Volcán Rincón de la Vieja National Park

Curubande, Costa Rica

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©Sue & Ray, Toucan Maps

There are two places in the area where you can visit Yellowstone or Rotorua-like geothermal sites. If you like to walk, boiling hot mud springs, sulfur springs, steam vents, and fumaroles are abundant at Las Pilas and Las Hornillas (not to be confused with Las Hornillas on the slopes of volcán Miravalles, near the village of La Fortuna de Bagaces) on the southern slope of the volcano inside the park.

The activity isn’t far from the surface anywhere in the region. One of the largest geothermal electricity generation projects in the world is scattered through the valley between Rincón de la Vieja and volcán Miravalles. Driving near Guayabal or La Fortuna de Bagaces you can\'t help but notice the stainless steel steam delivery pipes that snake their way from wells driven into the earth to the turbines in the generating stations.

The name, Rincón de la Vieja, translates to English as \'the old woman\'s corner.\' According to locals, the indigenous people of the Guatuso tribe named the volcano thus for one of two reasons. Either there was an old witch on top of the mountain who sent columns of smoke into the air when she was angry, or there was a kindly old woman occupying the same nook, and the smoke was from her cooking fire as she prepared meals for weary travelers. Maybe it\'s both because the Rincón de la Vieja crater has had at least eight periods of intense volcanic activity, and still bubbles and steams.

Amenities & Features

Recommended Near Volcán Rincón de la Vieja National Park

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Nearby Activities & Attractions

Nearby Hotels & Lodges

Rincón de la Vieja Lodge
Hacienda Guachipelín
El Sol Verde Lodge and Campground
Buena Vista Lodge and Adventure Center


The nearest town is Curubande, 12.9 km away and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport airport is 32.4 km.

Please note that distances for nearby hotels, attractions, activites & other points of interest are in a straight line. Distances by road may be significantly longer!

The approximate gps map coordinates of Volcán Rincón de la Vieja National Park are latitude 10.7941, longitude -85.3168. (exact GPS coordinates are accurate to within a few meters, gps data labeled approximate is within a few hundred meters)