Rincón de la Vieja National Park
Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja · National park
Before you go
Days and hours
Sector Pailas: Abierto de martes a domingo de 8:00 am a 3:00 pm. Lunes cerrado.Our translation Pailas sector: open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Closed Monday.
Sector Santa María: Abierto de jueves a lunes de 8:00 am a 3:30 pm. Martes y miércoles cerrado.Our translation Santa María sector: open Thursday to Monday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Entry fees
Adulto no residente: $16.95Our translation Non-resident adult: $16.95
Niño (a) no residente: $5.65Our translation Non-resident child: $5.65
Adulto nacional, y residente: ¢1.130Our translation National and resident adult: ₡1,130
Niño (a) nacional, y residente: ¢565Our translation National and resident child: ₡565
Adultos mayores de 65 años presentando cédula de identidad no pagan tiquete para ingreso.Our translation Adults over 65 who show a national ID card don't pay for entry.
Tarifas de ingreso con IVA incluidoOur translation Entry fees with VAT included
Tickets and reservations
Entrada se adquiere únicamente por medio del Sistema de cobro y reserva en línea: https://serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.crOur translation Entry is bought only through the online payment and reservation system: https://serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr
Check before you go. Hours, fees and rules change. Confirm on SINAC: Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja; we last found these words there on October 16, 2026.
Planning a visit to Rincón de la Vieja National Park
Rincón de la Vieja has two separate visitor sectors with different opening days, so the day of the week decides which one you can enter: Las Pailas closes on Mondays and Santa María closes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. SINAC sells tickets through its online system and nowhere else, so buying ahead is part of the plan.
The Las Pailas loop is the short way to see the mud pots and fumaroles: 3 km and about 2 hours by SINAC's estimate. SINAC lists La Cangreja waterfall as a 10 km round trip on the waterfall trail, and SINAC lets hikers start it until noon in the dry season. SINAC says swimming is not possible at either waterfall, and the crater trail is closed because of volcanic activity.
Our explanation of the quoted facts on this page; it adds no facts of its own.
What it's known for
Emanaciones de lodo hirviendo, agua en ebullición y vapores que resuenan en el ambiente.Our translation Boiling mud, boiling water and steam that echo in the air.
La catarata La Cangreja está a 5 km (10 km en total de ida y vuelta) y la catarata Escondida a 4.3 km (8.6 km en total de ida y vuelta)Our translation La Cangreja waterfall is 5 km away (10 km round trip) and Escondida waterfall 4.3 km (8.6 km round trip).
Size, history and what it protects
Rincón de la Vieja, fue creado como Parque Nacional por Ley Nº 5398 del 23 de octubre de 1973. Su extensión es de 14.300 hectáreas.Our translation Rincón de la Vieja was created as a national park by Law No. 5398 of October 23, 1973. It covers 14,300 hectares.
Se encuentra dividido en dos sectores de visitación turística: Las Pailas y Santa María.Our translation It is divided into two visitor sectors: Las Pailas and Santa María.
aquí nacen 32 ríos, entre ellos el Colorado, Blanco y AhogadosOur translation 32 rivers are born here, among them the Colorado, Blanco and Ahogados.
A su vez se protege la mayor población existente en estado silvestre de la guaria morada, (flor nacional de nuestro país).Our translation It also protects the largest existing wild population of the guaria morada (the national flower).
Check before you go. Hours, fees and rules change. Confirm on SINAC: Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja; we last found these words there on October 16, 2026.
Trails
Sendero Circular Las Pailas: Es el más accesible, tiene una distancia de 3km, circular, color verde, con un recorrido estimado de 2 horas.Our translation Las Pailas Loop Trail: the most accessible one, 3 km, circular, marked green, about 2 hours.
con temperaturas entre los 78 °C a 106 °C (respete normas de seguridad)Our translation with temperatures from 78 °C to 106 °C (follow the safety rules).
Sendero de las Cataratas: Es lineal, color naranja, inicia al salir del Centro de Visitantes a la izquierda (flechas naranjas, subiendo la pendiente por el borde el bosque. La catarata La Cangreja está a 5 km (10 km en total de ida y vuelta) y la catarata Escondida a 4.3 km (8.6 km en total de ida y vuelta), a esta última el sendero es de dificultad alta, debido al ascenso que se debe realizar. El tiempo estimado de ida y vuelta es entre 4-5 horas. NO es posible nadar en ambas cataratas. Equipo necesario: Zapatos cerrados, agua. Durante la época de lluvias jacket. El ingreso a este sendero es posible desde las 8:00 am hasta las 12:00 en la época seca (diciembre-abril) y durante la época lluviosa (mayo-noviembre) puede estar regulado el acceso por parte de la administración del sector.Our translation Waterfalls Trail: linear, marked orange, starting to the left as you leave the visitor center (orange arrows, climbing along the forest edge). La Cangreja waterfall is 5 km away (10 km round trip) and Escondida 4.3 km (8.6 km round trip); the trail to Escondida is highly difficult because of the climb. Round trip takes an estimated 4 to 5 hours. Swimming is NOT possible at either waterfall. Gear needed: closed shoes and water; a jacket in the rainy season. Entry to this trail is possible from 8:00 am until 12:00 in the dry season (December to April), and in the rainy season (May to November) the sector administration may regulate access.
Actualmente el Sendero Cráter Activo está cerrado por actividad volcánicaOur translation The Active Crater trail is currently closed because of volcanic activity.
Check before you go. Hours, fees and rules change. Confirm on SINAC: Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja; we last found these words there on October 16, 2026.
Services and rules
Sector Las Pailas Centro de visitantes. Se cuenta con agua potable y servicios sanitarios. Presencia de Guardaparques en el sitio Senderos No hay teléfono público. En este Sector no hay Área de Camping.Our translation Las Pailas sector: visitor center, with drinking water and restrooms. Park rangers on site. Trails. No public phone. There is no camping area in this sector.
Sector Santa María Hay Área de Camping. Actualmente cerradoOur translation Santa María sector: there is a camping area. Currently closed.
El ingreso de mascotas no es permitido según la ley.Our translation Pets are not allowed, by law.
Weather
La época seca es de diciembre a abril, mientras que la época lluviosa es de mayo a noviembreOur translation The dry season is December to April; the rainy season is May to November.
Other protected areas on this site
A plain list in alphabetical order, not a recommendation.
Source for this page: SINAC: Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja. Quotes are SINAC's words in Spanish; the English lines under them are our translations.