The Guanacaste Mountain Range has recently become a more important tourist destination. There is only one possible explanation: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano and National Park offers perhaps the widest variety of options to experience the breathtaking force and beauty of nature.
The volcano's summit stands quietly 6215 feet above the sea level. Last eruption took place in 1983, but activity continued on until its main crater spewed lava and acid gases again in 1991, burning away most vegetation on the southeastern slope.
There are no accommodation facilities near the main crater, and hiking is the only way to get to and around the area's volcanic features. 14,083 hectares of wild and hot land are embraced by this National Park, established in 1973 with the aim to protect the volcano's vast system of watersheds, formed by thirty-two rivers and streams.
To think about Rincón de la Vieja National Park is to think about an immense network of environments, micro climates and volcanic formations, among which you will find the still steaming main crater, nine other craters, waterfalls, dormant Santa Maria Volcano (the highest peak of the Park), with a forest-rimmed lake-crater, hot springs, bubbling mud pools, vapor holes, mud cones, lakes and other amazing features.
There are two flanks to this park: one on the Caribbean side and the other on the Pacific. They differ from each other in rainfall and vegetation. The Caribbean slope is lush and wet year round, with a rainfall average of 200 inches, while the Pacific slope has a distinctive dry season.
Excellent and sometimes challenging hikes are best here in Rincón de la Vieja, with soothing and relaxing natural hot baths awaiting for you after a long day's journey. Trails begin at the park headquarters, in the Santa Mar�Ranger Station. It is a two day hike to the summit of Rincón de la Vieja and the dormant Santa Mar� if you want to enjoy the view and not just rush through the forest.
If you are hiking to the top of Rincón de la Vieja, you will pass by hot springs Las Hornillas and Las Espuelas Ranger Station. From here it is up hill to the summit, so you may want to camp overnight at the campsite 3 miles from Espuelas, right on the banks of the Colorado River. You will be able to reach the summit early in the morning, before the clouds set in. It gets cold at night, so come prepared.
The view from the summit and higher slopes is just splendid. The wide Guanacaste Plain and the Mountains of Nicoya will leave you speechless, while Lake Nicaragua may also be in sight.
Starting at Santa María Station, Sendero Encantado is a trail that runs through a cloud forest to Las Pailas, 50 hectares of bubbling mud volcanoes, boiling thermal waters and vapor geysers. There is a side trail called Aguas Termales which leads the way to the hot sulfur springs Los Azufrales, where thermal waters 108 F await for health seekers to bathe. There is a set of four continuous waterfalls with a drop of 230 feet high near the area.
If you are driving to the entrance of the park, a 4WD is highly recommended. It is a gravel road all the way to the park, and heavy driving is required during the rainy season. Take the Inter-American Highway to Liberia. From Liberia, take the road heading northeast out of the city, through La Victoria suburb. You will pass the village of San Jorge, only to continue straight to Santa Mar�Ranger Station. There you can arrange for meals and hire horses for back riding into the forest. If you are well fit, and want to make the best out of the view, you can just walk all the way to the station from Liberia (15 miles total).
Costa Rican Volcanoes 
