Diria National Park

Diriá National Park lies south of Santa Cruz in Guanacaste Province, part of the Tempisque Conservation Area, and covers about 5,000 hectares of the central highlands of the Nicoya Peninsula. The area was first protected in 1991 and declared a national park in 2004, primarily to safeguard remaining old-growth forest — more than 380 tree species — and the watersheds of the Diriá, Tigre, Verde, and Enmedio rivers, which supply water to the Santa Cruz region. It protects both dry forest at lower elevations and humid forest higher up, and is regarded as one of the least-visited parks in the Costa Rican system. More than 140 bird species have been recorded, along with howler monkeys, iguanas, anteaters, and deer.

By Plane

Daniel Oduber International (LIR) in Liberia, about 60 km northwest (1 hour).

By Train

Costa Rica has no passenger rail service to this area.

By Car / Road

From Santa Cruz, about 15 km east on local roads. From Liberia, about 60 km.

Three marked and maintained hiking trails are the primary way to explore the park. The park is open daily from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

• Old-growth forest — Over 380 tree species, including original growth spared from mid-20th-century deforestation.

• River watersheds — The Diriá, Tigre, Verde, and Enmedio rivers rise here and supply Santa Cruz's water.

• Wildlife — More than 140 recorded bird species (including pale-billed woodpecker and long-tailed manakin), plus howler monkeys, iguanas, anteaters, and deer.

• Hiking the park's three marked trails

• Birdwatching

Pack food. Restaurants in Santa Cruz (15 km).

Bring water.

Hotels are available in nearby Santa Cruz.

None. Bring supplies from Santa Cruz.

• Santa Cruz — 15 km west, Guanacaste cultural capital
• Tamarindo — 40 km northwest
• Nicoya — 30 km south