Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
as a young and feisty
volcancito
(small volcano). All of these can be visited on foot and
horseback on well-maintained but sometimes steep trails.
The park was created in 1973 to protect a vital watershed that feeds 32 rivers and
streams. Its relatively remote location means that wildlife, rare elsewhere, is out in force
here, with the major volcanic crater a rather dramatic backdrop to the scene. Volcanic
activity has occurred many times since the late 1960s, with the most recent eruption of
steam and ash in 2012. At the moment, however, the volcano is gently active and does not
present any danger - ask locally for the latest, as volcanoes do act up. (The crater itself is
off-limits since the 2012 eruptions have made it unsafe.)
Elevations in the park range from less than 600m to 1916m, so visitors pass through a
variety of habitats as they ascend the volcanoes, though the majority of the trees in the
park are typical of those found in dry tropical forests throughout Guanacaste. The park is
home to the country's highest density of Costa Rica's national flower, the increasingly rare
purple orchid (
Cattleya skinneri
), locally known as
guaria morada
.
Most visitors to the park are here for the hot springs, where you can soak to the sound of
howler monkeys overhead. Many of the springs are reported to have therapeutic proper-
ties, which is always a good thing if you've been hitting the
guaro cacique
a little too
hard. Several lodges, just outside the park, provide access and arrange tours. You can also
book transportation and tours from Liberia. Note that the park is closed on Monday.
Activities
Hiking
A circular trail east of Las Pailas ranger station - about 3km in total - takes you past boil-
ing
las pailas
(mud pools), sulfurous fumaroles and a
volcancito
.
About 350m west of the ranger station is the well-signed trail to Pozo Azul, which of-
fers a marvelous river view and a stunning aquamarine swimming hole. Further away
along the same trail are several waterfalls - the largest, Catarata La Cangreja, 5.1km west,
is a classic, dropping 50m straight from a cliff into a small lagoon where you can swim.
Dissolved copper salts give the falls a deep blue color. This trail winds through forest, past
truly massive strangler figs, then on to open savannah spiked with yucca on the volcano's
flanks, where you can enjoy views as far as the Palo Verde wetlands and the Pacific bey-
ond.
