COSTA-RICA.
Camino de Costa-Rica I,
a trek from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
17/Feb/2024 to 02/Mar/2024.
a trek from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
17/Feb/2024 to 02/Mar/2024.
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| Flag of Costa-Rica. |
Camino de Costa-Rica.
The Camino de Costa-Rica is a 280 km trek primarily composed of rural roads, footpaths and trails through forests. It has a wide variety of terrain, altitudes, and microclimates and affords an up close and personal view of many different rural subcultures. It is divided into 16 stages.
This epic coast-to-coast journey traverses the country, following rural roads and connecting small villages and indigenous communities. Lodging is available at simple guesthouses and with local families along the route. The goal is to give curious travelers a chance to visit lesser-seen cultures and communities in a mutually-beneficial and purposeful way. [from: Lonely Planet.com].
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| Camino de Costa-Rica, 280km from Ocean to Ocean. |
Exchange Rates:
1€ = 550₡ (Colon, or CRC) 1US$ = 510₡ 1€=1.10US$ 1US$ = 0.92€
1000₡ = 1.80€
European standard time (Paris) minus 7 hours.
Midday 12:00 in Costa-Rica (12AM) is 19:00 in Europe (07:00PM).
Saturday 17/Feb/2024.
Home to San-José (Costa-Rica) journey.
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| Amsterdam to San-José (Costa-Rica) flights. |
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| First leg, from Amsterdam to Toronto. |
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| Cheap economical meal. |
Transportation:
---- Air Canada flight AC809 from Amsterdam (AMS) to Toronto (YYZ), 11:55-14:05, 8h10, 636€/p (all four flights, including luggage).
Tuesday 20/Feb/2024.
HIKE 3 (Section 1B) - From Laguna-Madre-de-Dios and Muelle-de-Goshen to Cimarrones, 23.5km flat, 4h50.
Cimmarrones.
Cimmarrones is a small community of less than 200 people near the train lines and the main road to Limon.
Transportation:
|---| Casa Yolanda Sandi, home stay, +506 6325 1961, Cimarrones, 86560₡ including meals and drinks.
Wednesday 21/Feb/2024.
HIKE 4 (Section 2) - From Cimarrones to Las-Brisas-de-Pacuarito, 14.6km /725m \196m, 4h30.
For this section, because of the bad weather, Casa Yolanda transported our backpacks to destination.
|---| Tent in the Salon Comunal "Casita Verde", +506 8513 6982 (Marine), 29000C/2p
Thursday 22/Feb/2024.
HIKE 5 (Section 3) -From Las-Brisas-de-Pacuarito to Tsiöbata, 12.5km /550m \664m Difficult (jungle, indigenous land, guide mandatory) 7h50. 
Transportation: (because of the detour)
Friday 23/Feb/2024.
HIKE 6 (Section 4) -From Tsiöbata to Tres-Equis, 6.2km /441m \271m, 3h50.
Instead: From Tres-Equis to the Pacuare river cable car and return, ~11.5km, steep.
La-Suiza.
Pejibaye.
Orosi.
Tuesday 27/Feb/2024.
Palo-Verde Forest Reserve.
|---| Hotel Santo-Tomas, San-José, 101US$/room incl breakfast.
Friday 01/Mar/2024.
Return home journey (Michel).
Michel's Transportation:
---- United Airline flight UA1079 from San-José (SJO) to New-York (EWR), 9:05-15:20, 5h15.
|---| Berlor Airport Inn, hotel, Alajuela. (Patricia).
Saturday 02/Mar/2024.
Patricia's Transportation:
|---| Home.
---- Air Canada flight AC809 from Amsterdam (AMS) to Toronto (YYZ), 11:55-14:05, 8h10, 636€/p (all four flights, including luggage).
---- Transit at Toronto Airport, 2h45.
|---| Berlor Airport Inn, Alajuela, 76US$/2p ~35€/p incl breakfast.
Monday 19/Feb/2024.
HIKE 2 (Section 1A cont'd) - From Barra-de-Parismina to Laguna-Madre-de-Dios, ~14km.
---- Air Canada flight AC957 from Toronto (YYZ) to San-José (SJO), 16:50-21:00, 5h10.
|---| Berlor Airport Inn, Alajuela, 76US$/2p ~35€/p incl breakfast.
