The Best Hiking Trails in San José (Costa Rica)

Providencia/La Chaqueta/Rancho Tinamu

Hiking

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emoyap

Distance

15.52mi

Elevation +

4150f

TrailRank

62| 5.0

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High difficulty trail that walks down from the high Talamanca mountain range at the Cerro de la Muerte at Providencia Town. This trail is not for unexperienced hikers! Ask your guide to finish the trail at the Savegre Ri...

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Pico Blanco

Hiking

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Raider_CR506

Distance

6.40mi

Elevation +

3215f

TrailRank

51

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We strongly recommend that you visit Pico Blanco only if you feel in shape, and have physically and mentally prepared yourself for the tour. Although many join the ride without having much experience, you do need to have...

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Piedades - 2300m - San Antonio

Hiking

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Alexander Kolotov

Distance

14.57mi

Elevation +

6263f

TrailRank

49

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Wrong path was chosen at the end, so I needed to finish in someone’s farm and climb through the gate. Don’t do that!

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San José city walk

Hiking

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MS Walker

Distance

4.84mi

Elevation +

272f

TrailRank

46

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Just a little walk around the eastern part of SJ. Saw some nice houses and street art. Had lunch at Barrrio Escalante, where you can easily walk around some more. It is a very nice area with great restaurants and cafés.

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Hike from Escazu

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Lucas Braun

Distance

9.70mi

Elevation +

4088f

TrailRank

42

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This is a nice hike that you can start in Escazu or Bebedero. Much of it is on roads and some parts are very steep. There are great views of San Jose, Escazu and Santa Ana the whole way. The route passes through forests ...

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Snail trail hike (section 3) Through the mountain passes.

Hiking

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Garry Wallace

Distance

6.62mi

Elevation +

2238f

TrailRank

39

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Up from the mid-mountains into the mountain passes. Over 700 meters in cumulative climbing. Now the landslide wiping out the road has put a crimp in our plans.

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Catarata Bijagual

Hiking

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Raider_CR506

Distance

5.03mi

Elevation +

1411f

TrailRank

38

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The roar of the Bijagual waterfall berates the canyon walls and reverberates throughout the valley below. The sound grows and sinks behind the great stone walls of the mountain as you descend mossy, stone steps through t...

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El Camino de Costa Rica Section 15: Naranjillo – Esquipulas

Hiking

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Evan Brashier

Distance

7.08mi

Elevation +

1404f

TrailRank

37

For the entire duration of this section, the trail follows one road that predominantly descends towards the Pacific. Streams flow down from higher elevations and cross the road on their way to the nearby river. Trees tow...

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Pico Blanco

Hiking

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emilee beyer

Distance

7.81mi

Elevation +

2881f

TrailRank

37

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So the first part of this hike went very well. You start off on a paved road and then transition to a dirt trail that leads you into the woods. The trail starts getting more rocky and primitive as you continue up. You go...

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El Camino de Costa Rica Section 12: Cerro Alto – San Pablo de Leon Cortes

Hiking

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Evan Brashier

Distance

11.70mi

Elevation +

1332f

TrailRank

37

This section includes the highest elevation on the trail, followed by a long ridge through vast coffee plantations. From these heights we can see rows of mountains to the north and south when the cloud cover lifts. Close...

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El Camino de Costa Rica Section 13: San Pablo de Leon Cortes – Napoles

Hiking

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Evan Brashier

Distance

10.00mi

Elevation +

2165f

TrailRank

37

This portion of the trail requires frequent navigational decisions. The route proceeds across intersecting ridgeline roads, all leading through rows of crops. There are few places to acquire food or water, and almost no ...

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Snail trail hike (Section 8) Empalme - Palo Verde

Hiking

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Garry Wallace

Distance

4.97mi

Elevation +

804f

TrailRank

35

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An amazing treat today. A local guide (Jose) and naturalist led our small group for 4 kms through 2 rain forest hikes through private lands. Thick virgin forest with Jose leading the way, hacking a path through the under...

