Terciopelo cave
The cave open to visitors, entered with a guide using ropes and a ladder. Visitors need to be fit and not afraid of narrow spaces; there are age and fitness limits.
Nicoya · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Barra Honda National Park
A limestone hill on the Nicoya Peninsula with caves, with dry forest and a viewpoint over the gulf.
- Created in 1974
- About 2,300 ha
- Limestone caves
- Caves only with a guide
About the park
Barra Honda is a small national park on the Nicoya Peninsula, built around a limestone massif with dozens of caves. One of them, the Terciopelo cave, is open to visitors with a guide and a rope descent, and shows stalactites, stalagmites and other formations.
Above ground, the park has trails through dry forest and a viewpoint over the Gulf of Nicoya, so it is a good stop for an active half-day between the beaches of Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula.
- Limestone caves with stalactites and stalagmites
- Viewpoint over the Gulf of Nicoya
- Dry forest trails
- A quiet park for active visitors
Wildlife
Howler monkeysWhite-tailed deerAgoutisBats in the cavesBirds of the dry forest
What to see
Forest trails and viewpoint
Trails through dry forest to a viewpoint over the gulf. They can be hot, so start early.
Plan your visit
- Opening hours
- Daytime. Cave visits take place at fixed times with a guide and need a reservation. We confirm them when you book.
- Entrance
- Paid per person per day according to the SINAC fee schedule, which changes from time to time. The cave guide is charged separately. We confirm the current price.
- Best time
- The dry season from December to April; cave visits are suspended in heavy rain.
- What to bring
- Closed shoes, long trousers, water and a hat. The cave equipment is provided.
Book your entrance yourself
Entrance tickets to the national parks are sold online through the official SINAC reservation system. Booking your own ticket there is the quickest and cheapest way.
If you book a tour, a stay or an itinerary with us, we can also arrange the reservation for you.
Dates, areas and conditions are approximate and based on published information from SINAC; hours, fees and rules can change. We confirm the current conditions when you book.
Getting there
By road
About 4 hours from San José and 1 hour 30 minutes from Liberia, and about 45 minutes from Nicoya.
Transfer
Please ask us for a quote for a private transfer or a tour on request.
Frequently asked questions
Can everyone enter the cave?
There are age and fitness requirements, and the descent uses ropes. We confirm the conditions when you ask.
Do you offer this as a tour?
Not yet as a ready-made tour. Tell us your dates and we arrange a visit on request.