Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [121]
Following the independence of Central America from Spain, the newly independent provinces formed the Central American Federation. At the time, Guanacaste was part of Nicaragua, although border disputes resulted in skirmishes with Costa Rica. But on July 25, 1824, guanacastecos voted to separate and join Costa Rica. Contemporary Guanacastecos take pride in their unique origin and culture, and it’s not uncommon to see flags proclaiming an independent Guanacaste.
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Climate
The climate in northwestern Costa Rica varies widely from the heat of Guanacaste to the peaks of the chain of volcanoes in the region. As Costa Rica’s driest province, Guanacaste gets little to no rain during the months of November through April, in sharp contrast to the rest of the tropical country. At higher elevations that range from dry tropical forest to the famous misty cloud forests, temperatures are significantly cooler (averaging at around 18°C/65°F year-round), and places like Monteverde alternate between humid and rainy.
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Parks & Reserves
Northwestern Costa Rica has a wealth of parks and reserves, ranging from little-visited national parks to the highlight on many visitors’ itineraries, Monteverde.
Parque Nacional Guanacaste One of the least-visited parks in Costa Rica. The land transitions between dry tropical forest to humid cloud forest.
Parque Nacional Palo Verde Stay at the research station here and take a guided tour to see some of the 300-plus bird species that have been recorded in this rich wetland.
Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja (Click here) Peaceful, muddy isolation can be found just outside of Liberia, where bubbling thermal activity abounds.
Parque Nacional Santa Rosa Access legendary surf, hike through the largest stand of tropical dry forest in Central America and visit a historical battle site.
Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal (Click here) Centered on the perfect cone of Volcán Arenal, the clouds will sometimes disperse to reveal red-hot lava or a plume of smoke.
Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Peñas Blanca (Click here) If you’re self-sufficient, it’s possible to visit this wild refuge in the southern Cordillera de Tilarán.
Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Bahía Junquillal (Click here) Another small, peaceful protected site, this refuge has a beach backed by mangrove swamp and tropical dry forest.
Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde Costa Rica’s most famous cloud forest, Monteverde receives a steady stream of visitors without having lost its magic.
Reserva Biológica Lomas de Barbudal (Click here) If you’re here in March, you might be lucky enough to catch the yellow blooms of the corteza amarilla tree in this tropical dry forest reserve.
Reserva Santa Elena Slightly less crowded and at a higher elevation than Monteverde, this is also a good spot to seek a quetzal sighting.
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Dangers & Annoyances
While foreign women generally have no problems traveling in Costa Rica, they may sense a whiff of machismo in Guanacaste, most often if traveling alone, and usually in the form of harmless hissing or catcalls. This constant annoyance may become exasperating (especially when combined with heat and humidity), and the best way to combat it is simply to ignore it.
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Getting There & Around
More and more visitors are flying directly into Liberia, a convenient international airport that makes for quick escapes to both northwestern Costa Rica and the beaches of the Península de Nicoya. Liberia is also a major transportation center for buses traveling the Interamericana, from the border with Nicaragua to San José. Regular buses also serve the Península de Nicoya to hubs such as Santa Cruz and Nicoya and coastal points beyond.