Visiting this national wonder should be a priority while you are in Costa Rica. We visited Santa Rosa National Park a couple of weeks ago for bird watching. Not only will this save you time in navigation, but you are bound to see more wildlife and leave with a greater understanding of the environment and unique attributes of Santa Rosa National Park. Frequently asked trail questions about Santa Rosa National Park. Santa Rosa National Park preserves one of the last remains of tropical dry forests in Latin America. The flora and fauna is stunning and varied and can be explored through various hiking trails. Down below in the Coachella Valley, elevations range from below mean sea level to several hundred feet, resulting in an abrupt vertical relief of more than 10,000 feet on the steep eastern face of San Jacinto Mountain, and exceeding the vertical relief in most other parts of the contiguous United States. Many different animal species live within the park including several that are endangered. Busses depart from Liberia and La Cruz daily-ask the bus driver to drop you off at the park entrance. The battle that occurred here is a source of great pride in Costa Rica, and the historical significance of the park helped win its protection by executive decrees in 1970 and 1977. Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica - Go Visit Costa Rica Extremely hot. The Hilton Garden Inn in Liberia is located at just one hour from Santa Rosa. Temperatures are warm and drier than average year-round. Only saw a handful of people. There are several different hiking trails within the park, which are mostly only accessible by a 44 vehicle. Driving Directions. Starting on January 30, 2023 the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center is reopening to five days a week, Thursday through Monday. Santa Rosa National Park is located in the Guanacaste Conservation Area and is also wrapped in history. We got there too late in the day our last visit to Costa Rica. Explore Santa Rosa Island Backcountry Beach Camping in Channel Islands National Park, California with Recreation.gov. 21 August 2020 3202 0 A wild jaguar and a surfer exchange glances at the distance in Playa Potrero Grande, near the Santa Rosa National Park of Santa Rosa, Guanacaste. Join 19k+ in receiving Expert travel advice, news & promotions! Along with extensive paleontological resources, Santa Rosa Island has rich archeological resources. There are a variety of species in this forest like the white-tailed deer, howler and white-faced monkeys, etc. We recommend bringing closed-toed hiking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and water. Fire regulations within the San Jacinto Wilderness change during the year. Santa Maria, Playa Naranjo, Playa Junquillal, and the Santa Rosa ranger stations provide potable water, toilets, showers and grills. There have been over 100 mammals recorded within Santa Rosa National Park. Olivier can be found through naturaldiscoverycostarica.com. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. A lock ( Playa Nancite is the most popular beach for sea turtle nesting particularly during the months of September and October when it is possible to see as many as 8,000 sea turtles on the beach. A small Costa Rican army won the final fight against the Fillibusters at La Casona, a ranch house located in Santa Rosa. La Casona photographed by @xplora_costarica. Instead of being a national park, the northern access route should be labelled a national disgrace. Dry season is the best time to visit as roads are easily navigable and vegetation is sparse . Santa Rosa Island - Channel Islands National Park (U.S. National Park As with all the Channel Islands, visiting Santa Rosa . Birdwatching in Santa Rosa National Park Costa Rica. Around 250 bird species and 115 mammal species are found within the park. Santa Rosa National Park protects some of the last remaining tropical dry forest in the world. Amazingly, this single incident encompasses much of the military history of Costa Rica. more, #7 of 18 things to do in Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Historic Sites National Parks Battlefields. We drove slowly along the road to the entrance, but they wouldn't let us stop to birdwatch so we were tremendously disappointed. "Magic moments. The small patch of oak forest near the entrance to the Comelco Ranch is probably representative of the original habitat of much of the park. The island's relatively low profile is broken by a high, central mountain range, rising 1,589 feet at its highest point. In the mansion are many items of historical interest, including military memorabilia and photographs commemorating the battle that took place in the area. Playa Naranjo is located in the northeastern area of the Guanacaste Region of the park, a top surfing destination. Surfing: Playa Naranjo, one of Santa Rosa National Parks most famous beaches, is home to some of the best waves in Costa Rica. Please follow signs to the Visitor Center for public information and restrooms. Nice place to see birds and other wildlife, a few short trails. unless I'm driving a huge 4 x 4 to make it all the way to the beach. During the dry season (mid-December through April), trees lose their leaves, and many of Santa Rosas streams and small lakes dry up. The Santa Rosa Park is home to the most famous dry tropical forest in Central America. Santa Rosa was originally a farm located in the north-western Guanacaste Province, in Costa Rica. Park staff members at the front gate, La Casona and Playa Naranjo were so nice, helpful and polite. From San Jose, take the Interamerican highway to Liberia. Stunning! About 500 plant species can be found within nine plant communities, including six plant species found only on Santa Rosa and nowhere else in the world. The main entrance to the park is 22 miles north of Liberia, and is accessed by following the signs from the Interamerican Highway. Campsites must be at least 1/4 mile from wildlife water sources, whether natural or human-created. On March 20, 1856, when the Costa Rican forces reached this point, the filibusters were housed in the main farm building, La Casona. The Santa Rosa Sector is the most frequently visited with some of the most notable attractions including access to La Casona. The Santa Rosa National Park covers most of the Santa Elena Peninsula, on the Guanacaste province. If you want to learn more about this battle and actually set foot on the place where it happened, you can. The park was created for not only wildlife conservation, but also for historical purpose. Surrounding the island are cold, nutrient- rich waters that sustain a diverse web of marine life, including pelagic fish, a variety of marine mammals, and extensive kelp forests. The only way to reach Nancite beach is by walking from the Naranjo station, located in the Santa Elena sector. As on its larger neighbor, Santa Cruz Island, these varied landforms support a diverse array of plant and animal species. We spent 1 hour and 15 minutes there which included eating out lunches in our car. