Costa Rica Walking
Wildlife from Rain Forest to Coast
Our leisurely paced Backroads adventure in Costa Rica is a naturally rich experience, from the inland Central Valley and cloud forests to the shores of the Nicoya Peninsula. Hike to a volcano and stroll through lush plantations. Meander through jungle teeming with monkeys, butterflies and multicolored birds. Stride along white-sand beaches as toucans soar overhead and iguanas sun themselves nearby. View the landscape through the eyes of expert naturalists, whose insight enhances our understanding of Costa Rica's diverse ecosystems. Evenings are about unwinding in soothing tropical havens and dining on Costa Rican specialties.
Trip Planning Links
- Sensational rain forest walks with local guides
- Hike through Curú Biological Refuge on the Nicoya Peninsula
- Arenal Volcano National Park, by foot or even zip-line!
- Incredible wildlife viewing
- Stroll on idyllic beaches alongside coastal lowland forest
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Bajos del Toro
Meet in San José 
Kick-start your journey with a guided walk through a coffee plantation to learn about planting, harvesting and roasting Costa Rica's grano de oro (golden bean) java Shuttle along tranquil roads past waterfalls into the majestic cloud forest, where you'll explore on foot with a naturalist guide Discover our lodge's garden, producing the herbs and vegetables we'll enjoy at tonight's dinner Stroll through a cloud forest - seeing bromeliads, tree ferns, strangler figs and beautiful waterfalls - or relax at the hotel's spa.
Days 2-3 La Fortuna
Walk among elegant blue morpho butterflies, flitting above a tropical oasis In Arenal National Park, hike across lava fields and through rain forest, accompanied by the volcano's rumble, if you're lucky Cross a series of hanging bridges, ranging from 16 to 300 feet long Spend an afternoon on your own, zip-lining, horseback riding, being pampered at the spa or just relaxing by the pool Soak in geothermal hot springs before sitting down to a delicious Costa Rican dinner.
Days 4-6 Playa Tambor
Journey across the Gulf of Nicoya on a charter flight Take a guided nature hike through the Curú Biological Refuge, where spider monkeys scamper through the lowland forest Shuttle to Bahia Ballena, and walk along the beach to our seaside resort Hike to the small village of Montezuma, a popular spot with in-the-know travelers Spend the afternoon at our resort as you please, swimming, playing golf or horseback riding Walk to a lookout point for one last photo op as morning breaks over the Pacific Return to San José on another scenic flight.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
Each Backroads trip we have taken has been special and this one was no exception. I felt that the leaders went the extra mile to make sure that we had a great experience. We felt less like tourists and more like "friends" of our leaders who took great pleasure in sharing the beauty of the country and the people. Costa Rica is an amazing country - so much to see!- Southlake, TX More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Costa Rica tour experts. For walking tours and hiking tours in Latin America, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Latin America walking tours and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Latin America biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Latin America multisport tours click here.
Costa Rica Walking
PURA VIDA: Premiere Inns
El Silencio Lodge & Spa
Bajos del Toro (1 night) This 500-acre eco-retreat, named on Travel+Leisure's It List of top new hotels, is nestled in the cloud forest and offers luxury suites, each with a private deck, whirlpool and gas fireplace.
Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa
La Fortuna (2 nights) Set on 27 acres of lush jungle gardens, with suites featuring private terraces and panoramic volcano views.
Tango Mar
Playa Tambor (2 nights) A serene seaside haven, perfect for leisurely beach strolls or hang time in hammocks slung beneath palms.
Costa Rica Walking
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insider Trips | Explore at a leisurely pace—on village walks, market strolls, art history excursions, hands-on cooking classes and more. | ||
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Day 1
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- 4 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
- 2.5 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- Optional .6 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
- 3, 4.5 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Level 1 to 2 4 Route Options Available
- 2, 3, 5 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
- 2 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 2 3 Route Options Available
- 1.9, 5 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
- 3 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 4 2 Route Options Available
- 5, 9.9 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 2 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Please note that walking terrain in Costa Rica includes uneven surfaces and a few short steep sections.