Costa Rican Tourism Board Tourist Service Department La Uruca, costado este del Puente Juan Pablo II. P.O. Box 777-1000 • Tel.: (506) 2299-5800 www.visitcostarica.com Tourism Board Central Offi ces Tel.: 2299-5827 [email protected] Tourist Information Center at San José downtown Tel.: 2222-1090 • [email protected] Information Counter at Juan Santamaría International Airport Alajuela, Tel. 2443-1535 • [email protected] Tourist Information Counter at Daniel Oduber International Airport Liberia, Guanacaste, Tel. 2668-0095 • [email protected] VOLCANOES Limón & South Caribbean Regional Offi ce Limón, Tel. 2758-0983 • [email protected] and South Guanacaste Regional Offi ce Guanacaste, Tel. 2685-3260 • [email protected] COLONIAL Puntarenas Regional Offi ce Puntarenas, Tel. 2661-0337 • [email protected] routes Central Pacifi c Regional Offi ce Quepos, Tel. 2777-4217 • [email protected] South Pacifi c Regional Offi ce Río Claro, Tel. 2789-7739 • [email protected] Northern Plains Regional Offi ce Ciudad Quesada, Tel. 2461-9102 • [email protected] Toll free: 800-tourism (800-868-7476) Emergency 9-1-1 Activities Continuing northeast in the Alajuela Introduction province, you will fi nd the Arenal volcano. With an almost perfect conical shape, it is Like many countries on the continent, Costa Rica one of the 10 most active volcanoes in the is situated within the so-called Pacifi c Ring of world. Continuing in the same direction Fire, which comprises the majority of volcanoes lies the Poás volcano, one of the most throughout the world. visited volcanoes in the country. Visitors In our mountain ranges (excluding Talamanca) can enjoy its beautiful lagoon and widest there are 300 volcanic cones, of which less than crater measuring some 4,200 ft. (1,300 m) 5% are active in their primary and secondary in diameter. formations. The most noteworthy ones include: The Irazú volcano is located 15 miles (25 Orosi, Miravalles, Rincón de la Vieja, Tenorio, km) northeast of San José in the Cartago Poás, Congo, Barva, Cacho Negro, Irazú, Turrialba province. It measures 11,260 feet (3,432 and Arenal. Some of these volcanoes are used m) above sea level. Not only the highest in by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) for the country, it historically has registered the geothermal projects to generate electricity, as is highest rate of volcanic activity in Costa Rica. the case in Miravalles. Within the principal crater, visitors will fi nd In the northern part of the country, within the a turquoise-green lagoon. On clear days, it stunning Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range, is possible to see both the Pacifi c and the lies the Rincón de la Vieja volcano with various Caribbean oceans. cones and volcanic formations. Tenorio, whose The Turrialba volcano is a sleeping giant with infl uence produced beautiful colors in the three constantly smoking craters. Visitors Celeste River, is another active volcano located are allowed the unique option of walking nearby. inside its craters. Orosi Volcano Continuing northeast in the Alajuela Introduction province, you will fi nd the Arenal volcano. With an almost perfect conical shape, it is Like many countries on the continent, Costa Rica one of the 10 most active volcanoes in the is situated within the so-called Pacifi c Ring of world. Continuing in the same direction Fire, which comprises the majority of volcanoes lies the Poás volcano, one of the most throughout the world. visited volcanoes in the country. Visitors In our mountain ranges (excluding Talamanca) can enjoy its beautiful lagoon and widest there are 300 volcanic cones, of which less than crater measuring some 4,200 ft. (1,300 m) 5% are active in their primary and secondary in diameter. formations. The most noteworthy ones include: The Irazú volcano is located 15 miles (25 Orosi, Miravalles, Rincón de la Vieja, Tenorio, km) northeast of San José in the Cartago Poás, Congo, Barva, Cacho Negro, Irazú, Turrialba province. It measures 11,260 feet (3,432 and Arenal. Some of these volcanoes are used m) above sea level. Not only the highest in by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) for the country, it historically has registered the geothermal projects to generate electricity, as is highest rate of volcanic activity in Costa Rica. the case in Miravalles. Within the principal crater, visitors will fi nd In the northern part of the country, within the a turquoise-green lagoon. On clear days, it stunning Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range, is possible to see both the Pacifi c and the lies the Rincón de la Vieja volcano with various Caribbean oceans. cones and volcanic formations. Tenorio, whose The Turrialba volcano is a sleeping giant with infl uence produced beautiful colors in the three constantly smoking craters. Visitors Celeste River, is another active volcano located are