It was one of those spectacular mornings: rays of sun on our faces and a blue sky.

Since we knew that our legs would be put to the test, we first headed for a delicious gallo pinto in a traditional restaurant, or soda, in Barva de Heredia.

After refueling ourselves, we filled up the car’s tank as well and were ready for a unique experience.

Around 9 in the morning, we began to head up towards San José de la Montaña, after which we passed through Paso Llano and then the community of Sacramento, after which we arrived at the main entrance of Barva Volcano Park.

Remember that it is better to come with a 4x4 vehicle, since there is a stretch of dirt road that is not in very good shape – but that’s part of the adventure as well.

All signs seemed to indicate that we would have to leave the car in a parking area a few kilometers before the park entrance, since the road was getting a little hairy. But the adventure was just what we needed – laughing and excited to see more of the country, we were able to make it.

Elevation: 2,906 meters above sea level

We began the hike and decided to take the Cacho de Venado trail. But if you prefer, you can also go along the main trail that will also take you to the crossing between Barva and Copey lakes.

We made the right decision: the dense forest had a mystic quality that we loved. We also passed over wooden bridges and under fallen trees, so take care to make sure you remain safe on the trail

Have you ever wondered where the Pacific and Atlantic sides of Costa Rica meet? Even if you haven’t, this place has the answer for you: a sign along the trail marks the border between the country’s two watersheds. Impressive!

The trail extends for 3 km from the park gates to Barva Lake, the volcano’s crater. If you want to go up to the lookout point to see it from up top, you’ll have to climb 200 m of steps – so take a deep breath and start the climb!

Once we reached the lookout, we stayed there another 20 minutes to appreciate the marvelous view and take a few photos and videos. We won’t lie to you: we were also quite hungry, so we took a break to enjoy the fruits and nuts that we had brought with us. You should also take some snacks along if you do a hike like this one.

Third-highest volcano in the country

Breathing in such fresh air and feeling a breeze on our faces was undoubtedly the best reward we could have had after climbing up this colossus of the Central Volcanic Range. By the way, it’s the third-highest volcano in the country, right after the Irazú (3,432 meters above sea level) and Turrialba (3,340 meters) volcanoes.

After the lookout, we headed down to the lake, which is 70 meters in diameter and about 8 meters deep. The water was frigid, even though the day was sunny. So don’t let your jacket too far out of your sight, since you’ll need it at some point.

We didn’t get to the Copey Lake area, but if you want to extend the adventure, the lake is 2.5 km from the trailhead. That lake is a little smaller, at 40 m in diameter.

Heading down on the way back was a little easier, meaning that we could enjoy the beautiful natural scenery that surrounded us.

Keep in mind that the path from the park entrance to Copey Lake is around 5.3 km, meaning that you will have to walk over 10 km of slopes, dirt paths and stairs. Prepare yourself so that you can enjoy it to the fullest. We had a great day, and we hope that you will enjoy these sights very soon.

Everything you need to know

Hours of operation: Every day between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., including holidays.

Admission: ¢1000 for Costa Rican citizens and residents aged 13 and up. ¢500 for children of citizens and residents (aged 2-12). Foreigners pay $12, or $5 for children.

Trails: Cacho Venado, Laguna Barva, Copey and Mirador Vara Blanca.

Camping: No.

Parking: Yes.

Pets: No.

Duration: 2 hours to Barva Lake (there and back). 3 hours (there and back) to Copey Lake.

Services: Water, restrooms, park rangers, information kiosk.

Contact: (506) 2266-1892 / (506) 2266-1883.

E-mail: acc.info@sinac.go.cr

What should I take? Comfortable clothing (leggings for the cold), jacket or raincoat, hiking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, hat, snacks, water, camera and plenty of enthusiasm.

Costa Rica is a country whose privileged location allows us to find an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, along with surprising landscapes that never fail to delight us.

A hidden adventure in the forest

Costa Rica is a country whose privileged location allows us to find an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, along with surprising landscapes that never fail to delight us. When we combine this natural backdrop with fun, excitement, adrenaline and adventure on one of the best rivers in the world, we get the perfect combination for an unforgettable experience.

