Sensoria eco-tour thrills the senses in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

North of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste, there is a place where the dry brown rolling plains give way to tall, lush green forest. Suddenly you are in an enchanted paradise of gushing waterfalls, warm thermal springs, sky blue streams, and bright orchids. This is a place where jaguars, pumas and tapirs roam free. Listen for the call of howler monkeys and the symphony of tropical birdsong with cicadas whirring in tempo. This is Sensoria.

Sensoria is a private nature reserve that provides extraordinary hiking tours through pure forest to hidden waterfalls and volcanic thermal springs on the northeast side of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park in Guanacaste.

The unique Guanacaste tour is located on the Atlantic slope of the north Pacific’s largest active volcano – Rincon de la Vieja – where frequent rains keep the jungle green and dense. Part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area, the region holds 2.6% of the world’s biodiversity and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Wild animals like pacas, ocelots, pumas, tapirs and jaguars have been captured on film by Sensoria’s camera traps.

The three- to four-hour Costa Rica eco-tour takes you hiking through the rainforest to waterfalls and pools where you can swim, like the electric blue Aguilar Waterfall and Pool, the 20-meter-high Buenos Aires Waterfall, La Jícara Waterfall, and the warm thermal spring Dantas Waterfall and Pool. The guided tour includes lunch.

Sensoria’s tour is available by prior reservation only, to limit the number of visitors at one time on the reserve. You can stay at Sensoria overnight, renting out rustic accommodations at “La Casona” for private groups between six and 20 persons.

How to get there

Sensoria is located north of Liberia and Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste. You need a 4x4 vehicle to drive there.

Where to stay near Sensoria

An excellent Rincon de la Vieja hotel is Hacienda Guachipelin. Day trips to Sensoria are easy from the hotel, which has 54 comfortable ranch-style rooms, a full restaurant, and an adventure park.

Article by Shannon Farley