National Park Volcán Rincón de la Vieja

Post by GuillermoG

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The strength of Rincón de la Vieja, is located in the mountain range of Guanacaste, between the provinces of Guanacaste and Alajuela, a little more than 25 km of the city of Liberia. It extends for 14,000 acres and reaches some 1900 meters of height.

It has been discovered at its peak nine eruptive points one of them active and the remainder in an inactive process. South of its crater, a gap of pure water exists.

In its skirts we find what is called “Pans” and “Hornillas” that cover a surface of 50 acres, with thermal water that give rise to streams of very hot water, and lagoons filled with small depressions in which the muddy water bubbles continuously.

This national park presents diverse habitats. In its lower parts we can find trees as the laurel, the Guanacaste (from where originates the name of the province), the cedar and the Indian naked, among many other. In the average parts, between the 1200 and 1400 meters above sea level, the most abundant trees are: the jícaro, the yos (apamáte, for the south american), the oak tree and the white cypress, just to name a few.

Along its extension we have managed to identify 257 species of birds, such as the toucan, parrots, parakeets, peacocks, goldfinches, an infinity of hummingbirds and owls. Among the most numerous mammals are the deer, tapirs, mountain goats, armadillos, anteaters and cute white and red faced monkeys; this is without counting an abundance of felines. Nevertheless, one of the greater attractions are the numerous morfo butterflies, of which four species have been identified; that amaze us with their beautiful colors. Also, the greater wild population of purple orchids lives here (”güarias”, in Costa Rica).

In spite of its great tourist potential, due to its impressive scenic beauty and its geological characteristics; is not exactly a destination known by the tourists that visit the country. This is due to the scarce information on the park, and the little existence of qualified guides for it. Aside from being an extremely dangerous land for natives and strangers, being considered in a few occasions as a death trap for its visitors. In fact, there still remain several dissapeared people. The last one of them, an American biologist that ventured alone at the beginning of 2009, and who, in spite of the efforts carried out with support of the embassy and the American army, that sent helicopters to contribute to locating the scientist; it failed to find any trace of the disappeared person.

This is one more example of the little thing that being human can result, facing the untamable Nature.

Pura Vida!

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