Rivas

It's 4:55 a.m. and the wind is whipping, temperatures hover below freezing, and the sun is just starting to make an appearance on the horizon, above a thick blanket of clouds covering surrounding peaks. This is Cerro Chirripó, the tallest mountain in Costa Rica, and a far cry from the beaches that line the coast of the beautiful country.The hike to Chirripó is a 12 miles/20km steep, well-marked...

With so much to explore in Costa Rica, I suggest you try and make time for Nauyaca Falls.You start by going to a small office on the side of Route 243 between Dominical and San Isidro. There you can purchase your entry ticket ($8) and decide if you want to hike to the falls or take a horseback ride. We hiked it of course!From there you can either park on the side of the highway and hike a stee...

To access this trail, you must pay the $16 park entrance fee. It's a 1.25 mile from the entrance gate along a gravel road but there are signs marking the way to the trailhead.  Translated, Sendero Punta Catedral means Cathedral Point Trail. It is a 1 mile long trail that circles Cathedral Point peninsula. This trail has been improved quite a bit since the very first time I hiked it. Now, the tr...

The beach just outside of Manuel Antonio National Park is called Playa Espadilla and you can camp here for free if you have a tent or hammock. This is a safe place, accustomed to tourists, but be careful with valuables while camping on the beach - always a good idea, anyway.The alternative would be to stay in one of the hotels or hostels that are on the other side of the street in front of the ...

This place is a must see if you're spending time in Costa Rica. The easy access from different towns via public transportation is very affordable and worth your time and money!  There are several different ways to reach this park, the main one being taking a bus from San Jose (the city of Cartago sits at the base of the volcano in the valley so if you are closer to there than San Jose, you can ...