Costa Rica » Rincon de la Vieja Guide

Bordering Nicaragua to the north, the Guanacaste province is the hottest and driest part of Costa Rica.

Outside of the region’s capital, Liberia, there is little development and the volcanic landscape is dotted with cattle ranches.

One of the few regions that still feels typically ‘Costa Rican’, Rincon is a real hidden gem.

Located in the northwest not far from the border with Nicaragua, Rincon is also one of the hottest areas in the country, and the rolling landscape is largely covered by tropical dry forest.

Despite the wizened trees and dusty trails this is still a surprisingly green province, with clear babbling streams and lush pasture.

This is cowboy territory, and home to numerous working cattle ranches, some of which also function as hotels.

Take a guided walk or horse ride through the National Park to the slopes of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano, passing bubbling mud pools, sulphurous vents and fumaroles en route.

There are plenty of opportunities to try something a little more adventurous too, with canyoning, tubing and rafting tours on offer on the Rio Salto.