Rincón de la Vieja
★★ The Adventurous Volcano
The Rincón de la Vieja in northwestern Costa Rica (Guanacaste Province) is less known than Arenal but just as spectacular — and much less visited. The volcano (1,916 m) is one of Costa Rica's most active: The last phreatic eruption was in 2024. The region around the volcano offers:
- Bubbling Mud Pots (Volcancitos): Small mini-volcanoes of bubbling, hot mud — surreal and photogenic
- Fumaroles: Sulfurous steam eruptions that smell like rotten eggs
- Hot Rivers: Natural hot springs in the middle of the forest
- Waterfalls: The Catarata La Cangreja with its turquoise pool is the most beautiful
Hiking
The park offers several well-marked hiking trails:
- Sendero Las Pailas (3.5 km, easy): The most popular trail passes by mud pots, fumaroles, and mini-geysers. Perfect for a half-day.
- Sendero Catarata La Cangreja (5 km, medium): To the beautiful waterfall with a blue pool. Swimming allowed!
- Sendero to the Crater (not always open): Closed during volcanic activity. If open: a challenging but rewarding full-day hike.
Adventure Activities
The private Hacienda Guachipelín and Hotel Borinquen offer canopy tours, canyoning, tubing on the Rio Negro, and horseback riding through the dry forest landscape. The combo packages (Canopy + Hot Springs + Mud Bath: 85–120 USD) are a day adventure.
25 km northeast of Liberia. Entrance: 15 USD. Two entrances: Sector Las Pailas (more popular) and Sector Santa María. Daily 8:00–15:00. Drive from Liberia: 45 min.
Rincón de la Vieja: Eating, Sleeping & Tours
Hacienda Guachipelín — The Adventure Center
The Hacienda Guachipelín is a former cattle hacienda that has transformed into the best adventure provider in the region. The "Adventure Combo" (120 USD) includes:
- Canopy Tour: 12 ziplines over gorges and forest
- Canyoning: Rappelling down waterfalls (up to 20 meters)
- Tubing: Floating down the Río Negro through a volcanic gorge
- Volcanic Mud Bath: Natural hot volcanic mud that softens the skin
- Hot Springs: Relaxation after the adventure
The hacienda also offers accommodations: rustic rooms in the former ranch house complex, surrounded by tropical dry forest. Double rooms from 110 USD including breakfast.
More Accommodation Tips
Rinconcito Lodge — Simple, cozy lodge at the foot of the volcano. Family-run, with its own restaurant and organized hikes. Double rooms from 60 USD.
Hotel Borinquen — Luxurious thermal resort complex with volcanically heated pools, mud baths, and a spa. The natural sauna caves (steam directly from the volcano!) are unique. Double rooms from 180 USD.
Horseback Riding in the Dry Forests
The area around Rincón de la Vieja is Guanacaste — the province of the Sabaneros (cowboys). Horseback tours through the dry forests and along rivers offer a completely different Costa Rica than the humid rainforest: savanna, cacti, and with luck howler monkeys, armadillos, and coatis. 2h tour from 45 USD.