Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DON'T MISS
THE BACK ROAD BETWEEN TENORIO & MIRAVALLES
An epic back road, 4WD track links Tenorio to Miravalles. This is useful for road trippers
who wish to base themselves in Tenorio and visit Miravalles for the day (an itinerary that
we recommend highly). About 12km south of Bijagua make a right where you see a sign
toward thepueblo(small town or village) of Rio Chiquito. It's a rather small sign, and once
you make the turn you'll be in the even smallerpueblo. The road narrows immediately
and severely. Don't worry, there is no dead end. After fording a stream it goes crazy ver-
tical. Shift into 4-low and grind up the 200m hill. At the top are marvelous vistas of the
two mountains, acres of rangeland and the vast valley below. Then you'll go down again,
ford another stream, navigate a steeper incline and be rewarded with massive views once
more. By now you'll be in old Tico (Costa Rican) cattle country. Enjoy it. Within an hour
you'll be dipping into hot springs. From Miravalles, detour down the slope on paved roads
toward the Interamericana, take in the Llano de Cortes Waterfall near Bagaces and return
to the Río Celeste area via Hwy 6.
Volcán Miravalles Area
Volcán Miravalles (2028m) is the highest volcano in the Cordillera de Guanacaste, and al-
though the main crater is dormant, the geothermal activity beneath the ground has led to its
rapid development as a hot-springs destination. Miravalles isn't a national park or refuge,
but the volcano itself is afforded a modicum of protection by being within the Zona Pro-
tectora Miravalles.
North of Fortuna, the government-run Proyecto Geotérmico Miravalles is an ambitious
project that uses geothermal energy to produce electricity, primarily for export to Ni-
caragua and Panama. It also produces about 18% of Costa Rica's electricity. A few bright
steel tubes from the plant snake along the flanks of the volcano, adding an eerie, alien feel
to the remote landscape.
But the geothermal energy most people come here to soak up comes in liquid form. The
hot springs are north of the tiny village of Fortuna de Bagaces (not to be confused with La
Fortuna de Arenal or Bagaces). Most of the facilities also have sleeping accommodations,
but they are pretty mediocre (with one noteworthy exception). If your budget does not ac-
commodate top-end lodging, consider basing yourself in Tenorio.
