{"id":5646,"date":"2026-04-15T15:22:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crguides.proyectoscoralcr.com\/costa-rica\/regiones-de-costa-rica\/pacifico-norte\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T15:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T15:45:12","slug":"north-pacific","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/crguides.proyectoscoralcr.com\/en\/costa-rica\/regiones-de-costa-rica\/north-pacific\/","title":{"rendered":"North Pacific"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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North Pacific<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Guanacaste province is located in the northwestern part of the country. This territory was originally part of Nicaragua, but was annexed to the country on July 25, 1824.<\/p>

Guanacaste is the second largest and most populous province in the country. It borders the Republic of Nicaragua to the north, Alajuela to the east, Puntarenas to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.<\/p>

Its capital is Liberia. Guanacaste is named after the national tree. Its geography is rugged due to the Cordillera. Some high-altitude areas are located on the Nicoya Peninsula. Thanks to its natural beauty, including incredible beaches and landscapes, Guanacaste has experienced tremendous growth in tourism, making it the most important economic activity in the region.<\/p>

Guanacaste has Costa Rica’s second international airport, and more than 30 airlines have scheduled their services to Daniel Oduber International Airport.<\/p>

In Guanacaste, you can experience Costa Rican traditions, as much of the country’s folklore originates from this region. Furthermore, Guanacaste is known for its beautiful beaches, the most famous being Papagayo Golf, Playa Hermosa, Playa del Coco, Playa Grande, Tamarindo, Flamingo, Avellanas, Brasilito, Samara, Nosara, Carrillo Puerto, and many others. National parks and protected areas are also an important part of Guanacaste.<\/p>

Guanacaste has 11 cantons and 47 districts. Liberia, Nicoya, Bagaces, Carrillo, Ca\u00f1as, Abangares, Tilar\u00e1n, Nandayure, La Cruz, and Hojancha.
Inter-American Highway<\/p>

The Inter-American Highway North crosses Costa Rica in two ways. This route begins at Central Park in San Jos\u00e9. It passes through San Jos\u00e9, Heredia, Alajuela, Puntarenas, and Guanacaste. A three-lane road will take you from San Jos\u00e9 to Manolo’s (a well-known restaurant near the airport in La Garita).
There is a toll, however, it is closed during peak hours.
Pe\u00f1as Blancas National Wildlife Refuge<\/p>

It is often confused with the border town with Nicaragua due to its name. This refuge covers 2,400 hectares and is located in the southern part of the Tilar\u00e1n mountain range. Elevations in this area range from 600 meters to over 1,400 meters above sea level.
These white cliffs were created to protect the flora and fauna. The Ministry of Energy and Environment (MINAE) uses the funds from this protected area to develop infrastructure throughout the region.<\/p>

The dry season runs from January to April.<\/p>

The nearest town to this refugee is Miramar, a major gold mining center. It’s a good place to visit, although there are no lodges or facilities for visitors. Camping is permitted for adventurous travelers.
Bird Coast<\/p>

Bird Coast (Costa de Pajaros) is located between Punta Morales and Manzanillo. It is famous for the numerous bird species that inhabit the area. Bird Island is less than a kilometer offshore and is well known for the many pelicans and seabirds that can be observed there.<\/p>

The Boards<\/p>

Its full name is Juntas de Abangares; it’s a small town on the banks of the Abangares River. This area was a center of gold mining during the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, it’s a relaxed farming town with a growing tourism industry.
Monteverde<\/p>

Monteverde has two cloud forests and two ecosystems, with warm breezes from the cold Caribbean and tropical rainforests. Its mixed climate is perfect for cattle ranching.<\/p>

In 1983, National Geographic named this place ‘the perfect landscape’. Monteverde boasts a wide variety of birds, making it ideal for birdwatching. There are plenty of places to visit and activities to enjoy in the area, including a butterfly farm, a frog farm, a serpentarium, canopy tours, hiking, and walks across trams and suspension bridges.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve<\/p>

The North Pacific Tropical Region Science Center managed this forest until 1975.
In 1986, the Monteverde Conservation Association wanted to buy this land and expand the reserve. Two years later, they established a Children’s Foundation to protect rainforests worldwide. Today, they raise money to purchase and save rainforests adjacent to the reserves, which have now grown to 10,500 hectares of protected areas.<\/p>

