An Epic Coast-to-Coast Hike in Costa Rica

How about a hike from the Caribbean to the Pacific? In Costa Rica, it only takes 16 days. The newly minted Camino de Costa Rica starts at the Pacuare Nature Reserve and ends at Manuel Antonio National Park. Both are well-known tourist destinations (and rightfully so) but everything in between is solidly off the usual itineraries. In a country with so many zip lines that its forests sometimes feel like theme parks, the Camino offers a completely different perspective.

Mar a Mar, the non-profit association that designed the route aims to promote socially sustainable community tourism in the least visited areas of the country. The idea is to create a journey full of adventures and picturesque Costa Rican villages. The trail meanders over mountains, through forests and plantations. Those who follow it, stay at villages, dine on home-cooked meals, and can even lend a hand in daily chores to learn more about the lives of the families that take care of them. The total length of the route is 280 kilometers, and each day hike is about 5-7 hours.

Since the route has only been operational for a few years, it is still in development, so don’t expect the levels of service or comfort you will find elsewhere in the country. The real luxury here is a genuine look at a side of Costa Rica few outsiders know about, and a genuine connection with the local people who benefit from your visit, like the indigenous Cabecar of Tsiobata. Currently, the organization is building business management capacity with over 50 women entrepreneurs along the route, thanks to US Embassy funds.

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