The Bagaces Side of Miravalles Our first ever visit started out from Fortuna de Bagaces (not the Arenal La Fortuna) and was one of the most memorable days of hiking we ever enjoyed. Our friend The Priest (his name is Climaco but The Priest is what his family and friends call him) gave us the … [Read more...]
Costa Rica's National Park System
Modeled on the U.S. national parks after a couple of young Tico soon to be conservationists visited the Great Smokey Mountains the whole story of the birth of Costa Rica's park system is told in a fascinating book called The Quetzal and the Macaw. However they came to be they are now the foundation of Costa Rica's billion dollar travel industry, the source of water for the population and the reason that in early 2015 Costa Rica could declare that 100% of it's electricity was from green energy - the vast majority from hydro on National Park fed rivers.
No matter where you visit in Costa Rica there is always a park nearby.
Palo Verde National Park
Palo Verde National Park has a uniquely dichotomous character. It’s simultaneously a spectacular wetlands and one of the best examples of tropical dry forests remaining anywhere in the world. This dual nature is a result of the Río Tempisque flooding over land located in a relatively arid climate … [Read more...]
Poás Volcano National Park
Poás Volcano is one of the major attractions in the Central Valley region, one of the most visited national parks, and a great day trip add-on for any Costa Rica vacation itinerary. Poás volcano is a powerful symbol of the geothermal forces that formed Costa Rica. When the mist and clouds … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa National Park
Tropical Dry Forest Santa Rosa National Park protects some of the last remaining tropical dry forest in the world. The small patch of oak forest near the entrance to the Comelco Ranch is probably representative of the original habitat of much of the park. Ranchers burned most of the plateau … [Read more...]
Tenorio Volcano National Park
Quite possibly our favorite national park. I know, I know, they can't all be our favorite, but... Tenorio has everything you could want in a tropical forest natural area and every time we visit we find something new to love. Hiking to the sky blue Celeste waterfall is a highlight, but the … [Read more...]