Cordillera de Guanacaste

The Cordillera de Guanacaste is a volcanic mountain range in northwestern Costa Rica, running roughly north-south through the Guanacaste province. It includes multiple volcanic peaks and montane forest zones that contrast with the surrounding lowland savannas.

Key points of interest include volcanic centres such as Rincón de la Vieja, geothermal features and hot springs, and elevated cloud-forest habitats that support diverse flora and fauna. The range is used for hiking, wildlife watching and geothermal tourism.

The range formed through volcanic activity associated with the Central American volcanic arc and contains recent and historically active volcanoes. Conservation areas and national parks protect sections of the range and its ecosystems.

Geographically it occupies northwestern Costa Rica near the city of Liberia and stretches toward the border with Nicaragua, separating the Pacific lowlands from higher interior terrain.

• Best visiting season: Dry-season access is far easier; many trails and visitor facilities are best used between November and April.
• Thermal features: Thermal springs and volcanic mud features are common around Rincón de la Vieja and are major visitor attractions.

What to See #

• Volcanic summits: An active volcanic massif that includes several volcanoes and volcanic cones, with hot springs and fumarolic areas near summits.
• Montane forests and biodiversity: Protected cloud and montane forest zones that host tropical biodiversity at higher elevations compared with the Guanacaste lowlands.