Once at the park we can use the restrooms and get ready to start our hike of approximately 2 hours through Las Pailas trail, where we can see one of Costa Rica’s most active volcanoes. Steaming fumaroles, mini-geysers and bubbling volcanic mud pits.We will hike Las Pailas loop trail 2.5 miles (3.5 km) through dry tropical forest to see the best views of the volcano, incredible nature, volcanic activity and wildlife. The park is home to more than 300 bird species, and other animals like armadillos, collared peccaries, iguanas, snakes, white-nosed coatis, and white-faced, howler and spider monkeys.
When we finish our hike, get ready for a refreshing swim in the Oropendola waterfall. It is a short walk from the national park entrance on a trail with varying terrain to get down to the river bottom. The Oropendola waterfall plunges an impressive 82 feet (25 meters) to a sparkling turquoise pool in the lush canyon of the Rio Blanco (White River), creating a picturesque tropical oasis.
It was very windy the day we went on our hike. As a result we didn’t see many animals. Instead our guide Daniel focused on the flora of the park. He is extremely knowledgeable and made the hike enjoyable and memorable.
We went with a group of friends; the "pailas" are impressive. If you like forests, there are several ecotones crisscrossed by trails.
What a hike...through both the rainforest part of this National Park as well as the Caribbean side of the park to see lots of plant and animal life, and lots of volcanic activity towards the top. This was a fun filled day with Daniel, who was our private guide and very knowledgeable of everything we saw. He got excited about seeing the different animals of the rainforest and showing us his identification guide along the way. He didn't rush us through the hike, waterfall, mud bath or hot springs. He took multiple pictures of our family and helped us remember this once in a lifetime hike. Don't miss out on this one!
This place was amazing. My family and I had a memorable and fun time. From the horseback riding to the longest slide, to zip lining and the spa, it was soo fun l. Our tour guide Austin was amazing, highly highly recommend him. He was so fun, knowledgeable and friendly.
Freddy was our guide and he was excellent. We were coming from a hotel quite a distance outside of their normal range but they were very accommodating to arrange a private tour picking us up right at our hotel (adding an additional 90-mins of travel each way) for a very reasonable rate. The van was very spacious, the AC was great, and our driver handled the unpredictable traffic with ease! Freddy was very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive to my mom who was struggling with a week full of hiking activities with bad knees. Through the main park hike, he even took us in the opposite direction of every other tour group we saw so we were not in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day. He was quick to spot and point out any animals we saw, and help us take great pictures! The one thing I would say is that do not underestimate the number of stairs to the waterfall! Freddy encouraged my mom to stay at a rest area for that part, and I'm so glad he did. I counted the stairs going down and there are 202 stairs (not including the ladder down into the waterfall), and almost half of them were on a hanging bridge so unstable (about half as many on the way up since the trail is a loop and graded like a ramp on the way back, but all were on the hanging bridge, so more difficult than regular stairs because they are unstable). My comments on the stairs are NOT complaints -- Freddy made sure my mom wasn't in a situation she couldn't handle -- just ensuring others have an accurate picture of the difficulty level. With the exception of underestimating the stairs, every aspect of this full-day adventure exceeded our expectations. The food was at the park's restaurant and was also excellent. Because of mom's bad knees, we were on the fence whether we should do a full-day out in the park, but even Mom was SO glad we went. Because there are a couple stops, there are mini rest breaks built in and you end lounging in the hot springs! I would 100% book with them again!
We had a change in plans because of rain and went to La Leona waterfall first, and it was amazing. Hiking, swimming, and rope climbing to the waterfall was a fun adventure, and the waterfall was gorgeous. We saw bats, a capuchin monkey, and birds on the way. The afternoon at the hot springs was relaxing, and the mud bath was fun. Highly recommend this day.
I loved the water slide and the hot springs. The tour guides where so nice and the horse ride through the jungle to the water fall was sooo beautiful! Awsome expierence!!!!
Amazing Tour Guide with Daniel, Beautiful Hike and Experience. A great experience for families and all people to enjoy.
Faro travel was the company we used. It’s a small family business Andres the driver spoke very good English. I will use them the next time im in Costa Rica and highly recommend them
We had the most amazing time. By far the best thing we have done in Costa Rica after being here a month. Nature ended up changing some plans and we were unable to do one of the hikes, but the company was amazing and adjusted on the spot. We instead got to visit TWO beautiful waterfalls. John was our tour guide, and I don’t have enough kind words to say about him. He was a fabulous tour guide with a ton of knowledge, he also gave wonderful recommendations for our stay in Liberia to be amazing. The whole day was magical and hard to put into words on the beauty. Definitely a must see and I would come back again!
