Page 77 - NORTHERN GUANACASTE TOURIST GUIDE

Protected Areas
Location
It is located in the northern
part of Costa Rica. To get
there, you must first go to Bagaces, which is located 194 km northwest of San José, on the Carretera Interamericana. Then continue to Guayabo, which is 30 km north of Bagaces. At the Guayabo-La Fortuna junction, the Miravalles Volcano looks imposing.
Importance
At 2,028 meters above sea level, the Volcán Miravalles is the highest volcano in the volcanic mountain range of Guanacaste. Ascending the massif takes you from the scorching plains of Bagaces to the cool mountain peaks.
Miravalles has a semi-destroyed and inactive crater. However, in the hornillas and Guayabo sectors, lava flows can be seen that are about one million years old. Additional volcanic cones can be found in the surrounding area, including La Giganta, Espíritu Santo and Gota Fría.
Biological wealth
The slopes of the national park are covered by tropical rainforest. In fact, the entire region contains a wealth of natural water resources. The
Size 4.300 ha
2.028 m above sea level
Other cones:
La Giganta 1490 m
Gota Fría 1082 m
Espíritu Santo 979 m
rivers that begin their courses here drain into the Pacific, Lake Nicaragua and the wetlands of Palo Verde National Park.
The area is also important as a habitat for felines, birds, deer, coyotes, tepezcuintles, peccaries and white-faced monkeys, among many others. It also has a good population of a tree called jícaro danto, which is endemic to the Cordillera de Guanacaste, meaning that it is only found here.
Clima
The temperature at the summit varies between 6°C and 9°C.
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