La Fortuna had not shortages of outdoor activities. With a huge lake, plenty of nature trails, rivers, waterfalls, a National Park and a vast countryside, the area has something for everyone. We picked "Mirador El Silencio Trail", a lesser-known trek in La Fortuna. El Silencio Trail La Fortuna was located at a fifteen minutes drive from the town centre along the main road that ran around the volcano toward the lake. We booked a ride through our hotel, Arenal Xilopalo, to be picked up upon conclusion of our visit.
We woke up early. We skipped breakfast and headed straight to the reserve to be the first ones and to enjoy the wildlife when it was still active. The driver dropped us at reserve entrance where we paid 4000 pesos per person. The gentleman at the ticket booth gave us a short introduction and a map with a couple of different trails including the lava beds from the 1968 eruption. 6 trails could be travelled with the help of a tour guide specialising in natural history or self-guided. We chose the latest and were advised to keep right until reaching the base of the volcano and come back by the trail #2.
We navigated El Silencio Trail through a heavily forested area, open grass walking paths and stunning landscapes. Slowly, we wandered for 2 hours, surrounded by the sights and noise of the rainforest. The wildlife was incredible. We saw loads of birds and an unidentified monkey.
We stumbled upon an incredible volcano viewpoint. We marvelled at the panoramic view of the Arenal volcano, the most impressive giant in Costa Rica at 1670 metre. We soon realised that we were the only hikers. The Silencio Trail La Fortuna was definitively very quiet compared to others popular La Fortuna hikes such as the Arenal 1968 or Cerro Chato Volcano Hike. Both of which are near Arenal Observatory and the Arenal National park.
We carried on to the historic lava fields which buried much of the surrounding jungle during the 1968 eruption. The old lava, the endless forest, the lake and once again the magnificent Arenal volcano made up the picture perfect moment. We soaked up the tranquil ambience.
We noticed a last trail descending to the green lagoon. The area was full of birds including Chestnut-mandibled toucan and a dozen of hummingbirds.
After 4 hours, we finished the walk in the most relaxing way taking a break at a close natural hot water river. The free hot spring was off the side of the road near the Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort. It was 2 kilometres from the Silencio Trail La Fortuna entrance/exit. We dipped in the soothing warm water to soothe our muscles before calling our hotel to pick us up!
The El Silencio enjoyed a more peaceful vibe than the hikes at the Arenal park and observatory. The reserve is more off the beaten path with a load of wildlife.
Have you hiked the Silencio Trail La Fortuna or any other trails? Did you do so with the leadership of a guide or on your own? Share your comments below.
Pura Vida!