Santa Rosa National Park was created in 1971 as the country’s first national park ; to commemorate and preserve the historical setting of the Battle of Santa Rosa (March 20, 1856) including the historical mansion and the stonewall corrals. The 38,674 hectares park, which covers much of the Santa Elena peninsula, is part of a mosaic of ecologically interdependent parks and reserves—the 110,000-hectare Guanacaste.

The park is divided into two sections: the more important and accessible Santa Rosa Sector to the south (1, 37 km north of Liberia) and the Murciélago Sector (10 km farther north, via Cuajiniquil), separated by a swathe of privately owned land.

Driving Directions:

Going to Santa Rosa Sector from San Jose, take the Interamerican highway to Liberia continue on the Interamerican highway past Liberia Guanacaste  about 32 km to Potrerillos. The entrance to Santa Rosa Sector is on the left, 9.6 Km past Potrerillos.

Murcielago Sector:

Along Costa Rica's Interamerican Highway, about 19,3 Km past the entrance to Santa Rosa Sector, turn left toward the town of Cuajiniquil. Turn left (SW) and continue on dirt road about  6,4 Km to the Murcielagos Station. Since this road is often inaccessible, it is best to stop at Santa Rosa Station ahead of time to inquire about road conditions throughout the park.

The park protects fragments of tropical dry forest, including mangrove swamp, savanna, and oak forest, housing many different species of flora and fauna, such as coyotes, peccaries, tapirs  white-tailed deer; coatimundis; howler, spider, and white-faced monkeys; and anteaters, more than 250 bird species and 115 mammal species (half of them bats, including two vampire species  and many varieties of sea and land turtles. In the wet season the land is as green as emeralds, and wildlife disperses.

In dry season, however, wildlife congregates at watering holes and is easily spotted. Jaguars, margays, ocelots, pumas, and jaguarundis are here, but are seldom seen.