Miravalles Volcano tour from Tamarindo: Crater and hot springs

Walk into an active crater and soak in volcanic hot springs on the same day

This 7-hour tour from Tamarindo reaches Miravalles Volcano, one of Guanacaste's most active peaks, where you walk the only walkable crater in Costa Rica, observe geothermal activity and mud pots, bathe in volcanic mud, and relax in thermal pools before a moderate rainforest hike past three waterfalls. A professional guide in English or Spanish leads the group. Hotel pickup and lunch are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Volcano visit and waterfall exploration

• Drive to Miravalles Volcano
• Visit waterfall and optional swim
• Observe volcanic crater activity
• Enjoy volcanic mud bath and hot springs
• Have lunch
• Hike rainforest with hanging bridges
• See three additional waterfalls

The experience

The drive from Tamarindo takes you through one of the country's most beautiful waterfalls first (you can swim under it if you bring a swimsuit) before reaching the volcano itself. At Miravalles, you'll see the active crater up close, watch smoke and hot stones rise from the geothermal vents, and observe mud pots where temperatures range from 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The crystallized sulfur and volcanic rock formations sit right in front of you as you stand on the crater rim.

After the crater, you'll soak in a volcanic mud bath to take advantage of the minerals, then move to the thermal pools fed by the volcano's heat. There are six pools total on the property, plus a sauna and a 250-meter pool slide if you want to add adrenaline to the day. Lunch happens before the final leg, which is a moderate hike through the rainforest on hanging bridges that pass three more waterfalls. The whole experience runs seven hours from pickup to drop-off.

The tour operates as a private experience when your group has more than four people, or as a shared tour with a minimum of two passengers. A professional guide speaks English or Spanish throughout. Children from age 5 can join, though they must be accompanied by an adult, and vegetarian meals are available if you request them at booking.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• lunch.
• access to the volcanic mud bath and all six thermal pools on the property.
• the rainforest hike with hanging bridges and three waterfalls.

Options for this experience

3 options

4 Pax MinimumUp to 15 people · Guide in English or Spanish · 07:00This excursion remains fairly unknown and brings us to one of Guanacaste's most active volcanoes, the Miravalles. It is an untamed, rainforest-covered mountain, and it lets us visit the only walkable crater in a safe way.

2 Pax MinimumUp to 15 people · Guide in English or Spanish · 07:00This excursion remains fairly unknown and brings us to one of Guanacaste's most active volcanoes, the Miravalles. It is an untamed, rainforest-covered mountain, and it lets us visit the only walkable crater in a safe way.

Private tour for 4 or more passengersUp to 10 people · Guide in English or Spanish · 07:00Lasts 7 hours, with a 1 hour and 50 minute lunch. Travel is by minivan, and pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (18 to 55 years) · Child (7 to 17 years) · Infant (5 to 6 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Audio guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 30 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Pininos Adventures

Is this one for you?Book private if your group wants to linger at the mud pots and thermal pools without time pressure. Choose shared if you're solo or a pair and want to join other visitors to split costs.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 17 years); Infant (5 to 6 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I swim at the waterfalls on this tour?

Yes, you can swim under the waterfall on the drive to Miravalles if you bring a swimsuit. The three waterfalls you encounter during the rainforest hike at the end of the day are part of the route, though swimming there depends on the water flow and conditions on the day.

What is the volcanic mud bath actually like?

The mud bath uses naturally heated mud from the geothermal area around Miravalles. You apply it to your skin and soak in it to benefit from the volcanic minerals before rinsing off in the thermal pools nearby.

How difficult is the rainforest hike?

The hike is moderate in difficulty and includes hanging bridges over the rainforest canopy. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy.

Is the Llanos del Cortez waterfall included?

Llanos del Cortez is not part of the standard package. If you want to visit it, there is an extra charge of $7 for adults and $4 for children, payable at the time of the tour.

What time does the tour start and end?

Hotel pickup is included, so the tour starts from your accommodation in Tamarindo and returns you there after seven hours. Your guide will confirm the exact pickup time when you book.