north there is a very well known spot called Ollie’s point. Roca Bruja is a massive slab of rock slit into two and juts out from the ocean in an eerie way.

The Nancite beach requires a 4x4 and a harder hike to visit, but the reward for the extra effort is invaluable. At both of these beaches the sea turtles nest annually and you will require special permission to enter the beaches during egg laying season which is July to November. The turtles also nest even further south at Ostional Beach and on these two beaches it is said that more than 75,000 turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.

There are other beaches in the area but they are nearly impossible to get to  without a boat and include: White Beach, the Bay of Santa Elena, the Bay of Hachal and Playa Portrero Grande. Playa Portrero Grande just north of Nancite. This beach is acclaimed for having some excellent and very reliable surfing conditions.

If you are into scuba you must go to the Bat Islands. This is a site for very advanced divers who have a lot of experience. If you are lucky you may even be able to see a whale shark along with several other species of local sharks.

Accommodations

Camping is permitted in designated areas but the Santa Rosa National Park also offers bunkers. These bunkers are mainly used for scientists who are doing research.

Picnic areas, restrooms and showers are available.

How to get there

From Liberia there are buses that pass by the entrance to the park along the Pan American highway, but you must advise the bus driver that is where you want to stop. Then you will have to walk on a hot dirt road for about 7 km to get into the park.  

If you drive just take the Pan American highway a little over 35 km after Liberia and on the left hand side you will see the entrance for the park. You will know you are getting very close when you have passed Potrerillos. You should go with a 4x4 as the road is rather treacherous.