Rincon de la Vieja National Park, home to the active Rincon de la Vieja volcano has several hiking trails leading to beautiful viewpoints, breathtaking waterfalls and other natural attractions in the dry tropical forest. There is no doubt that this park offers some of the best hiking in Costa Rica!
If you’re planning on visiting, here are our tips to help you plan your visit. In case you’d like to book a tour with transportation to this national park, we have a small discount for Guanacaste day tours with our partner!
This post has affiliate links which we may earn a small commission from if you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. Any prices listed may not reflect current pricing. It is the readers responsibility to research current pricing. Prices are quoted in USD. More info: Disclosure
Entrance Fee and Hours
Park tickets must be purchased online on the SINAC website. They will not sell park tickets at the national park entrance anymore.**
The park which is located in the Guanacaste province is divided into 2 sectors: Santa Maria and Pailas.
Rincon de la Vieja National Park hours are 8 AM to 3 PM for the Las Pailas sector Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays).
If you plan to do the La Cangreja or Escondida waterfall hike in the Las Pailas sector, you must enter before 12 PM. No entry after 12 PM for the waterfalls, only the boiling mud pots trail.
The Santa Maria sector is open Thursday to Monday, 8 AM to 330 PM.
The Rincon de la Vieja National Park entrance fee is $16.95 USD for adult foreigners and $5.65 USD for children ages 2-12. Ticket price is the same for both sectors. Credit card only – no cash.
Most tourists visit the Las Pailas sector of Rincon de la Vieja National Park as it is the easiest to access with more facilities. The majority of day tours to Rincon de la Vieja National Park visit the Las Pailas sector to do the boiling mud pots walk.
Location and Directions
Rincon de la Vieja National Park is 230 kilometers from San Jose (143 miles) and 24 kilometers (15 miles) from Liberia.
How to get to Rincon de la Vieja National Park
To Las Pailas sector: At the main intersection into Liberia (Santa Rosa plaza on your right, Burger King on your left, McDonalds in front of you), turn left. Drive about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) and turn right when you see the signs for Las Pailas Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Continue on this road for about 20 kilometers.
Important thing to know: To get to the Las Pailas park entrance, you have to pass through the Hacienda Guachipelin property. You will come upon a security station with a gate. To pass, you have to pay a fee of around 800 CRC per person.
You can find Rincon de la Vieja on Google Maps and Waze as “Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja” and make sure to select the La Pailas sector.
To Santa Maria sector: You will need to look for the Santa Maria Ranger Station on Google Maps and Waze.
Parking and 4×4 Required?
A 4×4 is not necessary to reach Rincon de la Vieja National Park for the Las Pailas sector. The road there is not 100% paved, there is a section when you turn off of the Interamericana highway 1 that goes from gravel to paved roads with pot holes but it is flat. Drive slowly and carefully if you are in a low 2wd like a sedan.
There is a large parking lot in front of the Las Pailas national park office (free).
For the Santa Maria Sector, it is recommended to have a high clearance car due to the last few kilometers of the road in poor condition.
Services
The Las Pailas park office has bathrooms. There is a small convenience store with bathrooms right below the park office that sells snacks, bottled water and drinks. However, there aren’t any restaurants or full size markets at the park.
Las Pailas Hiking Trails
The Las Pailas sector has several hiking trails.
You can do an easy 3.5 kilometer (2.2 miles) loop around the boiling mud pots or walk 10.2 kilometers (6.2 miles) roundtrip to Catarata Escondida/La Cangreja. If you do the waterfall trail, you must enter the park before 12 PM.
*The trail to the crater summit is currently closed due to volcanic activity.*
Sendero Las Pailas (Boiling mud pots trail) – 3.5 kilometers loop
For our first trip, we did the easy 3 kilometers loop to the Rincon de la Vieja boiling mud pots. This trail leads to several different interesting things to see: volcancito (little volcano), a seasonal waterfall and the mud pots.
This trail is very easy. There are no switchbacks or steep climbs so it’s an excellent option for an easy hike. It won’t take more than an hour to walk the whole loop, even with stopping here and there.
We did this hike on a hot February day and even though it’s only 3 kilometers, it felt like longer because of the heat. Luckily, we weren’t walking under the hot sun all day.
The first half of the trail was under the cool forest canopy with a nice breeze and fresh air.