Sunday 18/Feb/2024.
San-José to Barra-de-Parismina journey.
San-José to Barra-de-Parismina journey.
San-José.
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| Leaving the hotel. |
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| Taking the wrong bus, towards "Alajuela" instead of "San-José Parada Alajuela". |
San-José.
San-José to Siquirres.
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| 20 minutes bus stop halfway, at Rancho JSM, La-Agustura. |
Siquires.
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| Bus terminal. |
Siquirres to Caño-Blanco.
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| Another bus terminal. |
Caño-Blanco to the island of Barra-de-Parismina.
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| View from the dock at Parismina. |
HIKE 1 (Section 1A).
The first section of the Camino de Costa-Rica includes coastal islands that cannot be reached by roads, but are the only place to touch the Carribean and begin a complete crossing of the country.
Bara-de-Parismina.
Barra del Parismina is a village of about 400 people located on the Caribbean coast of Costa-Rica, at the mouth of the Reventazón River. Parismina is about half way between Tortuguero and Limón on the Tortuguero canals. There is no road to Parismina; it is accessible only by boat or plane and while some cars and motorcycles exist within the village, the only paved surface is the runway.
Eco-tourism and sport fishing are the foundation of the village economy. [from: caminodecostarica.org]
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| The very first trail marker for the Camino de Costa-Rica. |
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| Airstrip. |
Transportation:
---- Public Bus from the Airport to San-José Parada Alajuela (Tuasa bus, red), 20km.
---- Public Bus from the Airport to San-José Parada Alajuela (Tuasa bus, red), 20km.
---- Walk from Parada Alajuela to Terminal Caribeños, 2km.
---- Public Bus from Terminal Caribeños to Siquirres' Gran Terminal del Caraibe, each hour, 120km, 2h.
---- Walk from Gran Terminal del Caraibe to Estacion de Intercantonal de Buses de Siquires, 2 blocks.
---- Caribeños bus from Siquires to Caño-Blanco, 3 busses/d, 36km, 1h05.
---- Public Ferry from Embarcadero Caño-Blanco to Barra-de-Parismina, 5km, 0h15, ~1500C/p ~3€/p.
---- Public Ferry from Embarcadero Caño-Blanco to Barra-de-Parismina, 5km, 0h15, ~1500C/p ~3€/p.
---- Walk from the ferry docking to the Green Gold Lodge, ~7km.
|---| Green Gold Ecolodge, cabin with diner and breakfast, Jason +506 8697 2322, Barra-de-Parismina, 20+9+7US$/p ~33€/p.
Monday 19/Feb/2024.
HIKE 2 (Section 1A cont'd) - From Barra-de-Parismina to Laguna-Madre-de-Dios, ~14km.
Green Gold Ecolodge.
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| Leaving Jason and his lodge. |
MOVIE
Barra-del-Pacuare.
Barra-del-Pacuare north and south are small villages of homes on the canal at the end of the Pacuare River. There is a Coast Guard station, a biological reserve and a hotel. The hotel provides boat services to Goshen Pier.
Transportation:
---- Private ferry to cross the Rio Pacuare estuary.
|---| Aventuras del Caribe, Julio, cabin with diner, breakfast and both boat rides, Laguna-Madre-de-Dios, 62000₡/2p ~55€/p.
Tuesday 20/Feb/2024.
HIKE 3 (Section 1B) - From Laguna-Madre-de-Dios and Muelle-de-Goshen to Cimarrones, 23.5km flat, 4h50.
Cimmarrones.
Cimmarrones is a small community of less than 200 people near the train lines and the main road to Limon.
Transportation:
---- Private ferry from Laguna-Madre-de-Dios to Muelle-de-Goshen.
|---| Casa Yolanda Sandi, home stay, +506 6325 1961, Cimarrones, 86560₡ including meals and drinks.
Wednesday 21/Feb/2024.
HIKE 4 (Section 2) - From Cimarrones to Las-Brisas-de-Pacuarito, 14.6km /725m \196m, 4h30.
For this section, because of the bad weather, Casa Yolanda transported our backpacks to destination.
