The Arenal Volcano Emergency Zone Forest Reserve was created on October 14th, 1972, in order to protect and conserve forest areas in the emergency zone surrounding the slopes of Arenal Volcano, a perfectly conical volcano and the most active one in the country. This reserve is part of the Arenal Huetar Norte Tilaran Conservation Area, located in the northern part of Costa Rica.
The Arenal Volcano Emergency Zone Forest Reserve is a small area in the northern flank of Arenal Volcano, in the high risk area, so it does not enjoy much tourism. It is characterized by volcanic formations consisting of lavas, pyroclastic rocks and small lahars, mainly composed by andesitic and basalts. Current use consists of forests, pastures and rocks (lava flows).
The Arenal Volcano Emergency Zone Forest Reserve weather is influence by both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, so it receives from 3500mm to 5000mm (138 to 197 inches) of rain per year, where the rainy season lasts from May to January, while the dry season runs from February to April. The temperature here varies from 16°C (61°F) in the high areas to 24°C (75°F) in the low.
This reserve is surrounding with a wide variety of flora and fauna species, many of which are part of the great biodiversity that has the Arenal Volcano National Park. Among the vegetation highlights the Cedro or Cedar (Cedrela salvadorensis), Java kapok or Silk cotton (Ceiba pentandra), Campano blanco (Gordonia fruticosa), Guanandi (Calophyllum brasiliense), Sura (Terminalia oblonga), Milk Tree or Cow Tree (Brosimum utile), Ecuador Laurel or Salmwood (Cordia alliodora), Fruta dorada (Virola Koschnyi), West Indian Laurel Fig (Ficus americana) and Pilon (Hyeronyma alchorneoides). Also, it has various species of ferns, palms, orchids, epiphytes and bromeliads such as Pitcairnia funkiae.
Furthermore, here also lives a vast diversity of wildlife such as monkeys, coatis, deer, kinkajous and snakes, as well as a lot of birds like Buff-throated Saltator (Saltator maximus), Blue-grey Tanager (Thraupis episcopus), Cherrie’s Tanager (Ramphocelus costaricensis), Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata), Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii), Great Curassow (Crax rubra), Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra), Rufous-tailed Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda) as well as parakeets, parrots, woodpeckers, toucans, hummingbirds and many others.
There are no public facilities at this forest reserve. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Arenal Volcano National Park, Juan Castro Blanco National Park, Alberto Manuel Brenes Biological Reserve and Tenorio Volcano National Park.
Getting to Arenal Volcano Emergency Zone Forest Reserve:
The fastest way to get to Arenal Volcano National Park from San Jose is by taking the Pan-American Highway west to the town of San Ramón and following the road north through Angeles, La Tigra and Chachagua to La Fortuna. Drive west out of La Fortuna, the road will take you 180 degrees around the volcano to the park ranger station. However, this route is not always available due to the rains, so be sure before you take it. Driving time from San José is about 4 hours.
You can also take the Pan-American Highway to Naranjo and follow the road through the towns of Zarcero and Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna. Drive west out of La Fortuna, the road will take you 180 degrees around the volcano to the park ranger station. Driving time from San José is about 4 hours.
From Liberia (Daniel Oduber Airport), equally scenic, take the road heading towards the city of Liberia. At Liberia’s intersection take the Pan-American Highway to Cañas and then drive up into the hills to the town of Tilarán and follow Lake Arenal around its northern shore to the base of the volcano. Driving time from Liberia is about 1.5 hours.
By bus:
You can take a bus San José – La Fortuna which takes about 4 hours (Auto Transportes San José-San Carlos, 2256-8914). You can also take a bus From Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna (Transpisa, 8379-3153) which takes about 1.5 hours.
By plane:
You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to La Fortuna Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Nature Air every day. From here you can rent a car and drive to the refuge, which is about 15 minutes.
Location: 15km southwest of La Fortuna in San Carlos, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
La Fortuna GPS Coordinates: 10.471189,-84.645419 (10°28’16.28″N, 84°38’43.51″W)
Size: 230 ha (570 acres)
Altitude: from 300m to 1633m (985ft to 5357ft) above sea level
Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area (ACA-T) Telephone: +(506) 2695-5908
Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area (ACA-HN) Telephone: +(506) 2460-0055
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192
Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Arenal Volcano Emergency Zone Forest Reserve in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps
The Miravalles Volcano Protected Zone was created on March 16th, 1976, through Executive Order No. 5836-A, in order to protect and conserve the rain forests, very humid forests, cloud forests and biodiversity that cover the area surrounding the slopes of Miravalles Volcano, the almost perfectly conical volcano and the highest in the Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range, located between the districts of Fortuna and Aguas Claras de Bagaces in  Guanacaste, and the district of Bijagua de Upala in Alajuela.
