La Fortuna had no shortage of outdoor activities. With a huge lake, plenty of nature trails, rivers, waterfalls, a National Park and vast countryside, the area has something for everyone. We picked "Mirador El Silencio Trail", a lesser-known trek in La Fortuna that offered incredible volcano views and peaceful rainforest hiking.

Getting to Mirador El Silencio

El Silencio Trail was located fifteen minutes drive from the town center 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 the reserve entrance where we paid 4,000 colones per person ($7 USD). 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. Six trails could be traveled with the help of a tour guide specializing in natural history or self-guided. We chose the latter and were advised to keep right until reaching the base of the volcano and come back by trail #2.

Through the Rainforest

We navigated El Silencio Trail through heavily forested areas, open grass walking paths and stunning landscapes. Slowly, we wandered for 2 hours, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the rainforest. The wildlife was incredible. We saw loads of birds including Chestnut-mandibled toucans, a dozen hummingbirds, and an unidentified monkey species swinging through the canopy.

Volcano Viewpoint

We stumbled upon an incredible volcano viewpoint. We marveled at the panoramic view of the Arenal Volcano, the most impressive giant in Costa Rica at 1,670 meters. We soon realized that we were the only hikers. The Silencio Trail was definitely very quiet compared to other 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.

Historic Lava Fields

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 ambiance.

We noticed a last trail descending to the green lagoon. The area was full of birds and the sounds of the rainforest echoed around us.

Free Hot Springs to Finish

After 4 hours, we finished the walk in the most relaxing way - taking a break at a nearby 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 kilometers from the Silencio Trail entrance/exit. We dipped in the soothing warm water to relax our muscles before calling our hotel to pick us up!

The El Silencio trail enjoyed a more peaceful vibe than the hikes at the Arenal park and observatory. The reserve is more off the beaten path with loads of wildlife and far fewer tourists.

Have you hiked the Silencio Trail in La Fortuna or any other trails? Did you do so with a guide or on your own? What wildlife did you spot? Leave us your comments below. We would love to hear from you.

Pura Vida! 🇨🇷

The Mirador El Silencio trail was the perfect La Fortuna hike - peaceful, uncrowded, with stunning Arenal Volcano views and incredible wildlife encounters. Combined with the free hot springs afterwards, it made for an unforgettable day in Costa Rica's adventure capital. Pura Vida!