Rincon de la Vieja

National Parks:

Rincon de la Vieja National Park

Created in 1973, Rincon de la Vieja National Park has evolved a small tourist infrastructure over the years but remains one of Costa Rica’s best-kept secrets. Natural trails, a seasonal waterfall, steaming fumaroles, a small volcanic crater, and bubbling mud pots highlight the park’s most popular Las Pailas trail, and Rincon de la Vieja Volcano beckons to hikers willing to make the 8-hour roundtrip trek to its crater.

Strangler figs amaze every park visitor. The giant trees begin life by latching onto an existing tree trunk, slowly growing stronger until they eventually surround their host and strangle its life away. They are easy to spot with their huge root systems that snake along the forest floor and immense, but hollow, trunks, the only remaining memory of their long-lost hosts. Rincon de la Vieja National Park also contains the largest population of Costa Rica’s national flower, the Cattleya skinneri, a type of purple orchid. 

Rincon de la Vieja’s volcano is considered to be gently active. Though it has experienced no major eruptions in recent years, it habitually belches up steam and ash. Santa Maria Volcano, the tallest in the park, towers at 6,286 feet, while the national park’s lowlands hover at just 1,969 feet above sea level. This 4,000-foot altitude change allows for several different microclimates that range from hot and dry to cool and misty.

The Red Pond and Blanco River Pool

A hike or horseback ride from the Las Pailas park entrance, this dynamic duo offers beautiful and natural surrounding. The Red Pond is a red and white solid rock formation, created by lava runoff many years ago. Its neighboring Blanco River pool is a quiet, tranquil pool of clear water surrounded by only forest and birdsong. Round trip, including time spent relaxing and enjoying these two natural wonders, will last three or four hours.

Waterfalls:

Oropendula Waterfall

Just four miles from Rincon de la Vieja National Park’s Las Pailas entrance, this 82-foot tall waterfall tumbles into an incredible, emerald green pool. Visitors can hike through the dry forest or rent horses to get there.

Las Chorreras Waterfall

This beautiful double waterfall teams up with the Blanco River to create a beautiful blue pool at its base where many visitors enjoy taking a dip in the cool waters. These waterfalls are just a mile from one of the area’s premiere hotels, but anyone can hike or rent horses to get there.

La Cangreja Waterfall

A four and a half mile hike from Rincon de la Vieja’s Las Pailas entrance, these falls are found within the park’s borders. Dissolved copper salts give the waterfall a celestial blue color, a striking sight against the gray cliffs behind it. A small pool at its base is wonderful for cooling off after the hike.

La Victoria Waterfall

Accessed by a steep trail, the hike to this 115-foot waterfall is not for the faint of heart. For those that make the journey, a moss-covered canyon and beautiful greenery await.

Hidden Waterfalls

Almost two miles farther west of La Cangreja Waterfall, the Escondidas Waterfalls are actually a group of four continuously cascading falls set into the Agria Ravine. A calm bathing pool sits at the base of one waterfall.

Canyon Canopy Tour

Considered the best canopy tour in Guanacaste, Rincon de la Vieja’s famous canyon and canopy tour sends guests flying through the trees, rappelling down moss-covered rock, rock climbing beside a rushing river, and bungee jumping upside-down. The thrilling two and a half hour tour sends you across 23 cables, some reaching 115 feet high and almost 500 feet long.

Cattle Herding

Guanacaste’s famous cowboys, known as sabaneros, gladly teach the skill and art of cattle herding and handling. Spend the day learning to direct cows from pasture to corral, and get familiar with the operations of one of Rincon de la Vieja’s working ranches.

Hiking

Hiking through Rincon de la Vieja National Park is the most popular daytime activity in the area. A 45-minute to one-hour horseback ride takes guests to the park’s entrance, where they begin their foray along nature trails lined with spluttering mud pots, steaming fumaroles, a volcanic lake, and a seasonal waterfall. Adventurous hikers may make the eight-hour trek up to Rincon de la Vieja’s crater.

Horseback Riding

Horse rental is available from many area hotels, and is the ideal way to explore forest trails and secluded waterfalls across Rincon de la Vieja’s varied terrain. Half-day tours are the most popular, though several full-day riding tours are available.

Mountain Biking

Eight to ten-person biking tours take off daily during the dry season, weaving paths through gentle fields, tree plantations and dry forests. Half and full-day tours are available.

