In Guanacaste, discoveries range from lagoons and mangroves to volcanic landscapes and centuries-old cultural traditions. This contrast is especially striking in the national parks and protected areas: you’ll encounter varied landscapes, as well as very different stories—from birdwatching by the water to traces of gold mining and pottery-making.

Lagoons, Coasts and Volcanoes

Parque Nacional Palo Verde lies in the lower Tempisque Basin in the canton of Bagaces, between the Bebedero and Tempisque rivers. The elevated Sendero La Jacana runs above Palo Verde Lagoon. This 20-meter-long trail is suitable for birdwatching. The Sendero La Roca loop offers a different perspective: it is 540 meters long and leads to a viewpoint overlooking Lago Palo Verde, the Río Tempisque and the Gulf of Nicoya. The difference between the two trails is simple: at La Jacana, the focus is on observing the lagoon, while La Roca leads to a viewpoint overlooking three named bodies of water.

On the Pacific coast, Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional is an important refuge for the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). It includes Ostional, Nosara, Peladas and Guiones beaches in the cantons of Santa Cruz and Nicoya. The protected area preserves the world’s most important nesting and breeding site for this turtle species. A specific conservation purpose therefore defines the character of this coastal area.

Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas on the Nicoya Peninsula includes, among other places, Playa Carbón, Ventanas and Langosta beaches, the Morro and Hermoso hills, and the San Francisco and Ventanas mangroves. You can surf at Playa Grande. If you’re interested in the coast and water sports, this park offers a different focus from Palo Verde: the beach and seashore take center stage rather than lagoons and birdwatching.

The volcanoes offer another distinctive experience. Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja is a volcanic massif with nine cones and a lagoon called La Jilgueros. Trails lead to the Von Seebach and Rincón de la Vieja craters, Las Pailas, the La Cangreja and Escondidas waterfalls, the Río Blanco basin, fumaroles and mud volcanoes. Another trail passes fumaroles, mud pools, water pools and a fumarole lake. Along the way, it crosses forested and open areas where the transition from dry to wet forest is visible. Check access and conditions before your trip.

Another distinctive feature is Parque Nacional Barra Honda: it is the only national park in Costa Rica with an underground cave system. The caves set the park apart from Guanacaste’s protected areas, which are characterized by lagoons, coastlines or volcanic features.

Discover History and Culture

At Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, nature meets an important historical event: the historic Battle of Santa Rosa took place there on March 20, 1856. The park is also the only protected wild area in Costa Rica that contains a historical museum. At Playa Naranjo, visitors can surf, camp and use trails near the mangrove area; conditions may vary. Santa Rosa thus brings historical remembrance together with a range of outdoor activities.

The history of mining can be explored at the Ecomuseo de las Minas de Abangares. Founded in 1991, the museum presents both the region’s mining history and its Indigenous culture. Historic gold-mining structures include Casa de la Pólvora, the foundations of stamp mills, walls from a former railway line, a quarry, and machinery used to extract and transport gold. These remains reveal different aspects of the work and transportation activities of the time.

In Guaitil de Santa Cruz and San Vicente de Nicoya, a pottery tradition more than 5,000 years old is carried on using traditional techniques inherited from the Chorotega. Visitors can buy the resulting ceramic pieces. A visit to these places offers a cultural perspective distinct from the natural and mining sites. Regional cuisine is also part of Guanacaste’s character: traditional dishes include tortillas guanacastecas, Tanelas, Tayuyas, arroz de maíz, Rosquillas, Bizcochos, Pozol and Chicheme. The list encompasses a variety of foods and preparations rather than a single typical dish.

Travel Planning

If you’re considering visiting several national parks and protected areas, Cañas is a useful base: various parks and protected areas are easy to reach from there. You can make your selection based on what interests you most, such as birdwatching, coastal landscapes, volcanic features, history or pottery. Conditions for individual trails and visits depend on the location; for access conditions that are explicitly noted as variable, check the latest information before your trip.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: La Garita, Coco, Sámara, Tilarán, La Fortuna, Liberia, Tamarindo, Hacienda Santa María, El Real, Santa Cruz, Culebra, Playa Flamingo, Panamá, Naranjos Agrios, Santa Elena, Rosario, Arenal, San Juanillo, Nosara, Playa Hermosa, Garza, Bijagua, Potrero, Nicoya, Sardinal, Ángeles, Mata De Caña, Huacas, Matapalo, Marbella, Cañas, Pijije, Bolsón, Tronadora, Cuajiniquil, Playa Grande, La Cruz, Puerto Carrillo, Tortugal, Canas Dulces, Playa Azul, Ostional, Palmira, Guardia, San Francisco de Coyote, Los Andes, Guayabo, Piedras, Guayabal, Santa Bárbara, Punta Islita, Zapotal, Lagunilla, Puerto Humo, Nacascolo, Lorena, San Lázaro, Cartagena, Cabo Velas, Bagaces, Villareal, Sierra, Bejuco.

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