Hiking in Costa Rica: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You
4.9
(19 reviews)
Discover jaw-droppingly beautiful tropical rainforests and the abundance of biodiversity that teems within them!
From the summit of Cerro Chirripó to the verdant forests that surround it, Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries on the earth and the undeniably best way to experience it is on foot. Compare and book a certified guide for your trip on Explore-Share.com: 1500+ guides, 70+ countries and more than 8000 different programs to choose from. Take a pick from our selection of Hiking trips in Costa Rica. The mountains are calling!
Hiking in Costa Rica
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FAQs: Hiking in Costa Rica
What should I know about Hiking Costa Rica?
Located in the center of the Central American Isthmus, with Panama to the south and Honduras to the north, Costa Rica is a heavenly destination.
Known for being one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet, in spite of its size, it is a great place to go out in the wilderness and hike.
Cerro Chirripó, just south of the capital and nestled in the rainforest, is by far the most popular hiking destination. However, before or after you summit the tallest mountain in the country, there are many other spots to check out as well.
Cerro Terbi (3.760 m), Cerro Ventisqueros (3.812 m) and Cerro Uran (3.600 m) are other popular mountains in the country. They are all quite close, so a week or so would be enough time to climb them all.
Hiking by the beach is also popular, head out along the coast and take in white-sand beaches and turquoise blue waters.
Why should I choose Costa Rica for my Hiking adventure?
Stunning scenery
Costa Rica is a small country located on Central America’s isthmus. However, there is a lot to see in this little country. Gorgeous beaches, enchanting rainforests and towering mountains define its landscape. Spend your time in the country exploring volcanoes, river valleys and more!
Amazing wildlife
In spite of having only 0.03% of the world’s landmass, Costa Rica boasts 5% of the world’s biodiversity! From the iconic scarlet macaw to its 1.200 species of butterflies, there is plenty of wildlife to keep your eyes peeled for as you hike through this megadiverse little country.
Beautiful beaches
Costa Rica is world renowned for its jaw-droppingly beautiful beaches. Be sure to take a few days either before or after your hiking expedition to check one of them out. With beaches stretching across along the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, there’s plenty of variety here too. Enjoy calm waters or big waves!
What can I expect from the weather in Costa Rica?
Due to its proximity to the equator, there are only two season in Costa Rica: the wet and dry seasons. The dry season runs from December to April and sees average daily temperatures around 23ºC. Crucially for hiking expeditions, not much rain falls during this time of year.
How can I get to Costa Rica?
Any trip to Costa Rica begins with a flight into the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in the capital. From here, it is easy enough to find a bus to take you to San Gerado de Rivas, the starting point of just about every hiking trip in Costa Rica.
Which language is predominantly spoken in Costa Rica?
Spanish and several native languages
What’s the country code of Costa Rica?
+506
What currency is accepted in Costa Rica?
Costa Rican colón (CRC)
What’s the high season for Hiking in Costa Rica?
December to April
What people are saying about Hiking | Costa Rica
Raelene
From the very beginning we knew Armin could be trusted to: A. help us to the top of the tall Mountain safely B. help us enjoy the journey and C. Come back from our trip with wonderful memories and a lifetime of photos and stories. We hope to have Armin help us our next trips, he is really THAT GOOD. Thank you Armin!!! Rae and Stu
Karolina
The Tour with Armin to the peaks of Uran and Chirripo was quite unique. A wonderful experience that I will never forget. The view from Uran and Chirripo was fantastic and made you forget all the efforts needed for the ascent. If you like the mountains and hiking, you will love it. Armin is a perfect tour guide. He has a lot of experience and many interesting stories. Armin was always there, when I needed help. The communication and organization was also really good. All in all, I can definitely recommend the tour with Armin.
Danielle
This was by far the most strenuous trek I have ever attempted, but thanks to Armin’s leadership and encouragement I was able to rise to the challenge. Make no mistake, this one is hard - especially the 2nd day (12 hour hike from Paso de los Indios to Uran, Chirripo and ending at Crestones base camp). The day starts out in the dark and freezing cold and there are limited opportunities to replenish food and water. This is not a problem as long as you are prepared (read the itinerary closely and ask as many questions in advance as you need to understand what to expect). In spite of any technical difficulty and physical discomfort, I 100% recommend this hike. The scenery was breathtaking and the opportunity to hike in peace and solitude amongst the highest points of land was truly amazing. Thank you Armin and Explore-Share for making this happen.
Martin
Cerro chirripo is a great trek. Armin did a wonderful job organizing both the details of the trip and setting a very good pace. He also gave terrific service getting me to the next point in my trip. The accomodations both at the base at the pelican and the hut exceeded my expectations. The food at the pelican is amazing and features farm products from the property. If you have a chance at the pelican to sit with Wilson who has a great eye for spotting local birds Don't hesitate to book Armin for this trip or any other.
Corrie
This whole experience was one of ease and adventure. Armin kept great communication through the booking/permit process. Once at the Hotel Pelicano, I was well taken care of. The accommodations were amazing and the food, delicious!! I feel extremely grateful for my guide, Wilson, who grew up and lives here. His knowledge of the area added a great value to my experience. He seems to have a passion for birds and continuously stopped to listen and identify the bird song and then educate me. I enjoyed this very much. I came to love the sound of the black-faced solitaire. Often, my head was down, watching my feet and if not for Wilson pointing things out I may have missed a lot. What an adventure! I highly recommend this trek!! Thank you so much Armin & Wilson❤️
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