Rincón de la Vieja is known for its impressive diversity of flora and fauna... (+ info)

Horseback riding to the National Park and Simbiosis Spa

We start by visiting the National Park Rincón de la Vieja where we have to leave the horses, as we are only allowed to enter the park by foot.

At the park we take the “Las Pailas” track. At this, more or less, circular trail with a length of about 2 miles/3.2km, you can enjoy the most volcanic activity without climbing the main crater.

Here you can find a great variety of vegetation and trees, like the Elephant ear tree, Cigar Box Cedar, Laurel and the Gumbo-limbo among others.

You can spot mammals like the raccoon, the white nosed coati and the Central American agouti as well as the already mentioned birds; the Blue-crowned Motmot, the Mountain finch and the Emerald Toucan. You’ll find small waterfalls, rapids, volcanic mud pools, hot springs, fumaroles and the “volcancito” (little volcano).

When we finish the walking part, the horses are ready to take us to the Simbiosis Spa.

You’ll find the Spa embedded in the tropical dry forest, surrounded by the Río Colorado. Once at the spa, you start your treatment with the basic recommendations: a natural sauna for about fifteen minutes to open all skin pores before you are led to the place where you apply the volcanic mud on your skin. Let the mud dry and wash it off by taking a shower. Afterwards it’s time to relax in the thermal pools for about twenty minutes. Completing the treatment with the cold pools and a cold shower so the skin pores can close again, and you’ll feel reborn.

After this relaxing break, we mount up again to return to the Hacienda.