Natural hot springs are a result of continuous volcanic activity. Rainwater enters the ground through cracks and fissures created by volcanic activity. The hot magma inside the earth heats the water, gaining some therapeutic minerals. In most places, the water will find its way up, forming hot springs.
One of the best hot springs in Costa Rica is in Guanacaste province. We have visited Guanacaste several times with my family. Not only did we enjoy its stunning beaches, but we also got to enjoy its therapeutic natural hot springs. In this article, I share with you the
Key Takeaways From This Article
Because of volcanoes, Costa Rica has a variety of hot springs. The country boasts five active and 200 dormant volcanoes. Guanacaste province has its fair share of natural hot springs. Here are a few key takeaways from the hot springs in Guanacaste.
- Some minerals in volcanic hot springs include sodium, aluminum, calcium, sulfate, magnesium, zinc, and potassium.
- Many of the hot springs in Guanacaste are part of a hotel or a resort. However, after paying an entrance fee, you can still access them.
- Most of the hot springs in Guanacaste are around the Miravelles and Rincon de la Vieja volcanoes.
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Guanacaste province is located on Costa Rica’s North Pacific Coast. The province has 11 cities, with Liberia serving as its capital. Apart from the Nicoya Peninsula, most of Guanacaste province’s land is flat. In all of Costa Rica, Guancaste is the driest.
Known for its various attractions, Guanacaste is a significant tourist attraction in Costa Rica. The province has multiple national parks, beaches, and forests. Guanacaste province has the Rincon de la Vieja and Miravelles volcanoes. As a result, the province is home to some of the best hot springs in Costa Rica.
Guanacaste’s 7 Best Hot Springs
You’ll have to be careful, as some can quickly burn you due to their high temperatures. While most hot springs are in resorts, you might come across some in open locations, especially in northern Guanacaste.
Buena Vista del Rincón Hot Springs
The hot springs are situated in the foothills of Rincon de la Vieja National Park. The Rincon de la Vieja volcano is the source. The cascading waterfall temperature ranges from warm to hot. At the bottom of the pool, you can soak.
You can still access the hot springs even if you are not staying at the hotel by purchasing the following day passes.
- The eco-adventure day pass costs $99 for adults and $85 for children. The pass includes all of the activities, as well as a buffet.
- A premium day pass is expensive, but you can enjoy all the activities and a 5-course gourmet lunch. The pass costs between $115 and $90.
- A Cultural Day Pass costs $60 for adults and $40 for children. Includes lunch at Restaurante la Montaña, visits to Salitral waterfall, Pacaya hot springs, hanging bridges, and Canopy Las Pavas.
The hot springs area is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Rio Negro Hot Springs
You can hire a rental car at Liberia International Airport, which is 38km away from Rio Negro Hot Springs. It will take you about 40 minutes. Rio Negro Hot Springs is within the property of Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. Hence, there are three ways you can access Rio Negro Hot Springs.
- Independent visit: At the hotel, you must pay an entrance fee. Adults pay $30 and kids (4–12 years old) pay $25 for 1.5 hours. The earliest time you can enter is 9.00 AM, while the latest is 4.00 PM. At an additional cost, you can pay for lunch and a visit to the hotel’s spa. Remember to pack your swimsuit.
- When you stay at the hotel, you have free access to the hot springs and waterfalls.
- Book a tour: Contact your accommodation to arrange for the best tour company to pick you up. A tour is the best because it includes other attractions in the same area.
The Rincon de la Vieja volcano also feeds Rio Negro hot springs. After applying the volcanic mud, which contains minerals full of healing properties, I relaxed for fifteen minutes. The next step was to head off to an open shower near the Rio Negro River to wash off the mud. My husband decided to take a dip in the river to wash himself off.
We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in one of the pools. There are around 10 pools, each overlooking the Rio Negro River. The pools have varying temperatures that don’t exceed 40°C (104°F). Surrounding the pool is a forest with thick trees that provide shade as you soak in one of the pools.
Hot springs in Rio Perdido
The hot springs are in a 600-acre private reserve in Bagaces town, on the western side of Guanacaste. It is a one-hour drive from Liberia International Airport. Rio Perdido was a sacred spot for the local Cabecar tribes, known for harnessing the magical thermal gorge.
The name Rio Perdido means “lost river,” and the hot springs are along the thermal river. The Miravelles volcano feeds the Rio Perdido River. If you stay at the hotel, you can enjoy free yoga and spa massages.
