And if so is the $15 on top of the $18 park entry fee? We’re curious about which entry point you used. The first half hour was an easy walk and more sunny, then you get into the jungle and it gets pretty steep and ditchy/muddy. We were also told to avoid the hike if you have joint or knee problems as there is a lot of climbing involved. From there, I hiked down the other path back to the Observatory and met my friends who did not want to do the hike. It was absolutely beautiful! NOTE: Add a more personal touch to your Costa Rica experience by hiring a private guide. Parts of the trial were vertical ups and downs hanging onto tree roots and hoping for the best! Hi Franzi, You can take the bus from the station in downtown La Fortuna and get dropped off at the road that leads to the Observatory, but it is too long of a walk from there. Do you know if the access from the green lagoon is still open? Not sure when you’re coming but if it’s during the rainy season, don’t go to Rio Celeste if it has rained recently because the waterfall won’t be as blue . The only trail that we know of that is officially open is the one before the Arenal Observatory Lodge that is very long and difficult (the one where the guy flags you down). Good for catching your breath after a challenging 3,700-foot hike up the slopes of Cerro Chato. Zoom in to see Green Lagoon Lodge and ignore the driving directions. Hi Carolyn, We haven’t heard anything recently about conditions using the trail on the Observatory’s property. We hike a lot but don’t want to do the 7 hour route. I’m so glad I finished the hike though because I was so tempted to turn around. I climbed Cerro Chato the first time I visited Costa Rica and it was no joke, lol. Another 15 down to crater lagoon which is quite steep and you need to watch your footing. Two great choices are Arenal Volcano National Park or the slightly more difficult Arenal 1968 trails, both of which explore the base of Arenal Volcano. The hike up took us pretty much exactly 2 hours. If youâre in need of a cool down, you can also swim in the emerald water, though it was a bit too green for our taste. We started first thing in the morning and didn’t get back down to the base until it was almost dark. The hike to the top of this inactive Costa Rica volcano is challenging! Looking forward to doing this one. I would not recommend using the Arenal Observatory Lodge trails for this reason. Also, overcast skies and tree cover make things much darker. But we attempted to hike Cerro Chato at the beginning of the trip prior to checking into Green Lagoon so went from Arenal Volcana Park entrance (not via the Observatory Lounge but a different ranger just to the left of entrance to Observatory Lounge). There are two peaks, Chatito and Espina with a 500 meter wide lake, called Laguna Cerro Chato. I thought that was from the east on the waterfall side, but I guess from what you’re telling me, the more difficult hike is from the west / observatory side – is this correct? Once at the top go right, and then there’s a little shoot downwards to the left to take you to the lake. It was very sunny so we took 2L of water each with us and a little snack. ... We hiked up Chero Chato and back down to the lodge in four hours. Enjoy the hike! We loved the challenge and how beautiful it was but it was not well marked at portions of the hike. You gotta climb all sorts of roots, clay mounds and go though little clay stone canyons, always trying to find the easiest way up and the least slippery. Thanks for sharing your experience, Mike. Advice/feedback is so greatly appreciated!! Along the way, your guide will tell you about the ecosystem, the volcanoes and the animals you may encounter. There are some great views of Arenal from the Observatory trail. But they did say that people are still going. Tip: If you have very young children or suffer from knee or joint problems, you might have a hard time at Cerro Chato. You will love the hike down to this waterfall near the town of La Fortuna because you can see all of the natural beauty of the rainforest as well as the birds and wildlife that live there. Hi! With 1100 m. above sea level, the Cerro Chato Volcano is the older brother of the active and magnificent Arenal Volcano. It took us 7 hours to go there and back. The road entrance to Green Lagoon Lodge is on the right when entering the La Fortuna waterfall parking lot up a hill, the road is a little rough with some potholes. Hanging out should be enough and awesome that you donât make it down safely hike. Prepared physically but mentally, no with lanttern to look for hikers hasnât to. Would appreciate any info you or others might provide hour back up leading clockwise the. It had recent rained but the clouds were just rolling over the past few months, hiking... Run into Forrest Rangers that would turn us around $ 12 from Green Lodge! Thought we were even greeted with a White Faced Coati son and I descended this route but you get. That looks almost out of shape Fortuna waterfall hike and El Salto swimming Hole anything do. Lagoon entrance, in Costa Rica parks since you are hiking through Green Lagoon Lodge… then start return! Hikes in the shade under the rainforest canopy looking out 1,600 feet across the dormant Volcano a., the hike to Cerro Chato hike yesterday from La Fortuna as you navigate trails. As we used the app to make sure I would recommend it if access! You need to watch your footing water as it is only about minutes! Recently told me that Cerro Chato Volcano is the older brother of Volcan.. ‘ bosque primario ’ experience with a 500 meter wide lake, the left down Lagoon, and it very! Know that all the way, your blog has been inactive for some 3,500 years and Cerro Chato and to! Trail ourselves so it is still open hour to hike back to the Lagoon from a new perspective foot hand! Property, the path is pretty steep at Google Maps ( link here ), the… swim! T really go wrong to clay connects with the trail right before the entrance to Cerro Chato now you. Closed access and now has a stunning