With 30% of the land area protected by national parks, wildlife refuges, and preserves, Costa Rica hiking reveals a variety of well-marked trails for the adventurer. Hike through rainforests, amble along beaches, and pull yourself up the side of a mountain – Costa Rica is a destination both for those who wish to push themselves and those who prefer to take their time. Guided hikes are one of the best ways to explore the outdoors and see the beauty of this country. There are a number of hiking trails in Costa Rica all defined by their unique location. After all, half the joy of a good hike is in experiencing the otherwise unreachable views.
Arenal Volcano Park Hike
Arenal Volcano
Arenal Volcano National Park is open daily from 8 am- 3 pm for hikers. The park is over 7,114 acres with gorgeous views throughout of Arenal Volcano. Hike for about 40 minutes over old lava flows and through the primary rainforest on a guided hike to see frequently missed nature and wildlife. A professional naturalist will take you through areas of regenerating nature where a unique set of plant and animal species can be found.
Add this hike to your Family Classic Vacation Package itinerary!
Rio Celeste Waterfall & Tenorio Volcano Hike
The bright blue waters of Rio Celeste
Rio Celeste, in the Guanacaste province, is a river so blue that in pictures it’s often mistaken for being photo-shopped! The color of the water truly needs to be seen by the naked eye to be believed. The guided Rio Celeste hike includes the chance to take a dip in natural hot springs around Tenorio Volcano. A guided full-day tour of this area is the way to go, with a five-mile challenging hike and the chance to seek out the volcano’s furnace vents. The Rio Celeste waterfall on your way back down is a one of a kind sight to behold. Keep in mind though that this trail can be difficult for inexperienced hikers.
Add this hike to your Honeymoon Heaven Vacation Package itinerary!
Manuel Antonio National Park Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park may seem small, but it has been named one of the best parks in the world. With monkeys playing in the forest canopy, take a leisurely hike through the rainforest and watch the waves roll in at three of the most beautiful beaches in the country? There are several trails in Manuel Antonio National Park. The Main Trail accessible from the park entrance is flat, sandy, and great for all ages! This is the trail many of the guided hikes will take. This is a great option as it branches off to all the major beaches within the park. Our Costa Rica Experts recommend hitting the trails early with a professional naturalist guide who will be able to point out all the highlights of the park. Another moderately difficult hike for adventurous travelers is the Cathedral Point Trail, a 0.9-mile loop around the park’s ridge with spectacular viewpoints. The trail is accessible from both Manuel Antonio and Escondido Sur Beach and can be steep at sections. Don’t forget to bring a swimsuit!
Add this hike to your Classic Costa Rica Deluxe Vacation Package itinerary!
Arenal Hanging Bridges Hike
The Arenal Hanging Bridges Hike is a classic in the Arenal area. A series of trails with eight fixed and six hanging bridges will take you in a 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) loop through the 618-acre private rainforest reserve beneath the mammoth Arenal Volcano. The hike takes approximately 2 hours in total and is only available by reservation. We suggest hitting the trails early when the wildlife is most active and hiking with a naturalist guide who is skilled at pointing out animals like howler monkeys, bird species, and wild boars. A Costa Rica Expert can arrange this day excursion for you. Don’t miss the waterfall extension trail toward the end of the hike.
Add this hike to your Active Costa Rica Vacation Package itinerary!
Los Angeles Cloud Forest Hike
The Los Angeles Cloud Forest is a part of only 2.5% of the world’s remaining Cloud Forests. The hike is 2.5 miles long and is available for guests of the Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel. With over 250 bird species, the Los Angeles Cloud Forest Reserve is ideal for birding, and the night hikes offer a nocturnal expedition for the adventurous hiker.
Add this hike to your Tropical Honeymoon Vacation Package itinerary!
Bajos del Toro Waterfall Hike
Hike to Bajos del Toro Waterfall.
Accessible from El Silencio Cloud Forest Lodge, the Bajos del Toro Waterfall Hike is a short hike that reaps a big reward. Just a 15-minute trek from the lodge reveals a stunning multi-colored, mossy-green canyon and the giant Bajos del Toro Waterfall, also known as Catarata del Toro, dropping 400 feet into it. The first fifteen minutes of the trek is along relatively flat terrain before you will need to descend about 375 steps to the base of the falls. Be sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes! The hike back up the stairs can be a bit challenging, but the scenery is worth it!
Add this hike to your Luxury Adventure Vacation Package itinerary!
Santa Rosa National Park Hike
Santa Rosa National Park, in the Guanacaste province, is the oldest national park in Costa Rica. Hike through the dry forest in an area renowned for its wildlife. Santa Rosa National Park has the world’s only fully protected beach for nesting olive ridley sea turtles. It has the largest concentrations of baby sea turtles—who poke their heads out of their shells from August through November. Santa Rosa is also well known for its surf breaks and gorgeous white sand beaches that lure in surfers from around the world. Visitors can drive 7 miles into the park before they must give up their vehicles and continue their exploration of the remaining 12 miles of hiking trails on foot.
Add this hike to your Winter Break Classic Vacation Package itinerary!
