General Information
Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park
General Information, Hiking Trails, Volcanic Activity & Waterfalls inside the National Park.
If you just want to pay the admission fee and do self guided hikes inside the national park please go to: https://serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr/
National Park Hours:
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm |
| Thursday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm |
| Friday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm |
| Saturday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm |
| Sunday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm |
Admission Fee/Self Guided
Nationals and residents: ¢ 1,130
National children and residents: ¢565
Foreign non-residents: $16.95
Children non-residents: $5.65
At the moment the National Park has 3 trails open and available to visit:
2-La Cangreja Waterfall Trail.
3-La Escondida Waterfall Trail.
The trail to the summit of the volcano has been closed since 2011 and it won’t be open any time soon. It will remain closed due to the crater being active.
Trails
Most Popular
1-Las Pailas Trail
Distance: 3.2km (2.5miles)
Dificulty: Moderate
Average Duration: 2hrs
Trail Hours: 8am – 3pm (After 3pm no one is allowed to get in the trail)
Las Pailas Trail is a loop that spectacularly shows the power of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano National Park Tour and one of the most active and largest volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Steam and sulfur come from natural fumaroles of the yellow and rusty soil. Witness clay pails in various shades of brown with boiling volcanic water, fine gray volcanic mud bubbles and small explosions in large pails. Besides possibly flora and fauna, on this trail you will be able to see:
Dry & Humid Forest
Hornillas
Inactive Volcanic Lake
Water Pots
Volcanic Bubbling mud
Little volcano
Volcanic Fumes
Seasonal Waterfall
Most Popular
2-La Cangreja Waterfall Trail
Distance: 10km round trip (6.5miles round trip)
Difficulty: Medium (Not suited for people with knee, ankle or walking problems)
Average Duration: 4hrs round trip
Trail Hours: 8am – 12 noon (After 12 at noon no one is allowed to get in the trail)
La Cangreja Waterfall Trail shows what for many is the best waterfall inside the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, also known as the blue lagoon. Although, you will be hiking in the humid forest for quite a while where you will see nothing but trees and hopefully some wildlife, at the very end of the trail you will get to the waterfall. There is no volcanic on this trail at all.
3- La Escondida Waterfall Trail (Steep Trail)
Distance: 8.4km round trip (5.2miles round trip)
Difficulty: Very Difficult (Not suited for people with knee, ankle or walking problems)
Average Duration: 4-5hrs round trip
Trail Hours: 8am – 12 noon (After 12 at noon no one is allowed to get in the trail)
La Escondida Waterfall Trail is by far the most difficult trail inside the national park, Why? Because the trail is very steep and after 50min of hiking in the shade you get to an open area with no trees to cover so it gets very sunny. La Escondida waterfall has without any doubt the best of view, becasue you are so high in the mountains that you can see everything, but, the waterfall itself is not very big. Also, There is no volcanic on this trail at all.
