Camino de Costa Rica
An experience of a lifetime - Camino Costa Rica - 14 day trek across Costa Rica from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. 170 miles, 19,099 feet gain in, 19,068 feet gain out.
We got lucky and had a wonderful group of 12 led by our amazing guide - Ana.
The trek passed through many beautiful and diverse habitats and climates. From muddy lush jungle paths, different plantations (coffee, palm oil, bananas, sugar cane) to higher elevations with pine and oak trees. Trails were from muddy single tracks with stream crossings through the jungle, to mostly wide gravel or paved roads, some with a fair amount of traffic, but drivers were mostly respectful and friendly, giving us space.
So many incredible views, flowers, birds, domesticated animals, snakes, frogs and monkeys.
A few chilly evenings with crackling fires at the higher elevations to hot humid sweaty days and refreshing river plunges. Even though it was the dry season we definitely had a couple of rainy days (to be expected in the upper rainforest of the Atlantic side).
Accommodations ranged from campsites (one in particular had the most incredible view which almost converted Amy to a camper), cabins, houses, and a few hotels. All with incredibly warm and welcoming hosts and plentiful fresh food, surprisingly prepared from their very simple kitchens.
We had some special treats along the way - yoga and sound bath session, chocolate making workshop, coffee tour and tasting.
14 days of hiking was hard, as Costa Rica has very few flats just lots of ups and downs, some much steeper than others. At the moment feels like an accomplishment of a lifetime.
Guide: Urritreck. Cost $3,500 + $200 tip for 2 people
Hike
A few hard days
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Day 1 - long and hot/humid,
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Day 3 - endless slippery mud - truly amazed everyone finished the day without serious falls or ankle twists.
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Day 11(section 13) - tough day with incredible views. Very steep never ending up and downs.
Rest were medium days due to Costa Rican flats - always ups and downs rarely (most of first and last day) truly flat.
Short days -arrived at accommodation in time for lunch, before 1pm.
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Day 7
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Day 8
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Day 9
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Day 12
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Day 13
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Day 14
Favorite days
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Day 8 - in the jungle but not as intense as day 3. Loved our comfortable rainforest classy accommodation and yoga / sound bath session -a real midway treat.
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Day 10 (section 12) loved the views and the change in scenery
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Day 12 (section 14)- easier hiking day with views of the pacific ocean. Incredible views from our campsite.
Group - 12 plus Ana our wonderful guide. 3 couples and 6 women. Age ranged from 38 to 71. The 66- and 71-year-old women traveling by themselves were so inspiring. All Americans, but one Canadian from Quebec, one American living in CR for 3 years now and another one in the process of transitioning to CR. We were very compatible. We lost one of our group members on day 9 due to terrible blisters. and another one on day 10 who lives in Costa Rica, missed her kids, and wasn’t feeling well.
Food - plentiful. Lots of rice and beans, fruit, fruit juices. Occasionally meals were different, but mostly….
Breakfast - rice and beans, scrambled eggs, tortillas or toast, fruit, plantain, coffee/tea
Lunch - take away in a banana leaf a tortilla with protein, rice beans and potatoes. Sit down lunch-fish, chicken or meat with rice and beans, vegetables and a salad
Dinner - same as sit down lunch. Several times when we had late lunches we had soup for dinner
Accommodation - hotels, tents, cabins, and a house. Not a luxury trip. Many nights were sharing bathrooms. Most accommodations clean, unique and welcoming. Singles had to sleep with others. One night we bunked in a two bedroom house with 2 other ladies. Shared a bathroom otherwise we had our own tent or bedroom. Favorite nights - luxury yoga retreat, sparkling clean campsite with incredible view.
Terrain - Mostly wide roads either paved or gravel, deep mud trails in the jungle, Lots of ups and downs. Some gradual others steep.
Plantations - banana, sugar cane, coffee, palm oil
Animals
Paradise for birders. Our birders in our group saw 160+ unique species. Lots of cows, horses, dogs (seemed like everyone owned at least one sometimes up to 4), some cats and an occasional goat. Surprised we didn’t see more wildlife in jungle. Saw on the first day a sloth and some monkeys. Couple of frogs, snakes and spiders
Vegetation - lush, lots of jungle, favorite trees with orange flowers (only flower in the wintertime) and rainbow trees
Lots of flowers and some quite different from what we are used to seeing.
People - very warm, welcoming and friendly. Proud of their homes and cars (keep them very clean). Many people don’t have a lot. Camino is helping improve their lives
Training - hills a must. Back to back hiking days. Get used to poles.