Tenorio & Miravalles Protected Zone

Tenorio Volcano’s main peak reaches a height of 6,286 feet (1,916 m). Volcanic activity has formed boiling hot springs and geysers in the surrounding area. At mid-elevation, the rainforest and cloud forest provide lush habitats for the region's wildlife. Large felines such as cougars, ocelots, and jaguars live here, as well as tapirs. Tapirs are rare animals that resemble a pig with a long snout. A virgin forest extends to Tenorio's summit, lining the banks of the lake that fills the volcano’s crater.

There is a ranger station at the foot of the volcano that provides some information regarding the area. You can find accommodations in the nearby village of Bijagua, including eco-friendly lodging and B&Bs. Local tour guides can take you on horseback riding treks, as well as nocturnal tours, hikes to hanging bridges, and bird watching tours. There are a few spas around Bijagua that have natural hot springs. Visit these to experience firsthand the heat generated by the surrounding volcanoes.

Tenorio's sister volcano, Miravalles, is 6,653 feet (2,028 m) tall. It is the highest peak in the Guanacaste Mountains (Cordillera de Guanacaste). Miravalles has earned protective status due to its surrounding tropical vegetation and geological activity – steam-spewing fishers, sulfur springs, and bubbling mud pools.

The Institute of Costa Rican Electricity (ICE) has built a geothermal energy plant near the Miravalles Volcano that converts steam to electricity. You can visit ICE for a guided tour.