Rincón de la Vieja Lodge

Rincon de la Vieja, Guanacaste

Enchantment might also be the best word to describe what awaits here on the slopes of Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, just outside the national park that protects it. You can visit bubbling mud pots and geysers, hike to hidden waterfalls, bathe in mountain streams or hot springs, ride horseback through pristine forest, and visit a mountain lake. As well as visiting the nearby national park, lodge guests may explore 30 miles (48 km) of trails in the ranch’s 740 acres (300 ha) of primary forest, in elevations from 2,100 to 6,000 feet (640 to 2,520 m), visit a hot spring or a Chorotega archaeological site, and return to the Río Colorado to watch for birds and butterflies and soak up the energy and beauty of the place. A full day of horseback riding and hiking takes in the gurgling mud pots as well as a lake and 90-foot (27-m) waterfall, colored a spectacular blue from copper in the water.