Trek the Camino de Costa Rica

The Camino de Costa Rica is a 280-kilometre (170-mile) long hiking trail across the entire width of Costa Rica. From the start point on the Caribbean Coast, it meanders through the Tortuguero canals, ascending into the mountains and through indigenous territory near the Barbilla National Park, through the valleys and mountain ranges of the central region of the country, just south of the Turrialba and Irazu volcanoes and through the Los Santos coffee region, eventually winding up at the Pacific Coast in the town of Quepos. The Camino passes through more than 100 rural communities, protected reserves, National Parks and indigenous communities.

The Camino was completed in 2019, with the aim of establishing a world-class long-distance trail, bringing hikers and trekkers from around the world to improve the economic situation in the rural areas of Costa Rica. The rural populations of Costa Rica have been in steep decline, with stubbornly high levels of poverty affecting these areas. Despite being one of the world’s tourism and conservation success stories, Costa Rica still has many areas which are far less visited – the Camino connects these areas, allowing trekkers to benefit the communities and the custodians of the wild landscapes along the route.

A multi-day trek along the Camino provides a glimpse into rural Costa Rica, its cuisine, its people, and a direct experience with the locals, which is harder to find on the more classic tourist routes.

No – this trip is a condensed version of the Camino. Tackling the full 280 kilometres would take 16-18 days from the start point on the coast. There are various condensed versions available, which skip out some of the less remarkable sections which pass through farmland and involve some hiking on tarmac roads. We’ve kept in the wildest and most fascinating parts to immerse you in Costa Rica’s lush green rainforests, misty cloud forests in the volcanic foothills, and the coffee region – giving you an insight into the isolated indigenous communities along the route.

Trekking for seven consecutive days, covering 100km in total on a variety of terrain means you'll need strong fitness levels and a sense of adventure. The elevation gain on the trip is moderate for the most part, but Day 3 to Day 6 sees you tackling up to 800m of gain in a single day, while the Pacific section of the Camino is more downhill. There are sections of dense jungle which adds to the challenge, plus humidity and wet trails playing a factor, and you'll also need to cross several rivers. These are not dangerous nor technical, but you'll need to be happy getting wet and wild on some sections of the Camino. You won't need to carry a full trekking backpack with all your gear, just a daypack is needed – with that in mind, you won't need any prior experience of a classic multi-day trek, provided that your fitness is up to the job of hiking for most of the day for seven days in a row.

No, you'll only need to hike with a daypack on this trek. There is a support vehicle throughout the trip which will transfer the group's main luggage from one overnight spot to the next, along the trail. You'll need to bring along a daypack of 30-40L to carry personal items, waterproofs, snacks and water.

Along the Pacific Coast and the Caribbean flatlands, temperatures average 25–34˚C (77–93˚F). At the mid-level elevations along the Camino, temperatures average between 17–26˚C (63–79˚F). The Camino de Costa Rica can be completed at any time of year – you'll be trekking through five different microclimates, so expect everything from clear sunny skies to tropical rainfall, depending on which part of the trail you are on at which time of year. The jungle sections of the trail can be humid throughout the year, but there are ample opportunities to cool off at swim spots.

The trek has a support vehicle that transfers all luggage and equipment from stage to stage. Your excess luggage can remain in the vehicle for whenever you don't need access to it.

The water in Costa Rica is generally safe to drink, except for that found in remote and rural areas where there's little to no infrastructure. The support vehicle carries large containers of water from which you can fill your bottle at the start of each stage. There will also be drinking water available at each night’s accommodation.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion. We recommend budgeting approx 8-10 USD per person, per day for the trip leader, and 6-8 USD for support staff. Of course, you are free to tip as much or little as you like and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality – a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

We recommend checking out the country specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

For current advice about travelling in Costa Rica, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

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All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.