Barra Honda National Park, a small park 110 mi/175 km northwest of San Jose on the Nicoya Peninsula, protects the flora and fauna of the tropical dry forest and has an extensive network of caves. You can hire local guides to lead you through the caverns, but the descent into the darkness—using a climbing ladder and ropes—is not for the fainthearted.
The hike takes an energetic hour over a winding and, in places, steep trail. Several trails in the park lead through the forest to scenic overlooks, which give tired hikers a minute to rest while they get their cameras out.
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