About: This national park is home to the Turrialba Volcano, an active volcano with 3 craters. Since its activity started increasing in the 2010s, eventually access to the public was closed. Eventually visitation began to be permitted, but only through one agency, ICETUR, that organizes guided hikes. They offer daily hikes as well as sunrise…
Category: Cartago
Tapanti National Park
About: This national park offers 4 hiking trails, a viewpoint, and a waterfall. Though some parts of the trails follow a river, and there are many ranchos for picnics by the river, swimming in the river is not allowed. Province: Cartago Starting from: Downtown Cartago Time to reach from starting location: 52 minutes Time needed…
Senderos Retana
About: This place offers hiking and mountain bike trails, cabins for overnight stays, camping areas, and a restaurant. They also offer bike tours as well as bike rentals. Province: Cartago Starting from: Downtown Cartago Time to reach from starting location: 1 hour 48 minutes Time needed for activity: 2+ hours Kid friendly: Yes Wheelchair accessible:…
Refugio Silvestre Vistas del Cielo
About: This wildlife refuge offers hiking trails, a viewpoint with an idyllic windmill, small ponds with fish, a zipline, and a farm, as well as cabins for overnight stays and camping areas. There is also a restaurant. Province: Cartago Starting from: Downtown Cartago Time to reach from starting location: 29 minutes Time needed for activity:…
Refugio Ecologico Mosqueritos
About: This ecological refuge offers a day pass that includes access to their hiking trails, lake, and ranchos with grills. The lake has small row boats, there is horseback riding on the weekends, and there are camping areas. There is also a cafe, bathrooms, and showers. They are pet friendly. Province: Cartago Starting from: Downtown…
Palo Verde Cloud Forest
About: This cloud forest offers extensive hiking trails and birdwatching. There is also a hummingbird garden as well as an orchid garden. There are guides or you can do it self-guided. There is a restaurant and cabins for overnight stays. Province: Cartago Starting from: Downtown Cartago Time to reach from starting location: 44 minutes Time…
Oikoumene
About: Oikoumene offers a day pass that permits access to their hiking and mountain bike trails as well as open green areas for picnics and sports. There is also a small river. They also have a restaurant, an event hall, camping areas, and cabins for overnight stays. They are pet friendly. Province: Cartago Starting from:…
Monte Sky
About: This private reserve offers several hiking trails and waterfalls, as well as spectacular views. The trails range in difficulty and length, with some inclination and can be muddy and slippery when wet. The beginner trails don’t require a reservation, the immediate and advanced trails require reservation and a minimum number of visitors as it…
Millar de Aves
About: This private property offers guided hikes through their property, exploring the forest, rivers and waterfalls. They also have a tour specifically dedicated to blackberries, which are characteristic of the area. They have a restaurant, a camping area, and cabins for overnight stays. Province: Cartago Starting from: Downtown Cartago Time to reach from starting location:…
Los Quetzales National Park
About: This is a national park with only 2 short trails. One of them is a short circular trail of 500 meters, and the other is an out-and-back trail that is 2 kilometers (one way). The short trail is paved but has stairs and the other is gravel. You can do them self-guided or coordinate…