Spend the day visiting one of the many national parks of Costa Rica. Shuttle service available via our Concierge.
PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK
A ninety-minute drive from the Villa, Palo Verde National Park is located on the banks of the Tempisque River in the Nicoya Peninsula and is home to the largest concentration of aquatic birds and migratory birds of the Central American Pacific Coast. In addition to the impressive avian population, the Tempisque River also has the largest concentration of crocodiles in the country. The best way to spot these creatures is by taking a boat tour on the Tempisque River. On your boat ride, you will see crocodiles, howler monkeys, anteaters, bats, iguanas and white-tailed deer. Tours are available in combo options. We recommend you explore these. Tour guides will provide a thorough insight of the park.
RINCON DE LLA VIEJA NATIONAL PARK
A scenic two-hour drive from the Villa, Rincon de La Vieja National Park is home to the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. Trails extend from the Santa Maria ranger station and wind through the park passing hot springs and waterfalls along the way. Mammals within the park include sloths, tapirs, kinkajous, pumas, jaguar, and both howler and spider monkeys.
As of September 22, 2011, access to the crater is no longer available due to the eruption of September 16, 2011 when volcanic ash and mud rose over 36.5 meters (120 ft) from the regular crater lagoon.
Several local tourist companies in the area offer hiking, forest canopy tours, horseback riding, river-rafting, all-terrain-vehicle riding and wall-climbing.
SANTA ROSA NATIONAL PARK
A ninety-minute drive from the Villa, Santa Rosa National Park is located in the northern Guanacaste Province. Ten unique natural habitats are within the park including savannas, deciduous forests, marshlands, and mangrove woodlands. The park is home to several species including coyotes, white-nosed coatis, tapirs, sea turtles, and terrestrial turtles and three species of monkeys. Several cat species are also present including jaguarundis, ocelots, cougars and jaguars although they are rarely seen. In total, there are an estimated 250 bird species and 115 mammal species that live within the park.
BARRA HONDA NATIONAL PARK
A ninety-minute drive from the Villa, Barra Honda National Park is located in the southern area of the Guanacaste Province.
Barra Honda is one of the most unique national parks of Costa Rica with its large system of limestone caves. Only 19 of Barra Honda’s 42 caves have been explored. The cave system was discovered in the late 1960’s. One bat cave, Pozo Hediondo, is home to a colony of over 5000 bats. Shortly after sunset, bats can be seen swarming from their underground lair to seek food.
Terciopelo and la Cuevita are the only two caves open to the public. All tours require a local guide.
The caves of Barra Honda can be visited year-through. For a caving tour you should be at the ranger station between 8 am and 1 pm.