This and more is what you will experience on our most recent adventure, in which we spent a night on the one-of-a-kind, challenging Río Pacuare, which is one of the rivers that rush towards the country’s Atlantic coast.

Ziplining, horseback riding, rappel and more

Our adventure began nice and early, when we caught a bus in San José, beginning our journey to Siquirres, where the company Ríos Tropicales has its base of operations. The trip took a little more than two hours, and a delicious breakfast was waiting for us when we arrived.

Randall Solano, better known as “Chino”, was our guide on this adventure. He has been guiding rafts down the Río Pacuare for over 25 years. I have to admit that we all felt a little bit nervous, or maybe a lot nervous, at the outset. The challenge was exciting, but for many of us it was our first trip by raft. However, Chino’s experience and focus on safety helped us to transform our anxiety into adventure and excitement.

We reached the part of the river where we would begin our trip towards the Lodge. Chino gave us a speech about safety and gave us the necessary equipment. In just a few minutes, we were rowing down the river.

Just five minutes after our adventure began, Chino announced the first rapids in the water: the moment we had all been waiting for was right in front of us. “Adelante, fuerte!” said Chino, and in just a few seconds, Río Pacuare initiated us with a wave that washed over us, putting our anxiety to one side and turning on the adrenaline. After our first rapids, which, by the way, were a Class II+, we began to enjoy the landscape surrounding us, which made us feel as if we were in a Hollywood film about explorers. The waterfalls on either side of the river, the different species of birds flying above our heads, and an indescribable beauty were all a constant presence during our travels.

About an hour and a half later, we were told that we were close to the Ríos Tropicales lodgings. We looked around us once more and just saw trees. “Were we supposed to sleep in the trees?”, we wondered.

As the river rounded a bend, we could see some wooden constructions in the distance, and as we got close to the riverbank, we were shown to the Lodge’s meeting point, a pleasant place where we had an enjoyable dinner.

The rooms are right at the side of the river, with electricity coming from a small hydroelectric plant on a creek that flows through the property. To everyone’s surprise, the rooms had a king-sized bed, a private bathroom, hot water and lovely decorations. It was like being in a hotel room, with the major difference that it was situated in the middle of the forest.

Time to rest

My curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn’t help but ask how they were able to bring such large beds and mattresses to the lodge.

“The same way we brought the bathrooms, structures, and everything else here: by raft, just like how you came!”, laughed Rafael Gallo, the owner of the Lodge.

Once night fell, the guides and other members of our expedition shared a delicious dinner, and then headed to our rooms to get some rest.

Many of you reading this might know how pleasant it can be to fall asleep with raindrops falling on the roof. However, that sensation is nothing next to having your room right next to the rushing Río Pacuare: it’s sensational, the sound of the forest combined with the rush of the currents combining into a melodic accompaniment to your night.

In the morning, before breakfast, I found my way to an observation deck where I was able to see a large family of Montezuma oropendolas and many other species of birds flying above the room.

Ríos Tropicales Lodge also offers ziplining tours, horseback riding and other activities for everyone who wants to enjoy the extra activities during their stay at the Lodge. We returned to our rafts and our guide helped us through various Class III and IV rapids in a very safe and professional manner.

Vamos a turistear

The landscape down the river is just as impressive as upriver, with a large number of rapids which end as waterfalls, and even a canyon in which we were able to jump out of the raft to swim in the river. The water was very refreshing.

Once we reached the base, a delicious lunch and places to shower and change were waiting for us. Back in San José, all of us were planning the next time we could come and see the sights in those parts.

People, all we can tell you is: vamos a turistear!

After a long week working, there’s nothing better than escaping the routine and enjoying some of the many awe-inspiring sights that our country has to offer.

We took this opportunity to go to the Caribbean, a region of abundant natural beauty, incredible people and a great variety of tourist activities for visitors.

Our journey began nice and early in downtown San José, with us heading towards Route 32.  In just a few minutes, we found ourselves surrounded by virgin rainforest and amazing vistas.

