About: This is a private reserve that has several well-marked hiking trails for day visitors. The trails range in distance from less than half a kilometer to 8 kilometers. There is a waterfall on one of the trails. They also offer guided tours on the trails with advance reservation. Food is not sold on property,…
Tag: Hikes
Chirripo National Park
About: This is an amazing national park with several hikes, peaks, and points of interest, most notably Cerro Chirripo, which is the highest peak in Costa Rica. It requires a permit to visit, and reservations usually book out months in advance. There are 2 towns you may begin your hike from, San Gerardo de Rivas…
Chapel in the Clouds
About: This is a very unique “chapel” that can only be visited with reservation. They have trails and a waterfall to immerse yourself in nature. It is a cabin with a very unique design and architecture that you can stay in overnight through an organized tour that includes all meals. If you visit on your…
Cerro Ena
About: This is a famous peak in the region, probably second to only Cerro Chirripo, the highest peak in Costa Rica. It is about 11 kilometers to the base camp, where you can sleep overnight. Then, you can wake up early and hike the remaining short trek to the peak for a beautiful sunrise. If…
Downtown San Jose Hikes
Options for hikes in Downtown San Jose:
Senderos Colon
About: This is an excellent park with extensive trails for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. They have many different trails that are well-marked and identified by difficulty level and length. They have certain trails specifically for mountain bikes that hikers should note to avoid. They are pet friendly. Province: San Jose Starting from: Downtown…
Reserva Targua
About: There are 5 kilometers of trails, a natural spring water pool, ranchos, and open spaces for playing and relaxing. They have a restaurant or you can bring your own food for a picnic. There are views of the windmills on the mountains just above. Province: San Jose Starting from: Downtown San Jose Time to…
Piedra de Aserri
About: This natural formation is a giant rock in the mountains near the town of Aserri. It is a relatively short hike, though the elevation gain is steep and the trail is rocky. The trail passes by local pastures, where you may encounter the owners working the field. There is an offshoot trail that leads…
Pico Blanco
About: This is one of if not the most popular peak to hike in the Downtown San Jose and metropolitan area in general. Depending on your starting point, it is about 2 kilometers of moderate to difficult terrain up to the peak, but depending on your condition can take anywhere from 1-2 hours. Many people…
Peace Park
About: This is a great park on the outskirts of the city with trails for walking, running, or cycling. There are 4 small lakes with lots of ducks, paddle boat rentals, a playground, ranchos with grills, and a small restaurant. It is a great place to walk in nature and have a relaxing picnic. There…