Rincón de la Vieja Volcano hike: Active crater and waterfall

Walk through an active volcano and swim in a turquoise pool

This tour takes you on a guided hike through Rincón de la Vieja National Park to explore the volcano's geothermal features (bubbling water lagoons, steamy sulfur ponds, and mud volcanoes), then cools off at La Oropéndola Waterfall. A professional bilingual guide leads the two-hour volcano walk, and the full outing runs seven to eight hours with hotel pickup, transport, and lunch included.

Options for this experience

2 options

From US$ 152 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

From Papagayo/Coco Hotels 07:30 Guide in English or Spanish Pickup is included

From Tamarindo/Flamingo Area 06:30 Guide in English or Spanish Pickup is included from the Tamarindo and Conchal area

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Step-by-step itinerary

Hike volcano and visit waterfall

• Hike Rincon de la Vieja Volcano
• See bubbling lagoons and mud volcanoes
• Visit La Oropéndola Waterfall
• Swim in turquoise pool

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a guided hike with a professional bilingual guide.
• lunch.
• and access to La Oropéndola Waterfall for swimming.

Times

• Thursday 06:30 07:30

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Before you book

Group Up to 15 4 private ›

Live guide English and Spanish

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to 2d before

Ages Adult (12 to 75 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

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

Good to know

Moderate physical effort Infant seats available Not recommended with heart problems

Operated by Central American Tours

Prices and times updated yesterday

Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 5 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

Rincón de la Vieja is known as a gently active volcano, and the hike shows you why. Over two hours, you move through terrain shaped by ongoing geothermal activity: bubbling lagoons where water heats from below, sulfur ponds releasing steam, and small mud volcanoes releasing gases. The National Park protects this landscape, and a professional guide who speaks English and Spanish walks you through it, explaining what you're seeing and keeping the group safe on the uneven ground. The volcano itself is a sleeping giant, but the energy it releases (visible in every pond and fumarole) makes the geology tangible in a way a photograph cannot.

After the volcano section, the tour moves to La Oropéndola Waterfall, where a turquoise pool sits at the base. This is where you swim and cool off after the hike. The full day runs seven to eight hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, and lunch is included partway through. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle between the park entrance and the waterfall, so the physical demand stays on the hike itself rather than on transport or logistics.

The tour departs from either the Tamarindo and Flamingo area or from Papagayo and Coco hotels, depending on which option you choose at checkout. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and children are welcome from age five onward (they must be accompanied by an adult). The operator notes that moderate physical fitness is needed for the two-hour hike and the terrain. Travelers with cardiovascular concerns should check before booking.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly will I see on the volcano hike at Rincón de la Vieja?

The two-hour hike takes you through active geothermal features: bubbling water lagoons heated from below, steamy sulfur ponds releasing gases, and small mud volcanoes. These formations show the ongoing volcanic activity that makes Rincón de la Vieja distinct from a dormant crater.

Can I swim during this tour?

Yes. After the volcano hike, you swim in the turquoise pool at the base of La Oropéndola Waterfall, which is part of the same tour.

How long is the actual hiking part?

The volcano hike itself takes two hours. The full tour, including transport, the waterfall, and lunch, runs seven to eight hours from hotel pickup to drop-off.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, the guided hike with a bilingual guide, lunch, and access to the waterfall are all included. Gratuities are not included.

Which pickup location should I choose?

You choose either the Tamarindo and Flamingo area or the Papagayo and Coco hotels area at checkout, depending on where you're staying. Both options follow the same itinerary once you reach the park.