Rincón de la Vieja
Rincón de la Vieja, or the "Old Woman's Corner," brings to mind an image of a wrinkly grandmother sitting on an ancient rocking chair: hoarding a lifetime’s worth of secrets, with a twinkle in her eye. Similarly, the region itself holds fantastic discoveries that lurk around every corner.
This area's focal point is the one million-year old Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, the largest volcano in Guanacaste and the third-most active in Costa Rica. In 2011, the "Colossus of Guanacaste" witnessed a surge in phreatic eruptions and volcanic activity, making it one of the year's two most active volcanoes in the country.
While increased ash deposits have temporarily blocked access to its crater, Rincón de la Vieja has plenty of other secrets for visitors to discover:
Las Pailas Park Trail: Rincón de la Vieja National Park may be this area's top attraction, but it's still one of Costa Rica's hidden gems. Las Pailas Trail affords some of the reserve's most thrilling experiences: take in steaming fumaroles, where volcanic gases escape through cracks in the ground; look into the mouth of a volcancito, or mini-volcano; and get contemplative starting at a boiling mud pot, where subterranean volcanic heat causes the ground to boil. This 3.4-mile loop through the park takes about two hours.
Hot Springs: Located on the banks of the Río Negro, six crystalline, naturally heated pools come courtesy of the region's volcanic activity. Traverse a hanging bridge to the hot springs, which cascade down river rock, one pool flowing into the other. The surrounding emerald-green ravine offers seclusion and peace - the only sound you'll hear is of water gurgling over mossy rocks. The mineral-rich thermal springs are said to have healing qualities, and are guaranteed to relieve muscle pains and relax away stress.
The Blanco River Pool & Red Pond: Hike to the Blanco River's cool, clear swimming hole, home to mountain spring waters that offer the perfect spot for a refreshing dip. The Blanco River also feeds the nearby Red Pond, a lava rock formation where red and white mineral deposits create the illusion of reddish-pink water. A hike or horseback ride to these attractions departs near the park's Las Pailas sector and takes three to four hours, including swimming time.
La Cangreja Waterfall & The Blue Lake: Ensconced within Rincón de la Vieja National Park, La Cangreja Waterfall is the pot of gold at the end of a vigorous, 1.5-mile hiking trail. The falls' white ribbon of water erupts from verdant forest, cascading down 130 feet of gray rock into Blue Lake, where dissolved copper salts dye the water a celestial blue. This picture-perfect location is the ideal spot for a picnic lunch and refreshing swim.
La Victoria Waterfall: A steep trail climbs toward the Colorado River, where the 115-foot La Victoria Waterfall tumbles into a freshwater river pool. Here, Rincón de la Vieja's best waterfall rappelling tour sends adventure seekers swinging Tarzan-style through the falls, rappelling into the swimming hole below, and scaling the rock face beneath a sheet of falling water.
