Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs in Playa Hermosa
Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs

Outty Ranking 69 5.0 · 25 traveler reviews3 hoursFrom $95
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Outty Ranking

69/100

Solid Choice. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

5.0/5

Based on 25 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs worth booking?

Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs is a 3-hour experience in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, from $95 per person. It scores 69 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice, based on a 5/5 rating across 25 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
69 / 100
Rating
5/5 (25)
Duration
3 hours
From
$95 per person

Get ready for an unforgettable experience with our road trip from Liberia, where you'll enjoy the breathtaking mountain range, nature, and unique scenery of Guanacaste! After a 25 km drive through stunning landscapes, y

What you get

  • Local Maps, nature guide books, binoculars, first aid kit
  • Snacks

About this experience

Get ready for an unforgettable experience with our road trip from Liberia, where you'll enjoy the breathtaking mountain range, nature, and unique scenery of Guanacaste! After a 25 km drive through stunning landscapes, you'll arrive at the Santa Maria Sector, part of Rincón de la Vieja National Park. We'll start our tour by delving into the culture and history at the Casona of the old Santa Maria Hacienda. Here, we'll begin a hike focused on wildlife observation and learning about the nature and forest around us. At the end of the trail, you'll find the magical blue natural pools filled with thermal mineral water, where you can immerse yourself, disconnect and relax. On the way back, we'll visit the Morpho Waterfall so you can rest your feet and dip into fresh water or simply enjoy the peaceful, loving forest and river surroundings. This is a medium-scale hike, approximately 6 km round trip, with 80% flat terrain throughout the trail, making it accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

What's included

Included

  • Local Maps, nature guide books, binoculars, first aid kit
  • Snacks

Not included

  • Bottled water
  • Insect repellent, sunscreen
  • Lunch

What you'll see and do

  1. Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja

    Road trip from Liberia observing the mountain range, nature, and the scenery of Guanacaste. What a way to start the experience! After enjoying the landscape for 25 km, you will reach Santa Maria Sector, which belongs to Rincon de la Vieja National Park. We will start the tour with a lot of culture and knowledge at the Casona of the old Hacienda Santa Maria and the initiate our hike doing wildlife observation and learning from nature and the forest. At the end of the trail, we will find the magical blue natural pools with thermal mineral water where you can go in and disconnect mind and body, relaxing and breathing the essences of the volcano. On the way back we will visit the Morpho Water fall and the Enchanted Forrest Waterfall, where you can rest your feet and dip into fresh water, or just enjoy the peaceful loving forest and river around you. This is a medium-scale hike, approximately 6kms round trip, 80% of flat terrain throughout the trail, making it more accessible and enjoyable.

    240 minutes here · Admission not included

Where it starts and ends

Meeting point

Playa Hermosa

Parking lot at Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja, Sector Santa Maria. To reach this place you should take the national route #918 for 25 km from Liberia Guanacaste, 50101

Hotel pickup

No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

Ends at

Parking lot at Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja, Sector Santa Maria. To reach this place you should take the national route #918 for 25 km from Liberia Guanacaste, 50101

Options you can book

  • Hike, lunch & waterfall

    Oropendula waterfall Tour: After a 20-minute drive and 25 min round-trip you will arrive at the stunning Oropéndula Waterfall & crystal-clear water Costa Rican Lunch: Enjoy a delicious traditional Costa Rican buffet lunch in a beautiful open-air restaurant surrounded by nature

  • Hike & Transportation

    Transportation included: Included transportation for any hotel or houses.

  • Regular hike

    Regular hiking to Santa Maria : Hike of about 3 hours at Santa Maria Sector, to explore the natural hot spring, thefresh water waterfall, and the rainforest

  • Hike & Hot Springs Rio Negro

    Hot springs: After the hike, just 10 min drive, you reached Rio Negro natural Hot springs to relax and volcano mud for exfoliation Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

  • Hike & Hot springs Rio Negro

    Hike and Natural Hot springs: After the hike & 10 min drive we get Rio Negro Natural Hot springs to relax and enjoy the volcano mud and the warm pools

  • Hike, lunch & river

    Visit a Turquise pool river: After 45 min drive, we reach the Coyotes River pool with turquoise water for relaxing tubing, scenery, a cave, & waterfall Costa Rican Lunch: After a 20-minute drive, we arrive at a charming open-air restaurant owned by a local family to taste the real local flavor

Before you book

Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Languages
en, es
Ticket
Mobile Only
Runs on
Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
Group size
Up to 15 travelers per booking
Operated by
Costa Rica Excursions Travel

Know before you go

  • Service animals allowed
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Photos

Natural pools of mineral thermal water in the middle of the forest. A unique natural place of healing water where you can relax your body and mind into the nature.Wonderful scenery just to start the hike to the natural thermal poolsWaterfall fresh waterGreat trail to walk carefully through the rainforest and feel nature.Waterfall fresh waterKeel Billed Toucan

Good to know

Duration
3 hours
Free cancellation
Up to 24h before
Minimum age to book
1+
Availability
Bookable today
Runs on
Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
Price range
$95 to $250
Hotel pickup
No pickup, meet at start point
Booked in 30 days
9
Verdict
Solid Choice

Why this scores 69

The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

Traveler sentiment (30% weight)95
Review evidence (18% weight)46
Booking momentum (14% weight)38
Value for money (12% weight)42
Listing quality (10% weight)95
Local standing (8% weight)61
Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs: questions travelers ask

Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Playa Hermosa.

How much does Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs cost?

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Prices start at $95 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Playa Hermosa usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

How long does Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs take?

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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Playa Hermosa is not rushed.

Is Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs worth it?

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It holds an Outty Ranking of 69 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 25 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Playa Hermosa, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

Can I cancel or reschedule Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs?

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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

Is Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs suitable for kids and families?

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The operator sets a minimum age of 1. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 3-hour running time when deciding.

How far in advance should I book Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs?

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Around 9 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Playa Hermosa can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

What should I bring or wear?

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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Playa Hermosa and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

Where does Rincon de la Vieja/Santa Maria Hike & Hot Springs start and how do I get there?

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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Playa Hermosa within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

What are the best things to do in Playa Hermosa?

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On Outty we rank every Playa Hermosa experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Sloth Wildlife Experience, Coffee, Chocolate & Waterfall, Guachipelin Adventure Volcano Zipline River Tubing Combo, Adventure in Volcano Combo Tour! - Zip Line, Waterfall, Hot Springs and More. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

When is the best time to visit Playa Hermosa?

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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

How many days do you need in Playa Hermosa?

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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

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