Piedra de Fuego – Esparza, Puntarenas
🔥 A wild adventure under the sun and trees
In Esparza there is a property that is lit, not only because of the temperature but also because of all the amazing outdoor activities you can enjoy—I'm talking about Piedra de Fuego. This 550-hectare estate has been protected by a family for over 20 years and is now open to the public for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. Best of all—you can bring your dog!
📍 Useful Info
How to get there?
200 meters east of Bichos restaurant in Paraíso, Esparza, Puntarenas.
🚗 Vehicle: Everyone arrives perfectly!
💵 Cost: ₡3000 nationals / $10 foreigners
📞 Phone: 8433-3166 (Diego)
🕐 Hours: Friday to Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Other days available for groups with reservation (min. 10 people).
🥾 What to bring?
– At least 1L of water
– Snacks and fruit
– Fresh sportswear
– Repellent, sunscreen
– Camera, hat and sunglasses
🍎 Food:
Snacks, water bottle, and eco-breakfast available upon request.
📏 Distance: 10 km
⏱ Time: 3 h hiking / 1.5 h mountain biking
🧭 Difficulty: Moderately intense – Save your legs for the last stretch.
🅿 Parking: Yes
🌳 Our Experience
We hit the road at 8:30 a.m. and headed to Esparza for our next adventure. Just over an hour later, we reached Piedra de Fuego. The property is to the right of the road and surrounded by mango trees—great for shade but check that none are ready to drop or they might land right on your windshield.
After parking and prepping our water bottles, one of the owners greeted us warmly and explained the route. The trail starts with a grassy slope and then drops into a forested area. Well-marked and maintained, it led us to a beautiful ravine shaded by trees. We sat on the rocks and munched on mangoes we picked from the parking lot.
The path leveled out alongside the Barranca River. The river’s breeze gave us the boost we needed to face the climb. Around the 1 km mark, we took a mandatory break at a huge boulder covered in tree roots. We applied 4 layers of repellent—the mosquitoes were ruthless! Then Karlita slipped off the boulder, we snacked and pushed on.
That last climb was no joke, but we made it. Diego and his mom (the awesome owner-admin duo) welcomed us at the parking lot with cold water and fresh fruit. It was the perfect ending after a great trek. We showered, got ready, and drove back to San José feeling refreshed and thrilled to have completed another amazing QueBuenLugar trip.
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