The management of the Monteverde forests allows a maximum of 160 people to visit the forest at a time.<\/p>

There are two reserves in Monteverde: Santa Elena and Monteverde. Monteverde Reserve is closer to the city and has better road access.
Wildlife is more difficult to spot here due to the park’s vast size.
Santa Elena Reserve<\/p>

It is located 6 km northwest of the city of Santa Elena and boasts 310 hectares of natural beauty. More than 200,000 people visit the reserve each year (around 20,000 visitors daily).<\/p>

The Santa Elena Reserve was created in 1989, but did not open until 1992. Visitors can enjoy the wide variety of wildlife found in the area, such as monkeys and sloths, while walking along moist trails.<\/p>

Friendship Bridge<\/p>

It was founded with the help of the Taiwanese government. It shortens distances and helps reduce traffic on the way to the beaches of Nicoya.
Ca\u00f1as<\/p>

Ca\u00f1as has a population of 25,000 and is known for being a peaceful, quiet, and clean place. It’s a small town with a relaxed lifestyle and slow development.<\/p>

Ca\u00f1as is the driest canton in Guanacaste.
North Pacific Volcano, Tenorio Region<\/p>

It is located 6 km northeast of Ca\u00f1as. It is one of the newer parks and part of the Arenal Conservation Area (ACA). R\u00edo Celeste is located 1.5 km from the Tenorio area; it is known for its clear, blue waters. Beautiful waterfalls with clean, white water can also be admired along the way to the volcano.<\/p>

Fumaroles, hot springs and a 2-day horseback ride to the crater are some of the main attractions of this imposing active volcano.<\/p>

Miravalles Volcano<\/p>

Miravalles Volcano is located in the province of Guanacaste. Its caldera was formed as a result of several massive pyroclastic flow eruptions, 0.6 to 1.5 million years ago.<\/p>

The only documented eruption was relatively small, with a gas explosion recorded on the southwest flank in 1946. This volcano is the highest in the Guanacaste Mountain Range, with an altitude of 2028m.
Bagaces<\/p>

Bagaces is an important canton of Guanacaste with an incredible history. It originated after the massive destruction of the city of Esparza, due to pirate raids in 1687.<\/p>

Today, Bagaces is a traditional town and manages many of the region’s reserves and protected areas, including
Palo Verde National Park .<\/p>

Palo Verde National Park is a protected natural area in Costa Rica, declared a national park on June 13, 1980. Located in the province of Guanacaste, it covers 19,000 hectares.
It features low-lying areas and lakes, including low-lying limestone hills. In 1991, Palo Verde was included on the Ramsar List, recognizing the international importance of the volcano.<\/p>

The main rivers drain into this region, creating mangrove forests, swamps, and evergreen marshes. It has permanent lagoons that support wildlife, including birds, mammals, and reptiles. The dry season is the best time to visit the park \u2013 December to March.
Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve<\/p>

Lomas de Barbudal covers 2,646 hectares and is part of Palo Verde National Park. It is known for its protected flora and fauna. There are over 200 species of bees, 250 different species of birds, large crocodiles, and many butterflies. It also protects an important tree called the great bursting tree. This tree is covered in yellow leaves during the dry season.<\/p>

This reserve has a dry tropical climate.
Liberia<\/p>

North Pacific Region Liberia is the capital of Guanacaste. It emerged during the second half of the 18th century, under the name of the city of Guanacaste, as a result of the creation of a parish aid in this location.<\/p>

Liberia is approximately 4 hours away from the capital city, San Jos\u00e9. It is commonly called the “White City” because its streets are made of gravel, a white, powdery material.<\/p>

Its climate is warm and dry, becoming humid from November to May, and very rainy in September and October. Its average annual temperature is 27\u00baC.<\/p>

Liberia has the country’s second international airport, which greatly boosts tourism. Daniel Oduber International Airport welcomes flights from Spain, London, the United States, and, of course, domestic flights as well. Many people still live according to the old Sabanero culture \u2013 working the land, wearing jeans, a hat, and carrying a machete (a long knife used for cutting grass and other hard materials).
Today, Liberia has grown spectacularly in terms of commerce, education, and tourism. It is considered the “second capital” of Costa Rica.
Rinc\u00f3n de la Vieja National Park<\/p>