Once you walk out of the forest, you encounter this everlasting landscape. All you see is the the mountain range, forest and clear skies ahead of you. It’s amazing how polar opposite the landscape is like in dry season since most of it is so yellow!
Seasonal Waterfall
About halfway through the loop is the seasonal waterfall. They aren’t joking when they named this waterfall, as you can see it’s barely a trickle! This was taken in February but during rainy season this waterfall is completely flowing.
In the peak rainy season months like September, October and November, this waterfall has a lot more water.
Mud Pots
There are two areas where you could observe the mud pots on the trail. One of them looked like a little lake (laguna fumarolica) that bubbled every few seconds or so.
Further down the trail, is Volcanito (little volcano). This part of the mud pots is really active and it’s constantly bubbling which is cool to see.
It’s boiling so much that they reach up to at least a foot and you can hear the splattering of mud meters away when the sulfuric smell slowly penetrates your senses.
It was pretty neat to see the boiling mud pots, especially knowing that the country uses this geothermal energy as power. You’re very close to the end of the loop at this part of the hike.
Sendero Catarata La Cangreja (La Cangreja waterfall 5.2 kilometers)
If you want to see the waterfall, head to Sendero Cataratas. This trail starts off as one trail and branches off to two different waterfalls.
I recommend to do one or the other unless you are a very avid fast hiker in great shape and you enter the park right when it opens. Make sure to bring plenty of water and food/snacks if you plan to do both. To visit both waterfalls, you will have to walk a total of about 13 kilometers (8 miles).
We chose to hike the La Cangreja waterfall because it has a beautiful blue color. Catarata Escondida is smaller and isn’t quite as “sparkly.”
We set off towards the east (walk up to the left from the entrance office, past a gate) and headed into the forest. For the first half of this trail, you’re under the forest canopy so it was nice and shady.
You have to cross a few small rivers and some parts of the trail under the forest is a bit hilly. Be prepared for when you go back, the last few hundred meters of this trail is very steep!
Change of Landscape
Soon you’ll notice less and less trees until you get to a clearing. This part, besides the waterfall is the most spectacular part of the hike. You’re surrounded by rolling hills and various layers of yellow grass and green forests around you. It took my breath away!
As you look around you, it’s hard to imagine that there is a waterfall in there somewhere!
The last part of the trail past the sign gets quite steep and I had to get down on my hands and knees to balance myself. As soon as that part is over, you reach your reward. A tall, sparkling waterfall crashing down into a bright blue pool.
We wasted no time jumping into the water, It was a very hot and sweaty 2 hour hike!
Cangreja Waterfall
This waterfall is one of our favorites in Costa Rica. You can see why in the photo!
***There is now a sign that says that swimming is not allowed. However, you may still see tourists swimming in the pool. You’re technically not allowed due to safety reasons so keep that in mind.***
We spent an hour or so at the waterfall, cooling ourselves off and re-energizing for the walk back.
If you can only hike to one waterfall, I recommend the La Cangreja one over the Escondida. It took us about 3 hours hiking total and the trail is a total of 10.2 kilometers, 6.33 miles.
Rincon de la Vieja Hotels
There are several lodges and haciendas in the Rincon de la Vieja area for those who want to stay close to the national park. They are all outside the national parks, as no hotels are allowed to be inside.
The closest one is Hacienda Guachipelin and Hotel Rincon de la Vieja Lodge to the Las Pailas sector. There are other lodges, such as Buena Vista Lodge and Borinquen Thermal resort are a bit more north on the outskirts of Rincon de la Vieja.
Hotel Borinquen for us, is the nicest out of all of them, situated deep into the forest on a huge property with elegant rustic cabins. The other hotels have more ranch style, simple rooms.
Rincon de la Vieja National Park Tours
It is extremely important to note that the national park itself does not have tours like ziplining or horseback riding.
These activities are offered by lodge and adventure parks located around the park exterior such as Buena Vista, Guachipelin, Borinquen, Vandara and Canyon de la Vieja.
If you need recommendations for a tour to Rincon de la Vieja National Park or any of the adventure parks, we have a partnership with a tour company that runs hiking tours to the park.
We also offer small discounts for the Guanacaste day tours as well as discounts for day passes to Vandara.
Click the links to check the tours and our discount or contact us if you would like a private, custom tour to Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
Rincon de la Vieja Hot Springs
Due to the high volcanic activity and plethora of rivers in the park, hot springs are very popular. Each park (ones mentioned above) has their own hot springs and you can pay for a day pass to any of them.