Carara Biological Reserve Hike
Scarlet macaw — a returning traveler photo
West of San Jose lies Carara Biological Reserve. The reserve holds one of the last remaining wild scarlet macaw populations. From mangroves to rainforests, there are a variety of ecosystems within the park to explore. Be on the lookout for monkeys, sloths, and a variety of bird species. Carara translates to crocodile in Spanish. So it’s no surprise that the adjoining Tarcoles River is the perfect place to add on a crocodile tour. A guided four hour Carara Tour can be arranged from the Central Pacific Coast or the San Jose area. Carara is ideal for the novice hiker and travelers with disabilities as the land is relatively flat and audio-visual and haptic technologies are speckled throughout the park.
Add this hike to your Off the Beaten Path Vacation Package itinerary!
Santa Juana Mountain Hike
A refreshing swim at Santa Juana Mountain
The Santa Juana Mountain Tour is recommended for everyone who needs a break from modern living. Relax by riding horseback and taking a dip in the waterfall swimming pools, enjoy catch-and-release Tilapia fishing, and visit a traditional sugar cane mill powered by oxen. Take this tour from the Central Pacific Coast and Manuel Antonio.
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Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Hike
Monteverde Cloud Forest Hiking Trail
The high altitude of Monteverde brings moisture, making it a rich source of biodiversity and allowing it to be called a Cloud Forest. The park has nine trails covering about eight miles (13 kilometers), but a half day tour will give you a great taste of the unique flora and fauna of the park. The illustrious quetzal is among one of over 400 bird species in the area, along with tens of thousands of insect species, more than 2,500 plant species, and 130 mammal species.
Add this hike to your Family Christmas Break Vacation Package itinerary!
Corcovado National Park Hike
Corcovado National Park
National Geographic has named Corcovado National Park, on the remote Osa Peninsula, “the most biologically intense place on the planet.” In fact, Corcovado contains 13 diverse ecosystems with a variety of endangered species such as jaguars, red-backed squirrel monkeys, Baird’s tapirs, and harpy eagles. As of 2014, all visitors to Corcovado National Park must be accompanied by a guide. Day tours to Corcovado can be arranged by nearly all of the lodges in the Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez areas.
Add this hike to your Ultimate Holiday Vacation Package itinerary!
Heliconia Hanging Bridges Hike
The Heliconia Hanging Bridges Hike is a great rainforest option for travelers in the Guanacaste province. Heliconia is a private reserve adjacent to Tenorio Volcano National Park with views that look out over the town of Bijagua and Lake Nicaragua. Experience a bird’s-eye view from hanging bridges of the 140 acres of rainforest below, home to bromeliads, butterflies, birds, and orchids.
Add this hike to your Natural Spa Experience Vacation Package itinerary!
Nocturnal Jungle Walk
Lapa Rios night walk on the Osa Peninsula
So much is missed by limiting yourself to daytime hikes! The tropical rainforests of Costa Rica are home to an astounding amount of nocturnal creatures and when you’re sleeping, they’re just getting started. Guided nighttime jungle walks let hikers see and hear wildlife that they would otherwise never experience. The walk can be arranged from multiple f destinations.
Add this hike to your Quintessential Costa Rica Vacation Package itinerary!
Rincon de la Vieja National Park Hike
Rincon de la Vieja’s temperamental landscape is evocative of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. The park contains Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, the largest volcano in Guanacaste, in addition to nine (minimally) eruptive vents, fossilized lava flows, loose lava rock, hot springs, bubbling mud pots, and several waterfalls. Hikers interested in the geothermal landscape should check out the 2-mile Las Pailas loop. Serious hikers and birders should climb the 5-mile trail up to the crater. The slopes of the crater are the only places where the rock wren bird can be found. Full day hiking tours can be arranged to Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
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Poas Volcano National Park Hike
Botos Lagoon
Accessible from the San Jose area, the Poas Volcano has one of the deepest and most active craters in the world and you can walk right up to it! Hit the Poas trails early in the morning when the crater can be seen more clearly. The Botos Lagoon, a lake within an extinct volcano crater, is a beautiful addition to the national park- so don’t miss it after the summit! The trail to the lagoon can be a bit more challenging because of its higher elevation, but if you’re active- it’s worth it. As always, you’ll get more out of your visit with a guide. The Poas hike is great to combine with other tours in the area.
Hidden Treasure Hike at El Silencio Lodge
El Silencio Hiking Trail
The treasures of Bajos del Toro aren’t gold or silver. The treasures are of a bright green and brilliant blue. The Hidden Treasure Hike in the Bajos del Toro area is taken from El Silencio Lodge in the Cloud Forest. Experience this unique ecosystem with an experienced naturalist guide who can point out wildlife and hidden treasures.
Add this hike to your Extravagant Costa Rica Vacation Package itinerary!
Costa Rica Hiking Combo Tours:
Poas Volcano Hike, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, & Sarchi Oxcarts
After visiting Poas, one of five active volcanoes in Costa Rica, over 100 species of animals await you in the self-guided Waterfall Gardens, followed by multicolored handicrafts in the artisan town of Sarchi.
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Arenal Volcano Hike & Hot Springs
Arenal Volcano’s geothermal activity means that you get to soak in five therapeutic, natural hot springs comprised of 50 pools of varying temperature.
Add this combo tour to your Rejuvenate Your Soul Vacation Package itinerary!
Poas Volcano Hike & Doka Coffee Plantation
After hiking the Poas Volcano, warm up further with an educational tour of the family-owned Doka Coffee Plantation, home to the oldest humid coffee processing plant.
