Sendero Las Pailas, Rincón de la Vieja

“Something different happens before 9am”

Rincón de la Vieja is one of two active volcanoes in Guanacaste, and the Las Pailas trail circles through its geothermal zone in a loop that covers almost every experience the volcano has to offer. The path passes close to mud pots — shallow craters of grey mud that bubble and hiss visibly from the trail edge — and past fumaroles venting sulphurous steam at skin-scorching temperatures. The landscape shifts between sections of dry tropical forest and areas of open volcanic terrain where the pale rock is still warm and the vegetation is sparse. Howler monkeys occupy the canopy in the forested sections; white-faced capuchins are occasionally seen near the geothermal field. The full loop is roughly eight kilometres, well-maintained and well-marked, with clear signage at the geothermal features. The morning window before noon clouds build over the summit is recommended for views of the upper cone, though the mud pots and fumaroles are accessible all day regardless of weather.

Location

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