The Miravalles Volcano Protected Zone in Costa Rica is known by some simply as the Miravalles Volcano. This is a very complex andesitic stratovolcano with six eruption points at its peak. The caldera was formed during several major explosive eruptions that produced voluminous dacitic-rhyolitic pyroclastic flows between about 1.5 and 0.6 million years ago. On its western and southwestern flanks there are lava flows. The only reported historical eruptive activity was a small steam explosion on the southwest flank in 1946.
Now, the Miravalles Volcano has a dormant and semi-destroyed crater with extrinsic cones and one- million-year-old lava-flows that descend to Las Hornillas, where interesting examples of hydrothermal activity in Costa Rica can be seen, as the Miravalles Geothermal Project lies in here (the hydrothermal field is a hot-water dominated system, with a vapor dominated cap in some parts of the geothermal field). This geothermal project is under the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE in Spanish) carry, with the main purpose of producing electricity. An estimated 18% of the produced electricity stays in Costa Rica and the rest is exported to Nicaragua and Panama. Although the Miravalles Volcano hasn’t experienced significant eruptions in some time, it continues to expel gas and geysers near its base.
Miravalles Volcano Protected Zone has a wide variety of climates influenced particularly by the Caribbean and the Pacific slopes, with temperatures between 15°C (59°F) and 32°C (90°F) and an average annual rainfall of 3,500 mm (140 inches), which is reflected in the variety of environments, ecosystems and species, distributed in different life zones, being the months of March and April the driest ones. Here the northern and eastern flank has a higher rainfall and humidity that the western flank, due to the influence from the northeast trade winds, which blow almost constantly throughout the year.
The area around the volcano is home to primary cloud forest and rainforest and moist forests, filled with innumerable rivers, waterfalls, thermal hot springs and abounds of flora and fauna species in multiple life zones. The western slopes are covered with savanna scrub; the northern and eastern slopes are lush mountains, fed by moist clouds that sweep in from the Caribbean, while the southern slopes are cut with deep canyons and covered by ancient lava channels, with fumaroles releasing and hissing constantly.
The flora found at Miravalles Volcano Protected Zone is very varied with species such as bromeliads, heliconias, palms and orchids. Among the most common trees are the Zapotillo (Couepia polyandra), Cedro Maria or Guanandi (Calophyllum brasiliense), Aguacatillo (Persea vesticula), Oak (Quercus costaricensis), Pilon (Hyeronima alchorneoides), Cucaracho (Billia hippocastanum) and Jicaro Danto or Pepino de Danta (Parmentiera valerii), which is endemic to this mountain range and is characterized by flowers and fruits attached to the trunk and it represents a major food diet of the Tapir.
Among the fauna present visitors can find a wide variety of mammals such as monkeys (howler monkey and capuchin monkeys), anteaters (Tamandua mexicana), agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata), collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu), Central American Agoutis (Agouti paca), coyotes (Canis latrans), red brockets (Mazama americana), tapirs (Tapirus bairdii), tayras (Eira barbara), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), jaguars (Panthera onca), margays (Leopardus wiedii), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), pumas (Felis concolor) and Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi), as well as some snakes like the Coral (Micrurus mosquitensis), Fer-de-lance or Terciopelo (Bothrops asper), Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor), Central American Bushmaster (Lachesis stenophrys), Lora or Parrot Snake (Leptophis ahaetulla), Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) and Picado’s Jumping Pitviper (Atropoides picadoi). The Miravalles Volcano Protected Zone also has a wide variety of birds such as the Bare-necked Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus glabricollis), Crested Guan  (Penelope purpurascens), Great Curassow (Crax rubra), Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata), Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias), toucans and trogons.
The water resource is extremely important, as in the area are born a lot of rivers, such as Guacalillo, Zapote, Tenorio, Giganta and Raudales, which is used for human consumption, hydropower and downstream for irrigation and river navigation mostly.
There are two paths that lead to the top of the volcano. Once visitors ascend they will experience the passage of the hot plains of Bagaces, to the cool misty mountains. Furthermore, within the park attractions is that visitors will be able to take mineral mud bath, and then enjoy at the natural hot springs. Miravalles Volcano tours are offered from hotels in Guanacaste. Some of them include visit to the hot springs, horseback riding and lunch. Also, it is recommended that visitors should bring sun block, swimsuit and towel, cool comfortable clothes, walking shoes, insect repellent, a complete change of clothes, jacket, binoculars and camera.
