Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To travel between the two sectors you needn't double back to Liberia. One kilometer
from the Las Pailas park entrance is the turn toward Rincõn de la Vieja lodge, Río Negro
hot springs, the Santa María sector, and eventually San Jorge, Guayabo and Bagaces.
The road to Cañas Dulces and beyond, toward Buena Vista Lodge and Borinquen
Mountain Resort & Spa, is well signed about 11.5km north of Liberia, where it intersects
with the Interamericana.
Area de Conservacion Guanacaste
Among the oldest (established in 1971) and largest protected areas in Costa Rica, this
sprawling 386-sq-km national refuge on the Península Santa Elena protects the largest re-
maining stand of tropical dry forest in Central America, some of the most important nest-
ing sites of several species of sea turtle, and deep historical gravitas. Almost all of the
worthy diversions can be found in a vast area known as the
Santa Rosa sector
(
2666-5051;
www.acguanacaste.ac.cr
; adult/child US$10/1, surfing surcharge US$15; 8am-4pm)
.
Although the park was established mainly due to historical and patriotic reasons, Santa
Rosa has also become extremely important to biologists. Upon seeing its primordial acacia
thorn trees and tall jaragua grass, first impressions of the park are likely to have you be-
lieve you've suddenly landed in the African savanna, though closer inspection reveals
more American species of plants, including cacti and bromeliads. Santa Rosa is also home
to Playa Nancite, which is famous for its
arribadas
(mass nesting) of olive ridley sea
turtles - they can number up to 8000 at a time.
However, the majority of travelers are here for one reason: the chance to surf the near-
perfect beach break at
Playa Naranjo
, which is created by the legendary offshore mono-
lith known as Witch's Rock (also known locally as Roca Bruja). The park is home to an-
other break of arguably equal fame, namely Ollie's Point, which was immortalized in the
film
Endless Summer II.
Difficult access means that most of the Santa Rosa sector is fairly empty, though it can
get reasonably busy on weekends in the dry season, when Ticos flock to the park in search
of their often-hard-to-find history. And, unfortunately, those breaks can get busy in the dry
season too. But in the wet months from July through December, particularly in September
and October, you'll often have the park virtually to yourself.
