Do you love backpacking? Interested in seeing less touristy parts of Costa Rica? Ready for a rustic adventure in the jungle? Then this 2 day, 1 night backpacking trip should be on your list of Must-Dos while in Costa Rica!
details
Length: ~8 miles (~12km)
Hiking Time: Day 1 (3-4 hours), Day 2 (3-4 hours)
Difficulty: Moderate – Hard
Elevation Gain: ~2500 ft (~762m)
River Crossing? Yes – 2 river crossings (Water can be up to your thighs, depending on your height and the season you go in)
Drinking water? I recommend bringing least 3L of drinking water in your backpack. Apparently, you can drink from the water streams (I would recommend some kind of filter) and the cabin you sleep in also has potable water fed from the stream behind the house.
Other: You will likely need to carry some snacks and a few pieces of food for dinner so leave some space in your backpack.
Off Note: This is a ONE way hike meaning you WON’T be coming back to La Fortuna. The shuttle drops you off in El Castillo and picks you up the next day in Monteverde. The tour operator will transport your large luggage to your new hostel/hotel in Santa Elena/Monteverde. Make sure valuable things (laptops, camera, etc.) are stored securely in your luggage as valuables can break during transportation.
what to bring
- Small to Medium sized backpack
- 1 shirt
- 1 pair of leggings/quick drying hiking pants/shorts (the cabin gets quite chilly at night)
- 1 pair of underwear
- 1 pair of socks
- Sunglasses
- Light jacket
- Rain jacket or Rain Poncho
- Hiking shoes
- Sandals/Water Shoes (for river crossing! Lots of rocks and shrubs in the river. The crossing will be very painful and can be dangerous barefoot)
- Medium – Large Microfiber towel (for drying off after shower)
- Headlamp (you can use your phone light as well to save space)
- Deck of cards
- Small bottle of Rum to warm the body (if you drink alcohol of course)
- Snacks (nuts, protein bars, chips, etc.)
- 2-3L of water with a water filter if you are worried about bacteria/parasites
about the hike
You will likely be picked up at your hostel/hotel Day 1 of the hike around 10-11am. Make sure the pack you are leaving behind is secured and ready to be shuttled to your hostel/hotel in Monteverde as you are NOT coming back to La Fortuna. This is a ONE way trip. Then, after a 30-40 minute drive from La Fortuna to El Castillo you will be dropped off on a dirt road with your tour guide. This marks the start of your 2 day backpack trip! Look Alive! At this point I would recommend getting your backpack situated and water shoes/sandals easily accessible as you will be needing them in the next 40 minutes. 
There will be 2-3 river crossings (depending on the season) with the last crossing being the longest and deepest (up to mid-thigh for some people). If you have difficulty with balance I’d recommend finding a good sturdy stick to act as your third leg. Keep your eyes wandering for any large river crabs, birds, anteaters, and other jungle creatures along the way!
After the 3rd crossing it’s time to start the gradual incline up to Sevorini’s rustic cabin that you will call home for the night. Along the way keep your eyes peeled for river, crabs, different birds, insects, reptiles, mammals that may be taking there afternoon stroll. 80% of the hike will be under the jungle canopy which gives you a nice break from the sun or rain. Will there be mud? YES lots of it, but you will survive. After 3-4 hours you will make a quick 20 minute decent down to Sevorini’s incredibly rustic and sturdy wood cabin.
Sevorini built this cabin with his brother about 30-40 years ago and calls this place home. He lives off the land and weekly trips to either La Fortuna or Monteverde on horseback. There is no electricity or running water at this cabin so expect to use your phone light/head lamp/flashlight to help you navigate. A shower consists of FRESH mountain spring water diverted through a plastic pipe into a small wooden shower room to rinse off in. If you need to use the restroom you will find a lovely wooden outhouse on the side of his house equipped with toilet paper (most of the time).
The evening consists of getting to know Sevorini (he only speaks Spanish and is hard of hearing so speak up) and preparing a yummy soup of veggies and a type of meat. While you wait you can visit with his cat Linda or give lots of pets to his 2 dogs, Bandito and Africa. You will be provided with a comfy padded makeshift bed with a sleeping bag, pillow, and sheets.
In the morning you will most likely wake up around 6:00-7:00am, eat some breakfast, and start hiking by 8:30am. You will have to hike 30-40 minutes back up the same way you came the day before so make sure your shoes are on tight. 3-4 hours later of beautiful country side you will find yourself on the edge of Monteverde where the shuttle comes to pick you up to take you to a restaurant in Santa Elena for a cold drink and some food. After you are replenished the shuttle will take you directly to your accommodations where you will be reunited with the rest of your belongings!
tour operator
Red Lava Tours is the only tour company that offers this type of excursion as of February 2023. I would recommend their company as we had a great trip and our tour guide, Carlos, was awesome and very informative. You can book directly with the tour company the day before in La Fortuna.