The Best Hiking Trails in Alajuela (Costa Rica)

Rio Cajon

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

4.41mi

Elevation +

922f

TrailRank

47| 2.25

This is a hike to a waterfall on the Cajon River and then back to the start point in Atenas. It is based on the Wiki trail Catarata Rio Cajon (submitted by Guifran). Some of this track may be on private property, after a...

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Cerro Espiritu Santo

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Hiking

Port flora

with

Distance

5.64mi

Elevation +

1490f

TrailRank

44

A climb through a coffee plantation to the top of Cerro Espiritu Santo (Holy Spirit Hill). Numerous paths criss cross the plantation so a method of navigating is essential. Thanks to Van141 and Manry for their Wiki entri...

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El Plancillo

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

7.67mi

Elevation +

1857f

TrailRank

44

A nice hike in a beautiful country. The trail sticks to lanes and roads (0.9 of a kilometer on highway #3) so footing is generally good (and traffic was limited). There is almost 600 meters of climb with some loose grave...

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Atenas - Pica Flora

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Hiking

Port flora

with

Distance

5.94mi

Elevation +

1004f

TrailRank

43| 4.33

A walking tour of Atenas and the hills just south of town including a barrio named Pica Flora. The start point was selected because our map showed "Atenas Tourism". We did not find it, but it was a nice street and a good...

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Catarata La Danta

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

8.50mi

Elevation +

1670f

TrailRank

43

A pretty hike to a beautiful waterfall. You follow the same trail in and out and it takes you up over a hill and down into a cataract with an impressive waterfall. I followed the Wiki trail laid out by Carlos Piedra call...

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Chucas - Jateo

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

9.58mi

Elevation +

2700f

TrailRank

42

I started this hike just south of Balsa and parked in a Hydro Plant parking lot just north of the Tarcoles River. The road (now gravel) takes you down to a very old bridge that gives you some nice views up and down the r...

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Morazan - San Jose Norte

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

3.91mi

Elevation +

886f

TrailRank

40

I finally got it right (almost). This hike has a couple of predecessors listed on Wikiloc (including Morazan 3 and 4) but this is the best version. You get the traffic/main roads out of the way early. It provides some ni...

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Cerro Chato

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Hiking

renivandergragt

Distance

7.82mi

Elevation +

3068f

TrailRank

40

Very nice hike up on Cerro Chato. The trail is actually closed, but from The Green Lodge they let you up on their property (for $10 dollar pp) and from the old entrance of the park you’re on your own. Steep hike, kind of...

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Cerro Chato

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Hiking

Anthon

Distance

4.98mi

Elevation +

1729f

TrailRank

39

Nice Trail from Arenal Observatory Lodge to La fortuna Waterfall, can be done both ways. Rain could wash out some of the trail. The short optional Hike down to the crater is very steep and very difficult.

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Reception Toucans trail to Cerro Chato

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Hiking

Mark Truesdale

Distance

9.39mi

Elevation +

2159f

TrailRank

39

Starts at a small reception house and moves through jungle up to cloud forest and down to the crater lake. Remarkable biodiversity. You will see a multitude of birds, insects and flora. Very diverse terrain up and down a...

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Atenas - San Martin

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

6.20mi

Elevation +

1198f

TrailRank

39

A decent walk through the nice town of Atenas and an area to the south. Park on any of the streets near the town square and then head south to the left of the church (about 5 blocks). Turn left on Avenida 10 / Calle Nuev...

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Santiago de Palmares

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Hiking

Port flora

with

Distance

5.42mi

Elevation +

1604f

TrailRank

39

We downloaded and followed trial by Manry of the same name. Started in a small town and began a long ascent using local roads. Then a nice hike along a ridge with great views down into several different valleys. Double p...

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Santa Eulalia - Rio Grande

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

10.46mi

Elevation +

2818f

TrailRank

38

No recomendado! Not recommended. Very tough going through heavy underbrush, dangerous side slopes and rushing water. Strong hiking, climbing, navigating and water skills required. You will get wet. The scenery was great...

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Quebrada Gata Waterfall, Pueblo Nuevo, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

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Hiking

sunchasingtravelers

Distance

5.08mi

Elevation +

1253f

TrailRank

38

This trail leads to the (famous) Quebrada Gata Waterfall. There seem to be two options to get to the waterfall. One is to walk thru the ICE property and pass the powerplant (which is the one we did), or to walk all the w...

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Altos de Naranjo

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

4.46mi

Elevation +

1667f

TrailRank

38

I have come to the conclusion that in Costa Rica there are no roads that are straight and flat. A beautiful country and on this hike there is always a nice view. The northern section runs along a ridge and was breezy and...

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El Vainilla

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

5.22mi

Elevation +

915f

TrailRank

37

Followed a few roads in the area around where I am staying. There were ups and downs but nothing too bad. Some nice views and not that much traffic (hiked on a Sunday). Saw a few lizards but they were faster than I expec...

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Morazán 3

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

4.12mi

Elevation +

1007f

TrailRank

37

A hike on roads and across some fields near Morazan. Lots of coffee planted, passed some livestock and got the occasional glimpse of wildlife. Some noticeable elevation changes and a decent view of the surrounding area f...

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La Puebla - Torunes

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

5.95mi

Elevation +

1257f

TrailRank

37

A nice hike over a hill with several beautiful vistas. The trip north was very secluded and mostly a sand and gravel path. The trip south (and down) was a paved road with some traffic. The last few hundred meters was a s...

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Cerro Chato, Lake Arenal

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Hiking

vibramhead

Distance

4.90mi

Elevation +

2411f

TrailRank

37

4h:30m:44s | 4.9mi Length - 4.9mi Points - 421 Created - 2013-01-09 11:30:20 Max. speed - 4.7mi/h Min. altitude - 2346ft Max. altitude - 3825ft

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Arenal 1968

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Hiking

adl.rlc95

Distance

3.37mi

Elevation +

384f

TrailRank

34

Nice walk in a private reserve (we paid 17$ per person). There were many people but the view is nice.

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Concordia - Las Nubes 3 waterfalls circuit track

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Hiking

PaulWa

Distance

0.50mi

Elevation +

236f

TrailRank

33

Amazing view, beautiful waterfalls and the best - the trail is free!! This is the longer roundcours. It is private property. So please ask in the restaurant 'Las Nubes' if you can do the trail. It's on YOUR ON RISK to do...

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Iglesia San Francisco

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Hiking

Port flora

with

Distance

5.37mi

Elevation +

1768f

TrailRank

31

Not quite what we were trying to do. We downloaded Manry's trail (Caminata San Francisco de Piedades Sur) but needed a place to park, so we chose the local church and started our hike from there. We had difficulty stayin...

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Morazan north - San Jose Sur

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

4.19mi

Elevation +

784f

TrailRank

31

Not a particularly scenic route, over a combination of roads and paths around Morazan. The trail will take you through some farm land (fruit trees, cane fields, coffee plants and some grazing cattle) as well as a couple ...

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Alto Morazan

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Hiking

Port flora

with

Distance

3.95mi

Elevation +

1424f

TrailRank

31

This is a nice hike along the road in the area where we were staying. The loop trail takes you down hill for the first 1.1 kilometers where you cross on a bridge over a small river. Turn right and begin your long climb (...

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San Luis de Grecia

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Hiking

Port flora

Distance

9.60mi

Elevation +

2592f

TrailRank

31

No recommendado! Not recommended. It was not easy to stay on the trail. It crossed private property (climbed several fences). GPS fades in and out. Numerous blow downs and spots where trail evaporates. Stayed on trail f...

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