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Looking for an exciting tour of Rincon de la Vieja National Park?
While you can no longer hike Costa Rica’s largest volcano, the surrounding National Park is absolutely incredible. It offers stunning volcano views and lots of natural wonders, so there’s a ton of fun to be had here. The only problem is deciding on the best tour to join!
We had a blast exploring Rincon de la Vieja and we’ve traveled all over Costa Rica, so we know what makes a good tour by now. We’ve rounded up our favorite options in this post to help you decide which one to go with, whether you’re looking for an adrenaline-fuelled day out, an epic hike, or a slightly gentler experience.
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE tour is this adventure tour of Rincon de la Vieja National Park. There’s ziplining, horseback riding, a mud bath, and hot springs and it’s totally stress-free with roundtrip transport and lunch included. Check out the 1,000+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here.
Tip: Reserve this tour early to guarantee your spot and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
1. Guachipelin Adventure in Rincon de la Vieja
- Price: $135 USD self-drive, $161 USD with transport
- Duration: 10 hours
- Time: 6:30 am with transport, 9 am self-drive
- Highlights: Zipline tour, horseback ride, tubing, mud bath, soak in Rio Negro hot springs,
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, all activities, buffet lunch, guides, entry fees
- Pickup from: Many locations including Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Sardinal, Liberia, Langosta, Playa Grande, Conchal, Flamingo, and Catalinas. Check the full list of pick-up locations here.
- Rating: 5 Stars (Read the 1,000 + reviews!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
We can’t express how much we loved this adventure tour of Rincon de la Vieja! Our expectations were high, and we definitely weren’t disappointed.
We were picked up early in the morning, but the day kicked off with a tubing session down the Rio Negro rapids, so we soon woke up! This was an absolute blast – arguably even better than whitewater rafting. It was our favorite part of the tour!
However, the rest of the activities were also a lot of fun. We had a tasty local lunch, and then it was time to gear up for the zipline! We really enjoyed the rainforest canopy course, which involved ziplines, a Tarzan swing, and even a climbing wall. We got amazing views of the volcanic landscape while we were up in the trees, and our guides also taught us a little about the history of the park.
Next, we spent 45 minutes riding through the rainforest on horseback. Our guides pointed out interesting plants and creatures for us, and learning about sabaneros (Costa Rican cowboys) was pretty cool!
And as if all of that weren’t enough, we rounded off the day with a mud bath which, as you probably know, does wonders for the skin! Sitting in the bubbling mud pools was such a unique experience, and then we were able to rinse off in the hot springs so that we didn’t have to go home covered in mud. We then both slept for most of the way home, because all of these adventures well and truly tired us out!
This was such a thrilling and memorable day out, and it’s one of the best tours we’ve ever done in Costa Rica. So if, like us, you’re an adventurous traveler, do not hesitate to book this experience.
Book our FAVORITE tour of Rincon de la Vieja here!
2. Volcano Hike, Waterfall Swim & Hot Springs Tour in Rincon de la Vieja
- Price: $125 USD for self-drive group tour; $145 USD for group tour with transport; $199-$285 USD per person for private transport and guide
- Duration: 12 hours
- Time: 6:30 am with pickup, 9 am self-drive
- Highlights: Guided hike through the rainforest and along the Las Pailas trail, swim at Oropendola waterfall, soak in Rio Negro mud baths
- Inclusions: Local guide, hotel pick-up and drop-off (if selected), National Park fees, lunch, water
- Pickup from: Tamarindo, Playa Conchal, Guanacaste, Playa Flamingo, Sardinal, Playa Hermosa, Playa Panama, Playas del Coco, Playa Matapalo, Liberia, Las Catalinas (other areas available for fee of $50 USD per booking)
- Rating: 5 Stars (Read the 450+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
This Rincon de la Vieja tour is our top choice for families and anyone who wants to hike the Las Pailas trail!
After living in Costa Rica for a while, we had heard a lot about this famous walk, and so we just had to go and check it out for ourselves. We were picked up nice and early and met our guide, Ricardo, who set the tone for the day with his positive attitude.
Once we arrived in the park, we set off on our hike. It wasn’t super strenuous and there were some paved sections, so kids and older travelers shouldn’t have any problems. We loved checking out the boiling mud pots, but the real highlight of the hike was the views of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano. Watching steam billowing out of the top was pretty epic!
After we finished the Las Pailas trail, Ricardo took us walking through the rainforest where we were able to spot some monkeys and exotic birds. Then, we arrived at a local restaurant where we tucked into chicken, rice, and beans – which is precisely the type of hearty food you want after a long walk!
In the afternoon, we went for a swim at the beautiful Oropendola Waterfall, which is super scenic with bright blue water. It’ll do wonders for your Instagram feed, trust me!
Then, we relaxed in the volcanic mud baths and hot springs, so there was a nice balance of activity and downtime with this tour. It’s definitely a more relaxed alternative to the one we mentioned above and a fantastic introduction to the park.
Book this tour here to access the pay later option!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
3. Private Rincon de la Vieja Tour
- Price: $180 – $220 USD (depending on group size)
- Duration: 8-10 hours
- Time: 7 am
- Highlights: Guided hike through the rainforest and Las Pailas, waterfall swimming, hot spring soak
- Inclusions: Private transport, National Park fees, lunch, activities, local guide
- Pickup from: Tamarindo, Conchal, Flamingo, Potrero, Coco Beach, Papagayo Peninsula
- Rating: 5 Stars (Read the 180+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
This private tour is ideal for anyone who is looking for a more personal experience and particularly those who are worried about the physical demands of visiting Rincon de la Vieja.
Although there is the option to do a full 2-hour hike along Las Pailas and through the rainforest, there’s also an easier alternative on offer. The lighter hike is a 0.5-mile (0.8-kilometer) trail that passes lots of small waterfalls and still provides magnificent volcano views.
What we love about this tour is that it’s fully customizable, so you can tailor it to suit what you’re comfortable with. And of course, there’s still the option to go swimming in waterfalls and soak in the hot springs, both of which we loved doing in Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
The guides really go above and beyond to make guests happy, too, so this is the ultimate private experience in the park. It’s great for groups traveling together, especially those on a special trip to celebrate a special occasion.
We also think that the price per person is pretty competitive for a private tour, too! For that reason, this tour does book up fast between December and April, so be sure to book your place in advance.
See Rincon de la Vieja like a VIP when you book this private tour!
Related Read: Now that you’ve checked off this volcano, have a look at our guide to the other must-visit volcanoes in Costa Rica and how to see them!
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
Pura Vida!
I hope you’re excited to visit Rincon de la Vieja National Park! It has some of what made us fall in love with Costa Rica – waterfalls, great hikes, wildlife, and volcano views. A tour is the best way to explore here easily since transport, food, and all your activities are planned out. All that’s left to do is have fun!
For more of our recommended tours and travel tips, check out our blog about Costa Rica. I also left a few in-depth guides below that might be helpful as you plan your trip.
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