Rincón de la Vieja National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja) is a national park located in the Guanacaste Province of northwestern Costa Rica. The park includes the Rincón de la Vieja and Santa María volcanoes, as well as the inactive Cerro Von Seebach volcano. The last eruption in the area occurred from Rincón de la Vieja in 2017. The park is part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area and the Area de Conservación Guanacaste World Heritage Site.
Geography
The closest city to the park is Liberia, located to the south. The park has two visitor centers, Santa Maria and Pailas, both on the southern side of the park. These centers provide information and guide services for visitors.
The park is home to many types of wildlife. Over 300 bird species live there, including the three-wattled bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata) and the emerald toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus). Other birds include quetzals, curassows, and eagles. Mammals found in the park include cougars, monkeys, kinkajous, and jaguars. The volcanic vents and geysers in the park are habitats for certain microorganisms that live in extreme conditions (C. Michael Hogan, 2010).
Gallery
- Steam vent located in Rincón de la Vieja National Park.
- Mudpot located in Rincón de la Vieja National Park.
- Area with many mudpots located in Rincón de la Vieja National Park.
- Waterfall located in Rincón de la Vieja National Park.
- Oropendola Waterfall located in Rincón de la Vieja National Park.