Hike to Las Pailas Trails Rincon De La Vieja National Park & la Oropendola Waterfall

Begin your adventure at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín with a scenic 45-minute walk to the entrance of the Las Pailas Sector in Rincón de la Vieja National Park. This volcanic region is famous for showcasing the raw power of the most active and largest volcano in Guanacaste. Along the 3.5 km circular trail, accompanied by a bilingual naturalist guide, you’ll witness steaming fumaroles, bubbling mud pots, mini-geysers, and boiling volcanic craters—an experience unlike any other volcano in Costa Rica. As you journey through the tropical dry forest, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the volcano and the chance to spot an impressive variety of wildlife, including more than 300 species of birds, as well as coatis, iguanas, armadillos, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, and white-faced monkeys.

After completing the hike, get ready to cool off at the stunning La Oropéndola Waterfall. A short walk from the park entrance takes you along diverse terrain and through shallow parts of the river until you arrive at this magnificent 25-meter waterfall, plunging into a turquoise pool inside the lush canyon of the Blanco River. This refreshing natural swim offers the perfect reward after a morning of exploration. Following time to relax and admire the surroundings, the tour concludes with a return walk to Hacienda Guachipelín. For convenience, optional hotel transportation is available both ways, only a 10-minute ride to the national park.