This national park covers 14,161 hectares and reaches an altitude of 1,895 meters. Rinc\u00f3n de la Vieja features several fumaroles and hot springs, including therapeutic springs. The park was established in 1973 to protect 32 rivers. It has experienced volcanic activity since 1960. Today, the volcano is calmly active but not dangerous. This park is home to the national flower, the Guaria Morada (Cattleya skinneri).
Due to the large number of visitors to the area, there are many lodges outside the park that offer tours and transportation to various destinations in the region.
Junquillal National Bay and Wildlife Refuge<\/p>

This 505-hectare wildlife refuge is part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACA). Junquillal is a tranquil beach where you can swim, snorkel, or go boating.
Many species of seabirds, mangroves, pelicans, and turtles can be found in the area. The Orosi Volcano can be easily seen from here.
Guanacaste National Park<\/p>

This park is also part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACA) and encompasses 34,651 hectares of natural beauty. It was established on July 25, 1989.
From here, one can hike to the summits of two volcanoes, Orosi and Cacao. The park also provides refuge for people traveling along the coast and into the mountains.
Maritza, Cacao, and Pitilla Biological Stations<\/p>

Maritza, Cacao and Pitilla are 3 biological stations that border the Guanacaste National Park, and are perfect for enjoying and studying the fauna of Costa Rica.<\/p>

Maritza Station: This is the newest station and has a modern laboratory. Hundreds of petroglyphs (images created by removing part of a rock surface through incision, pecking, carving, and abrasion) have been found on volcanic rocks. The petroglyphs were created by the Chorotega culture.<\/p>

Cacao Station: Located atop Cacao Volcano at an altitude of 1060m, Cacao Station offers a network of trails for hiking throughout the reserve, connecting to the ski slopes of Maritza Station.
It is situated in the southern part of Guanacaste National Park.<\/p>

Pitilla Station: It is located on the southeast side of the Orosi volcano. Its surrounding forests are humid and cold.
The Cross<\/p>

La Cruz is the tenth canton of the province of Guanacaste. It covers an area of \u200b\u200b1,383.90 km\u00b2 and has a population of 18,004.
Its capital is also called La Cruz.
La Cruz borders the Pacific coast with Nicaragua, and is bordered by Nancite Bay to the south, including the Santa Elena Peninsula.
La Cruz has important examples of Costa Rica’s ancient architecture.
Salinas Bay<\/p>

It’s a beautiful place in Costa Rica. It’s perfect for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Within Salinas Bay is an important island called Isla Bola\u00f1os. It protects a large number of seabirds.
Tilar\u00e1n<\/p>

Tilar\u00e1n is a canton located in the mountainous region of the Guanacaste province, specifically within the Miner\u00eda Monta\u00f1a area. It has seven districts: Central, L\u00edbano, Santa Rosa, Tronadora, Arenal, Quebrada Grande, and Tierra Morena.<\/p>

From the city of Tilar\u00e1n, it is possible to discern the Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes, and from a few kilometers to the east, the Arenal Volcano could also be seen.<\/p>

Tilar\u00e1n, from the indigenous word Tilawa, means “place of winds and rain.” Indeed, Tilar\u00e1n’s climate is cooler than the rest of the Guanacaste province.
Upala<\/p>

It is located 40 km northwest of Guatuso and 10 km south of the Nicaraguan border. From the Upala highway, you can reach the Tenorio and Miravalles volcanoes. The only town in the Upala region is called Bijagua. This town is famous for its cheese production.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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North Pacific Guanacaste province is located in the northwestern part of the country. This territory was originally part of Nicaragua, but was annexed to the country on July 25, 1824. Guanacaste is the second largest and most populous province in the country. It borders the Republic of Nicaragua to the north, Alajuela to the east, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":5604,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5646","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/crguides.proyectoscoralcr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5646","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/crguides.proyectoscoralcr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/crguides.proyectoscoralcr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crguides.proyectoscoralcr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crguides.proyectoscoralcr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5646"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/crguides.proyectoscoralcr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6510,"href":"https:\/\/crguides.proyectoscoralcr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5646\/revisions\/6510"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crguides.proyectoscoralcr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/crguides.proyectoscoralcr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}