Not only monkeys but also sloths, toucans, and even mountain lions and jaguars can be found in the tropical forests of Guanacaste. To the north of Liberia, you will find the national parks of Santa Rosa, Guanacaste, and Rincón de la Vieja, parts of which are among Costa Rica’s UNESCO World Natural Heritage. The flora and fauna of the Rincón national park are particularly breathtaking: rainforest, dry forest, steaming fumaroles, and the active volcano that lends the park its name. ‘Rincón de la Vieja’ roughly translates to ‘The old woman’s place’. Legend has it that a woman was once cast out because of her fearsome appearance and that she is hiding right inside the crater.