Day Hikes
View our
backpacking trips
Talamanca Treks
Hiking, Camping,
Backpacking & Horseback
Riding in Backcountry
Costa Rica
"I felt a little tickle on my
leg and sure enough I had
a spider in my pants, and
not one of those little ones."
-Sara, USA
info@CostaRicaBackpacker.com
We offer 6 very different day hikes which  provide a relaxing and healthy
outdoor adventure for travelers who want to learn about the nature and
culture of backcountry Costa Rica.  

We have two packages centered around your choice of day hikes.
Below are descriptions of the day hikes. They range in length and
level of difficulty so you can create a trip that's just right for you.
Pacuare River
Hanging Bridges
Leona Waterfall
Visit the Neighbors
San Agustin Reserve
Vereh River Waterfall
Horseback Riding
Equipement List
We provide the following   
equipment and food for Day
Hike, Base Camp Trips
We recommend campers bring
the following equipment
Tents
Ground pads
Sleeping bags
Rain tarps
Candles
 Medical kit
Survival kit
Food
Hammocks
 Backpack
Toilet kit
Money
Flashlight
Rain gear
Personal
medicine
Water bottle
Purification pills
Camera
Snack food
Swim clothes
 Walking clothes*
-Boots
-Long pants
-T-shirt
-Socks
Dry Bag
Night clothes**
-Sneakers
-Long pants
-T-shirt
-Long sleeve
shirt
-Socks
*To lighten up your load we recommend
wearing the same set of clothing for
walking each day.  You will be soaked
with sweat or rain each day so they need
to be easy to wash and dry.
**After stopping for the night, we
recommend bringing a set of dry and
comfortable clothes and shoes to change
into after bathing.   
To gain access to our services.

Reserve a Base Camp Package or
Overnight Backpacking Trip

Please send an email to
info@CostaRicaBackpacker.com
be sure to include
  • name of the trip
  • number of people in your group
  • dates you would like the trip
    reserved

Once your reservation is confirmed
you will  receive an online bill at the
email address you use to make the trip
reservations.

Hangout at Base Camp

Use the Maps and Directions provided
and come prepared without
reservations. We accept cash
payments, US dollars or colones, at
base camp.
"I think my favorite thing was the
conversation and local cooking."
 -Kym, Australia
Prices for base camp packages include all expenses at base
camp, meals at base camp, trip leaders, trail fees, and listed
equipment
Day 1- Meet at the airport in San Jose.  
Bus and walk to hotel in San Jose or
Turrialba.  Eating at restaurants.

Day 2- Breakfast.  Bus to Jicotea and hike
10.2km to San Agustin base camp in Vereh.
 Family lunch.  Tour the organic garden,
and family dinner.

Day 3 Breakfast at base camp.  Day trip
with a packed lunch.  Family dinner.  Short
night hike and frog watching!

Day 4- Breakfast at base camp.  Day trip
with a packed lunch.  Farewell feast and
pack for departure in the morning.

Day 5- Breakfast at base camp.  Enjoy the
views on horseback to Jicotea.  Bus to
Turrialba or San Jose.
   Day 1- Meet at the airport in San Jose.  
Bus and walk to hotel in San Jose or
Turrialba.  Eating at restaurants.

Day 2- Breakfast.  Bus to Jicotea and hike
10.2km to San Agustin base camp in Vereh.
 Family lunch.  Tour the organic garden,
and family dinner.

Day 3- Breakfast at base camp. Day trip
with a packed lunch.  Family dinner.  Short
night hike and frog watching!

Day 4- Breakfast at base camp.  Day trip
with a packed lunch.  Afternoon swimming.  
Family dinner.  Relax at base camp.

Day 5- Breakfast at base camp.  Day trip
with a packed lunch.  Farewell feast and
pack for departure in the morning.

Day 6- Breakfast at base camp.  Enjoy the
views on horseback to Jicotea.  Bus to
Turrialba or San Jose.
5 Day Base Camp Trips
 
6 Day Base Camp Trips
1 Person
$608
 
1 Person
$693
Group Rate for 2
$704 ($352/person)
 
Group Rate for 2
$783 ($392/person)
Group Rate for 3
$800 ($267/person)
 
Group Rate for 3
$873 ($291/person)
Group Rate for 4
$908 ($227/person)
 
Group Rate for 4
$1,008 ($252/person)
Group Rate for 5
$1,134 ($227/person)
 
Group Rate for 5
$1,260 ($252/person)
Group Rate for 6
$1,358 ($227/person)
 
Group Rate for 6
$1,512 ($252/person)
Just want to come to for one day?
  • Guided day hikes with a packed lunch are
    $30 for the first person and $15 for each
    person after that. We take groups of 1-8.
  • Horseback riding is $35 per horse with a
    guide and packed lunch.