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| A walking stick. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phasmatodea |
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| The extremely posonous Red Frog. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_poison-dart_frog |
Parque Nacional Barbilla.
The national Park Barbilla protects 29,500 acres of forrest on the Carribean side of the Talamanca Mountains. It is managed by the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad which makes efforts to classify the flora and fauna. It is about 20 kilometer from Siquirres near the small village of Las-Brisas-de-Pacuarito.
Next day, leaving the village of Las-Brisas-de-Pacuarito, no more store until the far side of the tribal land. Seen the upcoming distance and remoteness, we must plan ahead and purchase any necessities Small shops carry non-perishable food that will add little weight to a pack, but provide valuable energy to cross the jungle. The jungle itself is wild. [from the guide book]
Next day, leaving the village of Las-Brisas-de-Pacuarito, no more store until the far side of the tribal land. Seen the upcoming distance and remoteness, we must plan ahead and purchase any necessities Small shops carry non-perishable food that will add little weight to a pack, but provide valuable energy to cross the jungle. The jungle itself is wild. [from the guide book]
|---| Tent in the Salon Comunal "Casita Verde", +506 8513 6982 (Marine), 29000C/2p
Thursday 22/Feb/2024.
HIKE 5 (Section 3) -
Instead: Detour from Las-Brisas-de-Pacuarito to Leona, 25.8km (the Nairi-Awari teritory being closed due to flooding and fallen trees).
Valle-Escondido, Tsiöbata, Nairi-Awari territory (skipped, due to the detour).
Valle-Escondido, Tsiöbata, Nairi-Awari territory (skipped, due to the detour).
One of the most remote and inaccessible tracts of rainforest in Costa-Rica, in the Cordillera de Talamanca mountain range, miles from the nearest road. [from: Travelworld.com]
Valle-Escondido is a very small Cabecar village where the indigineous people continue their traditional way of life. They allow walkers to pitch their tents for the night.
Finca Tres-Equis.
Transportation: (because of the detour)
---- Taxi ride from Leona to Siquires, 6000C/2p.
---- Bus ride from Siquires to Tres-Equis, 1000C/p.
|---|Overnight in the school, Escuela Tsiobata, +506 8446 1889 (Osvaldo).
|---|
Instead: Finca Tres-Equis, Tres-Equis, 70US$, 1st night.
Friday 23/Feb/2024.
HIKE 6 (Section 4) -
Instead: From Tres-Equis to the Pacuare river cable car and return, ~11.5km, steep.
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| Glamping tent. |
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| Tres-Equis village, main street. |
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| Tres-Equis village, supermarkt. |
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| Tres-Equis village, bakery. |
Hike to to the Indigenous cable car over the Pacuare river.
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| Arrival of the cable car. |
|---| Finca Tres-Equis, Tres-Equis, glamping tent, 100US$, 2nd night.
Saturday 24/Feb/2024.
HIKE 7 (Section 5) - From Tres-Equis to Pacayitas, 13.1km /517m \257m, 4h10.
Saturday 24/Feb/2024.
HIKE 7 (Section 5) - From Tres-Equis to Pacayitas, 13.1km /517m \257m, 4h10.
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| Breakfast. |
Pacayitas-de-Turrialba.
Pacayitas is a small village of less than 200 people situated about 14 kilometers from La-Suiza and about 15 kilometers from the hanging bridge over the Rio Pacuare. It has a church and there are two nearby lodges, Corredores del Pacuare and Finca Valig. It is surrounded by cane fields.
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| Our ten setup. |
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| Dinner, fish soup. |
|---| Finca Vialig, covered campsite, Pacayitas, 20000C.
Sunday 25/Feb/2024.
HIKE 8 (Section 6) - From Pacayitas to La-Suiza, 12.4km /371m \690m, 3h50.
For this section our backpacks were kindly transported to destination.
Sunday 25/Feb/2024.
HIKE 8 (Section 6) - From Pacayitas to La-Suiza, 12.4km /371m \690m, 3h50.
For this section our backpacks were kindly transported to destination.
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| Looking back to Pacayitas (Finca Vialig right in the middle). |
El-Silencio.
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| The "decored bus stop" of El-Silencio, where we heared the loudest silence. |
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| El-Silencio, the Pulperia (shop). |
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| View towards La-Suiza. |
La-Suiza.
