Stupid Hiking Boot Question
 

I'm going to Costa Rica for two weeks at the end of June and can't figure out if I should bring hiking boots. We are going to Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio.

I'm thinking rugged closed toed hiking sandals would be a better choice than full on hiking boots.

Thanks,
Ann

I had the same question before I went. In the end I brought low hiking shoes (like sneakers but a little more rugged and waterproof), sport type sandals and sturdy flip flop sandals. I wore the flip flops alot, at the beach and pools and in the evenings. I liked hiking better in the closed hiking shoes, and the Teva type definetely did have its place too!

Not a stupid question at all! It's hard to know what kind of footwear to bring, especially if you're like me and like to travel light. I agree with the previous poster - lightweight hiking boots for muddy trails, Teva-type sandals for most everything else and a pair of flip-flops is perfect.

If you plan to do some of the more "vigorous" hikes in the many great CR National Parks, I would follow the advice of most real Hikers and take inexpensive, lightweight, comfortable hiking shoes/boots with some good/great ankle support. Lots of trails in CR are not ankle friendly.
I took full on boots in 3/03 and had no problems.
M

I agree with the suggestion of bringing hiking shoes - my footwear "selection" for Costa Rica is the same as seh2397's, and it worked well for me in 3 trips.

Wear your hikers on the plane so that they don't add weight to your luggage.

For what it's worth, I was very happy with just my sneakers (running shoes) for hikes -- and we hiked a LOT. (However, I was there in the dry season.)

Yeah - I am thinking I may just take trail sneakers. I imagine I will only need them in Arenal & possibly around Peace Lodge Waterfall Gardens. We will be there early July. Is it really necessary to take boots? My hiking boots aren't waterproof anyway & I don't plan on buying new ones for this trip.

abbinger,
I agree with Carol & schlubb. You can get by with just your running shoes. I haven't been to Monteverde, but think I have heard that they provide rubber boots for hiking muddy trails. We've never taken a thing except running shoes and flip flops (I dare not call them "thongs" like I used to!) There have been times I've been wearing sandals and have wished I'd have put on running shoes instead. But never have seemed to need sturdier, and we always include a little hiking!

I was really glad I had hiking boots in Manuel Antonio. The trails were pretty muddy and slippery in June. If you're going to stick to the main trail/road and not do any climbing, such as the mirador trail, running shoes will probably be fine. Otherwise, be very careful and use the ropes alongside the trail.

I suggest you bring a pair of lightweight hikers. We wore our trusty Chaco sandals for a hike in Arenal and although everything went well on the hike, the locals urged us to never hike in the rainforest with sandals again, due to the large variety of poisonous snakes that make their home on the trails. They said the majority of people get bit by a pit viper, do so by accidently stepping on it. Hiking boots would prevent such an incident.

Even on "real hikes" you can definitely go with sandals.

National Geographic Conservation Fellow Mike Fay had this to say about footwear after 456 days and over 2,000 miles on foot across the central African rainforest.

"Don't bother with shoes or boots. Water and sand mix in shoes to turn feet into hamburger. I wore sport sandals every day?and when needed some duct tape."

We didn't do any real aggressive hiking, but even on the normal tourist trails in Monteverde and Arenal, sandals would be impractical. You do need some fairly aggressive soles to deal with the mud--lots of people slip and fall as very few trails stay level for very long. A lightweight hiking boot or regular athletic shoe with agressive soles will work fine. We had no trouble with water and dirt getting into our water resistant hiking boots.

We just got back from three weeks in Costa Rica.

Although you aren't going to the Osa peninsula, this story could probably apply to any or most forest trekking.

One day, we set out on a guided trek through the rainforest with Phil, the resident guide at Bosque del Cabo. Phil is easily recognized: he is bald, speaks with a great British accent and dons billy boots and army fatigues day in and day out.

On this particular day, it was raining pretty heavily so we decided to leave our hiking boots in the room (as we knew they would never dry after that in the humidity of the rainforest) and wore sandals. We were with another couple that wore running shoes and ankle socks.

At the beginning of the tour, Phil stopped to introduce us to some species of tree or plant. As he went on and on, wearing high boots and long pants, we all came under simultaneous attack from both leaf-cutting ants and fire ants.

It turned out we were standing right on top of the leaf-cutters giant hill! Man, do those things pack a wallop! We each had about 20 ants on each foot and ankle at the same time that we had to pick off with our fingers!

Phil, in high boots and long pants, was, I think, totally oblivious to our plight and kept going on about the tree. (Phil happens to be a great guide and guy who leads very interesting forest treks. If you're there, definitely sign up with him.)

Leaf-cutters and fire ants aren't restricted to the rainforests of the Osa. You'll see them almost everywhere. And, while we were never attacked again by them (we never took our eyes off the ground in any future forest walks and never again stopped without thoroughly scanning for ants and ant hills), we now have totally irrational fears of ants.

I'd say a good boot or a cheap but high billy boot like Phil's is a smart addition to anyone's valise.

In fact, you could buy a billy boot there (shoe stores a dime a dozen) and throw it out before you come back.

Mona,

Welcome back! We followed your planning threads, now we're eagerly awaiting your trip report! No pressure, though.

Hi Mona!
Welcome back. I can't wait to hear about your trip, especially after all that planning you did :)