This stage follows Rio Orosi for much of its distance before veering away as the Town of Rio Macho is approached. The trail here is basically flat for 6 kms along the paved route 408 and soon arrives at Purisil which marks the halfway point of El Camino de Costa Rica. This is also the first resupply opportunity since leaving Humo de Pejibaye.
Right after Purisil, we approach Rio Macho and the road begins a long, steep ascent beyond the town and past the huge hydroelectric project operated by Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), the national power company. From Rio Macho, taxi or bus service can bring you 3 kms to the Town of Orosi where major resupply and other amenities abound.
We leave Route 408 in Rio Macho to climb up and over the El Llano Reservoir project marked by blue AyA signs. There are a number of gates and steep gravel roads to navigate through here before emerging into coffee fields. Follow the GPS track carefully through here. After this, the trail resumes now on route 405 which will take us the remaining distance to the tiny town of Navarro de Muñeco.
