Best trails in Barbilla National Park

This challenging 21.2 km (13.2-mile) expedition ventures deep into the tropical rainforests of the Talamanca Range to reach the remote Ayil Waterfall, typically taking three days to complete. The journey begins in the community of Playa Hermosa and ascends through primary cloud forests to a remote base camp. From there, hikers navigate steep and often muddy terrain to reach the imposing waterfall before returning to camp and finally walking back to the trailhead. This trek is widely known as...

The second stage of the Ayil Waterfall trek is a 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) hike through Cartago Province that serves as the highlight of the expedition to one of the hidden gems of Barbilla National Park. Starting from base camp, the trail descends through rugged terrain and dense cloud forests until it reaches the majestic Ayil Waterfall. The trail generally heads east, traversing paths that can be extremely technical and slippery due to the area’s constant humidity. After enjoying the...

The third stage of the Ayil Waterfall trek is a 9.2-kilometer (5.7-mile) route through Cartago Province that serves as the final leg of the return journey for this expedition in the Talamanca Mountain Range. Starting from the campsite after visiting the waterfall, the route heads back toward the community of Playa Hermosa. The trail generally heads west, once again traversing the dense vegetation of the cloud forest and overcoming elevation changes that require good physical conditioning....