The Best Trails in San José (Costa Rica)

Providencia/La Chaqueta/Rancho Tinamu

Hiking

Save to a List

emoyap

Distance

15.52mi

Elevation +

4150f

TrailRank

62| 5.0

View more photos

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...

View trail

Pico Blanco

Hiking

Save to a List

Raider_CR506

Distance

6.40mi

Elevation +

3215f

TrailRank

51

View more photos

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...

View trail

Piedades - 2300m - San Antonio

Hiking

Save to a List

Alexander Kolotov

Distance

14.57mi

Elevation +

6263f

TrailRank

49

View more photos

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!

View trail

San José city walk

Hiking

Save to a List

MS Walker

Distance

4.84mi

Elevation +

272f

TrailRank

46

View more photos

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.

View trail

vuelta por Puriscal y Tilaran

Road Motorbike

Save to a List

Peter Pan CR

Distance

291.23mi

Elevation +

28409f

TrailRank

43

View more photos

rascar curvas a gusto y solamente poco lastre o fila de indio detras los camiones Kurven kratzen nach Herzenslust und nur wenig Schotter oder LKWschlange corner scratching with joy and only a bit gravel and followi...

View trail

Hike from Escazu

Hiking

Save to a List

Lucas Braun

Distance

9.70mi

Elevation +

4088f

TrailRank

42

View more photos

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 ...

View trail

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

Hiking

Save to a List

Garry Wallace

Distance

6.62mi

Elevation +

2238f

TrailRank

39

View more photos

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.

View trail

A rascar curvas: San Jose, Acosta, Puriscal, Orotina, Atenas

Road Motorbike

Save to a List

Peter Pan CR

Distance

74.21mi

Elevation +

9659f

TrailRank

38

View more photos

Languages ESP, ENG, DEU "A rascar curvas, Carajo." De San Jose a Atenas a visitar la suegra en "solamente" 3 1/2h con sidecar. Si lo hace en 2h entonces mejor vaya a la Guacima para no matar a nadie. 2 veces conté, ...

View trail

Catarata Bijagual

Hiking

Save to a List

Raider_CR506

Distance

5.03mi

Elevation +

1411f

TrailRank

38

View more photos

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...

View trail

El Camino de Costa Rica Section 15: Naranjillo – Esquipulas

Hiking

Save to a List

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...

View trail

Pico Blanco

Hiking

Save to a List

emilee beyer

Distance

7.81mi

Elevation +

2881f

TrailRank

37

View more photos

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...

View trail

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

Hiking

Save to a List

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...

View trail

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

Hiking

Save to a List

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 ...

View trail

Snail trail hike (Section 8) Empalme - Palo Verde

Hiking

Save to a List

Garry Wallace

Distance

4.97mi

Elevation +

804f

TrailRank

35

View more photos

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...

View trail

El Camino de Costa Rica Section 14: Napoles – Naranjillo

Hiking

Save to a List

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 ...

View trail

Mirador Cedral/Cerro Cedral/Quesera/Lechería/Cipresal

Hiking

Save to a List

san31colo

Distance

21.84mi

Elevation +

3675f

TrailRank

32

View more photos

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

View trail

Cerro dragon (de Llano Bonito)

Hiking

Save to a List

nilsferrand

Distance

11.30mi

Elevation +

4150f

TrailRank

31

View more photos

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...

View trail

Yoses - San Francisco de Dos Ríos

Road Motorbike

Save to a List

norbyx

Distance

104.38mi

Elevation +

19052f

TrailRank

31

View more photos

This is a perfect root 4 Road Motorbikes 4 dual purpose motorbikes There are some great Panorama and you go over and electric dam that is very nice to see The asphalt is almost perfect very tight curves very fun ride

View trail

Bebedero to Pico Blanco Summit

Hiking

Save to a List

Baker44

Distance

7.83mi

Elevation +

3596f

TrailRank

31

View more photos

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.

View trail

Cerro Escazú por Bebedero

Hiking

Save to a List

ktanzi

with

Distance

9.48mi

Elevation +

1486f

TrailRank

31

View more photos

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

View trail

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

Hiking

Save to a List

ilsewit

Distance

9.78mi

Elevation +

3205f

TrailRank

30

View more photos

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...

View trail

El Camino de Costa Rica Section 16: Esquipulas – Quepos

Hiking

Save to a List

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...

View trail

Cerro Chirripó, Costa Rica

Hiking

Save to a List

cgaffga

Distance

26.36mi

Elevation +

11339f

TrailRank

29

View more photos

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

View trail

Los Molinos Run from Pozos

Trail Running

Save to a List

Russell Benaroya

Distance

14.16mi

Elevation +

3018f

TrailRank

28

View more photos

This was a run up to the windmills from Pozos through Santa Ana and into the mountains. Super steep but a beautiful view. Round trip took about 3 hours.

View trail