Horseback Riding to Rincon de la Vieja & Rio Negro Hot Springs

Ride to Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Then Relax in Natural Hot Springs & Mud Baths

Our adventure begins at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, from where we ride our friendly ranch horses for 45 minutes on a scenic forest trail to the Las Pailas entrance of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. The Las Pailas area spectacularly shows off the awesome power of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, the largest and most active volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Steaming fumaroles, mini-geysers, and bubbling volcanic mud pits give you an incredible experience like no other volcano in Costa Rica.

Hiking on the Las Pailas loop trail takes you through 2.5 miles (3.5 kilometers) of dry tropical forest to see the best views of the volcano, incredible nature, volcanic activity, and wildlife. Our bilingual naturalist guide points out many of the 300 bird species that live here as well as other animals like white-faced, howler, and spider monkeys, armadillos, collared peccaries, iguanas, snakes, or white-nosed coatis.

After your hike, a car is ready to take us to the Rio Negro Hot Springs, one of the most popular attractions at Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Surrounded by thick tropical dry forest, Rio Negro (Black River) flows through 10 man-made pools filled with steaming mineral-rich volcanic waters. You access pools on both sides of the river by two hanging bridges. Heated volcanic clay is available to smooth over your skin like a spa “body masque.” After it dries, wash it off with cold river water before jumping back in the hot pools.

There are changing rooms, bathrooms, and lockers at the hot springs entrance. From there, you walk a beautiful trail less than a quarter-mile (350 meters) through the forest to the hot springs pools.

The entrance fee to the park is not included in the price.

What to Bring

• Camera
• Long pants
• Comfortable clothes
• Closed-toe shoes
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Hat