Top 5 Hiking Trails in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is considered a Hiker's Paradise
This comes to no surprise as roughly a quarter of its area is protected jungle. Costa Rica offers more than 125 trails from easy to a moderate level and ranging from 0.5 miles to 90 miles and from 19 to 12,362 feet above sea level. From group hikes, solo hikes, night hikes, and overnight hikes, Costa Rica offers a fantastic experience for hikers of all levels.
Best Night Hike:
La Fortuna Night Walk
There are so many fantastic night hikes in Costa Rica that it is almost impossible to pick which one is the best. The thing is, when the sun goes down, the Costa Rica jungle awakens as the local fauna begins its daily routine. Night hikes are one of the best ways to experience Costa Rica since many tropical animals are nocturnal. For night hikes, we recommend that you hire a nature guide that can safely take you around safe walk paths in the rainforest and point out all the beautiful critters hidden all around.
Best Beach Hike:
Manuel Antonio Beach
Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica, and it offers hikes with beautiful views. The paths in this area are all connected perfectly together. The trail starts on the small hill near Playa Manuel Antonio where the Perezoso Trail is and takes you to Miradores, Playa Gemelas, Puerto Escondido, and Los Congos Trail. These trails can be done without a guide, have your map and camera with you. There are many beautiful views; it is the perfect setting for pictures.
Best Volcano Hike:
Volcano Arenal
Arenal Volcano National Park is a must for hikers. The park is over 7,000 acres with gorgeous views throughout Arenal Volcano. You can hike for about 30-60 minutes and walk over old lava flows and rainforest. The guided hike allows you to see so many more things of frequently missed nature and wildlife. There are multiple trails to discover within the park, great for families, couples, and solo hikers.
Best Rainforest Hike:
Monteverde Cloud Forest
By far one of my favorite places in Costa Rica. Monteverde is a Costa Rican town known for its biodiverse cloud forest and outdoor beauty. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a reserve located along the Cordillera de Tilarán within the Puntarenas and Alajuela provinces. Named after the nearby town of Monteverde and founded in 1972, the Reserve consists of over 10,500 hectares of Cloud Forest. It draws roughly 70,000 visitors a year. The Reserve consists of 6 ecological zones, 90% of which are virgin forests. Many biodiversities, consisting of over 2,500 plant species, 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptilian and amphibian species, and thousands of insects, have drawn both scientists and tourists alike.
Best Overnight Hike:
Corcovado and Chirripó
Avid hikers who love hiking for more than a day, the most famous overnight hikes are Corcovado and Chirripó. Trekkers are required to stay in ranger stations or the official refugios. Concorvado is a 5-day loop where you can view the virgin rainforested wilderness in Central America and miles of pristine beaches on the Osa peninsula. Cerro Chirripó is the highest peak in Costa Rica and climbing to the top is part of what makes this hike so perfectly breathtaking. It is considered one of the most challenging hikes you will find in Costa Rica.
From half-mile easy walk hikes to adventurous 5-days overnight hikes with challenging climbs, Costa Rica has the best hikes for all kinds of Trekkers. Costa Rica remains one of the favorites and safest tourist destinations for its beauty and closeness to the U.S. Best of all, getting to Costa Rica is easy, as it's a 4-hour flight from many main U.S. cities.
Visit Costa Rica!
Author: T.Lozano
Dental Land Costa Rica
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