Northern Lowlands of Costa Rica

Positioned just north of San José and the Central Valley, east of Guanacaste and west of the Caribbean coast, the ideally situated Northern Lowlands of Costa Rica offer some of the country's most diverse scenery. With the exception of the Arenal Volcano (Volcán Arenal)—home to dazzling light shows as the volcano spews molten rock and ash down its hillsides—the region is mostly rolling flatlands that sweep across northern Costa Rica. The wide variety of jungles, cloud and rain forests, and web of rivers are carefully placed along the two main flatlands, Llanuras de los Guatusos to the west towards Guanacaste and Llanura de San Carlos to the east. The region is supplied with spectacular attractions, not to mention the diverse flora and fauna Costa Rica is famous for.

The sweeping plains of the Northern Lowlands are home to raising cattle, the area’s main economic strength following tourism, and banana plantations. Near the Nicaraguan border to the north is an area that was once thriving. Now however, the harvest of the country’s precious timber through means like deforestation and logging cleared the way for more cattle pastures. During the rainy season, some of these areas now flood creating swamps and marshes as the region, Costa Rica's wettest, is overwhelmed by rainfall. Until 1957, the region was isolated from the main economic and cultural center, San José. Not until the connection of highway 126 was established between Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí and the capital city, did region become one of Costa Rica’s most vital organs. Easily accessible are a large number of protected national Parks, biological stations and Wildlife Refuges, a sure nirvana for any lover of the outdoors.

Two mountain ranges border this region along its’ southwestern perimeter—the Tilarán Mountain Range (Cordillera de Tilarán) and the Central Volcanic Mountain Range (Cordillera Volcánica Central). Both ranges snake their way from northwest to southeast, splitting the country down the middle, and are dotted with volcanoes and cloud forest. It is from these peaks that the intricate system of rivers and streams meanders its way throughout the lowlands, supplying nutrients to the fertile land below. To the northwest is the Guanacaste Mountain Range (Cordillera de Guanacaste) that divides the Lowlands from the Guanacaste providence. These three mountain ranges edge the region and are a major reason why this area is so beautiful.

In order to access La Fortuna and Volcán Arenal from San Jose, take Hwy 141 which runs through Ciudad Quesada. La Fortuna is 75 miles (120 km) from San José and 16 miles (25 km) from Ciudad Quesada. Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí can be reached by taking Highway 126 north to San Miguel, heading northeast on Hwy 4 through La Virgen and Chilamate until you reaching the city, which has the Sarapiquí River (Río Sarapiquí) flowing through it. Another more scenic way to arrive is to take Hwy 32, the Guápiles Hwy, northeast from San José which will take you through the lovely Braulio Carrillo National Park (Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo). To get to Ciudad Quesada (San Carlos) from San José, either head northwest through Alajuela (46 mi, 73 km), or head north to San Miguel, and then west through Aguas Zarcas.