Hiking in Costa Rica

[FLMountainMan]

Going down to Costa Rica around Labor Day and have three days to go hiking. I will be staying about fifteen minutes north of Jaco Beach (about midway, on the pacific coast), I've been told. I've already half-decided upon seeing the Arenal Volcano and climbing Cerro Chirripo(sp?), but I wondered if there were other can't miss spots or suggestions for seeing these places. I really like rural places and really enjoy rugged hiking.

 

[whodini]

15 mins north of Jaco? I can only think of Punta Leona or Playa Herradura in that area for hotels/motels unless you're staying at a tiny B&B along the road.

No way are you going to be able to do Chirripo with only 3 days in CR while being based in Jaco. Takes a day to get to the base camp and then a day to do a return trip to the peak and back (and then back all the way down if you're in a hurry). And then from there back to Jaco? Unlikely.

Arenal is really something you can do in a day. It's very dependent on weather as to whether or not you'll see the peak/lava. Falling lava rocks can be see on the northern side of the rim but there isn't much hiking around that area since a good chunk is closed off. There are quite a few different day hikes depending on what you want to see (river trails, lava rocks, etc.).

Honestly, I'd say skip Chirripo and stick to a full day hike at Arenal and then a full day at relatively nearby Monteverde Nat'l Park. While Monteverde is very popular with tourists (as is Arenal), the hiking can be as rugged as you want it to be. Loads of trails to take, most of which are thick in the mud, and rural.

Chirripo is really worth seeing but it'd be all or nothing on this trip; really, it's nothing worth missing out on textbook Costa Rican trails.

Also know that Sept 1 (Labor Day) is deep in the rainy season here. Just about any hiking you'll do will be rugged.

PM me if you need any more help/info.