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El Camino de Costa Rica Section 14: Napoles – Naranjillo

Hiking

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Evan Brashier

Distance

8.08mi

Elevation +

1457f

TrailRank

34

With few intersections and a gentle descent, this section facilitates speed, but tempts hikers to stop often and appreciate the view. The Pacific Coast finally appears, while green mountain ridges flank the trail to the ...

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Mirador Cedral/Cerro Cedral/Quesera/Lechería/Cipresal

Hiking

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san31colo

Distance

21.84mi

Elevation +

3675f

TrailRank

32

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Loop trail from Torrotillo passing through: - Catarata Londres (2.8 km) - Cerro Cedral (5.8 km) - Lechería (8.8 km)

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Cerro dragon (de Llano Bonito)

Hiking

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nilsferrand

Distance

11.30mi

Elevation +

4150f

TrailRank

31

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A nice quick hike to Cerro Dragon. Authorization required for the first part between the fences (ask at the petrol station on the road above Llano Bonito). Was misty on top... Some part require good shoes for mud. A mach...

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Bebedero to Pico Blanco Summit

Hiking

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Baker44

Distance

7.83mi

Elevation +

3596f

TrailRank

31

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From the Bebedero Church up to the Ventoleros de Escazu and on up to thw summit of Pico Blanco and down via the storm pass and on to the end at ELl Bar y Restaurante Al Molino de Jackie.

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Cerro Escazú por Bebedero

Hiking

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ktanzi

with

Distance

9.48mi

Elevation +

1486f

TrailRank

31

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Beautiful views into Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Often very narrow trail, steep climbs and descents, magnificent trees and vegetation. Gorgeous.

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Circulair Rivas - Chirripo Trailhead till KM4 - San Gerardo - Rivas

Hiking

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ilsewit

Distance

9.78mi

Elevation +

3205f

TrailRank

30

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You can use this as alterative start to the Chirripo trail; or as a circulair Rivas -San Gerardo - Rivas. For Chirripo National park you need a permit (you can get one online). You can continue all the way to this hi...

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El Camino de Costa Rica Section 16: Esquipulas – Quepos

Hiking

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Evan Brashier

Distance

13.92mi

Elevation +

381f

TrailRank

30

This stretch of the trail contains diversity that reflects much of what hikers encounter all along El Camino de Costa Rica, neatly compressed into a single section. After passing through farm villages, the trail enters a...

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Cerro Chirripó, Costa Rica

Hiking

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cgaffga

Distance

26.36mi

Elevation +

11339f

TrailRank

29

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3-day hike to Cerro Chirripó! It's so great passing all these different vegetation zones - from jungle, cloud forrest to over broom border

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City walk San José

Hiking

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Dorfmeister

Distance

4.74mi

Elevation +

361f

TrailRank

27

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San José isn't probably the reason why tourists are coming to Costa Rica, but its capital is the ideal hub for visiting other places. Nonetheless it would be a shame to skip the capital at all, because even ugly duckling...

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Adventure Hike Tour - Rainforest Adventures Braulio Carrillo

Hiking

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Rainforest Adventures CR

Distance

4.61mi

Elevation +

1329f

TrailRank

27

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Explore every level of the dense Costa Rican rainforest from the ground to the treetops. Our unique Aerial Tram Tour lets you live first hand all the secrets the forest keeps while you fly above the treetops and experien...

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Ascenso al Cerro Chirripó

Hiking

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sharksoup

with

Distance

24.82mi

Elevation +

8327f

TrailRank

94| 4.83

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Ascenso al Cerro Chirripó des de San Gerardo de Ribas (Costa Rica). El Cerro Chirripó es el pico más alto de Costa Rica, 3820m. Aunque la ruta es dura, desde la cima se puede contemplar un precioso amanecer y si tenéis ...

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Trail to Chirripó

Hiking

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azoeart

Distance

8.78mi

Elevation +

6772f

TrailRank

26| 5.0

This is the trail that takes you from San Gerardo de Rivas to the Crestones Base camp. You really need to be in shape and pack light! Horse/donkey services are available to carry luggage but this only ruins the trail and...

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