With a Guide

Guides can make the difference between a great “hike” and a transformative “experience”.  Doing El Camino de Costa Rica with a guide — even if you are a well-seasoned hiker — is highly recommended to enhance the experience, gain insights into the culture and ecosystems, and ensure safety by going with someone who already knows these natural spaces well.  You can save yourself a lot of research and leave the details to them in order to immerse yourself fully in this unique hike.  At the same time, they will help you appreciate how you are contributing to the sustainability of the 25 rural communities along the route, as well as to the protection of the rich but fragile ecosystems and wildlife you encounter crossing Costa Rica from coast to coast.

The Terrain and Ecosystems

Guides have first-hand knowledge of the varied terrain and can help you to prepare to cross five microclimates, varying from beaches, mangroves, tropical rainforests, cloud forests, mountain ranges, to agricultural landscapes of banana/coffee/sugar cane and finally palm oil plantations as you approach the Pacific Ocean.  Through their trained eyes and ears, you will enjoy moments of awe along the route as they help you spot monkeys jumping from tree to tree, sloths resting high in a treetop, colorful birds such as scarlet macaws and toucans and potentially snakes, frogs, insects. You will be encouraged to stop, notice and connect with the many hues of green in the lush surroundings, and take in the multiple sounds of nature, such the rustling of leaves just before a light rain or the flow of water in a stream to cool your tired feet.  You may actually come to distinguish the different bird calls of approximately 900 different species you may encounter, as well as the chatters and howls of 4 different species of monkeys that inhabit the route, or simply enjoy the constantly changing sounds in the natural surroundings.

The People

Costa Ricans are famous for their positive outlook on life “pura vida” (pure life) and being tourist-friendly.  Guides who know the entrepreneurs and local people along the route well can introduce you into the rural life of 25 communities off the beaten tourism track. You can experience the socio-cultural customs, traditions, and even colloquialisms of Ticos and Ticas, as Costa Ricans proudly call themselves. Why “Tico”? A notable idiosyncrasy of Costa Ricans is to add diminutives with –ico, -ito or -illo to many words producing more colloquial and affectionate forms (e.g., as in a little coffee–un poquitico, poquillo or poquito de café instead of un poco de café).  Languages and dialects also vary among Afro-American descendants and the Cabecar, one of the eight indigenous groups of the country. The guides can immerse you in these communities so you can enjoy their stories, traditions and even languages first-hand and understand how your visit helps them to live in better conditions to reach sustainability, a primary objective of the founding association that created this trail.

The Added Value

Guides can customize an itinerary  

Among the perks that professional guides can offer even experienced hikers and backpackers that also help support this trail off the beaten track of conventional tourism are:

• suggesting the best itinerary to fit an individual/group’s goals, fitness level, traveling style, budget and time constraints. 
• arranging luggage transfers so you can hike comfortably with just a day-pack and helping you out with any physical discomfort.
• sharing knowledge about different ecosystems, history, geography and culture.
• offering a variety of accommodations, such as lodges, community hostels, glamping and camping for a budget-friendly immersive experience
• taking you to their personal favorite spots for great views or to try local flavors and cuisines.
• providing interesting add-ons or off-trail moments such as soaking in natural hot springs, river rafting, horseback riding, kayaking, picking or tasting coffee to name just a few.
• helping you to get to know people and learn about their livelihood and share stories going beyond the usual friendliness and hospitality of Ticos.
• giving you information about the terrain, weather conditions and suggesting the required gear so you can prepare better for each stage of your hike. 
• alerting you about possible risk factors, such as flooding from heavy rains and offering you backup trails when the main routes get blocked.

In a nutshell, when you hire a professional guide on your hike, you may have a lot more memories to cherish in the future.