Costa Rica Adventure Tours & Activities: Hiking

We could say that there are countless areas for hiking almost all around Costa Rica, which present different levels of difficulty from easy to very difficult hikes. Moreover, we must also say that there’s a lack of proper information in some of these, including markings, regulations, and lengths, among others. With this said, we don’t mean to discourage you to come to Costa Rica on a hiking trip, but we do encourage you to take guided hikes whenever possible, specially if the hiking trails doesn’t offer a well marked self guided map. Remember, the rain forest is vast and dense, and it is not difficult to find your self lost after a short while and to lose the sense of orientation.

Recommendations when hiking in Costa Rica:

· If there are no guided hikes in the area, make sure you get a self guided map before going into a trail. Be cautious when setting off to the forest.
· Remember that we are in tropical latitudes, so the sun sets year round no later than 5:30 pm and even earlier during summer, never walk in the woods after the sunset, or when it won’t give you time to be out of the trail before sunset.
· Wear appropriate hiking shoes, both for protection and comfort. Although there are few poisonous snakes, you never know what you can find in the forest.
· Wear a good hat / cap, insect repellent and sun block.
· Bring enough water with you. Remember, it is easy to get dehydrated in the tropics
· If possible, let someone else know where you are going and how long it will most probably take you to return (especially important in longer hikes and in very remote locations). No matter if it’s the hotel front desk’s clerk or your next door neighbor, but inform someone
· When hiking in the trails, don’t grab to logs or branches without checking it first.
· Look where you are walking!
· In your back pack take extra pair of socks, raingear, a proper jacket and water.

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