Another popular thing to do with hot springs is the mud baths. You smear volcanic mud all over your face and body and then wash it off in the river! It feels so good and is very relaxing.
If you visit the Santa Maria sector, after the 3 kilometer walk from the local house, there are some natural hot springs.
Important Things to Know
- Wear shorts and a tank top for the hike. Put on mosquito repellent and bring sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat.
- Bring plenty of water and snacks.I highly suggest bringing an insulated water bottle to keep your water nice and cold. It gets very hot so water in a plastic bottle will get boiling hot!
- As for shoes, hiking sandals will be fine if you don’t have any mobility issues. I wore closed toed hiking shoes.
- There is a small cafeteria right below the national park parking lot that has bathrooms and sells water, soda, chips, cookies and snacks. No other food.
- The park office has bathrooms.
- If you’re staying at one of the hotels near the park, I highly recommend renting a car in Costa Rica. You need to go to Liberia for supplies and a taxi will cost around $25-35 USD one way depending on your location and there isn’t really anything in that area.
Read about other national parks in Costa Rica!
Barra Honda National Park: National park in Nicoya with hiking trails, dry tropical forest and caves. Can go hiking or do a caving tour. Great national park from Tamarindo.
Palo Verde National Park: National park with the Tempisque River and Valley. Can take a guided boat tour down the river to see wildlife. Excellent place in Guanacaste to see wildlife.
Irazu Volcano National Park: Highest volcano in Costa Rica. Can walk to see the crater lake in the national park. About a 1.5-2 hour drive from San Jose.
Manuel Antonio National Park: National Park in the Central pacific with white sand beaches, hiking trails and lots of wildlife. About 3 hour drive from San Jose.
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Laura says
Hi, do I need to buy 2 tickets for the 2 sectors or 1 ticket will grant me access to both?
Sammi says
I believe you need a ticket for both sectors because the ticket will say which sector it is for, I don’t really know how strict the national park rangers are about it
Ann Schmidt says
We did the La Cangreja Waterfall hike today. The highlights were of course seeing the beautiful waterfall – but also we enjoyed watching about a dozen capuchin monkeys playing in the trees. Wildflowers were in bloom, gorgeous butterflies and some really interesting birds to see and hear. Highly recommended.
Tricia says
Have you hiked the Santa Maria Sector of Rincon de la Vieja? We are hoping to go there in January 2024. Any insights or information would be great on that sector!
Sammi says
We have been there but didn’t hike it, but we’ve had friends who did and they said it’s nice. Go prepared with insulated water bottles, snacks, food, etc.
Nadine Kahanyshyn says
Hello!
With regards to the Rincon de la Vieja hikes, if we were to do the BBoiling Mud Pots hike AND the La Cangreja hike, is that 3 hours TOTAL OR one hour for the mud pots and another three for the La Cangreja hike?
Gracias!
Sammi says
It’s about 1 hour for mud pots, about 3 hours for La Cangreja
Lea says
Hi Sammi,
We are going to Costa Rica in November, flying into Liberia. We are spending our first couple of nights in Rincon de la Vieja before heading to the La Fortuna/Arenal area. I was hoping to visit Tenorio Volcano National park on our way to La Fortuna to see the Rio Celeste waterfall. It seems to make sense to do this looking at the map, but I don’t know what the actual drive is like.
Sammi says
Yes it is definitely possible, the drive is fine, use Waze.
Holly MD says
We are flying into LIR arriving around 1:15pm and renting a car (thank you for the advice on that topic, we are using Adobe.) Is it possible to visit/hike at Rincon de la Vieja on our way to our Hotel in Playa Hermosa? I am unsure about travel times and how far out of the way it would be with the roads and what time it gets dark in July/August etc..
Thank you in advance if you have an answer for this.
Sammi says
You won’t be able to because the park closes at 3 PM and it’s the complete opposite direction of LIR – Playa Hermosa (about 45 minute drive from LIR Airport if you are going to Las Pailas sector) – that’s not enough time.
Nat Magan says
We will be flying into LIR and hope to hike and see waterfalls around Rincon de la vieja Pailas. We’d also like to check out La Leona area and Palo Verde. Being there in April, will there be any water? We’d rather not rent a vehicle. If we must, do the agencies try to find dents or scratches to keep the deposit? My 5th trip to Costa Rica over many years.
