Rincón de La Vieja Volcano National Park
This national park is where the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is located. There are two 31,000 acre areas: Las Pilas and Santa Maria. There are nine cones all together and a lagoon called “Los Jilgueros.”
Pailas Area: trails (4 miles long) to the Von Seebach craters (6,200 ft. above sea level); Rincon de la Vieja (6,000 ft. above sea level) trail to Las Pailas (1.5 miles); trail to the La Cangreja Waterfalls (3 miles) and Escondidas (2 miles); trail to Blanco River well (2,000 ft.); trail to the fumaroles and mud pits.
Santa Maria area: trail to the Encantado (Enchanted) Forest waterfall (3500 ft.); trail to Pailas area (4.5 miles); trail to Las Pailas de Agua Fria (5,200 ft.); trail to hot springs (1.5 miles). Around the administration area there are restroom services and picnic areas, as well as a camping area. There is also a historical house and a mill. The park can be accessed on the Buenos Aires de Upala side.
Surface Area:
14,127
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday to Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Pailas Sector) and daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Santa María Sector)
Telephone:
+506 2666-5051
Directions:
Las Pailas Sector: From San José, drive north towards Puntarenas and then follow the Inter-American Highway towards Liberia. Once in Liberia, continue 5 km north on the Inter-American North Highway to the entrance to Curubandé and RVNP, drive about 15 km northeast on a paved road through the village of Curubandé, where you will reach a metal gate; continue past this gate for approximately 10 km on a gravel road to reach Las Pailas Sector.
Santa María Sector: From San José take the Inter-American Highway towards Liberia. Take the road that starts at Barrio La Victoria, and then take the road leading to the village of Colonia Blanca, then turn left for approximately 25 km.
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