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Santa Rosa National Park Costa Rica Santa Rosa has more cultural, historical and geological . Liberia is less than an hour away from Santa Rosa National Park. The use of fire while camping varies within the San Bernardino National Forest. Brush Fire Destroys Homes, Forces Evacuations In Perris Packed sandwiches and drinks - a necessity since no food or potable water is available after embarking on the dirt road portion of the park. The Nancite Biological station offers rustic facilities for researchers, and is heavily protected and accessed only with prior approval. A group campground for equestrian use with developed facilities (two corrals per campsite, tables, fire rings, hitch rack, potable water, toilets, and showers) is also located at Pinyon Flat. and back. No An official form of the United States government. I saw crocodiles, a wild cat hunting down a monkey and many more animals. We recommend booking Parque Nacional Santa Rosa tours ahead of time to secure your spot. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The Murcielago Sector is 45 kms from Liberia, then continue to the community of Cuajiniquil (10kms) and then follow the gravel road an additional 9 kms to the entrance of the sector. The park attracts the raucous white-throated magpie jay, parrot, parakeet, tanager, trogon, and more. NPS.gov Park Home Plan Your Visit Places To Go Florida Areas Santa Rosa Area Santa Rosa Area Open 8 A.M. to Sunset Opal Beach Complex On This Page Operating Hours Highway 399 (J. Earle Bowden Way): 24 hours a day, year-round Opal Beach Complex: 8 a.m. to sunset Facilities To start, Playa Naranjo is lovely not just for its fine sands but for what those sands house: nesting sites for endangered leatherback, Pacific green, and vulnerable olive ridley sea turtles.What's more, Naranjo Beach is also home (land) base for Witch's Rock and Ollie's . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. the park costs about 9,000 Colones to enter (maybe $8?) Located on Highway74at the National Monument boundary, the Visitor Center is located approximately 4 miles south of the Highway 111intersection in Palm Desert. There are two important sea turtle nesting beaches in Santa Rosa, Naranjo and Nancite. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Unlike most national parks in Costa Rica, Santa Rosa was created not to preserve land but to save a building, La Casona. Visit the La Casona Hacienda museum at the park entrance and soak up the atmosphere of this historic site! We highly recommend exploring Santa Rosa National Park led by an expert naturalist guide. Here, there are various beaches, such as the Hachal, Danta, Coquito, Santa Elena, and Blanca as well as a lookout point and trails. Thelinked document provides directions to some popular wildflower viewing sites and lists some of the flower species that are observed there. There are two different sectors within Santa Rosa National Park. Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Phone: 760-862-9984 (Visitor Center) or 760-833-7100 (Field Office) Email: BLM_CA_Web_PS@blm.gov Address: Bureau of Land Management Palm Springs South Coast Field Office Palm Springs, CA 92262 Latitude/Longitude: 33.6715, -116.40793 Directions: Only biologists and students or those that acquire a permit can visit. We made our own transportation arrangement with Xplore Costa Rica and hired own birding guide, Olivier Esquivel. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS I was really decided this time to discover completely this Park. The best known of these victories was The Battle of Santa Rosa on March 20th, 1856. On that date, 9,000 Costa Ricans met the notorious and detested "Filibusters," an army of foreign pirates and adventurers led by William Walker. This has effectively preserved some of its raw authenticity and character. Monument staff are available to discuss recreation opportunities, natural resources and other pertinent questions. It is categorized as a dry forest just like the bordering Guanacaste National Park and the further off Diria National Park, Palo Verde and Barra Honda National Park. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day scattered clouds . Santa Rosa National Park is located within one of the hottest and dryest regions of Costa Rica, Guanacaste. In 1919, there was an attempt from the invaders to overthrow the dictatorship of General Federico Tinoco Granados; and in the 1955, Costa Ricans fought intruders supporting a coup attempt against the government of Jos Figueres.[5]. The Santa Rosa National Park is part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area. Sector Santa Rosa: Home to La Casona historical museum (open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), as well as a camping area with picnic tables, grills, potable water, showers and restrooms. Along the trail there are also signs that indicate private property boundaries and trail closures. We drove to Liberia, picked up Olivier and then drove to Santa Rosa National Park. There are no open fires allowed within the Santa Rosa Wilderness (FS). However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. In addition to the native Chumash, European explorers, Aleut sea otter hunters, Chinese abalone fishermen, Spanish missionaries, Mexican and American ranchers, and the US military all have left their mark on the Santa Rosa landscape. This national park was founded in 1972, making it the very first to be founded in the country.