General description
Walking 5.5 km from the dock at Parismina to the Green Gold Lodge (including a 1.5 km walk to the beach) plus 20 kms of boat travel through the canals and Rio Madre de Dios to get to Muelle Goshen where the mainland hike begins.
Note: The optional side tour to Reserva Pacuare can provide the opportunity for additional hiking and exploration of the area.
The trip to the start of El Camino de Costa Rica is for many one of the most memorable parts of the route. A combination of walking and boat travel is required to navigate to the Caribbean coast through the network of canals and rivers that guard the seacoast. These waterways are protected areas with dangerous wildlife including water snakes and crocodiles, and swimming or wading in them is very dangerous.
This region mostly lies within protected wetlands and includes miles of Caribbean coastline that can be explored, but swimming in the ocean here is not recommended due to the presence of sharks and stingrays. These are also breeding grounds for several species of sea turtles and guided night tours are sometimes offered. Do not go on your own as this is prohibited without being accompanied by an authorized guide.
For those who would like additional time to explore this coastal area, that can be coordinated with the Green Gold Lodge and there is a very interesting optional side tour available on Reserva Pacuare on the way to Muelle Goshen where the mainland hike begins.
