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Hiking
Hiking near and around Playa Flamingo: Costa Rica has plenty of trails that serious hikers can choose from a long list. But here we provide you with the trails around the Greater Flamingo Area. The sceneries that the routes pass range from lowland rain forest to mountain valleys.
All National Parks in the region
Rincón de la Vieja National Park
Rincon de la Vieja (1,895 meters) is the largest of all five volcanoes that comprise the Cordillera de Guanacaste. This volcano has nine craters, with the tallest being Santa Maria (1,916 meters). The crators have formed a lake and forest around its outer rim that hosts tapirs. There is a main crator that still produces steam (Von Seebach). Between the two crater lies Icy Lake Los Jilgueros. The last eruption occurred in 1983. But, in the last visits, Rincon was in an active phase which prohibited hikers to the summit.
The Park (14,083 hectare), ranges from 650, to 1,965 meters in height on both the Caribbean and Pacific flanks. The Pacific sides dry season is very distinct (Feb.-April) with the oppossite Carribean side being lush and wet year-round, creating as much as 500 centimeters of rainfall yearly on the higher elevated slopes.
The Rincon de la Vieja Park is known for it abundance of orchids. There are over 300 species of birds which include the trogon, quetzals, three-wattled bellbirds, toucanets, and the curasow. Mamals in the area include spider monkeys, howler monkeys, whitefaced monkeys, cougars, kinkajous, sloths, tapirs, and jaguars.
Hiking
The smaller slopes are able to explored along easy trails that start at the park headquarters. The Sendero Encantado leads into cloud forest that consist of many guaria morada orchids (the national flower) and connects to a 12-kilometer hiking trail that allows access to Las Pailas (Cauldrons), 50 hectares of mud volcacones that create, boiling thermal waters, vapor geysers, Hornillas (Ovens) geyser consising of sulfer dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Makes sure to be very cautious exploring the area, as it is possible to step throught the crust which can be deadly.
In between the cloud forest and las Pailas, which is a side trail (Aguas Thermales) accesses sulfer hot springs called Los Azufrales (Sulfers). Here small pools are formed by thermal waters (42°C) where you can bathe in its curativ properties that can be very soothing. After you are finished, there is a cold-water stream for rinsing off. From this point, another trail is accessible to the Hidden Waterfalls, four falls (three of them reach over 70 meters) in the Agria Ravine.
Be sure to hike on trail at a time, as it is restricted to hike with out reprting to the rangers station before setting out on each trail. Be sure to know that rangers will set out to find you after a specified time if you do not report between embarqing on each trail.
Hiking to the Summit
This hike can be a challenge, but can be done in a round-trip to the summit and back in one day. It is relatively a straightforward hidke as the trails begin at the Santa Maria Ranger Station. The trail leads past Las Hornillas and the Las Pailas Ranger Station, and snakes up the steep mountainside. Along the path, you will cross purple lava fossilized by the sun. All trail are marked by cairns, but is is easy to lose your way; so consider paying a local guide. The higher elevation the looser the terrain can be, so make sure to be careful on desending.
On a clear day, you can see Lake Nicarauga, which is quite breathtaking. From this point the temperature is cool with a strong but gentle breeze.
It is often cloudy, which you may need to camp and ascend the summit the next day (here there is a campsite about five kilometers from Las Pailas; it's around two hours to the summit of Von Seebach from there). Recommended camping is at the beach of Linnet Bird Lagoon.
Make sure to have filled up with water and refreshments at the ranger station before you start the hike.
Camping
Camping is not permitted when there is volcanic ativitiy. Camping is permitted of coarse when the volcano's in it inactive phases at the ranger stations ($2pp, w/ bathroom and shower facilities); make sure to bring a waterproof ent, sleeping bag, dry clothes, mosquito repellant and netting.
Contact the park headquarters in Santa Maria when inquiring and making reservations.
You can find several nature lodges on the edge of the park.
Information and Services
The park headquarters location is at the Hacienda Santa Maria, 27 kilometers northeast of Liberia (there is a sing on Hwy. 1 on the south side of LIberia which points the direction to the "Sector Santa Maria"). The Park service purchased the 19th-century farmstead from once owner former U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson. Here contains an exhibition room which is linked to the six-kilometer trail to the Las Pailas Ranger Station (tel: 506.661.8139), which lies on the southewestern flank of the volcanoe. You can reach Las Pailas via a road from Curuband. Admission costs are $6.
The Guancaste Conservation Area office in Liberia is the park administrator. (tel: 506.666.0630, fax 506.666.3101, www.sinac.go.cr).
Getting There
To get to the Santa Maria Ranger Station, you will take the road that begins from the Barrio Victoria suburb of Liberia, where Avenida 6 leads east 25 kilometers via Colonia La Libertad. This road is rough terrain with many rutts and muddy in the rainy season. It is recommended to drive 4WD. There are lodges that can arrange transfers, adn the Hotel Guanacaste in LIberia has its own transfers at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily ($7 pp each way, three people minimum). To take a taxi from Liberia will cost around $30-$40 each way.
Both ranger stations ( Santa Maria and Las Pailas) are linked by trails. You can also reach Las Pailas by way of Highway 1 via a turnoff about six kilometers north of Liberia. Here the dirt road will lead past the village of Curubande (10 km) to the entrance of Hacienda Guachipelin. The gates are only open during daylight hours. A $1.50 fee is for thright to use the private road (the toll is reimbursed if you stay). Three kilometers of dirt road leads to Hacienda Lodge Guachiplein and continues to Rincon de la Vieja Lodge and Las Pailas Ranger Station. A bus departs Liberia forCurubande and Hacienda Lodge Guachipelin at 4:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 4:15 p.m.
Understand
The closest park (Rincon de la Vieja National Park) to the Papagayo, Coco, Hermosa, Flamingo, Tamarindo area. This park has losts of volcanic activity, fumaroles, boiling mud pots, vapor vents, sulfer vents, forests, wild life. Great for a one day tour with the whole family. There are more complicated trails for expert hikers as well, like the crater top or the sulfur springs "Los Azufrales". There is a convenience at the entrance of the park with bathrooms Remeber the park closes on Mondays.
