A Secluded and Unique National Park
Without a doubt, Rincón de la Vieja is one of Costa Rica's most unique national parks. Despite being close to the city of Liberia and within easy access of most of the beach towns and resorts in Guanacaste, the Rincon de la Vieja can also feel remote and secluded, with few visitors on any given day. As a result, it's easy to hike through the park and see no one else during your visit. But when you do visit, it's worth it, and the park trails access dry forests, waterfalls, steaming fumaroles, babbling brooks, bubbling mud pots, and an active volcano.
Most visitors come to Rincon de la Vieja on a day trip, checking out some of the trails, enjoying the hot springs, and taking a healing mud bath. An official tour is a great way to enjoy the park, using a guide to show you around, but it's also possible to explore the park yourself, hiking the trails and exploring.
Best Time to Travel to Rincon de la Vieja
Rincón de la Vieja is impressive year-round, but it is gorgeous at the beginning of the dry season (December-February). During these months, the rains have faded to perfect weather, the landscapes are still lush, and the waterfalls run strong.
Weather in Rincon de la Vieja
The weather in the Rincon de la Vieja can be described as hot. This is the interior of Guanacaste, Costa Rica's hottest and driest region. Expect temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s year-round, with minimal rain outside September and October.
Is Rincon de la Vieja Safe?
There's no town or community in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, so there's no genuine crime issue here - although all usual precautions should apply, you should never bring valuables with you or leave them in your car. The most significant danger is getting lost in the park or hiking in the heat without water with you.
How to Get to Rincon de la Vieja
Outside of Liberia, Guanacaste Airport (Airport Code LIR) is the closest international airport to Rincon de la Vieja.
Distance & Driving Time to Rincon de la Vieja
From LIR Airport: 45 miles (72 kilometers), about 1 hour, 45 minutes.
All Costa Rican Vacations packages include an airport "meet and greet" service and private transfers with English-speaking drivers. This means you're all set when you arrive in-country - just sit back, relax, and our driver will get you to your destination.
If you're driving from Guanacaste Airport to Rincon de la Vieja, it takes less than two hours to get there. However, if you're renting a car at the airport, allow yourself an hour to sort that out.
Head out of the airport onto the main road, turning left towards Liberia. You'll hit a major junction at the edge of town with the PanAmerican Highway. Take another left, heading north.
After about 40 minutes, you'll see a road leading off to the left at Balbo’s restaurant.
Take that left, and keep going through the communities of Quebrada Grande and Dos Rios until you reach the park.
