After 6 years, we returned to Cerro Dantas, a trail full of mud, cloud forest, and fresh mountain air — just minutes from the city. Along the way, you'll find beautiful waterfalls and immersive nature experiences.

The Cerro Dantas Wildlife Refuge is located near the city of Heredia, 20 kilometers northeast of the National University, on the borders of Braulio Carrillo National Park.

How to get there?
Take the route that goes towards Castillo Country Club in San Rafael de Heredia (from the northwest corner of the church it's 4.9 km north).
Passing El Castillo, continue 1 km more and turn right toward Monte de la Cruz. Continue 3 km on the ballast road.
Waze

What to bring?
Sporty clothes, trail tennis shoes, windbreaker or waterproof jacket, extra clothes to change in the car.

Food?
Snacks for the road and 1 bottle of water.

COST:
₡3000 entry (cash)
₡3500 lunch
₡1500 coffee or hot chocolate

Hike: ≈ 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

Our Experience at Cerro Dantas

Rainy weather, perfect mood

Last weekend, with little time but a lot of craving to explore, we headed to Cerro Dantas. This epic spot is super close to the city and takes you to the borders of Braulio Carrillo National Park.

Even with dark clouds over the Heredian hills, we stayed positive and moved forward. The water showed up and so did the rain. After a short hesitation, we saw other hikers starting the trail without worry. That motivated us. We began the 1.9 km walk to the Cerro Dantas Refuge.

A muddy trail with bridges and charm

The trail starts with a 4x4-style road full of puddles (especially in winter), then transitions into a cobblestone path. There are four magical bridges along the way — each worth stopping to admire.

Later, between farms and hills, the path gets steeper. At one point, it gets slippery with tree trunks laid across the trail. The most exciting part is a rope bridge you cross solo for safety.

Welcome to the refuge

At the refuge, a guide charges the entry and explains the trail options. There are 2 main routes leading to waterfalls, which depending on the season, can be light or gushing with water.

The scene is breathtaking — rainforest, streams, and pure natural magic.

A mountain meal to finish

To wrap up, there's a cozy dining room at the refuge that serves lunch, coffee, and hot chocolate — the perfect combo after a forest hike.

TRIP DATE: December 2021