El Camino de Costa Rica is a truly unique hiking experience. 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. While passing through 6 climate zones, the physical beauty of the entire country will be on full display. You’ll 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. The trail ranges in elevation from sea level to 7,654 feet (2,333 meters.). There are nearly 24,000 feet (7,250 meters) of total elevation gain over the entire route. Temperatures can typically range from 8ºC (46ºF) to 35ºC (95ºF) on the same trip and within about a week. There are numerous waterfalls, unforgettable river crossings, primary forests, sweeping views of surrounding mountain ranges and volcanoes, and a spectacular hike through a protected Indigenous territory.
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. There is sure to be sun, rain, mud, bugs, heat, and cold. The style of the trail is along the lines of El Camino de Santiago, but somewhat more challenging in places and set in a much more varied, exotic landscape and countryside.
You can choose whether to visit El Camino de Costa Rica as a solo hiker or in a group… one stage at a time, or as a single cross-country journey… and as a self-guided experience, or with a guide.
The trek is spectacular, but the best part of El Camino de Costa Rica is the people that you will not just meet along the way, but literally share your journey with. The trail connects more than 25 small rural villages where most of the lodgings and meals will be enjoyed. Most of these are located in homes, hostels, or campsites of local residents who are eager to share their modest spaces and local cuisine with the community of hikers that arrive at their door.
The mission of Asociacion Mar a Mar, the non profit organization that oversees El Camino de Costa Rica, is to help develop the tourism infrastructure along the route and promote green micro enterprises run by local families. These towns otherwise receive very little benefit from the sizable tourism industry of Costa Rica. Asociacion Mar a Mar also creates or supports programs that advance the education and awareness of environmental priorities in line with the national consciousness. Hiking El Camino de Costa Rica is truly Hiking With a Purpose!
Our hikers support sustainable conservation and travel in the heart of Costa Rica by visiting our rural entrepreneurs, spreading the word about El Camino de Costa Rica, donating, and fundraising.
The Camino de Costa Rica begins in the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica (Atlántic) either in the town of Parismina or in the community of Barra del Pacuare. From both towns, the hiker will take a boat ride to the Pier at Goshen where the walk will start.
El Camino de Costa Rica ends in the town of Quepos on the Pacific. The last steps are marked by a beautiful mural of an octopus. Upon reaching the top of the stairs the hiker knows he/she has reached their destination by the sight of the Pacific Ocean.
Why the trail?
Costa Rica’s tourism is world renown, nevertheless the greater beneficiaries are mostly the populations in the two coasts, leaving the small rural towns with little profit. The Mar a Mar Association has created El Camino de Costa Rica to offer hope and a promising future with dignity for enterprising individuals in some of the poorest regions of Costa Rica.