Spread along the river are eight natural pools with varying temperatures. The Rio Perdido Hotel offers a mud body-painting treatment using the river’s mineral-rich soil. You can eat at their on-site restaurant, which offers a variety of traditional Costa Rican dishes.
Other activities in the private reserve include hiking along the numerous trails, whitewater tubing along the river, mountain biking, and ziplining in the Rio Blanco canyon.
Yoko Termales Hot Springs
The Miravelles volcano feeds Yoko Termales, which are five hot spring pools that can reach temperatures of 38 °C (100 °F). Because the pools are in direct sunlight, I recommend visiting the hot springs at night. The natural hot springs are far from the hotel, and you must hike a short distance.
The resort has four hot springs with varying temperatures. One pool has a slide, and all the pools have ramps for those with physical limitations. There is a separate pool just for children.
Another pool has water with specific temperatures ideal for hydrotherapy. The pool is suitable for treating bone injuries, spinal disorders caused by disease, and acute stress.
Besides the pools, Yoko Termales has a sauna and two jacuzzis that use hot water vapor from the Miravelles volcano. The entrance fee for the hot springs is $10 per adult and $8 for children under the age of 10.
Las Hornillas Volcano Hot Springs
Las Hornillas hot springs are located in the Miravelles Volcano’s foothills. It’s an old, poorly-maintained hot spring, but it’s still worth visiting. Vents that emit volcanic gases and steam surround the hot springs due to the volcano’s presence.
The waters are uniquely blue because they flow from deep underground and are full of minerals. Mud, which comes from the earth, can also be applied to your skin.
After washing off the mud from the mudbath, you can relax in the hot spring pool. A tour starts at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. and costs $55, comprising the mudbath, hanging bridges, lunch, and hikes to the waterfalls and the hot springs.
Alternatively, you can pay separately for each activity.
Santa María House Hot Springs
The hot springs are 3 km from Santa María House, a farmhouse near the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. To get to the hot springs from the farmhouse, you will walk for 10 minutes on the Hummingbird Trail, passing an old sugar mill. You will find the main trail leading to the hot springs.
There are several pools with varying temperatures. The hot springs’ opening hours are 8.00 AM and close at 3.30 PM. You’ll pay an entrance fee of $15 for adults and $5 per child under 12 years old.
Vandará Hot Springs
It is adjacent to the Rincon de la Vieja volcano and is a 350-acre park surrounded by rainforest and tropical forest. The River Tizate, which runs through the property, forms a deep canyon. Vandará’s five hot spring pools run along the banks of the river Tizate.
Apply volcanic mud all over your body, letting its rich minerals soak into your skin. After washing off, you can relax in any hot spring pool. To end a beautiful day, enjoy the afternoon in the jacuzzi or a soothing massage in the open-air massage parlor.
Vandará Hot Springs is open from 8 a.m. to 4.40 p.m. You can access it using any of the following passes:
| Vandará Explorer Pass | Vandará Nature Pass |
| Its cost is $95 for adults and $75 for children. | The pass costs $65 for adults and $52 for children. |
| Hot springs | Mud treatment |
| Volcanic mud treatment | Hot springs |
| Traditional Costa Rican dishes | Hiking |
| Horseback riding | Trapiche Rancho Tour |
| A cultural tour of Trapiche Rancho | Traditional lunch |
| Canopy tour along the river | |
| Vandará Water Slide |
On their private ranch, they grow the majority of the ingredients for food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are hot springs in Costa Rica safe?
Most hot springs in Costa Rica are safe. They have varying temperatures, but I recommend starting with the coldest pool. That way, your body starts to adapt to pool temperatures.
When dunking your head into the pools, pinch your nose to prevent bacteria from entering your body. Also, avoid opening your mouth or eyes when underwater. When swimming with the kids, I recommend first testing the hot springs.
What do I need when visiting the hot springs?
You will find changing rooms and lockers around most hot springs. If your clothes get wet, bring a swimsuit and a change of clothes. I recommend you carry much water or money to buy water to hydrate.
You might walk between pools, so bring flip-flops or sandals. Bring natural or organic sunscreen if the hot springs have no tree cover.
Conclusion
Guanacaste province has some of the best hot springs in Costa Rica. The hot springs have various minerals that can help your skin glow. My kids loved Yoko Termales Hot Springs, mainly because they had a separate pool.
Which of the hot springs have you visited? Please share your experience with us.
About Michelle Schmidt
Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation!