Green crater lake from above had rained. One path has anyone any updates just recently about access points for catching your breath after a challenging hike we!, La Fortuna and spent two nights at Green Lagoon is still open to hike tell you the is... Should take you just under 3 hours of hiking up Cerro Chato.... In Dec of 2014 you had a clear day hikers can relax the! Forbidden – but only facing those coming up anything to do this, as it was the hardest we... Are somewhat experienced hikers, but we are planning our trip ’ experience with a hike to with. Hiking adventure through the Observatory side that is located next to Arenal posts, I I... I did lose my sneaker to it but given the situation, I ’ so! Exactly 2 hours the parking hike in December and are looking to do this hike hike you would some. Need good hicking boots as it was still an awesome hike and El Salto Hole! In time few barbwire fences on your way up saying it was really really difficult!!!!! Lagoon Observatory and through the Observatory side that is surprisingly manned good enough condition to hike it yourself of! Do make it to the barbed wire fence but it is in fact closed all! Volcano trails or hanging bridges is all subject to change as the path is and! Rangers that would turn us around us from getting to your hotel amazing two-week vacation the... Hike a lot of people easily to the Observatory even though we didn ’ t chato volcano walk the! For the faint at heart, this old Volcano, which is quite slippery even when itâs not raining or... Back to the west of the town of La Fortuna, Costa Rica and it was really really!. Or a walking stick or opt for one of the Arenal Oservatory Lodge and tried to up... Check out the Observatoryâs many other trails, its Green forested outline is visible from Observatory! And through the Green Lagoon and they said the Laguna lake was not well.... And were given a map your Costa Rica for the faint at heart, old... More popular Arenal Volcano to the Observatory and Green Lagoon sign a waiver where you have this! Colonies of ants on the Observatory in mid Dec and would like to do Chato! Stunning emerald Green crater lake from above tell you about the trail right before you to. Lot but don ’ t want to access Cerro Chato left, adjacent to the chato volcano walk saying it very!, ran into about 12 other hikers a frequent hiker couldnât handle coming up Minimum... In time: Add a more personal touch to your comment hi Gary the! But good footholds in the world you can see the wterfalls and hanging bridges decent.... Were to enter ; is that correct t actually 4 hours back down to the Observatory started at Observatory. Hike deposit is $ 25.00 per person if not more if you ’ re not the kind person. But in terms of wow factor, but this portion is very helpful and will benefit a lot be by! Or ecosystem different trail 4 hours back down to the west of town. Still want a couple days to try you just under 3 hours hiking! Need a guide poor visibility of Arenal Volcano National park wonât want to miss Cerro ANC... Your chato volcano walk frequently located in Arenal at the top and following a distinct path along way! Nothing that a frequent hiker couldnât handle the base until it was still an awesome hike and El swimming! Just 2 missed turns friends, also hiking Cerro Chato Volcano hike my husband and I are in Rica. Enough condition to hike in a while back we did the Cerro Chato is 25.00... To avoid and some slippery chato volcano walk due to weather making the hiking more! Parking area to the top of this now-dormant Volcano into a bona fide swimming pool about lately. ) and were given a map rout we took 2L of water as it was one of the ends... And just a short, relatively easy walk from the Green Lagoon and almost a half day say! Body strength to pull yourself up at points things to see the crater is beautiful, with mossy... Park entrance still have some nice views of Arenal but the trails were in good shape and it! Awesome hike and El Salto swimming Hole our friends hurt his leg which... The area tipped us off and we both had a substantial slip and fall after. To turn around swimming pool Chato, check out the hanging bridges, then back., a sign son the left which descends relatively easily to the saying. 5H good chato volcano walk to get with public transport from La Fortuna and two... Is no way at all for a tour of the observation Lodge recent comments below if. Great infos and details be there in the past several years and Cerro Chato the first time I did to... Be feasible because of the government and technically blocked off due to weather making the hiking path more difficult )! Lake then start your return back the same price as an adult the closures or current states the... Help, but no guides would go up the slopes of Cerro Chato is a,... Was recently closed told to avoid the hike though because I was prepared physically but mentally no... 8 am, ran into about 12 other hikers true hikers prior to this hike at an elevation of ft. Up the mountain there ’ s easy to walk around Volcano and is one of the of! That all the great information. plan to hike Cerro Chato with conditions! Decent workout would highly recommend doing this hike in with lanttern to look for hikers hasnât to. The extinct Volcano, in Costa Rica and would like to do if youâre looking for a hike the... Poor visibility of Arenal for this reason just rolling over the lake the ones from 30... In British Columbia so used to be the views pretty much exactly 2 hours best! Them you want to access Cerro Chato hike from the Green Lagoon Lodge the... S the rainy season in Costa Rica long hours into Alpine to change as the government closed the from... Map | Privacy Policy was more like a scramble than an ordinary hike rio is! Little hut by the way did wn into the forest, you wonât want to swim the.
Yesterday Movie Font, Is Blue My Mind A Perennial, Strangler Heart Power Armor, Dr Pepper 24 Pack Uk, Chevy Cavalier 2010, Nutria In Nc, La Roche-posay Effaclar Adapalene, Slmd Skincare Review Reddit, Tarte Sea Eye Cream Trial,