Prepare for your hike

El Camino de Costa Rica is a truly unique hiking experience. The trail, inspired  by  El Camino de Santiago offers more adventure and challenges in places in a more varied, exotic and biodiverse landscape in addition to  a first-hand opportunity to engage with Costa Ricans in the heart of their country. 

Here is useful information about the trail and suggestions on what you should consider while preparing for the hike. For more detailed information, make sure to visit every single one of our 16 Stages section.

Terrain

This is a lovely 280 km (174 mile) trek that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans across one of the most biodiverse and environmentally conscious countries in the world. The trail ranges in elevation from sea level to 7,654 feet (2,333 meters), with nearly 24,000 feet (7,250 meters) of total elevation gain over the entire route. 

The route encompasses every form of walkway. You’ll encounter narrow, challenging forest trails, dirt paths, double track farm roads, forgotten backroads, gravel roads and some asphalt. Therefore, we recommend you bring the footwear that you typically use for your hiking adventures. Anything from trail runners to sturdy ankle high boots, if that’s what you typically wear. 

On the trail you encounter numerous waterfalls, unforgettable river crossings, primary forests, sweeping views of surrounding mountain ranges and volcanoes, and a spectacular experience through a protected Indigenous territory.

Climate

During your hike you will encounter sun, rain, mud, bugs, heat, and cold. While passing through 6 climate zones, the physical beauty of the entire country is on full display. You encounter steamy coastal lowlands while walking through banana, pineapple, and oil palm plantations; wild primary forest jungle trails; world famous highland coffee farms; wide open fields, and cattle ranches.

Temperatures typically range from 8ºC (46ºF) to 35ºC (95ºF), all within about a week.

Tropical weather means that, on the same day, you can encounter very strong sun and torrential rain. Hike prepared with both good protection from the sun (both clothing and sunscreen) and rain (having both a poncho and an umbrella would not be overthinking).

Packing list 

Communications

Cellular coverage is spotty in many parts of the route. Be sure to download your GPS navigation App and make any lodging reservations while you have coverage or a WiFi connection.

While English is widely spoken in the more frequently visited tourist areas on the coasts and in the Central Valley, that is not the case in the small, rural, more remote areas where much of El Camino de Costa Rica traverses. Bring a Spanish dictionary (another valuable app!) and maybe bone up on some important phrases ahead. Above all, show patience and understanding. Ticos are typically very accommodating and will work with you if you make the effort.

One of the greatest features of El Camino de Costa Rica is that in most of the hospitality accommodations, hikers stay at the home, small hostel, or camping site of a member of the community. So please be respectful and don’t show up unannounced. This would not only inconvenience your host, but you may find “no room at the Inn”. Hikers should make  reservations 1 to 2 weeks in advance. (Visit our stage’s page for a list of accommodations)

Most owners of the hospitality accommodations have other primary occupations and activities that often make it difficult to be reached by a standard phone call. We highly  recommend you request reservations by message using WhatsApp. (Note: In Costa Rica all phone numbers begin with the prefix +506 and mobile numbers generally begin with the number 8, 7or 6 and landlines with the number 2). Hikers with no Spanish language skills can use the following message to request a reservation:

Hola, mi nombre es (Your name) y estoy caminando El Camino De Costa Rica. Yo quiero hacer una reservación para (Number of people) personas para la noche del (Date of Reservation). Espero su respuesta. ¡Gracias!

Safety

Safety wise, you should consider staying at one of many lodging options along the route that the Asociación Mar a Mar, the organization that oversees the trail, reviews for adherence to a number of standards. Also, those lodgings are in constant communication with one another, and will let the next lodge know when you start the next day, so they can expect you at the next destination, and alert the community in case they do not hear from you at a reasonable time. Take advantage of this caring network.

Costa Rica is considered a safe country, but like everywhere in the world, there are opportunists and criminals. Hike in daylight and avoid deviating from the official trail. Also, do not make  your valuables too visible. 

