Rincón de la VIeja & Playa Hermosa – Guanacaste

This is one of our personal favorites of all the trips on our roster. It combines a healthy dose of trekking through an amazing national park and some down time to relax and soak in the sun at the beach. Our journey will take us to the northern side of Guanacaste where the Rincón de la Vieja volcano resides overlooking the Pacific coastline. Our objective is to visit The Pailas sector which is part of the greater Guanacaste Conservation Area which boasts the largest dry tropical forest in the continent.
What makes this excursion so special is the uniqueness of the geography and by extension the ecosystem that inhabits here. This active volcano is part of the continental hydrological divide meaning that at this point water beds can either drain into the Pacific or Atlantic oceans. This protected site is the birthplace to 32 river streams that interact with the burgeoning geothermal energy of the cone.
This beautiful mix of ingredients will lead us to appreciate crystal clear waterfalls fueled by pristine waters, steaming hot ‘fumarolas” that spew vapor from the ground and the famous mud pits or “pailas” that give the sector its name. The trails lead you through eye-catching flora and fauna that is only to be seen in this part of the country. It is common to see reptiles perched on wind bent canopies enjoying the suns rays while birds circle overhead in search for there days meal. The “Guaria Morada” or purple orchid, our national flower and proud symbol of our country for its distinctive beauty are to be found dotting the wild landscape.
The adventure starts on Friday when we sail out to our home base located at Hermosa Beach by the Papagayo peninsula. The ride can take anywhere from 4 to 5 hours depending on the traffic. With a bit of luck, we’ll get to see the sun set over the Pacific giving way to a calm night of rest before the upcoming walk.
Our second day starts off with an early wake up call and a hearty breakfast designed to get that fuel tank up to full. We set out in search of the volcano at 6 am in order to start walking at 7:30 am. Our first objective is loop around the easily accesible 3-kilometer Las Pailas trail. Here we’ll get to test out our legs while witnessing the volcano’s different geothermic manifestations. It should take us about two hours to enjoy the sights of the vapor vents, mud pits, waterfalls and any animal that crosses our way.
Exiting the Pailas loop is where the trekking starts to get interesting. We shall head on towards the La Cangreja waterfall which trail will lead us through two distinct types of ecosystems. The trail is 6 kilometers long and divided at the halfway point by a change in the landscape. The first half of the trail is through dense forest packed with high rising trees and fair amount of shade. The forest gives way to a grassland that hovers a top a rocky passage overlooking the Guanacaste plain all the way to the ocean. This latter part of the trail will take us to the river canyon and drop us on top of the gorgeous La Cangreja waterfall where the prize is to swim in its cool turquoise waters and enjoy our hard-earned lunch.
It won’t be easy to leave this amazing nook and embark on our way back, but I promise that the walk back gets easier. Do be advised that a good hat and sunglasses go a long way. Pack a decent amount of water and above all, do not forget your swimwear.
As the sun goes down, we will head back to our base camp at Hermosa Beach where the night is all ours. Bonfire at the beach or a night out in town are all possible alternatives. Our bodies and spirits will take care of that choice when the moment arrives.
Our Sunday is meant to be spent at the beach. Early birds can head on down to take advantage of the morning at Hermosa Beach while those of a more lackadaisical nature can sleep in and soak in the views from the Villa. After lunch we’ll huddle up to set sail for Calzón de Pobre Beach for the afternoon and sunset.
This small beach whose name translates to “Poor-Man’s Breeches” stands at the end of a small-scaled peninsula giving it stunning views of the Papagayo Gulf. Here we will swim the afternoon away and witness as the sun tucks beneath the waves leaving behind it signature glow of orange and rose. After a quick stop back at our home base for a shower and a cup of coffee we set ourselves on our way back to the city after a most heart fulfilling weekend full of new memories and profile pictures.