Horseback Ride & Hot Springs at Hacienda Guachipelin

Duration

6 Hours

About

Our best Costa Rica horseback riding tour combines hiking in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park, visiting the spectacular Oropendula Waterfall, horseback riding and relaxing in the Rio Negro Hot Springs … what a perfect day!

From Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, we will ride our friendly ranch horses 45 minutes on a scenic forest trail to the Las Pailas entrance of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Meaning “The Cauldrons” in Spanish, the Las Pailas area spectacularly shows off the awesome power of the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, the largest and most active volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Steaming fumaroles, mini-geysers and bubbling volcanic mud pits give you an incredible experience like no other volcano in Costa Rica.

Hiking in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park on the Las Pailas loop trail takes you 2.5 miles (3.5 km) through dry tropical forest to see the best views of the volcano, incredible nature, volcanic activity, and wildlife. Our bilingual naturalist guide will point out many of the 300 bird species that live here, and any other animals, like white-faced, howler and spider monkeys, armadillos, collared peccaries, iguanas, snakes, or white-nosed coatis.

When you finish your hike, you’ll be ready for a refreshing swim in the Oropendula Waterfall. It is a short walk from the national park entrance on a trail with varying terrain to get down to the river bottom. The Oropendola Waterfall plunges an impressive 82 feet (25 meters) to a sparkling turquoise pool in the lush canyon of the Rio Blanco (White River), creating a picturesque tropical oasis.

After your swim, a car will be ready to take us to the Rio Negro Hot Springs, one of the most popular attractions at Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Surrounded by thick tropical dry forest, Rio Negro (Black River) flows through 10 man-made pools filled with steaming mineral-rich volcanic waters. You access pools on both sides of the river by two hanging bridges. Heated volcanic clay is available to smooth all over like a spa “body masque.” After it dries, wash it off with cold river water before jumping back in the hot pools.

There are changing rooms, bathrooms, and lockers at the hot springs entrance. From there, you will walk a beautiful trail less than a quarter-mile (350 meters) through the forest to the hot springs pools.

ENTRANCE FEE TO THE PARK IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RATE

What to Bring

Camera, long pants, swimsuit, comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a hat.