Blog is great with information you can’t find in a guide book. Thank you.
Sammi says
Palo Verde National Park (the river) always has water, the waterfall in Las Pailas is like a trickle in APril. La Leona Waterfall always has water, it’ll be low but it’ll have water. If you rent a car, you should partake in the inspection and take your own pictures, and you must always report if you get into any incident or get any damage as soon as it occurs to file a report. Here is our guide for renting a car in Costa Rica
STEPHANIE G DUNN says
Thank you so much for such a great site, we really appreciate it.
We are planning on driving to Rincon National Park, doing the Palais walk before a scheduled visit to Hacienda G, to visit the hot springs.
Do we need a park reservation for a mid week morning visit in February?
Sammi says
You can purchase park tickets for Las Pailas at the office
Franziska Grossmann says
Hallo.wir wollen in einem Monat nach rincon de la vieja. Gibt es nur die eine Wanderung zu den Blubbergruben und dann noch zwei andere zu Wasserfällen? Kann man an einem Tag beides schaffen erst zum wasserfall und dann noch die Blubbergruben also diese Schlammtöpfe oder ist das zu viel? Viele Grüße Franziska
Sammi says
You can if you’re an avid hiker but you must enter the waterfall trail by noon so I recommend to get to the park right when it opens to do the boiling mud pots trail first (easy walk) and then to the waterfall trail.
Bastien says
Hi,
We will be to Rincon de la Vieja soon with our baby 7 months. Are the hikings ok with a babycarrier ?
Thank you !
EL et BG 🙂
Sammi says
Yes, I would recommend the boiling mud pots trail, it’s a very easy on around 1.5 km and flat.
Bastien says
Which sector ? Thank you
Sammi says
Las Pailas, you can read more about it in this blog post
Carrie Tournillon says
Hi, we are planning a trip to CR in Feb. 2023. We will rent a car and drive from Liberia Airport to Rincon and then from Rincon to Tamarindo beach area. I saw your comment regarding not needing 4×4 to get from Liberia to Rincon. I assume that is for February in general? Also, do you need a 4×4 to get from Rincon to Tamarindo beach area and to drive around Tamarindo beach area?
Thanks!
Sammi says
Hello Carrie, that is correct a 4wd is not really needed to get to Rincon (Las Pailas sector) and in Tamarindo, we sent you an email with more information
Martin says
Inflation goes quite fast. The entry fee or toll to get past the gate today was 2000 colones per person.
Krista says
Hello! Our home base is Tamarindo. We are a family of 6 (kids aged 10-17).
Do you recommend Rincon de la Vieja National Park or Rio Celeste for an outing? We are a fit family that does many hikes at home.
Thank you!
Sammi says
Both are great, Definitely do both if you can
Cat says
Are dogs permitted in the park?
Sammi says
Pets including dogs are not allowed in national parks
Tev says
Hi! You guys are greatly informative! I’m coming to visit end of July w my 9 year old son. We’re staying in La Fortuna for 6 days and Guanacaste for the last 3/4 days.
What waterfalls between those areas are the easiest (preferably less then 3 miles roundtrip) to hike to for me and my son?? I’ll have a car, but would like to hire guides so we have one on one attention and with someone who knows the area and is highly informative.
Also, what are the best river float tours to do (which tour companies/guides)??
Thanks!
T
Sammi says
THe La Fortuna waterfall is a good option, it’s not a long walk to the waterfall from the entrance however it is a lot of steps. Then in Guanacaste, Catarata Llanos de Cortes is just 3 minutes from the parking lot and an easy walk.
Kathy Steinhauer says
I found your info to be incredibly helpful and very accurate for planning our hiking time in Rincon de la Vieja. Thank you! We’ve been now to Costa Rica 3 times and will definitely come back again. I found your blog just before this trip and have now bookmarked it for our future plans.
Just one thing I wanted to pass on re: hours to the Las Pailas sector of the park. The sign at the entry currently says the hours are 8 AM – 3 PM Tuesday to Sunday.
Regards,
Kathy
Sammi says
Thanks for the feedback Kathy and glad you had a great time!
