t An iguana attempting to blend in, despite its iridescent blue and shimmering gray markings

Experience Guanacaste and Northern Nicoya

t The calm waters around the rising archipelago of the Murciélago Islands in the northern sector of the park

Santa Rosa National Park protects some of the last remaining tropical dry forest in the world, as well as nine other distinct habitats. It was established to provide safe territory for wide-ranging species such as jaguars and mountain lions To the north is the Murciélago Sector, full of hidden beaches – notably Playa Blanca – accessed by a rugged dirt track. The much larger Santa Rosa Sector, in the south, was the site of several battles for national independence, and features most of the sights of interest. The highlight is La Casona Hacienda, where the Battle of Santa Rosa was fought in 1856. All along the coast are great opportunities for surfing, especially around Witch’s Rock, where a sandbar creates waves as long as 3 miles (5 km).

With 115 mammal species, including 20 types of bats, and 250 species of birds, the park is also a superb wildlife-viewing area.

Experience Guanacaste and Northern Nicoya

The Contra Connection

During the 1980s, the remote northern coastline of the park’s Murciélago Sector (Bat Sector) was utilized as a secret training ground for the CIA-backed Nicaraguan Contras in their battle to topple the Sandinista government. An airstrip was illegally established here under the orders of Colonel Oliver North (pictured), himself a key player in the Iran-Contra scandal that shook the US in 1983–8. The road to the park entrance runs alongside the airstrip, which occupies land that was confiscated from Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza.