Unforgettable Rincón: Volcano Hike, Falls & Hot Springs Oasis

I did the Rincon de la Vieja excursion with Native’s Way on October 18, 2025, and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish! Our tour guide Kevin was absolutely fantastic—super knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. He shared so much about the local nature, wildlife, and Costa Rican culture, and made sure everyone in the group felt comfortable and included. The day was packed with adventure — a beautiful volcano hike, a refreshing swim under a waterfall, and then the perfect way to unwind in the hot springs surrounded by nature. Everything was well-organized and ran smoothly thanks to Kevin and our excellent driver Frank, who kept us safe and on schedule. We finished the day with a delicious lunch that really hit the spot after all the activities. I can’t recommend this tour enough if you’re visiting Guanacaste — it’s the perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and Costa Rican beauty.

We spend our Costa Rica holiday during the low season, so there were some difficulties with booking the tour, as it was not easy to reach the minimum number of participants required (four). However, the Native's Way staff did their best to overcome this difficulty and schedule the participants properly so that the trip could take place. The tour started with Rincón de la Vieja hike. Our guide and driver (2 in 1) Harry showed himself to be a competent, educated and patient guy who introduced us to the most interesting places where we could observe volcanic activity (fumaroles, mud pools, boiling water), as well as interesting plants and animals of the both dry and rain tropical forests. Then we continued to the Oropendola waterfall, where we could take a bath, but beware: the water is rather cold. However, we still enjoyed it After the very tasty buffet-style lunch (chicken was outstanding) we went to the Rio Negro hotsprings, which was the last activity. Unfortunately rain started, which was a bit annoying, but we still had fun. Actually, much more time could be spent at this place, but you need to follow the schedule. It should be emphasized that there are very comfortable changing rooms and lockers near the hot springs and a dry towel is provided here. We strongly recommend to wear aqua socks to Oropendola and hot springs, as especially people with sensitive feet may struggle with the rocky bottom of the Oropendola lagoon and the paths between the hot pools.

Kevin was our guide and Diego was our driver. Kevin did amazing, he was so informative and you could tell he loved what he did and wanted us to have the best time.

Great guides, everything went super smoothly. The company’s fantastic about getting in touch with you to confirm. If you are out of shape, you will struggle. I struggled but still had a great time.

Great experience. Good communication with the company. Driver was on time and picked up at hotel. The guide was friendly and nice. Informative but not as informative as another tour we took. The hot springs were my favorite part. The hike seemed a little rushed. It would have been nice to go at a slower pace to look around but it was pouring rain. This is not a tour for bad knees or someone with mobility issues. Lots of stairs and hills. Bring good hiking sandals and a rain pancho.

Although the tour was more or less as described, there were some disappointing features. The hike around the volcano was mostly steps going up/down so we spent the entire time watching where we were walking. There was literally NO wildlife to see! The mud bath was just a mud application and rinse off.

This tour was exceptional! It was like three tours in one and truly magnificent. The drive to the hike was like 10 minutes and then our 2 hour hike was awesome. The hike was not difficult but it did contain many stairs if that’s a problem for you. Our tour guide Kevin was such a pleasure. We were then led to a waterfall which was incredible to get in. After, we had lunch which was delicious. After lunch, THE BEST PART was the volcanic mud bath. Truly a great experience

The trip was amazing. Pick up was on time, van was very comfortable, and the tour was great! The van driver was Diego and tour guide, Kevin Pina. Our first stop was a local restaurant for breakfast. The cost of breakfast was not included, and we didn’t plan on getting anything, but so glad we did! It was a local restaurant and it was fantastic! Then we went on the nature tour and Kevin was so knowledgeable about the local conservation. Next stop was the waterfall. Kevin made sure we stopped and took pictures at every picturesque point. Then we went to the hot springs, which was the perfect way to end the tour. Last up was lunch that was included. It was a farm to table restaurant that served Costa Rican food. Again, fantastic! If you have a day to spare, definitely add this trip to the list!

Absolutely a must! From the pick-up, the excursion itself, the lunch buffet, and everything in between was amazing! Our tour guide was awesome!

Everything was great about the experience. I would recommend this excursion to any body or friends for them to enjoy.