Kelly says
Hi,
Love your blog, we went last year Jan of 2018 and referred to it often. We are returning to Costa Rica and staying at the Hacienda Guachipelin in a couple of weeks. I have a couple of questions. We will do the day pass one of our days and the next day would like to go to Rincon de la Viejo on our own. The hotel will give us transportation to the entrance for free because we are quests. How far from the hotel is the entrance? When we enter the park are their hikes right from the entrance and if so how far of a hike to get to the waterfalls/swimming etc? Or, is it better just to start from the hotel and hike from there into the park, if we are allowed to do that from the hotel. I am trying to plan the Park on our own with out a tour. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Kelly
Sammi says
The entrance of the park isn’t terribly from the hotel but I would get the transportation because it’s on a hot dusty road and it isn’t like a 5 minute walk.
The trails are right at the entrance and there are signs so you can see which trail to take.
Karen says
Hi,
What a great blog!
Do you have information also about the Santa Maria section?
Thanks.
Sammi says
I don’t unfortunately, we have just been to the hotels up in that section (borinquen and Buena Vista).
Laura says
Hi there,
We will driving our rental car to the park but we were wondering if it is safe to leave our belongings in the car while we hike. Is there security for the parking lot of the national park?
Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Laura, there is a parking lot and the ticket office is right at the parking lot but it’s not really secure (no guard or cameras). It’s a popular park so I would just not leave any valuables visible.
Jenn says
Hello! First of all just wanted to mention that I really love your blog. It is so helpful for planning purposes! I had a quick question about experiencing the Guachipelin hot springs – is this in the national park? And do you need to pay an entrance fee for this? I’m wondering if there are any hot springs you can visit for free. Or are they all require paid admission. Thanks again for this resource!
Sammi says
Hi Jenn! Guachipelin hot springs are in the Hacienda Guachipelin property. It is a private farm that is on the way to the entrance of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. You have to pay a day pass to the Guachipelin hot springs, I believe it’s around $20 or $24 per person, you can find it on their website. There aren’t any free hot springs in the area, all require an entrance fee. Other popular ones are Buena Vista, Borinquen and Rio Perdido.
Helen says
We have been in Costa Rica for 2 weeks. Came accross your blog and have used it for so many recommendations! Love your blog and Thankyou so much for the detailed honest descriptions.
Sammi says
Hi Helen, so glad to hear that the blog is helpful! We hope you have a wonderful rest of your time in Costa Rica
R. King says
Love your video and photos of your hikes. It didn’t look like you covered what the steep section of the la Cangreja trail is like. Can you give more information on that?
I know you mentioned you had to get down on hands and knees. Are there drop offs on either side? Is it muddy? How long is this part of the hike?
Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi, that part is not that bad actually and it’s super duper short, just like a few steps. It is very close to the end of the hike near the waterfall. When we went, the roots were protruding quite a bit and there were a few steps down (but no clear steps, just dirt and roots) so just be careful of where you’re walking, especially if you’re older or with kids so they don’t trip. It is nothing that bad.
Natalie Brooks says
My husband and I are coming to Costa Rica from 4/26/19- 5/3/19 to celebrate our second anniversary. We are staying at VIlla Buena Onda. Do you suggest Rincon de la Vieja as an excursion? It looks like Rio Celeste is quite far, though we would love to see it. We are doing a boat and beach tour one day. Any other must see that are not too far of a trip? It is our first time and we can not wait for this vacation!! We want 3-4 great excursions total.
Sammi says
Hi Natalie! Here is our list of favorite day trips from Coco: day trips from Playas del Coco
Rio Celeste is around a 2.5 hour drive, RIncon is around 1. Both worth it though!
Sarah says
You mentioned in the blog that swimming is no longer permitted at the waterfall… Is there anywhere else along the hike that is available to swim? We’ll be going with 2 kids who were looking forward to that 🙁
Sammi says
Catarata Llanos de Cortes! 5 minute walk and you can swim in the pool. Great for kids 🙂
Nick says
I didn’t your blog post that swimming at the waterfall was closed. Is it still closed, and which falls are closed? We’re heading over there in a few days, and were planning Cangreja and Oropendola.
Sammi says
You can still go to the waterfall but there is a sign that says no swimming. Tourists still go in of course, but you’re not technically not allowed to swim in Cangreja waterfall.
Holly Corley says
What are the safety reasons for not being allowed to swim in Cangreja waterfall?
Sammi says
A strong current of the waterfall, particularly in the rainy season.