Most lodgings do not accept credit cards, which means you need to carry cash with you. Plan on between $600 – $800 for the typical 12-14 day hike. Have that amount available converted to colones. There are only two ATM’s along the route, so plan accordingly, not to carry too much cash at all times.

In the event of an emergency or danger, Costa Rica has a 9-1-1 system similar to North America. Remember that Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica, so while the 9-1-1 operator may speak English, this is in no way guaranteed.

Official signage and blazing

Besides your navigation App, you should familiarize yourself with ECCR’s official signage and blazing. 

Blaze

The current blaze is a 2” x 6” bright red vertical stripe. These blazes appear mostly at or near to an intersection or where an affirmation of direction is desirable.

On the picture below, the current blaze is shown on top of the older version which is primarily a short horizontal red stripe over a white one. Both of these will appear at various places along the trail. In the event of contradiction, the vertical stripe is more reliable because it is more current.

Wooden directional signs 

These signs, which are embossed with the bright red hummingbird logo, are placed along the trail at  an intersection or fork, where a decision must be made about which way to go. They are only placed at such points where a change of direction is required. So  a hiker should proceed on the road or path they are currently on until such a sign is encountered. They are situated such that the hiker approaches them on the perpendicular in the direction they are walking. When one sign appears directly over another, the upper sign indicates the route toward the Pacific (Quepos) and the lower one, towards the Caribbean (Barra de Parismina). 

Costa Rican government signage

ICT (Instituto Costarricense de Turismo) directional signs. These metal painted signs appear at various points along the route and point the way in a manner similar to the wooden directional signs pictured above.

ICT (Instituto Costarricense de Turismo) distance indicators in Km.

These metal painted signs located at various points along the route indicate the number of kilometers remaining to either end point of El Camino de Costa Rica, Quepos on the Pacific side and Barra de Parismina on the Atlantic side.

Other route markers

Mojones 

These concrete markers are placed along the route at various places and indicate the stage (etapa) the hiker is currently on. There are 16 stages total.  Some also contain kilometer information.

Hummingbird emblem 

This and a few other versions of a red and white painted hummingbird mark the route at various locations.

Other non official signage

Other signs or stickers containing the words EL CAMINO DE COSTA RICA may be encountered along or near the route but should NOT be relied upon for navigational guidance.

These are not always sanctioned by Asociación Mar a Mar and in some cases may be outdated or otherwise incorrect.

GPS guided navigational aids

The official Asociacion Mar a Mar GPS guided navigational routes found on this Web Site, or the Wikiloc are highly recommended to be used in conjunction with the visual navigational aids shown above. Also, the popular app FarOut now offers a guide for El Camino de Costa Rica that in addition to GPS guided navigation also includes extensive valuable waypoint information including lodging listings with live links and resupply locations.

Restricted Access Areas

Some of El Camino de Costa Rica crosses private property which owners have granted permission for hikers to traverse. Two properties in particular have implemented a fee and reservation structure in exchange for the services of a guide. These reservations and fees are REQUIRED for passage.

Stage 3, The Nairi Awari Indigenous Reserve. Entrance into this tribal territory is prohibited unless accompanied by a local guide. It is a wild, spectacularly beautiful section and potentially dangerous. The guide services MUST be set up in advance with Leo Martinez (+506 8504-3216), Osvaldo Martinez (+506 8670-3201), or Clenet (+506 8528-3475). For more details see Section 3: Las Brisas de Pacuarito to Tsiobata.

Stage 4, Ganadería Tres Equis. This is an active cattle ranch that poses potential dangers, so the owner requires the use of a guide. To arrange for a guide and passage, contact (+506 6017-0040). For more details see Section 4: Tsiobata to Tres Equis.

NOTE: If sections 3 and 4 are combined, the indigenous guide can be hired for the entire distance thereby precluding the need to hire a second guide at Ganaderia Tres Equis.