Hiking Costa Rica is a popular activity and one of the best reasons to travel to Costa Rica. The scenery and mother nature are outstanding. There are several good hiking sites.

However, Costa Rica does not belong to the first world and does not have a well developed trail systems that are found in countries such as Canada and the United States. As a result, there are not many maintained trails. And, the trails that are maintained are heavily used. It's important to prepare yourself, in advance, before heading out.

Hiking & trekking in Costa Rica can be done at the following locations

• Hiking Costa Rica: Arenal Volcano is located north of San Jose and offers some opportunities to get out and day hike. There are numerous trails in and around Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. Many trails are not maintained, so it might be a good idea to hire a guide.
• Hiking Costa Rica: Barra Honda National Park: Hire an expert guide to visit the caves of this fascinating national park. Located in the Nicoya Peninsula, this park offers a vast network of caves where ancient human remains have been discovered. There are numerous hiking options but visitors will need a guide to navigate this area.
• Hiking Costa Rica: Cahuita National Park also has a pleasant hiking trail that's easy to access and follows the coastline for a duration. There's a lot of terrific wildlife in this park which makes this a fun hike. Be sure to bring water. You won't need a guide for this trip. It's easy.
• Hiking Costa Rica: Chirripo National Park offers hiking and trekking. This is a lovely trip that requires preparation. It will also require you to book in advance. When I visited, the ranger at this location was less than helpful so be sure to pre-book your trip, otherwise you might be disappointed. If you are a beginners, please hire a guide.
• Hiking Costa Rica: Corcovado National Park: This park offers superb hikes between park stations along with outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities; howler monkey sightings are virtually guaranteed. It is possible for the well-prepared visitor to navigate these on her/his own. However, it is advisable to hire a guide.
• Hiking Costa Rica: Public trail at Bahia Drake to Corcovado: A public trail follows the coastline from Bahia Drake to Corcovado for the entire stretch and this is a spectacular stretch of coastline. The 10-km (6 mi) shoreline is craggy and there are sandy inlets. The rainforest follows the coastline and offers tremendous wildlife viewing opportunities.
• Hiking Costa Rica: Monteverde Cloud Forest is another terrific spot for hiking. There are a number of hikes in and around Monteverde and Santa Elena. Some have public access while others are on private reserves. Also, the sky walks make terrific day hike options.
• Hiking Costa Rica: Rincon de la Vieja National Park: A range of hikes are available at this park including easy trails past boiling mud pots to moderate walks through bird-filled forests. Trails lead to a waterfall where visitors can swim at the cool swimming hole or warm springs.

Costa Rica bird watching while hiking is a worthy effort. Costa Rica is literally loaded with birds. Even if you aren't an avid bird watcher, you will be impressed by the diversity of species and the number of large exotic birds. When you're hiking, you'll see a variety of incredible birds. Consider taking a small birding guidebook for identification.