Hiking in Costa Rica You Shouldn’t Miss!

When you go on vacation, most people want to lounge around by the pool and drink fruity drinks instead of hiking in Costa Rica. This is a huge mistake! The lush jungle and ecosystem of Costa Rica is second to none and definitely needs to be experienced by any guests in the country.

We want to give you some of our favorite locations, so you can find out exactly what we are talking about.

Arenal Volcano Park Hike and Hanging Bridges Hike

This one is incredible. Here you will have the beautiful rainforest to trek through, as well as over old lava tracks where lava flowed straight down into the vegetation below. The contrast between the vibrant growing rainforest and the land scorched by lava will have you in awe of mother nature.

The park is open from 8am-3pm daily, and you will be able to explore over 7,000 acres of land. This hike also boasts a region with plants and animals that can be found nowhere else on the planet!

If that’s not cool enough, the Arenal area also has the hanging bridge hike. This hike loops you around the base of the volcano in an area that is extremely active with wildlife. The best hours for viewing the diverse wildlife is earlier in the morning. However, any time is a good time to take in the beautiful scenery.

“El Encanto” Waterfall Canopy Zipline Tour and Hike

The heat is turned up on this trip! You get to hike and zipline around waterfalls, canyons, mountainsides, a river valley and take in a breathtaking ocean view. The cables on this tour are double reinforced and have an auto braking system operated by a highly-trained tour guide staff.

Although the amount of hiking on this expedition is less than a traditional trail, you will be able to take in the sights in an entirely different way while on the 8 different ziplines. The longest is over 2000 feet and takes about 60 seconds to complete. That is a TON of scenery to drink in along the way.

If you prefer to hike the area instead of getting the aerial view, we can do that too! The hike is 1.6 kilometers and takes about 2 hours to complete. Along the way, you’ll encounter 3 private waterfalls and a diverse animal population including scarlet macaws, sloths, monkeys, and much more.

No two adventures will hold the same animal profile, so you can do it again the next time you come back to enjoy more hiking in Costa Rica!

Corcovado National Park

This is one of the most remote locations in all of Costa Rica, which means it remains relatively untouched when compared to other more well-known hiking trails. In fact, there are several paths to choose from, and each holds more plants and animals that you’ve never heard of than anywhere else in the world.

It is important to note that these trails are only accessible with a guide to protect you and the biodiversity of the area.

Rincón de la Vieja National Park

Another beautiful national park that offers some incredible hiking in Costa Rica is the Rincón de la Vieja National Park. It offers several different trails, but the most popular is about 5.1 kilometers each way.

That may sound like a lot, but it is absolutely worth it! On the way down you will be able to see the Cangrejo Falls and the Blue Lake. If you factor in some time to take in the lake, you’re looking at a 5 hour trip at the very least.

This is one that you should pack some food and a lot of water for. This hike is time-consuming, and you’ll want to make sure you have the energy to finish strong. You may want to prepare by doing some hiking before you come!

So Many Options!

There are too many options for us to list each and every one, but just know Costa Rica has it all! Speaking of options, going on a hike is just the tip of the iceberg.

There are also guided night tours! This is definitely an experience that everyone should try at least once. Be warned though, if you don’t like bugs, this may not be the best idea for you.

Another option for the more adventurous outdoorsman/woman out there is the excursions. Basically, you will go on multi-day trips, often camping in private camping grounds with authentic Costa Rican breakfasts, lunches, and dinners included in your package.

Call Us

If you have any questions about awe-inspiring hiking in Costa Rica, call us at (US) 949-208-1158, or (Costa Rica) 506-2643-2182, or email us at info@oceanranchpark.com!