allowed the unique option of walking nearby. inside its craters. Orosi Volcano Liberia Also known as the “White City,” Liberia is located 135 miles (217 km) from San José and 49 miles (78 km) from the northern border along the Interamericana highway. The Daniel Oduber International Airport is also found there, which is why many tourists take advantage of this city as a jump-off point to the beautiful beaches and national parks in Guanacaste. Cultural heritage. The past comes You shouldn’t miss visiting the Guanacaste alive on Calle Real, whether in the Condega National Park in front of the Santa Rosa National neighborhood, with its lime-plastered adobe and Park, which protects tropical rainforests along bahareque structures, or in the old government the slopes of the Orosi and Cacao volcanoes, as building dating back to 1850, which is now the well as migratory routes of many types of wildlife. site of the Guanacaste Regional Museum. The The Palo Verde National Park, some 23 miles biggest heroic stand in the country’s history took (38 km) from Liberia, is one of the sanctuaries place on March 20, 1856, at the historic Santa in Central America for migratory and local Rosa manor, some 22 miles (36 km) north of marine bird species. Its magnifi cent tropical and Liberia, while fi ghting against the North American dry rainforests have created a rich mosaic of 15 fi libusters coming from Nicaragua. It is now a different habitats. Within the region are some of history museum in the Santa Rosa National Park, the most visited beaches in the Papagayo Gulf which protects some of the most important dry region such as Tamarindo, Flamingo, and Sámara. forests in Central America. Many activities. With so much biodiversity, Other attractions. A collection of religious you can fi nd a variety of activities in the realms of images, rosaries, prints, furniture, and a beautiful eco-tourism, adventure and sport tourism, health Way of the Cross can be seen at the Lord of spa tourism (hot springs and lakes), commercial Agony Religious Art Museum, formerly the tourism, cultural tourism, and, of course, beach Chapel of the Agony, which dates back to 1852. tourism. Lectures, discussions, and various activities take place in September to celebrate the “White City Liberia city Stadium Cultural Week.” Lord of the Agony Natural beauty. The Guanacaste Religious Art Museum Conservation Area was declared a World Park Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. Some of its best attractions are the Miravalles, Rincón de la Market Vieja and Tenorio volcanoes. Central Park in Santa Rosa National Park Sabanero Museum Liberia Also known as the “White City,” Liberia is located 135 miles (217 km) from San José and 49 miles (78 km) from the northern border along the Interamericana highway. The Daniel Oduber International Airport is also found there, which is why many tourists take advantage of this city as a jump-off point to the beautiful beaches and national parks in Guanacaste. Cultural heritage. The past comes You shouldn’t miss visiting the Guanacaste alive on Calle Real, whether in the Condega National Park in front of the Santa Rosa National neighborhood, with its lime-plastered adobe and Park, which protects tropical rainforests along bahareque structures, or in the old government the slopes of the Orosi and Cacao volcanoes, as building dating back to 1850, which is now the well as migratory routes of many types of wildlife. site of the Guanacaste Regional Museum. The The Palo Verde National Park, some 23 miles biggest heroic stand in the country’s history took (38 km) from Liberia, is one of the sanctuaries place on March 20, 1856, at the historic Santa in Central America for migratory and local Rosa manor, some 22 miles (36 km) north of marine bird species. Its magnifi cent tropical and Liberia, while fi ghting against the North American dry rainforests have created a rich mosaic of 15 fi libusters coming from Nicaragua. It is now a different habitats. Within the region are some of history museum in the Santa Rosa National Park, the most visited beaches in the Papagayo Gulf which protects some of the most important dry region such as Tamarindo, Flamingo, and Sámara. forests in Central America. Many activities. With so much biodiversity, Other attractions. A collection of religious you can fi nd a variety of activities in the realms of images, rosaries, prints, furniture, and a beautiful eco-tourism, adventure and sport tourism, health Way of the Cross can be seen at the Lord of spa tourism (hot springs and lakes), commercial Agony Religious Art Museum, formerly the tourism, cultural tourism, and, of course, beach Chapel of the Agony, which dates back to 1852. tourism. Lectures, discussions, and various activities take place in September to celebrate the “White City Liberia city Stadium Cultural Week.” Lord of the Agony Natural beauty.