Tropical Dry Forest – Near Liberia, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica

Guanacaste is a province of Costa Rica located in the northwestern part of the country, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The province is named for the guanacaste tree, also known as the ear pod tree, which is the national tree of Costa Rica.

The province is bounded on the east by a group of green-swathed volcanoes forming the Cordillera de Guanacaste (which features Orosi, Rincón de la Vieja, Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes) and the Cordillera de Tilaran. The rivers that tumble out of these steep mountains flow down to rolling flatlands, forming a vast alluvial plain drained by the Rio Tempisque, which empties through swampy wetlands into de Golfo de Nicoya.

Guanacaste’s climate and culture are unique among Costa Rican provinces. The province experiences little rain and consistent heat from November to April, resulting in ubiquitous tropical dry forests as a natural adaptation to the dry season conditions. Tourists seek out this dry heat during the North American winter to enjoy Guanacaste’s beaches. Irrigation of the agricultural land is necessary during the long dry period. From May to October, the climate is similar to that of San José, consisting of showers daily and moderate temperatures. Guanacaste is, however, considerably warmer than other provinces in the country which are located at higher elevations.