Mirador el Silencio – Hiking in Costa Rica

Yesterday we went to Mirador el Silencio. Translated in English, this means ‘Silence Viewpoint’. As with most things we have done, Dave found this place and did all the research on how to get there. The cost was $10/person for entrance and we would happily pay that again!  Mirador el Silencio has 550 acres of protected land, and around 250 acres are primary forest. Because of this the trees are very mature. We hiked close to 6 miles while we were there. There are many different trails and we explored them all!

Overwhelmed by Green

This was by far one of the best hikes I have been on. And coming from Colorado, I have hiked a lot. The vast beauty of the rainforest feels like more than my eyes can absorb at once. Not only are the surroundings stunning, but I also love the sounds. We hear the sound of what we are assuming are cicadas when we are in very dense/lush areas. I love it!

We saw two different snakes. Both of them were vipers. The yellow viper is called an Eyelash Viper. We also saw some very unique and beautiful flowers.

Sendero Lava del 1968 – The Lava Fields Trail of 1968

One of the hiking trails is called The Lava Fields Trail. As you’re walking the steep incline up the trail the terrain starts to change. At first it is sprinkled with volcanic rocks and the higher you get the vegetation lessens. At the end there is a clearing with a huge field of lava rock created from the 1968 eruption of the Arenal Volcano. On a clear day you’re supposed to get a great view of the volcano. We didn’t get the volcano view, but the fog rolling through was very cool!

Sendero Lago Verde – Green Lake Trail

This part of the hike was a total surprise for everyone! We saw a sign for a Green Lake Trail, but had no idea we would see an actual green lake. At first glance, the lake appears that it is covered in algae, but it’s not. It gets its vibrant color from volcanic minerals in the water. This is a natural phenomenon caused by the unique geology in the area. Amazing!

Sloths and Stings

At the end of the hike, Alexis accidentally stood in a pile of black ants and got numerous bites on her ankles. Ouch! On a brighter note, we were rewarded with another sloth sighting! This one equally as cute and entertaining!

One More Adventure for the Day

After hiking we decided to check out the free local hot springs. It was just over 1/2 mile away, so we made the trek along the road to check out another popular local spot. It was crowded and I think we were a little too exhausted and hungry after our hike to truly enjoy it. The water was warm, but not the stinging hot I was craving after a long hike. Braxton enjoyed it the most. I slipped on some rocks and fell on my shins. Dave thinks we could possibly find warmer pools if we hiked up a bit farther. We also read on reviews that it is less busy in the morning. We’re not sure yet if we will give this place another try.

We only have one week left in La Fortuna before we travel southwest to the ocean town of Jaco. We still have a few things on our list that we want to discover here, while also soaking up the relaxing little town.