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Rincon de la Vieja

Moderate Hikes five star moderate hiking trails Easy Access four & a half stars - authentic Costa Rica Geothermal Features four & a half stars - volcanic and geothermal features
Easy Walks four stars - easy walks Rustic Lodges five stars - rustic lodges Birdwatching five stars- best birdwatching
Difficult Hikes four & a half stars - difficult hikes Adventure Tours four & a half stars - adventure tours Authentic Costa Rica four & a half stars - authentic Costa Rica

Rincon is not only an amazing spot but one of the few places you can access dry, rain and cloud forests all in one spot and less than an hour from many of the Guanacaste beach resorts.

Double rainbow (low and bright over the trees and high and faint in the clouds) Rincon de la Vieja
Double rainbow (low and bright over the trees and high and faint in the clouds) Rincon de la Vieja

Natural Attractions & Adventures

Las Pailas – the cauldrons is the name of the western entrance to Rincón de la Vieja National Park and also for the boiling mud pots, steam vents and mini-geysers near the ranger station.  A loop trail with interpretive signs leads from the ranger station past an interesting selection of geothermal features but our favorites – natural hot springs and fumaroles – are a little farther afield.

Haciendas, Ranches & Lodges

White Water Inner Tubing
White Water Inner Tubing

There are a number of great converted (and some still operating) cattle ranches where you can stay in the region.  Hacienda Guachipelín and Rincón de la Vieja Lodge are both close to the park, home to beautiful horse herds if you like to ride and recommended.  Both natural hot springs on the property but Guachipelín has developed theirs into an open air spa while Rincón de la Vieja Lodge has left theirs in a totally natural state.

Relatively soft rocks been cut into slot canyons by area rivers and Hacienda Guachipelín offers a unique canopy zip-line, canyoneering, rappelling, rope-swinging and inner-tube riding all day tour above and in the water.

You can get a quick idea of all the different ecotours and adventures in the area by scrolling through photos of Hacienda Guachipelín Lodge and Ranch.

What Not to Expect Around Rincón de la Vieja

Rincón de la Vieja was tough to leave off of the list of the top ten best destinations in Costa Rica because it has so much to offer, but there are a few things that you shouldn’t expect to find in the region.