Once we crossed the Zurquí tunnel and left the Braulio Carrillo National Park, we made our first stop in Rain Forest Adventures Atlántico.

The first think that we did was go on a cable car ride through the rainforest. That tour took a little more than an hour, with our gondola passing along a system of suspended cables that took us through the forest.

It is incredible to be able to admire the amazing diversity of species that live together in our forests, the peace and mystery that those magical places hold in their heights. This is definitely a tour that you have to do.

Pure adrenaline!

We prepared ourselves for the zipline tour. This location is very popular for its 700 m (0.4 mile) cable, which takes you flying over the treetops and crossing a river.

Even though we were no strangers to ziplining tours, the combination of nerves and adrenaline were never lacking. The views were spectacular and, without a doubt, this zipline tour was one of the best we’ve ever done.

Rain Forest Adventures has no shortage of tours on offer, some of which include trails that lead you to waterfalls, which you can visit by day or at night. There is also a frog pavilion, a snake pavilion, a restaurant and a souvenir shop. For those who want to experience a night in the middle of the jungle, there is also lodging available.

Once we finished our delicious lunch, we continued with our trip towards Puerto Viejo in Limón province. This is the Costa Rican Caribbean destination par excellence.

This time around, we stayed at Hotel Villas del Caribe. This hotel is located in front of Playa Punta Uva and boasts all of the comforts needed for visitors’ enjoyment, as it is situated right int front of the sea. It gave us the opportunity to enjoy the beach before heading to downtown Puerto Viejo to enjoy an exquisite rice and beans with chicken.

In just a couple of days

This was an incredible weekend where in just a few days, we were able to admire the canopies of trees, feel the wind in our faces as we crossed from platform to platform on the ziplining tour, enjoy delicious food, and find out how the indigenous Bribri people process cocoa.

Costa Rica has thousands of hidden paradises. It depends on you to discover them, so get out there!

We had been told that the Papagayo Peninsula was a true wonder, but it exceeded all our expectations. The beaches all around the peninsula are simply heavenly.

If you’re looking for peaceful white sand beaches with a bit of privacy for you to spend the whole day, Playa Virador is an excellent option.

You’ll need to head to the Papagayo hotel complex in order to visit the beach, as it’s located before the beach entrance. You can enter “Playa Virador” into Waze or just parqueo playas Papagayo and you’re good to go! Conveniently, you can leave your vehicle there and a free minibus will take you to the beach. While you’re here, you can also enjoy Playa Prieta, Playa Nacascolo and Playa Blanca.

We do recommend that you go in comfortable clothing, with a hat to protect you from the sun and good walking shoes, since you’ll have to walk down 728 steps – the most of any of the beaches there. Playa Prieta has 602, Nacascolo 100 and Playa Blanca has 502 steps.

Another recommendation we have is that you should plan on arriving nice and early so that you can visit all of the beaches – or most of them, at least. We’re not exaggerating when we say it’s hard to say which one is the best, they’re all incredible! The minibus that transports tourists can also take some time and is not always available when you need it.

As soon as we started heading down to Playa Virador, the experience was one of a kind: the path is surrounded by nature and has mini-lookouts where you can see the turquoise waters from an elevation.  

Once you reach the edge, you’ll fall in love: white sand, not a lot of rocks, shade trees to rest under, not a lot of visitors and gentle waves to swim in. This place is definitely a great choice for spending a day with family or friends. Don’t forget to bring snacks and drinks, as there are no nearby facilities where you can buy food.

This beach should absolutely be on your short list for your next trip. Don’t forget to bring a good book and a beach towel to soak in the Guanacaste sun.

#VamosATuristear #VamosalaPenínsuladePapagayo

Information you need to know:

• Difficulty: Moderate, not recommended for people with knee problems.
• Accessibility: Not accessible; the beach can only be reached by the stairs.
• What should I bring with me?  Change of clothes, swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, trail shoes, sandals, insect repellent, hydration, snacks and a can-do attitude that will allow you to get the most out of the day!
• Vehicle: Automobile
• Parking: Yes, free.
• Pets: no.
• Camping: no.
• Contact: N/A
• Cost: Free of charge