... Barra Honda National Park ...
by Infocostarica Staff

If you’re claustrophobic or afraid of the dark, this is not the place to go. Barra Honda National Park offers 2,295 hectares of tropical dry forest and of networks of caves that prove to be extremely interesting and exciting for those who don’t mind a little darkness or a few bats. The Barra Honda Peak was formed when islets from the Miocene Era were raised above the plains of the Tempisque River. Through time, the rain deposited on rocks mixed with carbonic acid, which filtered through the limestone, thus forming waterways and caves.

The park is located 22 kilometers east of the city of Nicoya, in the Guanacaste province. The two entrances to the park are paved and in good condition. The park is open to the public during the dry season only (December- April) , from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is of $15 per day or of $5 if purchased in advance. There are three short trails around the cave that aren’t well marked; however, a guide is obligatory, especially inside the caves. There is a privately owned tourist center called Complejo Ecoturistico Las delicias, where visitors can contact local guides (tel. 685-55-80). If not, it’s a good idea to contact the ICT (Tourism Bureau), in order to find out about agencies that offer tours to the caverns.

For those visitors who enjoy adventure and rougher experiences, a campsite is available inside the park, with drinking water and all, at the low cost of $2 per person. People that prefer more comfortable accommodations might prefer to stay in the Proyecto Las Delicias, which has rustic but decent rooms. Most people who visit the caves, though, stay in hotels or cabins in the large town of Nicoya.

Most visitors to the park do enjoy caves and all of the things that they imply. These caves which were recently discovered (1960’s and 1970’s) now number at least 42. Among these underground chambers, there are amazing caves, such as: Santa Ana (240 meters deep); La Trampa (110 meters deep); Terciopelo (60 meters deep); Pozo Hediondo with numerous bats; Nicoa , where ancient Pre-Columbian burial sites have been found. In these impressive caves, visitors witness deep chambers, numerous stalagmites that grow from the floor or stalactites that hang from the ceiling. Often, these stalactites and stalagmites unite and form columns that look like molten candlesticks.

The Barra Honda National Park is a unique area in a country such as Costa Rica, which is known for its tropical rainforests and beaches. It’s important for local and foreign visitors to take a look at the dry forest located in the park, since it contains several species of animals and plants that are only present in this life zone. Furthermore, caves are scarce in Costa Rica, which is another reason why this national park is so significant. If you’re into a surrealist underground setting, characterized by the constant sound of echoing drops and by twisted and monstrous shapes formed by hardened calcium, then this is the place to go. Make sure that you go with a guide though, because you never know what could happen in such a place….