Parque Nacional La Cangreja

Tip

Go with a local guide or lodge from Mastatal for the trails and waterfalls, and arrive early; there is almost nobody else. Ask about entry fees and trail status ahead of time.

Be careful

Trails are rough and creeks rise fast after rain: don't cross swollen rivers, bring water and tell someone your plan.

Getting there

Point is the park polygon center (OSM has no mapped entrance); the access is by gravel roads from Puriscal or Mastatal and a 4x4 is recommended in the rainy season.

Places nearby

• Villas Mastatal Eco Lodge (guides, breakfast & lunch for hikers)Tours & AdventureA small organic farm lodge in the Puriscal mountains that works as the base for hikes to the Las Gemelas waterfalls and Cerro Yarcazú: they line up local guides and serve home-cooked breakfast and lunch to day hikers, with a shower after the walk.
• La Iguana Chocolate (bean-to-bar farm tour, Mastatal)Food & CoffeeA small family cacao farm in the mountains of Mastatal making organic bean-to-bar chocolate.
• Catarata El Salto de GamalotilloParks & WildlifeFamily-run waterfall about 45 minutes from Esterillos and Bejuco: a 6 m (20 ft) fall into a deep round pool, a shallow wading area, picnic spot and a 1.5-hour forest trail past a second fall.
• Macaw LodgeParks & Wildlife · takes 1.5 h–4 h · from $40An eco-lodge on a private forest reserve in the Turrubares hills near Carara, where more than 350 bird species have been recorded.
• Mirador y Restaurante Donde AndrésFood & CoffeeWeekend farm restaurant and viewpoint run by Andrés and his wife, with food made from local ingredients and stunning views over the countryside.