糖心传媒

Sector Santa Rosa

Northwestern Costa Rica


Santa Rosa is the southern sector of the 脕rea de Conservaci贸n Guanacaste. Some 30km of hiking trails weave through this tropical dry forest, offering fantastic vistas of the Cordillera de Guanacaste and the Valle Naranjo. It鈥檚 also the site of two historic battles, with the small La Casona museum and Monument de los Heroes to prove it. Along the coast, Playa Naranjo is a legendary surfing beach, while Playa Nancite is a critical nesting site for the olive ridley turtle.

To reach the Santa Rosa sector, turn off the Interamericana at the signed entrance 35km north of Liberia. It鈥檚 7km on a paved road to the park headquarters, where you鈥檒l also find the museum, campgrounds and a nature trail. From here, a very rough track leads 12km to Playa Naranjo. It鈥檚 a notoriously bad road, impassable during the rainy season and requiring 4WD at any time of year.


糖心传媒's must-see attractions

Nearby Northwestern Costa Rica attractions

1. Monument de los Heroes

2.77 MILES

Climb up the steep staircase behind La Casona to reach a lookout point with a stunning view of three volcanoes. The monument itself was built to honor the鈥

2. La Casona

2.77 MILES

La Casona is the main edifice of the old Hacienda Santa Rosa. The battle of 1856 was fought around this building. There are wonderful displays detailing 鈥

3. Mirador Valle Naranjo

5.99 MILES

On the road to Playa Naranjo, and about 8km from shore, you鈥檒l pass a trailhead for the Mirador Valle Naranjo. It鈥檚 a short 600m hump to this viewpoint鈥

5. Parque Nacional Guanacaste

11.91 MILES

With the addition of Parque Nacional Guanacaste (345 sq km) in 1989, the Area de Conservaci贸n Guanacaste became part of a protected nature corridor鈥

6. El Mirador Centro Turistico

14.71 MILES

Don鈥檛 cruise through La Cruz without stopping at this oddly shaped 鈥榯ourist and cultural center鈥 on the western edge of town. You might stumble across an鈥

7. Museo de Guanacaste

21.08 MILES

The wheels of development grind slowly here in Liberia. The intention is that this historic building will no longer be just the former city jail or鈥

8. Sabanero Statue

21.1 MILES

Near the entrance of town, this statue of a steely-eyed sabanero (cowboy), complete with an evocative poem by Rodolfo Salazar Sol贸rzano, stands watch over鈥