Rio Negro Tubing

Start your tubing tour with a 45-minute horseback ride through the forest and a short walk to the beautiful La Victoria waterfall. Spend the next hour and a half floating down the Rio Negro, negotiating its small rapids, and enjoying the beautiful dry forest around you. At the end of the tubing adventure, travelers ride horses back to civilization.

Volcanic Mud Springs & Spa

Rincon de la Vieja’s famous spa welcomes guests to relax in 104-degree Fahrenheit mud pools and laze the day away in volcano-fueled hot springs. Full-time professional massage therapists and health professionals are always on-call to attend to any relaxation need, and the spa’s naturally restorative properties are the perfect end to an adventure-filled vacation.

Waterfall Rappelling

With waterfall spray in your face, rappel down two towering cables and swing across three Tarzan-style swing cables. Canyoning down Rincon de la Vieja’s waterfalls is an awesome, challenging experience best suited for adults.

Wildlife Watching

Rincon de la Vieja National Park houses almost 300 bird species, including hummingbirds, quetzals, parrots, owls and toucans. Colorful butterflies flit through the air, armadillos and wild pigs root around the forest floor and friendly coatimundis pose for photos.

Air:

Visitors can fly directly into the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, or take a local flight from San Jose. Nature Air and Sansa Air offer 40-minute flights daily from San Jose to Liberia. Contact 1-800-517-7893 for reservations. From the airport, you may either rent a car or arrange a taxi to your Rincon de la Vieja hotel.

Bus:

The public bus stops in Liberia, where you must hire a taxi or hotel transportation service to take you to Rincon de la Vieja. Buses cost approximately $4 each way and leave San Jose every hour between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. Please call 2256-9552 or 2222-1650 for more information.

Car:

Rincon de la Vieja has two entrances: Las Pailas and Santa Maria. The Las Pailas entrance is the more popular of the two, and is accessed via a bumpy 7.5-mile road. The Santa Maria entrance to the east is more rustic. In the dry season, any midsize car with good clearance can make the trip, but a 4WD will be necessary during the rainy season.

To get to Las Pailas, take the Interamerican Highway from San Jose west into Liberia. Continue 3 miles north and turn right at the entrance marked Curubande/Rincon de la Vieja/Las Pailas. This trip will take 4-4.5 hours.

To get to Santa Maria, take the Interamerican Highway from San Jose west towards Liberia. Before you reach downtown Liberia, turn right at the sign marked Barrio La Victoria/Rincon de la Vieja. This trip will take 4-4.5 hours.

Private Transport:

Private transportation services are also available to Rincon de la Vieja. An air-conditioned, comfortable van will pick you up from many popular Costa Rican towns, including San Jose, Monteverde, Jaco, Manuel Antonio, and Arenal. Contact 1-800-517-7893 for reservations.

Taxi:

If you are already in Liberia, your hotel can arrange for shuttle service. Be warned that this is the most expensive option, costing $20-$30 per person, each way. You may also hire an official (red) taxi in Liberia for $20-$30 each way, for 1-3 persons.

Car:

If you choose to rent a car, you’ll maneuver the bumpy mountain roads at a snail’s pace. You’re in luck though, as slow speeds allow you to enjoy the volcano’s spectacular surroundings. Any midsize car with good clearance can make the trip during the dry season, but a 4WD is necessary in the rainy season, from May through November.

Horseback:

Horseback riding is very popular at Rincon de la Vieja. Visitors can rent horses from their hotel to ride to the national park, explore forested trails, or as transport to adventure tours like hiking to the Oropendula and Las Chorreras waterfalls, fast tubing fun on the Rio Negro, or investigating the Red Pond, a unique lava formation at the base of the park. Be warned that many trail horses come from Rincon de la Vieja’s working ranches – if you don’t know how to ride, say so, or you may be given a horse suited for advanced riders only.

Hotel Transport:

Your hotel can take you anywhere necessary, or will arrange for a taxi to do so. Depending on where you stay, you may need to hire transport for your return trip to Liberia, a daytrip to Rincon de la Vieja National Park, or for adventurous outings like waterfall canyoning, a canopy tour, or river tubing. Expect to pay extra for these services.

On Foot:

Depending on where you stay, you may be close enough to walk to your destination. Most area hotels and lodges are just a few miles from the national park.