About: This is sort of the Central Park of New York equivalent to San Jose. It is a large park with trails for walking, running, and cycling, soccer fields, the National Stadium, a museum, a track, tennis courts, a lap pool, baseball fields, the National Gymnasium, volleyball courts and more. It is popular for exercising,…
Author: Ultimate Guide
La Cangreja National Park
About: This national park offers a main trail along the Rio Negro that is an in-and-out trail of 6 kilometers one way. There is a secondary trail that branches off from the main trail called the Plinia Trail. Attractions include a main waterfall, the Encanto Waterfall, as well as smaller cascades and natural pools along…
Hacienda La Chimba
About: This is a coffee plantation in the mountains of Santa Ana with trails for hiking and photo opportunities. The trails can be done as a self-guided tour with 3 different distance options: 3 kilometers, 5 kilometers, and 9 kilometers. Since the plantation is in the mountains, there is a lot of ascent and descent,…
Hacienda El Rodeo
About: This hotel offers a day pass that includes breakfast, lunch, coffee, and use of their pools and outdoor areas including grassy areas for playing soccer and running around. They have trails for hiking and mountain biking. There is also a farm with animals that you can visit. They also offer horseback riding tours at…
Finca Siempre Verde
About: This private farm offers hiking and horseback riding tours on their property as well as at nearby attractions such as Cangreja National Park, Juco Waterfall, and El Salto del Indio Waterfall. They also offer night walks, birdwatching tours, and nature photography tours. Province: San Jose Starting from: Downtown San Jose Time to reach from…
Finca Las 6 Maravillas
About: This expansive farm features 6 “wonders”: the Stone Bridge, the Guatuso Cross, the Giant Rock, the Tiger Cave, the Waterfall, and the Jabillo pools. It is quite a feat to reach all 6 in one day, as they are not all on the same loop, and the distances are great. It is about 4…
Finca La Cayetana
About: This is a private farm with 5 kilometers of hiking trails with photo ops along the way. They also have picnic areas, but no food is sold onsite or nearby, so be sure to bring your own. Pets are allowed. It is a great place to spend time hiking and then enjoying the views…
Eolicas
About: This is a beautiful windmill farm in the mountains of Santa Ana that is a popular place with locals to picnic with family and friends on a clear morning or afternoon. The main thing to note is that the road to reach is extremely steep and long, though it is paved. You must have…
El Iral Bosque Nuboso
About: Located in the mountains between San Jose and Cartago, this private reserve is in a cloud forest, which provides a unique climate and conditions. They offer extensive hiking trails for self-guided adventures, or guided tours that take you deeper into the forest including one that reaches a viewpoint overlooking a lagoon and another that…
El Arbol Hueco
About: This is a moderate-to-difficult 3-kilometer hike down to a hollow ficus tree that you can go inside of and climb up. You need to park near Jerico Park, since the road to the tree is not in good condition. The hike is out-and-back, so in total you will walk 6 kilometers. If you haven’t…