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| La-Suiza, the Pizzeria. |
La-Suiza to Atirro.
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| Coffee plantations and flamboyant trees. |
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| Coffee plantations. |
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| Shepherd boy keeping a bull. |
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| Toucan. |
Atirro.
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| Atirro, the Pulperia. |
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| A second time that our bags were transported. Happy to find them at destination! |
|---| Jana Daigle, home stay, Atirro, Jana 8490 0664, 40US$/room.
Monday 26/Feb/2024.
Monday 26/Feb/2024.
HIKE 9 (Section 7) - La-Suiza to Pejibaye, 16.3km /476m \373m, 5h.
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| Armadillo warning. |
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| Pajibaye, Main Street. |
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| "Wash your hands before entering", "Prohibited from being shirtless". |
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| Pejibaye, Supermarket. |
Reached by the long taxi ride from Pejibaye.
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| Orosi, Main Street. |
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| Orosi, the Colonial Church. |
Transportation: (as no lodging available in Pejibaye)
---- Taxi from Pejibaye to Orosi, a long ride, 15000C/2p.
|---| Villa Orosi Valley, motel room. incl breakfast.
Tuesday 27/Feb/2024.
HIKE 10 (part of Section 9 and Section 10) - Orosi to Palo-Verde Orchid Garden.
From Orosi back to the Camino de Costa-Rica.
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| Orosi, the Franciscan Convent. |
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| Orosi, the Colonial Church. |
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| Civid instructions from Europe. |
Navarro del Muneco.
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| The road crosses a waterway, but there is a narrow bridge nearby. |
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| Muneco, the local cafe Soda Sylvia. |
Palo-Verde Forest Reserve.
Reached after a long and steep climb.
A guided 2h30 tour through the reserve along the Camino de Costa-Rica.
|---| Cabin near Jorge Masis' house (our guide through the Palo-Verde Forest Reserve) +506 8822 1199, 96US$ incl guide service and breakfast.
Wednesday 28/Feb/2024.
Wednesday 28/Feb/2024.
HIKE 11 (part of Section 10 and complete Section 11) - Palo-Verde to El-Empalme.
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| Jorge Masis' house. |
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| Pomegranate. |
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| Temporary end of our Camino de Costa-Rica. Sheltering and awaiting the bus for San-José (Cafe Papá Amadeo, El-Empalme). |
San-José.
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| Late night beers at the bar across the hotel. |
|---| Hotel Santo-Tomas, San-José, 101US$/room incl breakfast.
Thursday 29/Feb/2024.
Thursday 29/Feb/2024.
San-José.
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| Discovering the hotel facilities. |
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| Café Rojo. |
Mercado Central.
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| La Chola statue, claimed to honor the Costa-Rica mothers. |
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| Parque Central. |
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| Café Raventos, Teatro Popular Melico Salazar. |
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| Church service at the Cathedral. |
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| Fish Ceviche at the Mercado Central. |
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| Happy-hour cocktails and passion fruit tarts, start of a sweet evening. |
|---| Hotel Santo-Tomas, San-José, 101US$/room incl breakfast.
Friday 01/Mar/2024.
Return home journey (Michel).
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| Announcement for the first flight of a long return journey. |
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| Nice view over Manhattan, New-York (near the center of the picture). |
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| Antwerp Central Station. |
Michel's Transportation:
---- United Airline flight UA1079 from San-José (SJO) to New-York (EWR), 9:05-15:20, 5h15.
---- Transit at New-York, 2h50.
---- United Airlines flight UA70 from New-York (EWR) to Amsterdam (AMS), 18:10-07:15, 7h05.
---- Train from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, Antwerp (B), then Ghent (B).
|---| Berlor Airport Inn, hotel, Alajuela. (Patricia).
Saturday 02/Mar/2024.
Return home journey (Patricia).
Patricia's Transportation:
---- United Airline flight UA1447 from San-José (SJO) to Houston (IAH), 08:45-12:38, 3h53, 757€/p (all four flights).
---- Transit at Houston, 3h42.
---- United Airlines flight UA20 from Houston (UAH) to Amsterdam (AMS), 16:20-08:35, 9h15.
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| The only available guide book, printed on demand. |
