Northwestern Costa Rica Overview

The two mountain chains that stretch across northwestern Costa Rica guard some of the country’s most famous attractions. The world-renowned Monteverde Reserve protects what remains of the cloud forests that once covered all of the Cordillera de Tilarán, while the Cordillera de Guanacaste holds three spectacular national parks further north. Volcán Arenal, Central America’s most active volcano, oozes magma at a cratered peak nestled between these two majestic ranges. Though the arid lowlands of Guanacaste cannot offer such natural beauty, they have a sabanero (cowboy) charm all their own. They serve as good base camps for nearby attractions like Volcán Tenorio, Volcán Miravalles, and the national parks that make up the Area de Conservación de Guanacaste, which holds 65% of Costa Rica’s species. The region has witnessed everything from annexation to invasions, and its dynamic history allows its rich folkloric tradition to constantly unfold and expand. While larger numbers of Nicaraguan immigrants have made diversity a source of regional pride and tension in more southern cities like San José, Guanacastan towns have managed to thrive on the harmony and vitality of their mixed populations.