Megan says
Thanks for your great blog! Three questions, if we are coming from Borenquin Hotel it would be best for us to enter through Las Pailas? Also, it’s a bit hard to tell from the map, is there a hike that includes mud pots and a waterfall? It seems like you have to choose one easy one for mudpots then a longer one for waterfall. Finally, do you happen to know if the park will be open on Easter?
Thanks so much for sharing your expertise!
Sammi says
Hi Megan, Borinquen isn’t located in the Las Pailas sector, they’re much further away. Borinquen is more towards the Santa maria sector. If you want to do the mud pot and waterfall hike, then you need to go to Las Pailas sector.
The park should be open on Easter.
Sammi says
Hi Vicky, you can check out the private haciendas and adventure park at the base of Rincon de la Vieja. These places are not in the national park but it is very close. One of them is Guachipelin and they have hot springs, zipline, tubing, horseback riding, and other activities. You can read about it here: and this one is in the Las Pailas Sector. The Santa maria sector has more gravel roads and is much further than the Las Pailas sector, like an extra 30 or 45 minutes and it’s definitely too far to go on bike. Guachipelin actually offers mountains bikes for rent as they have some nice biking trails and they are open everyday.
If you don’t have a car, you can book a tour which includes the combo adventure tour of ziplining, horseback riding, tubing, lunch, hot springs and mud baths or hire a private driver for the day if you want to do their other activities.
Vicky says
Thanks a lot!
Vicky says
Thanks for your very helpful blog. Since the park is closed on Mondays, are there any waterfalls or natural hot springs or anything else to visit that are outside the park? I can’t seem to find any info about entering the park through the other entrance (Santa Maria) which is open on Mondays. My problem is I don’t drive. Would it be possible to go to the park on a bicycle or is it too hilly and strenuous?
Muna says
Is the park closed on Monday?
Sammi says
Yes it is
Lucy says
Hi there! I’m planning on visiting Costa Rica Pacific coast of February 2019. I’m having difficulties on understanding how park fees work. I understand Rincon de la Vieja entrance costs $15, but once you paid this fee, are you able to walk around and go hiking, or we must pay tours and extra activities in order to move within te park? I would really appreciate y if someone could clarify.
Thanks in advance
Sammi says
Hi Lucy, once you pay the $15 fee, you are free to do whatever in the park. Mostly what you can do is hike, there are two main sectors that people visit and it’s to hike around the boiling mud pots or to the waterfalls. The extra activities like ziplining and all that is actually not inside the national park, it is at the adventure parks that are in the Rincon de la Vieja area but those are completely separate and not in the national park.
From NY,USA says
One thing to note is that you have to stop at a gate and pay the Gauchupelin hotel an entrance fee to continue on the road ( I guess they own that part of the road) to the Las Pailas section of the rainforest. It’s currently 700 colones per person. Jan 2019
Jen says
I see someone else has commented on the hours that the Las Pailas section is open. I am staying at the Hacienda Guachilepin next week and called and asked them this same question and they told me that the Las Pailas section was open from 8am to 4:30pm and that the last entry was at 3:00 pm so now I’m really confused as to which is accurate. Could you please clarify? Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Jen, so I had to ask around because my Visit Costa Rica and national park map says 7 AM to 3 PM but the SINAC website and tour operators say 8 AM. Then the tour operators say close at 4 PM but the website says 3 PM so I would go with 8 AM to be safe and 3 PM as last entry.
Edgard says
The restaurant near the Waterfall was charging to go down and see the waterfall is this correct? They said they were part of the HOTEL HACIENDA GUACHIPELIN?
Sammi says
Hi Edgard, Hacienda Guachipelin does have waterfalls on their property and you have to pay an entrance fee to go since it’s on their property. Guachipelin is not right in the national park though so if you go into the actual national park, the park fee is $15 per adult and you can hike to any of the waterfalls in the national park.
Angie says
Could you please tell me if it is still correct that the Las Pailas trail opens at 7am? On some travel sites it says 7 am and others it says 8 am. Also, with the park closing at 4, do you have to be out of the park by 4 or just enter by 4? I wasn’t sure what the last entry time was. Thanks and your site is wonderful!
Sammi says
Hi Angie, I had to dig around for this answer because the map I got from the Visit Costa Rican tourism board and the map from the actual national park office says 7 – 3 but the SINAC website says 8 AM. Then I asked some tour operators and they say “most of the time they open at 8 AM” so it seems 8 is the safe answer.
