Home Destinations Mexico and Central America Costa Rica Sights Barra Honda National Park

Barra Honda National Park Review

Read our Costa Rica sights reviews. Or post your own.

Barra Honda National Park

Phone: 659-1551

Category: Nature Preserves, Parks
Location: Barra Honda National Park

Write a review

Fodor's Review:

Once thought to be a volcano, 1,184-foot Barra Honda peak actually contains an intricate network of caves, a result of erosion after the ridge emerged from the sea. Some caves on the almost 23-square-km (14-square-mi) park remain unexplored, and they're home to abundant animal life, including bats, birds, blindfish, salamanders, and snails.

Every day from 7 AM to 1 PM local guides take groups 58 feet down to the Terciopelo Cave, which shelters unusual formations shaped (they say) like fried eggs, popcorn, and shark's teeth. You must wear a harness with a rope attached for safety. The tour costs $22, including equipment rental, guide, and entrance fee. Kids under 12 are not allowed to visit this cave but they can visit the kid-size La Cuevita cavern ($14), which also has interesting stalagmites. Both cave visits include interpretive nature hikes.

If caving leaves you feeling claustrophobic, you can climb the 3-km (2-mi) Los Laureles trail (the same trail that leads to the Terciopelo cave) to Barra Honda's summit. From here you have fantastic views sweeping across the islet-filled Gulf of Nicoya. Wildlife includes howler monkeys, skunks, coatis, deer, parakeets, and iguanas. An off-site park office (Across from colonial church, Nicoya. 686-6760) provides information and maps of the park. It's open weekdays 7-4. It's a good idea to hire a local guide from the Asociación de Guias Ecologistas (659-1551). The park has camping facilities; and the guide association runs a simple, inexpensive lodge ($6 per person) near the park entrance. Make reservations for weekend lodging in the park.

Cost: $6
Open: Daily 7:30-4

Find more sights in Costa Rica »