Your best contact for vacations in Guanacaste Province in Costa Rica
Guanacaste province - General Information:
Size: 10,141 km2
Population : 220,000
Coordinates: 10º, 28',29" north and 85º, 21', 37" west
Borders: North: Nicaragua; East: Alajuela; West: Pacific Ocean
Capital: Liberia
Km from Liberia to San José: 203 km
Annextion: 1825
Cantons:
Cantón 1: Liberia
Cantón 2: Nicoya
Cantón 3: Santa Cruz
Cantón 4: Bagaces
Cantón 5: Carrillo
Cantón 6: Cañas
Cantón 7: Abangares
Cantón 8: Tilarán
Cantón 9: Nandayure
Cantón 10: La Cruz
Cantón 11: Hojancha
History:
T he province of Guanacaste is filled with touristic, folkloric and other attractions. Several famous battles took place in this province: The Santa Rosa battle, that defeated William Wlaker on March 20th in 1856. The principal activities next to tourism of this province is cattle farming and rice farming, there are also important sugar cane-, as well as cotton- and bean plantations. There were also mine exploitations especially in Abangares.
T here are many National Parks such as the Guanacaste National Park, Palo Verde National Park, and places like the Barra Honda Caverns and Volcano Rincón de la Vieja etc.
B efore the Spanish arrived, this territory was inhibited by Chorotega Indians form the town of Zapati, Nacaome, Paro, Cangel, Nicopasaya, Pocosí, Diriá, Papagayo, Namiapí and Orosi. The Corobicies lived on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Nicoya and the Nahuas or Aztecan in the zone of Bagaces.
T he first church was built out of straw in Nicoya in the 17th Century. At the end of 1824 beginning 1825 the territory of Guanacaste annexed to Costa Rica, because nobody exactly knew to where they belonged, the inhabitants decided by their own will to be part of Costa Rica.
I n the 18th Century some neighbors of Rivas established their houses and cattle farms in the northern part of the Nicoya Peninsula at crossroads that connected the towns of Bagaces, Nicoya and Rivas. The place was baptized after a famous Guanacaste tree that grows in the neighborhood.
T he 25th of July 1824 the town people of Nicoya and Santa Cruz decided to join Costa Rica. In 1836 the town of Guanacaste was declared capital of Guanacaste. Until 1854 the name was changed to Liberia. If you want to know why. Read about it in the chapter of Liberia (Click on the map above).
Guanacaste Attractions:
Palo Verde National Park - 16,804 hectares noted for its' varied topography, and an important bird migratory zone - particularly waterfowl.
OTS Palo Verde Biological Station
Las Pumas - largest private shelter for wild cats in Latin America.
Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve - 2,279 hectares of tropical dry forest, rich with numerous species of insects, birds, and other animals.
Rincon de La Vieja National Park - comprises 14,083 hectares with active volcano "fumaroles", geysers, fresh-water volcanic lagoon, thermal waters, waterfalls, and swimming holes.
Las Pailas or hot springs - the most volcanic actions you can see in the whole country with mud pots, geysers, caves, natural sauna steam bath, sulphur warm water springs and mud facial.
Blue Lake Waterfall - 90 f. high, it is totally blue because of the copper in the water.
Playa Nancite - important nesting site for Pacific Ridley turtle.
Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge/Las Baulas National Marine Park - nesting sites for leatherback turtles (Oct-March)
Ostional Wildlife Refuge - just north of Playa Nosara, is the nesting site for the Olive Ridley turtle, or "lora", as the locals call it. If you're visiting the area any time from July through December, You'll find yourself entranced by the hundreds of turtles that make their ponderous way up on to the beach.
Cabo Blanco Strict Nature Reserve - 1,172 hectares on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. The first nature reserve established in Costa Rica, it has abundance of flora and fauna including 119 species of trees and large colony of brown boobies.
Barra Honda National Park - 2,295 hectares with, most notably, a series of ancient limestone caves (ancient human skeletons have been discovered inside), many of which have yet to be investigated. One of the largest is "Terciopelo" and is the only one open to the public. The hike to the caves takes aproximately an hour and winds through tropical dry forest.
Guaitil - Small indigenous village maintaining the tradition of the Chorotega. Potey is excellent and for sale.
La Casona - Located in Santa Rosa National Park , it is Costa Rica's most important historic site. Three major battles were fought here and there is now a museum on the site.