Sammi says
Hi Christy, I don’t believe so. They have closed the trail to the summit indefinitely as the volcano has been erupting lately and has been very active. I recommend hiking the other trails in the national park to experience the volcano, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is not your typical cone volcano, it is a crater so you won’t be able to see it but you can see the landscapes around it if you go hiking in the park.
Christy says
Will we be able to hike to the summit in January 2018? If so, do you know of a guided tour? If not what is the best way to experience the most of the volcano?
Thanks !
Mimi says
Hi we will be in the area during Christmas Dec 23 – 27 is the park open/closed certain days? Also how should we dress for hiking?
Sammi says
Hi Mimi, I believe the park is open (it may be closed Christmas Day though). For hiking, it’s going to be super hot so shorts, tshirt/tank tops and hiking sandals. If you’re doing the long hike, I recommend hiking sandals or sneakers, not flip flops.
Katie says
Hi. Is this park open in the rainy months (October)?
Sammi says
Hi Katie, yes it is.
Olly says
General question about entrance fees to the parks. If we wanted to spend a few days exploring do we have to pay the entrance fee each day/ time we visit or does it cover a few days?
Sammi says
Hi Olly, you’ll have to pay it each time, the pass is only good for one day.
Amy says
Hi
Amazing blog, I really liked to read it. A question, I’d like to go to Rincon de la Vieja this Sunday and do the crater hike, but is the crater trail already open again?
xx
Sammi says
Hi Amy, I’m not sure, last time we checked was last year and it was closed, I haven’t heard it being reopened again but you can call the station and ask, this is their #: 506 2666 0630
Nisha says
Hi there! I am really enjoying your blog as I am planning my CR vacation for April. How do you suggest we dress to hike Rincon de la Vieja? It looks like you are wearing shorts and t-shirts. Also, do you know if everything in Coco shuts down for Holy Thursday and Good Friday?
Thanks!
Sammi says
Shorts and tank top or short sleeve – it is VERY hot there! Bring tons of sunscreen and lots of bottles of water. All government institutions are closed for the Easter holiday but many businesses in Coco are still open since it’s very touristy.
Nisha Avey says
Do we pay the entrance fee in American dollars or Colones?
Sammi says
You can pay in either, if you want to pay in colones they will do the conversion for you.
ken reed says
I know the summit is roughly 6200 feet. What is the starting elevation of the summit hike? We will be there next week.
Sammi says
I am not sure, I know the trail itself is not very long, only 8 kilometers but the trail to the summit has been closed for awhile so I would check with the park office first before planning on doing that trail.
Mindy says
Hi, do you know how far the Las Pailas entrance (approx distance and time) from the Vida Aventura nature park? We are booked there for 3 nights but really not sure how far to get to the park entrance. We’d also like to the Gauchinpin (sp?) river tubing. Any idea how far that is too? Or can your recommend a better place to stay?
Sammi says
Hi Mindy, I’m not sure where the Vida Aventura nature park is exactly, looks like it’s around Bagaces. You can ask the park to book you a tour to Guachipelin, from Bagaces to the national park entrance is around 30 – 45 minutes.
mindy says
Hi, do you know if the mud pot trail is currently open? We arrive on the 27th of Dec. Also-do you know where I can get a park map, like the one on your website? I can’t seem to find on online anywhere. thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Mindy! The mud pot trail is open, the other one up to the volcano summit isn’t. The maps are available only at the national park, they give one to every visitor when you pay for the ticket.
Sammi says
Hi Sue! Yes the national park is closed Monday. You can take a combo tour though as those are still open, it’s just the hiking trails in the sectors that are closed but the haciendas are actually right outside the park. Guachipeln is super fun and so is Buena Vista if you’re up for a bit of adventure for your last day. If not, then you can also check out Catarata Llanos de Cortes for a waterfall: Catarata Llanos de Cortes.
Sue says
We are heading to CR in March. Our flight out of Liberia is at 7 AM, so we are planning to spend the last night at the Hilton airport hotel. I was trying to come up with a great last day activity. We were thinking of driving up to Rincon from Playa Flamingo (where we will be staying), but it will be a Monday, so I am guessing we won’t be able to do anything at the park?? Any suggestions for our last day when we need to be back at the airport hotel that night. We have a car rental, but have heard not to drive at night, otherwise we would watch the sunset at Playa Hermosa and then head to the Hilton.
