Best Places to Hike in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known as one of the best places to travel for ecotourism. Travelers are looking to get outside and connect with nature. A lot of the country is covered in mountain ranges with beautiful views, ranging from 1,500 to 5,000 feet in elevation. So what better way is there to get outside and see the country than hiking? There are so many national parks to go hiking in, it is hard to choose one! That is why we have marked the best national parks for hiking in Costa Rica with their difficulty level and unique features:

Arenal Volcano National Park, El Castillo (Moderate difficulty, $25 per person)

Arenal Volcano National Park is famously known for many things, but is at the top of the list for the best national parks for hiking in Costa Rica. The entire loop at Arenal Volcano National Park trail is about 3.4 miles. On this hike, you will walk through the forest and lava fields, spot a variety of birds and wildlife, and walk on a path developed from lava from the 1968 eruption. This trail cannot bring you to the top for safety concerns, but will bring you to a viewpoint of the volcano. 

Braulio Carrillo National Park, (Easy to challenging difficulty, $12 per person)

This national park is a hidden gem, leaving the trails uncrowded, and features a hike for everyone: short or long, easy or challenging. You can find a hike that is 1 mile long for children, or 32 miles long for the hiking enthusiast. Braulio Carrillo National Park also has two other features: if you or someone in your group is tired, you can view the park by car or by a gondola ride. 

Corcovado National Park, Puntarenas Province (Moderate to Challenging, $16.95 per person)

Some of the best hikes in Costa Rica are located at Corcovado National Park, ranging from 1.9 to 11.7 miles and following along the beach and rainforest. The best part of these trails are seeing the tons of wildlife as you go! Named by National Geographic as “the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity,” you are sure to have an immensely unique hiking experience at Corcovado National Park. 

Rincón De La Vieja Volcano National Park, Liberia (Easy to Challenging, $16.95 per person)

This national park will not disappoint a hiker who is looking to see a variety of natural viewpoints on their hike. In the trails ranging from about 1.8 to 6.2 miles, you will see rolling hills, tropical dry forest, a waterfall, a mini volcano, mud pots, fumaroles, and wildlife! You can cool off from your trekking in Costa Rica with a swim in La Cangreja waterfall.

Manuel Antonio National Park, Quepos (Easy to Moderate, $18.08 per person)

You will find many short but entertaining hikes at Manuel Antonio National Park ranging from 0.10 miles to 0.75 miles bringing you around the park, to a waterfall and the beach. Additionally, these hikes have a rail designed for people with disabilities, and a boardwalk as well. These trails are filled with an immense amount of wildlife, which are best found with a local tour guide. You can finish these trails in one day, or decide to spend the rest of your day relaxing and cooling off at the national park’s beach!

Tenorio Volcano National Park, Guatuso (Moderate to Challenging, $12 per person)

Last on the list, but certainly not the least interesting is Tenorio Volcano National Park, where you can see a vibrant blue waterfall, a blue lagoon, a dormant volcano, and thermal water springs. The most popular hike is to the Rio Celeste waterfall, which is about 3.7 miles but well worth the trip! 

These national parks have some of the best hikes in Costa Rica, which you can find wherever you are in the country! Although hiking is a great ecotourism activity, it is important to bring your trash with you, stay on trails, leave what you find, and plan ahead and prepare. When we all hike responsibly, we can assure the trails will remain in good condition and will be there for generations to come and enjoy trekking in Costa Rica.

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