Enjoy a 45-minute ride on a pleasant forest trail to the Las Pailas entrance of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Meaning "the cauldrons" in Spanish, 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. Steam and sulfur pour out of the yellow and rust-colored ground at natural fumaroles while smooth gray volcanic mud bubbles explode in large pits. It's an experience like no other volcano in Costa Rica.
Hiking the Las Pailas loop trail goes 2.5 miles through dry tropical forest where hikers will see the best views of the volcano. When the hikes is finished, it's time for a refreshing swim in the Oropendola Waterfall, which plunges an impressive 82 feet to a sparkling turquoise pool in the lush canyon of the Rio Blanco, creating a picturesque tropical oasis.
Duration: 4 hours