Although visitors are welcome at the park, there is no ranger station for visitor attention, but it has a restaurant area. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Tenorio Volcano National Park, Rincon de La Vieja National Park and Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua National Wildlife Refuge.
Getting to Miravalles Volcano Protected Zone:
Take the General Cañas highway towards San Ramón/Puntarenas. Keep driving on the Pan-American Highway to Bagaces and then turn right. Drive about 21 km (13 miles) north toward Guayabo until you see the signs for Miravalles Volcano. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway. Driving time from San José is about 3.5 hours.
From Liberia (Daniel Oduber Airport) take the road heading towards the city of Liberia. At Liberia’s intersection take the Pan-American Highway to Bagaces and then turn left. Drive about 21 km (13 miles) north toward Guayabo until you see the signs for Miravalles Volcano. Driving time from Liberia is about 1.5 hours.
By bus:
You can take a bus San José – Upala which takes about 4 hours (Transportes Upala, 2221-3318). You can also take a bus to Cañas (from various locations, including San Jose, Liberia, Fortuna and Puntarenas) and then another bus from Cañas to Upala.
By plane:
You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Upala Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Nature Air every day. From here you can rent a car and drive to the refuge, which is about 2 hours.
Location: app. 30 km (18 miles) north from Bagaces, Costa Rica.
Guayabo GPS Coordinates: 10.706611,-85.224989 (10°42’23.80″N, 85°13’29.96″W)
Size: 11.676 ha (28,840 acres)
Altitude: from 300m to 2028m (985ft to 7242ft) above sea level
Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area (ACA-T) Telephone: +(506) 2695-5908
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192
Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Miravalles Volcano Protected Zone in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps
The Tenorio Volcano National Park was created on April 27th, 1995, through Executive Order No. 24240-MIRENEM, in order to protect and conserve forests, biodiversity and cultural features that surround the slopes of Tenorio Volcano, located in the Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range between the cantons of Guatuso and Upala in Alajuela, and Cañas, Bagaces and Tilaran in Guanacaste.
Tenorio Volcano National Park was originally declared as the Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range Forest Reserve on February 25th, 1976 by Executive Decree 5836-A. On April 24th, 1978, by Executive Order 8473-A, is reformed the previous decree and the Reserve is sectioned into three zones that comprise the land located around the Orosi, Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes. Later, in 1992 it changes to management category into Tenorio Protected Zone. Finally, on April 27th, 1995 by decree already mentioned it is set as Tenorio Volcano National Park, a category that currently has. This park is bound to the Tenorio Protected Zone which has an extension of 5530.98 hectares, forming a forest block of 18,402.51 hectares.
Tenorio Volcano National Park is known for its beautiful forest with a unique fauna, as well as the volcanic relief resulting from the different geology, hot springs and geysers, with a virgin forest that extends to the Tenorio volcano’s summit and Crater Lake. It consists of four volcanic peaks and two twin craters (a volcano called Montezuma). Both volcanoes are assumed to be dormant, as there are no eruptions in recent history. The park is covered by savanna in the lowlands, rain forest in the middle and cloud forest at high levels. From the west slopes flows the Frio and Tenorio Rivers; and from the south slopes the Tenorite and Martyrdom Rivers. From the top you can see the plains of Guatuso and San Carlos, Lake Nicaragua, Caño Negro Reserve and Arenal Lake.
Tenorio National Park is best known for the beautiful Celeste River, whose light blue waters are caused by the emanation of sulfur and the precipitation of calcium carbonates. In fact, among the biggest attractions, there is the Celeste River waterfall and dyers, panoramic views, steam and hot springs and streams within the forest. It also has a nature trail called “Mysteries of the Tenorio”, with a distance of 3,200 m and approximately three hours.
Tenorio Volcano National Park has a wide variety of climates, with an average temperature between 15°C (59°F) and 24°C (75°F) and an average annual rainfall of 3,500 mm (140 inches), since the area is influenced by the Atlantic and Pacific slope, which is reflected in the variety of environments, ecosystems and species, distributed in 8 different life zones ranging from montane – humid forest transition to basal forest to dwarf cloud forest. However, most of the park’s climate is influenced by Caribbean, with rainfall almost throughout the year by the orographic effect, being the months of March and April the driest; however, in certain sectors of the Atlantic slope conditions are presented with a dry season from January to May.
At a middle elevation dominate montane rain forest and cloud forest, providing perfect habitat for wildlife in the region.  This volcanic landscape is also home to the bright tropical dry forest surrounding the monuments of lava.
