natural reserve in Costa Rica
Miravalles Jorge Manuel Dengo National Park is a protected natural area in Guanacaste province of northwestern Costa Rica. It protects the natural areas surrounding the Miravalles Volcano.
The park is a sea of green vegetation with different ecosystem types making up the jungle. Near the volcano, are hiking trails where you can admire nature in all its glory with abundant wildlife and an array of geological delights including rolling mountains streams, waterfalls, bubbling pools of volcanic clay, relaxing hot springs and thermal baths. Activities include mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, ziplining, backpacking, birdwatching and rafting and tubing on the cool, clean rivers.
The park is one of the youngest in the Costa Rica national parks system, having been decreed a national park in 2019. Park facilities are still being constructed and as of 2024, the park is not yet fully operational.
The park's most prominent feature is Volcán Miravalles, the highest volcano in the Guanacaste Cordillera at a height of 2,028 meters. It is an inactive stratovolcano that last erupted in 1946. The park covers an area of 4,300 hectares of tropical rainforest, tropical dry forest and mountainous forest.
The nearest commercial airport is Liberia International Airport (LIR). You can rent a car (4WD truck recommended) at the airport, take a taxi, or arrange for a shared shuttle.
From Liberia, drive east to the Inter-America highway (CA-1) and head south about 20 km to the town of Bagaces. Turn north on tertiary highway 164. About 5 km past La Fortuna, you'll turn right onto the park access road, which is usually in bad condition.
An alternate entrance to the park is located near the town of Bijagua. Trails from that side of the park will take you to the scenic Cascada Bijagua, one of the more picturesque waterfalls in the park. An advantage of entering the park via Bijagua is that you are near the Tenorio Volcano National Park.
The park entrance is open daily from 8am to 4pm.
Park admission is US$1 for Costa Rica citizens and US$10 for foreign visitors.
Hike.