      Please make reservations and payment at least
2 weeks in advance of desired trip date.
      It takes over one hour to drive from Turrialba
to Vereh, so plan enough time for travel.
"I feel as if I have
now felt true
happiness."
-Amanda, Canada


This hike is for people who love the water, river
crossings and swimming. About two hours of
the four hour trip is spent in the river.  We stop
several times to swim and enjoy the moment!  
The waterfall is a masterpiece of nature.  The
full volume of the Vereh river squeezes through
the narrow river walls and shoots out into a
clear pool.
With more energetic groups and good weather
we can explore the waterfalls and boulders
further down river as well.
On the return trip, we will stop at the Venegas
farm for a typical lunch.
The Pacuare River is
ranked as one of the
top 10 most beautiful
rivers in the world!
The horses are well
trained, pampered and
strong.
San Agustin hikes are for all levels of
athletic ability.  This is our most
relaxing hike. A flat hike with a wide
trail and abundant plant and animal
life is what our more laid back crowd
enjoys.  The highlights of the trip are
two resourcefully made hanging  
bridges and swimming in an emerald
pool below some awesome rocks and
rapids. As we go further up river the
path gradually fades into the
wilderness.
Horseback riding is the best and most
relaxing way to take in views of the Vereh
and Pacuare valleys.  Mounted on
horseback you are twice as high and you
can look out across the mountains rather
then at your next step.  The trips go either
to Jicotea, Paso Marcos, the Pacuare River,
or Leona Waterfall.  
Horseback riding is guided by our neighbor
Carlos Venegas. You need to let him know
the before so he can get the horses from the
field early in the morning.  A good time to
set this trip up is during the Venegas day
hike.
The Pacuare River tour is our most difficult and
extensive day hike, which also makes it our most
popular. We start off into the San Agustin reserve where
we follow the old Cabecar Indian Trail up and over the
Barreal ridge and down to the Barreal stream. We
ascend the steep face of the Morado ridge for twenty
minutes taking us to the saddle. Our decent into the
Pacuare valley is filled with beautiful views and
backcountry culture. At the river we go swimming and
cross an old 80m hanging bridge. The Pacuare River is
popular for whitewater sports, but few venture into the
upper Pacuare, where we are located, do to the limited
access. We eat lunch and loop around to the Herrera
ridge and begin our decent back into the Vereh valley.    
  • Distance: 12-16km
  • Time: 4-7 hours
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Departure time: 7am
You can never see enough waterfalls!  Our most exciting
hike is to the Leona Waterfall on the Morado ridge.  You
can see the magnificent falls from several kilometers
away and it appears unapproachable, high on the  steep
mountain side. To reach the waterfall you turn off the
path and follow the stream. You climb over boulders and
fallen trees as the cool water cascades around you. Just
below the waterfall is an adrenalin pumping, 10 meter,
80 degree, rock face,  where we use a rope to aid us in
the climb.  As you approach the falls you can feel the
wind and awesome energy of the water as it pounds
against the rock wall.  You can wade through the cool
pool at the bottom of the falls and climb up behind the
curtain of rushing water.
David bought San Agustin in 1974 planning to live a
simple life on a self sufficient farm. Instead of cutting
down the forest to raise livestock, we have used the
rainforest as an attraction for adventure travelers. It
took some time and many learning experiences, but we
persevered and in June of 2003 we opened up   a
successful adventure business, which earns the money
needed to live comfortable without clearing land. The
Jungle tour is a loop around the San Agustin
rainforest reserve, down to the San Agustin waterfall
and across the Barreal ridge. Many animals abound
here in their natural and ancient habitat.; including
small cats, the giant fertilance pit viper, huge insects,
ant-eaters, tepesquente, and the elegant Quetzal.   
Come with us to visit our neighbors and
friends , the Venegases.  They are some of
the nicest people you will ever meet and Nico
is an awesome cook.  They are excited to
share stories and knowledge about life in the
backcountry of Costa Rica.  We take a tour of
the coffee farm, sugar mill, and see the
biggest tree in Vereh.  They are always
hungry for a game of back yard soccer.  
For lunch, Nico will cook us a delicious
typical plate.
Emerald pools, turquoise
rock formations, boulder
climbing, river crossings,
and swimming!
This primary rainforest is
saved because people like
you come out to see it.  
We could not live in Vereh
without the friendship and
help of this wonderful
family.
You don’t have to be a hard core
outdoors adventurer to have an
awesome experience in the rainforest
The Leona Waterfall is a
Cabecar landmark which
can be seen through the
trees from many miles away  
Talamanca Treks is not
accepting reservations for
any more trips.