Tenorio Volcano National Park is known for its beautiful forest which flora is very varied. At undergrowth level, stand out heliconia, palms, Costaceae, Marantaceae or Arrowroot family and the Zingiberaceae, or the Ginger family. Among the epiphytes plants are common bromeliads, orchids, Araceae or Arum family and Gesneriaceae. Among the most common trees are the Aguacatillo (Persea vesticula), Cucaracho (Billia hippocastanum), Pilon (Hyeronima alchorneoides), Zapotillo (Couepia polyandra), Caobilla or Fine-leaf Wadara (Couratari guianensis), Guanandi or Cedro Maria (Calophyllum brasiliense), Oak (Quercus costaricensis) and Jicaro Danto or Pepino de Danta (Parmentiera valerii), which is endemic to this mountain range and is characterized by flowers and fruits attached to the trunk and it represents a major food diet of the Tapir.
Among the fauna present visitors can find a wide variety of mammals such as howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) and capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus), tapirs (Tapirus bairdii), tayras (Eira barbara), anteaters (Tamandua mexicana), collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu), Red Brocket(Mazama americana), agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata), Central American Agoutis (Agouti paca), pumas (Felis concolor), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margays (Leopardus wiedii), Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) and jaguars (Panthera onca). Among the birds that inhabit the park are the Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata), Bare-necked Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus glabricollis), Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias), Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens), toucans (Ramphastidae) and trogons. Similarly, the park has a wide variety of snakes such as the Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor), Coral (Micrurus mosquitensis), the Lora or Parrot Snake (Leptophis ahaetulla), Picado’s Jumping Pitviper (Atropoides picadoi), Central American Bushmaster (Lachesis stenophrys), Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) and Fer-de-lance or Terciopelo (Bothrops asper).
Tenorio Volcano National Park also protects important filtration areas, aquifers and springs that supply water to surrounding communities, which can be classified into three groups depending on the direction of drainage: the Arenal Reservoir, the Bebedero River Basin and the North-Atlantic plains.
Moreover, the park also facilitates the integration of local, national and international comunities, into the non-destructive use and management of the area, in a compatible way with the conservation of resources through research, environmental education, ecotourism, volunteering, control and protection activities as well as the generation of environmental services. All this makes this park attractive for national and international tourists who have the opportunity to enjoy great scenic beauty as well as forestry and animal species native to the area.
Tenorio Volcano National Park has a ranger station at the foot of the volcano, providing information about the area; it also has restrooms, drinking water, food (by reservation), shop, laboratory, research station, lodging up to 20 people (researchers), first aid available and trails that lead to picnic and swimming areas, as well as trails to Tenorio and Montezuma Volcanoes through the serene cloud forest.
Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Miravalles Volcano Protected Zone, Las Camelias Lagoon  Wildlife Refuge, Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, Arenal Volcano Emergency Zone Forest Reserve, Arenal Volcano National Park and Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua National Wildlife Refuge.
Getting to Tenorio Volcano National Park:
Take the General Cañas highway towards San Ramón/Puntarenas. Keep driving on the Pan-American Highway to Cañas. About 10 km (6 miles) after Cañas, turn right to Bijagua. About 32 km (20 miles) past Bijagua, you will find the entrance to the Park. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway. Driving time from San José is about 3.5 hours.
From Liberia (Daniel Oduber Airport) take the road heading towards the city of Liberia. At Liberia’s intersection take the Pan-American Highway to Bagaces/Cañas. About 10 km (6 miles) before Cañas, turn left to Bijagua. About 32 km (20 miles) past Bijagua, you will find the entrance to the Park. Driving time from Liberia is about 1.5 hours.
An alternative approach is to take the Pan-American Highway from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada also known as San Carlos, then drive toward to Upala. Turn left in Upala towards Bijagua, and follow the road approximately 48 km (30 miles) to the entrance of the Park. Driving time from San Carlos is about 2 hours.
By bus:
You can take a bus San José – Upala, through Bijagua which takes about 4 hours (Transportes Upala, 2221-3318).
You can also take a bus to Cañas (from various locations, including San Jose, Liberia, Fortuna and Puntarenas) and then another bus from Cañas to Upala, stopping in Bijagua.
By plane:
You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Upala or the Arenal Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Nature Air every day. From the Arenal Airport you can rent a car and drive to the refuge, which is about 2 hours.
Location: 16 km northeast from Bijagua de Upala in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Upala GPS Coordinates: 10°53’46.97″N, 85°01’31.18″W
Size: 12,872 ha (31,800 acres).
Altitude: from 30m to 1916m (100ft to 6286ft) above sea level
Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tenorio Volcano National Park Telephone: +(506) 2695-5908 o 2695-5180
Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area (ACA-T) Telephone: +(506) 2695-5908
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192
Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Tenorio Volcano National Park in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps
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