National Parks of Costa Rica

Santa Rosa and Guanacaste National Parks

Location: Northwest of Guanacaste Province
Size: 82,027 hectares

These two joined parks are situated in the area known as the Dry Pacific. They include a wide range of altitudes from sea level to nearly 2,000 meters on the peaks of the Orosi and Cacao Volcanoes. Therefore, the parks contain one of the most diverse habitat zones in Costa Rica. In addition, Santa Rosa and Guanacaste national parks contain one of the top international research centers for ecological studies of the dry tropical forest.

Included in the parks is Santa Rosa, a major historic site within the country. Santa Rosa contains a ranch house and a few corrals that date from the colonial period, where the victorious battle against troops of filibusters took place on March 20, 1856.