Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Tenorio Volcano National Park- Río Celeste
November 1, 2019
Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Rincon de la Vieja, whose name “old woman’s corner” comes from an indigenous legend about a reclusive medicine woman, is the largest of Costa Rica’s volcanoes. The Las Pailas Sector of the National Park provides an intriguing and exotic mixture of geothermal features and the unique flora and fauna of the high dry tropical forest.
Rincon de la Vieja encompasses a variety of ecosystems due to differing altitudes, rainfall and the effect of volcanic eruptions. Flora includes a large population of the Costa Rican national flower, the Guaria Morada orchid, as well as the national tree, the Guanacaste, and others such as Strangler Figs, Tropical Cedars, Naked Indian trees and Copeys. Some 300 species of birds have been identified in the park, among them the turkey-like Crested Guan, the Motmot with its tick-tock tail wag and the Emerald Toucanet. The park is also home to deer, coatis, peccaries, skunks, coyotes, pumas, armadillos, tayras, agoutis, pacas, sloths, monkeys, anteaters and rattlesnakes.
Attractions
Rincon de la Vieja, whose name “old woman’s corner” comes from an indigenous legend about a reclusive medicine woman, is the largest of Costa Rica’s volcanoes. The Las Pailas Sector of the National Park provides an intriguing and exotic mixture of geothermal features and the unique flora and fauna of the high dry tropical forest.
Rincon de la Vieja encompasses a variety of ecosystems due to differing altitudes, rainfall and the effect of volcanic eruptions. Flora includes a large population of the Costa Rican national flower, the Guaria Morada orchid, as well as the national tree, the Guanacaste, and others such as Strangler Figs, Tropical Cedars, Naked Indian trees and Copeys. Some 300 species of birds have been identified in the park, among them the turkey-like Crested Guan, the Motmot with its tick-tock tail wag and the Emerald Toucanet. The park is also home to deer, coatis, peccaries, skunks, coyotes, pumas, armadillos, tayras, agoutis, pacas, sloths, monkeys, anteaters and rattlesnakes.
As the watershed for northwestern Costa Rica, Rincon de la Vieja is the ‘water factory’ for much of Guanacaste with 32 rivers and 16 intermittent streams starting on its flanks.
Activity Options
We pick you up at your hotel at about 7:30 am (depending on your location and plans for the day), making a stop in Liberia to buy water and a picnic lunch if desired.
There are several sightseeing options in the park:
Las Pailas (Mud Pots) Trail – a relaxed-paced, three-hour walk to see giant strangler fig trees, coatis, gas vents, boiling mud cauldrons and sulfur ponds.
La Cangreja (Crab) Trail – a four-hour round trip hike through savannahs and forest, with a refreshing swim in the Cangreja waterfalls.
Crater Hike – a rigorous, eight-hour round trip hike to the active crater. Enjoy spectacular views of Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean, experience the unique ecosystem above the tree-line and see the murky waters and hissing steam vents inside the crater. Note: this hike is only available at certain times of the year due to weather conditions and volcanic activity and requires an early departure from Liberia. Please inquire in advance if you’re interested in this hike to determine availability and confirm times.
Picnic in the park or enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.
In addition to park activities, guests may stop at the Negro River spa to enjoy a relaxing and therapeutic mud bath and soak in the natural hot springs. Or if desired, cool off after a day of hiking in Costa Rican family-style in the natural, cold-water “jacuzzi” and local swimming hole on the Blanco River (January to May only).
Return to your hotel between 4:00 and 5:00 pm depending on the selected activities.
Recommended Dress
Shorts, hat and hiking or running shoes. Wear your bathing suit under your clothes if you plan to swim in the waterfall or in rivers.
Hiking boots and rain gear required for the crater hike.
What to Bring
Camera, insect repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, drinking water, snacks and picnic lunch (if desired), bathing suit and towel if swimming in the park or Blanco River (towels are provided at the Negro River hot springs however) and cash for entrance fees and restaurant lunch (if preferred instead of bringing a picnic lunch).
Schedule
Full-day tour – pick-up approximately 7:30 am and drop-off between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. The tour operates every day except Monday when the park is closed.
Participation Requirements
Able to walk trails for three to four hours. The crater hike requires a good level of physical fitness.
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