Details about Trekking the new Camino de Montes de Oro (Mountains of Gold) in Costa Rica
Are you an experienced hiker looking for a beautiful, unspoiled and long distance trekking challenge?
Check out Costa Rica’s brand new 6 day Camino de Montes de Oro trek designed by my affiliate UrriTrek! On this magnificent new (and thus undiscovered!) trail, you’ll see an astonishing amount of wildlife and exotic flora along with incredible mountain and water views. Learn more about this exciting new long trail below and be sure to email me for an exclusive discount Promo Code.
6 Days – Approximately 50 miles/75 km – Elevation Gain 14,000’/4300m – Elevation Loss 11,200’/3400m – Max Altitude 5066’/544m
What is the Camino de Montes de Oro Trek in Costa Rica?
The Camino de Montes de Oro (Mountains of Gold) trek is a new trail designed by UrriTrek that showcases the stunning Puntarenas region of Costa Rica, ending in the spectacular Monteverde rainforest. It starts in Miramar and ends in Santa Elena and goes for 47.48 miles/764 km. This is a challenging trail with 14,137’/4307m of elevation gain in those miles, with descents totalling 11,266’/3434m. The highest altitude it reaches is 5066’/544m so altitude should not be an issue for most hikers.
This region is known for its former gold exploration so the name is a tribute not only to that heritage but also the beautiful mountains of gold in the sunshine.
Where is the Camino de Montes de Oro in Costa Rica?
The Camino de Montes de Oro is located in the beautiful Puntarenas region, near the northwest corner of Costa Rica, midway between San Jose and Liberia. UrriTrek will transfer you from the capital, San Jose to the trek’s starting point in Miramar.
Describe the Camino de Montes de Oro
The trek follows the old paths of former gold hunters as they carved routes through this beautiful yet rugged terrain. You’ll trek through rural villages and on historic mountain roads and highlands once used by the miners and settlers.
You start out in dry, forested landscape that turns into a lush cloud forest, so you’ll get to see much of the biodiversity for which Costa Rica is justly famous. You will be amazed at the colorful flora and fauna that grows with abundance throughout your trek. Your experienced guide’s trained eyes will help you spot some of the more elusive creatures that blend into the landscape.
Trekking on this new trail, like the earlier pioneers of this region, you will get to see an authentic Costa Rica away from the busy touristy areas.
How Hard is the Camino de Montes de Oro
It’s challenging and you need to be an experienced hiker! Train so that you are comfortable with significant elevation gains and losses each day and for hiking days of 12-17 miles / 20-27 km per day. Check out each day’s itinerary for daily guidance.
There are lots of free training resources on this website. If you need more help in designing your training program, contact Becki at Trailblazer Wellness for a free phone consultation. She can customize an online program for you using the equipment you already have. Mention ATA to save 10%.
Daily Trekking Description of the Camino de Montes de Oro
| Day | Route | Distance | Hiking Time | Elevation Gain | Elevation Loss | Difficulty* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miramar → Zapotal | 17.3 km (10.8 mi) | 6–7 hrs | 1,338 m (4,392 ft) | 453 m (1,486 ft) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 2 | Zapotal → Cedral | 10.0 km (6.2 mi) | 3–4 hrs | 259 m (851 ft) | 333 m (1,093 ft) | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ |
| 3 | Cedral → Arancibia | 9.1 km (5.6 mi) | 4–6 hrs | 513 m (1,683 ft) | 471 m (1,546 ft) | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| 4 | Arancibia → Santa Marta | 16.3 km (10.1 mi) | 6–8 hrs | 985 m (3,232 ft) | 979 m (3,214 ft) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| 5 | Santa Marta → San Luis de Monteverde | 14.4 km (9.0 mi) | 8–9 hrs | 907 m (2,977 ft) | 1,045 m (3,429 ft) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 6 | San Luis → Monteverde | ≈14.9 km (≈9.3 mi)† | 5–6 hrs | 524 m (1,720 ft) | 343 m (1,124 ft) | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| Total | ≈82 km (≈51 mi) | 32–40 hrs | 4,526 m (14,855 ft) | 3,624 m (11,892 ft) | — |
- Day 1 is the largest sustained climb of the trip—over 4,390 feet (1,338 m) of ascent. It will probably be your toughest day, especially in the tropical warmth at the lower elevations.
- Day 5 is likely the hardest overall day. Even though it isn’t the longest, it combines nearly 3,000 feet of climbing, over 3,400 feet of descent, and takes 8–9 hours.
- Day 2 looks like a welcome recovery day.
- Days 4 and 5 form a demanding back-to-back stretch that will probably determine how difficult you will perceive the entire trek.
- To train, even though the longest milaged day is about 11 miles/17 km, you will want to train to around 17 miles to compensate for the ruggedness of the terrain as well as the element of warmth.
- PRO TIP: Arrive San Jose a couple of days early and explore there leisurely before you start your trek, so you’ll feel refreshed and not frazzled from travel.
When to Hike the Camino de Montes de Oro
The best time to trek the new Camino de Montes de Oro is before or after the Green Season of May through August, and after things dry out (September and October can be very muddy still).
If I had to pick the ‘Best Month’, I would say February, and anytime from late January through early March is fine. You can even start as early as the beginning of December.
But if the only time you can go is during the summer, choose July, even though it’s in the green season. Costa Rica gets what is called the ‘veranillo’ or little summer of a couple of weeks of absolutely perfect weather during July.
Lodging on the Camino de Montes de Oro
On your six day trek, you will have a mix of podging from rustic cabins to camping. But the good news is that you don’t have to backpack this trek! UrriTrek will have your main luggage transfered for you each day so all you have to do is carry your daypack!
Food Along the Camino de Montes de Oro
All meals are included with your trek and you will get a nice variety of typical Costa Rica meals. In the little villages, you can purchase additional snacks.
What if I don’t want to hike one day?
If for whatever reason, you do not wish to trek on a given day, you can simply ride with the luggage. However, once you start trekking, you will need to complete that day’s hike unless there is a serious injury or illness. You should always get Travel Insurance in case you should need it as evacuations are very expensive!
What’s Included with my Trek
UrriTrek Montes de Oro Trek includes:
• Transfers from San José to starting point.
• Three meals a day.
• Accommodations.
• Certified guides.
• Luggage transport between stages.
• Entrance fees to private areas.
• Accident insurance and evacuation protocol.
UrriTrek Guided Trekking Tour Company
UrriTrek is the company I use in Costa Rica. They are the number one experts in the Camino de Costa Rica, where you can trek 16 days from the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean, across five ecosystems and the continental divide, as you hike across the entire nation. It’s a fabulous hike. Learn more about it here.
Recently, UrriTrek designed this new Camino de Montes de Oro for you to explore more deeply the Puntarenas region of the dry forest up to the cloud forests.
Photos courtesy of UrriTrek
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