We loved this excursion! Really neat to see the sulphur springs, hot springs, and water fall! Freddy was our guide and he was great! Very knowledgeable. Bring bug repellent!! Wear your bathing suit underneath your hiking clothes, just easier than having to stop and change. The ride up was bumpy, take anti motion sickness medication if you’re sensitive to that. Would definitely recommend this!
As usual, Guanaverde Travels delivers! Did LaVieja Waterfalls w Freddie last April and ecstatic to get him again for this tour. Started early and hit all the sites before the bigger groups. Freddie is very knowledgeable and his passion is infectious... not that we needed any more convincing Guanacaste is the most beautiful province in the most beautiful country!! see you guys in a few months when we'll have family w us!!
This was our favorite experience we did! We loved hiking to the waterfalls and being caught in the crazy downpour in the rain forest. Such a cool experience! Lunch was fantastic and so we’re the mud baths and hot springs. Perfect day!
From start to finish, amazing experience. Freddie was an outstanding guide and led us through a rainforest hike that led to amazing waterfalls. Swimming, cliff jumping, and it even rained on the way down, making it an even more amazing experience.
Great day exploring. We were able to see and do so much. Freddy was friendly and so knowledgeable. The perfect guide. Thank you!
Lawrence was truly amazing and knowledgeable about everything here. He made the experience well worth it
The volcano was amazing, the waterfalls breathtaking and the hot springs such a fun experience! Jonathon shared so much of his knowledge with us about the park as well as Costa Rica. I 10/10 recommended this tour and company!
Everything about this experience was amazing, and our tour guide Jonathan was excellent! We learned so much about the volcanoes, and about Costa Rica in general. Jonathan was very informative and made everything very interesting. The volcanoes were such a cool experience, the waterfall was absolutely gorgeous, and the hot springs were a perfect end to the adventure as it was relaxing and fun. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Jonathan also recommended some great restaurants and accommodations in the area, it’s an understatement to say that he went above and beyond!
This entire experience was phenomenal, literally loved every minute of it. Jonathan was extremely informative about everything we came across on the tour and Costa Rica in general. We learned a lot and had a great time. The volcano was very cool and interesting, the waterfall was BEAUTIFUL, and the hot springs and mud bath were a relaxing and great way to end the adventure. Can’t say enough nice things about our tour guide Jonathan, he was fantastic. HIGHLY recommended this adventure and company in general.
Had a wonderful day with our 5 Star guide Freddie. He led us on a long hike thru desert terrain then through the forest. We then took a swim near a waterfall followed by lunch and finished up at the hot springs. I would highly recommend this tour and hire Freddie. Great day.
Our guide, Freddie, was amazing! he was so knowledgeable of the rainforest and our day was full of visiting unique and interesting places he shared. He was very patient and fun to talk to! Overall, an great tour! highly recommend!!
Our guide, Freddy, was very patient with our group of six on a fun-filled day. He was very knowledgeable about the rainforest and volcanos, and he continued to show to us great spots all day.
Guys, if you’re thinking about it, think no more and just book. I promise you won’t be disappointed. This was such a rewarding and fulfilling experience with Jonathan and Freddie. While hiking in Rincón de la Vieja, Freddie was an expert photographer. He gave me a lot of information about the park itself, it’s history, and the area itself. I learned a lot about how Costa Rica has channeled the country’s natural energy and paved the way to be 100% sustained by natural energy in 5 years. I went to see one of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen. Being a little brave, I tested the waters, and it was cold but totally worth it. We then drove to the Hot Springs, which was a very holistic experience. I used a little mud, took a quick cool dip, and then relaxed in three different hot pools. One of the best things about booking with Jonathan, is the level of detail you get with the trip. I also have some of the most amazing photographs from my trip thanks to Jonathan. I cannot wait to book another experience with him. Hands down, one of the best experiences while traveling solo.
This experience was AMAZING! Freddy was our guide and he was extremely knowledgeable about everything on the hike. He answered all of our questions about mostly anything we asked. We got to know about each other's family and different life experiences. He even helped me with my Spanish! We were able to see beautiful plants and flowers, different species of trees, monkeys high up in the trees, a beautiful waterfall and to top it off, we got to see the beautiful Blanco river. There were some unpredictable moments like we had to cross two streams and trek through overgrown paths, but if you are flexible and up for adventure, this was the perfect experience.
We went with a private guide. The place is very worth seeing. We swam under the waterfall and then visited the hot springs. It was absolutely wonderful. We had a domestic buffet at the restaurant in the park. Tested both carrot and beet dressing. Delicious We had a private guide from our hotel in Tamarindo.
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