Activities
Activities offered in and around Mastatal include rainforest hikes, swimming in pristine forest rivers, waterfall tours, a Ranch tour, wildlife viewing and birdwatching, horseback riding, touring a local chocolate farm, day classes and more. The area is a paradise for water lovers, as numerous rivers and waterfalls are accessed from the area with the Pacific Ocean only 15 miles to the south (though it takes over an hour to get there in a car). For those more interested in taking it a bit slower, Rancho Mastatal is the perfect place for kicking back, reading a good book and taking in the beautiful surroundings.
Below is a list of activities that you might be interested in participating in during your stay in the area. Guides are either needed or recommended for many of the below activities, and at times only speak Spanish. This provides you with an excellent opportunity to work on your Spanish while helping the local economy. For some activities, especially the horseback rides, we will need a day or two advance notice so that we can make arrangements with the local community members that we work with.
Cultural Activities
La Iguana Chocolate Tour: Visit La Iguana Chocolate for a fabulous 2-hour tour of this locally owned and operated organic farm and chocolate making facility. Learn how cacao is harvested, fermented and turned into chocolate. Eat lots of chocolate goodies at the end of the tour!
Visit KIS Medicinals: Get a taste of local tradition and learn about medicinal plants from the area. KIS Medicinals provide fun and accessible farm and cultural experiences for visitors through cultural and medicinal plant tours, medicine making workshops, and food as medicine cooking classes. And, they have amazing hand-made herbal products for sale! They are a company run by native, local Costa Ricans who want to celebrate their culture and knowledge. Check out their website: https://kismedicinals.wixsite.com/home
Horseback Rides
Wear long pants and sturdy shoes and bring lots of water and a snack (when not included in the price of the trip). All horses are locally trained and owned. We need 2 days notice to organize horseback rides. All rides are guided.
San Vicente: 2-hours. Ride from Rancho Mastatal to the town of San Vicente on old roads and paths through the forest and past beautiful rivers. Swimming opportunities.
Birdwatching
Take an early morning guided birdwatching walk to see and learn about the 500+ bird species found in our area.
Hikes
Wear closed shoes or boots and long pants on all hikes. Carry at least 2 liters of water and some snacks, be prepared to get wet and take precautions against the sun. We strongly recommend hiring a guide for these hikes and can arrange one for you. All durations given are for round-trips.
Night Hike: 1-2 hours. Take a guided hike through the rainforest after dark to catch a glimpse of the many nocturnal animals that you oftentimes don’t see during the daylight hours. Guide necessary. Easy.
La Cangreja National Park to Rancho Mastatal: 5 hours. Hike from La Cangreja National Park to Rancho Mastatal (or vice versa). Experience primary and secondary tropical forests, beautiful rivers, great swimming holes and wildlife. Three stream crossings. Guide necessary. Moderate.
Las Gemelas Waterfalls: 3-4 hours. Walk through town and then down an old road before hiking down a steep hillside to the Río Rey. Then walk upstream to some beautiful waterfalls. Nice swimming opportunities along the way. Guide optional. Moderate.
El Salto del Indio Waterfalls: 5 hours hours. Start in the town of San Miguel (5 km from Mastatal) and then through bucolic pastures to the top of a 200-foot waterfall. Nice swimming opportunities. Guide options. Moderate.
Cerro Cangreja Summit: 5 hours. Climb to the summit of Cerro Cangreja, the highest point in the area, for wonderful views to the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding countryside. Bring extra water. Guide necessary. Moderate to strenuous.
OTHER POSSIBILITIES WITH LOCAL GUIDES
Basketweaving in Zapatón Indigenous Reserve: Share stories, make baskets and eat a typical lunch with a family in Zapatón. Transportation required.
