My husband & I are going to the Flamingo Beach Resort in Guanacaste in February and we would like to see Rincon de la Vieja park. I have read that the hike to the top of the crater is strenuous and can be a little scary. Has anyone done this hike? Is there another easier to moderate hike we can take? I've also looked in to the combo tour with Buena Vista and was unsure what hike they take you on.

There is another nice hike that goes by the hot mud pots and other interesting things. You will have to cross some streams. You can access the trail from the main park entrance. The hike to the top is pretty strenuous from what I understand. We weren't allowed up the time we tried because of high winds.

Suzie2 is correct. The hike to the top is long and strenuous - not for the casual hiker.

The hike to the mudpots and other geothermal features is quite easy and goes through a variety of habitats. The are two different hikes to waterfalls leaving from the same general area is the mudpots hike. They are a bit tougher but a Tica friend of ours did one of them while six months pregnant and had no problems....

I'm not sure which areas the hike on the combo tour visits - but definitely not the summit of the volcano.

cheers

Jerry

hi
we hiked from the drop off point to the waterfalls and back to the thermal spa/mud baths etc. we did it wearing flip-flops. stupid, yes!!
we were offered a horseback ride to the falls and spa, or a 4x4 ride. we chose the 4x4, not knowing it was not a return journey!!??
we are all over 50, did it in the rain and lived to tell the tale.
we drove from playa grande to rincon
and drove back in a storm(another story).
best activity at rincon was the tubing.
the early session was cancelled as the river was too fast and swollen.
we did it around 11.00ish. it was fantastic fun, don't miss it!
the buffet was ok too, probably because you drum up a big appetite.
good luck!

We attempted to get to the top, but after hiking 7 km had to give up, b/c of the weather condition. The hike to the top is 8 km long, and the only tough part for us was the last 1.5 km, when we were above forest level (b/c of the slippery path, strong wind, rain and poor visibility).
If you are in a good physical shape, and if you have luck with the weather - go for it.
There are easy hikes in the park – to the waterfalls , where you can swim, or to the mud pots. However, if you’ve ever been to Yellow Stone NP, you can skip the mud pots. The only place in Rincon NP that I found unique and exciting was Aqua Termales – natural small pools with hot water, were you can bathe. Also, if you drive to Rincon, make sure you get to Los Pailos entrance, don’t ever go to Santa Maria - the last few kilometers to SM entrance are absolutely horrible muddy road.