Sylvie says
Hello
I just wanted to tell you that your blog is excellent on the Rincon de la viega park. We are planning to go there in 2 weeks and we found a lot of helpful infomation. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Sylvie
Canada
Sammi says
Hi Sylvie, thank you so much! I’m glad the post helped. We love that national park and I’m sure you will too! Have a great time in CR! 🙂
Reno says
leaving on monday 4/3/16 for two weeks in Costa Rica, going to spend a day in Ricon , however Ive been reading that most of the trails are closed , how accurate is this and is it worth the drive from Tamarindo.
Also I would like to hike the La Cangreja falls, what entrance and apporox how long wil i be hiking round trip?
Please advise & Thanks for the great info youve been sharing.
Regards,
Sammi says
The trails to the mud pots and the crater are currently closed to increased activity.
All the info for Cangreja falls is in the post 🙂 It’s about 5 hours walking round trip.
Sammi says
I recommend staying in the national park then if you want hiking and birdwatching. There are several like Hacienda Guachipelin, Buena Vista Lodge, Borinquen and Canyon de la Vieja.
Susan Snover says
We are flying to Liberia from Seattle on April 16, renting a car and will have 4 days to spend in the area before we drive to St Elena area for 4 days and then flying to Drake Bay for five days. Suggestions? –hotels?? in the Guancaste area. We are not very interested in beaches. Hiking and birdwatching are the main interests. Perhaps a visit to El bosque nuevo–butterfly farm. It seems that there is new eruption at Rincón de la Vieja .
Where are you from in the NW? We used to live in Seattle, but now live in the Methow Valley.
Kristi Miller says
Do you have any more info about hikes in Rincon? About how long did the mud pot hike take? Is there a trail marked for the hidden waterfalls? We will be there in a few weeks – do you think the waterfalls will still be active?
Sammi says
The mud pot hike is pretty short, you can walk the whole thing in probably 30 minutes but we did the short one. The longer one may take an hour or so depending on how long you linger and take to look at stuff. There aren’t really any “hidden” waterfalls in Rincon, they are mostly all marked and you’ll see signs for them. However, it is a huge national park so you may need to drive to the various waterfall entrance. There is one near the Hacienda Guachipelin called Catarata Oropendola where you can jump off of, and then there are a few more in the national park that you can horseback ride to as part of a tour. The waterfalls are always active, in dry season it just has less water.
Sammi says
This park is roughly 2 hours from Tamarindo. There are no buses to this national park, you can take the public bus to Liberia where there you need to get a taxi or a shuttle. I’d get a shuttle, because it’s a bumppy road into the national park and it might be cheaper than a taxi (I’m not sure how much a taxi will charge). You don’t have to do the combo adventure tours, at Hacienda Guachipelin you can choose which activities to do from the ones they offer. So you can do just the river rafting, and not the horseback riding and ziplining. Here is our Tamarindo guide: Playa Tamarindo
Wendy says
Hello,
Just wondering how far is this park from Tamarindo? We are staying in Tamarindo from Jan 15-29, 2016. We are very excited as we have never been to Costa Rica. I don’t really want to spend a bunch of money on tours, I would rather do it on our own. We don’t know yet if we are renting a car or doing buses or shuttles?? what do you suggest? I just want to do all the main hikes there and some river rafting or the springs but not into horseback riding or reppeling. What do you suggest? Any info you can gives on Tamarindo and places to see and do would be greatly appreciated. Oh and one last question, is there any gluten free food there? I have celiacs.
Thanks!
Valerie says
I was just at Rincon de la Vieja – loved all of the hiking there. Also got to lather some volcanic mud at Blue River Eco Resort!
Sammi says
Ooh that sounds lovely. Mud baths are so fun! Glad to hear you liked Rincon, it’s a really nice park for hiking!
amy says
I was not expecting those mud pits to be bubbling so loudly! Amazing how you are so close to desert-like land, rainforest, and beach…in some ways that’s the same reason WA is such a wonderful state 😉 Nature is amazing…
Samantha Wei says
It is isn’t it?! The Pacific NW is really beautiful in it’s own way too. Beautiful mountains, lakes, and great places to hike.
Hector Vanegss says
Hi am I Costa Rican citizen and I would like to do the hiking this Saturday, where or how I can arrange a trip with you?
Sammi says
Hi Hector! If you have a car, you can drive to the national park and go from there, the hike doesn’t require a guide. Have fun!