Central America
Costa Rica
Province of Alajuela
Arenal Volcano National Park
La Fortuna de San Carlos
La Fortuna de San Carlos Attractions
Mirador El Silencio
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Mirador El Silencio

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See all things to do
Mirador El Silencio
4.5
#19 of 49 things to do in La Fortuna de San Carlos
Nature & Wildlife Areas
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Tours & experiences
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
15 within 5 kms
El Novillo del Arenal
332
2.2 km$$ - $$$ • Steakhouse • Latin • Central American
Awumaki Sushi
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2 km$$ - $$$ • Japanese • Bar • Sushi
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18
2.1 km$$ - $$$ • International • Fusion • Costa Rican
Soda La Palma
25
2.8 km$ • Latin • Central American • Costa Rican
Blue Hisbiscus
2
2.8 kmSouth American • Costa Rican
Restaurante Mirador Arenal Steak House
240
3.5 km$$ - $$$ • Steakhouse • Costa Rican
Restaurante La Roca Bistro
1
3.4 km
Acuarelas Restaurant
15
3.8 km$$ - $$$ • South American • Costa Rican • Vegan Options
Rocca Grill
1
3.8 kmSouth American • Costa Rican
Que Rico Arenal
1,011
4.4 km$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • International
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42 within 10 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
99 reviews
Excellent
59
Very good
30
Average
5
Poor
5
Terrible
0
omegon
Bangkok, Thailand155 contributions
Best price for the best view
Nov 2023 • Solo
While not as famous as the other hikes, this trail looks to give you the best views of Arenal Volcano (I have not been to the other parks) and the entry fee of ten dollars is much cheaper than the others.

Sometimes the signs can appear bit confusing, but other than that everything is great.

There are multiple trails leading up to viewpoint ranging from very easy via a dirt road to moderate via jungles.

Finally, it was also not crowded at all, which is something I really appreciate as I was told that some other places can be very full of people.
Written 20 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brett R
2 contributions
Please visit this hike
Oct 2023 • Couples
Not sure how anyone gave this less than a 5 star experience. We saw a lot of wildlife, while really just expecting a mild hike with great views. Upon entering their was a sloth that a child could grab. We also saw many howler monkeys, an anteater, etc.
Written 28 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlyG1954
Cambridgeshire, UK78 contributions
Horrendous
Sep 2023 • Couples
Not sure if this was the same trip that others described. It was marketed as moderate, with seating areas. No seats and a lot of it was steep, rocky and slippy. Would only recommend for the very active. It didn't help that it was torrential rain all the time we were there. Couldn't see anything, couldn't look up or around it was that bad. Found out afterwards that the other guides had cancelled due to the weather
Written 25 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian C
7 contributions
Beautiful hike!
Jun 2023 • Couples
Beautiful trail with varied terrain and amazing views of Arenal. Some relatively steep stretches but they didn't last long. We hiked it on our own and may have missed some things without a guide but enjoyed the fact that the trails were not crowded and we mostly felt like we had the forest to ourselves.
Written 8 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DayTrip58039402390
2 contributions
Peaceful hike through lush rainforest
May 2023 • Friends
We really enjoyed this hike, did all the trails in about 3 hours, stopping to take pics and videos. The map handout was very helpful, the trail intersections were fairly well marked. Not too long into the hike we heard something rustling in the trees only to see monkeys swinging overhead— surreal! Also saw birds nearby (pava granadera). Lovely! Strong recommend.

(The lago verde is not a highlight, it’s covered an algae and the trail back has some cow patties, so skip that stretch of the hike).
Written 17 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly M
5 contributions
Nice low-key hike with great views
Dec 2022 • Couples
We hiked the full circuit here, which I think was about 5 miles. It took us about 2.5 hours, with stops to admire the scenery. I would call it a moderately difficult trail just because of the inclines, but it is well-marked and maintained. There are steps in the steepest places, so no scrambling. Great views from the top, and a variety of terrain. Wear good shoes, as some of the rocks are a little slippery, and bring some water.

This is more of a hike than a wildlife walk, but that is what we were looking for. It was not crowded at all, we saw maybe 10 other people the whole time we were there. Very tranquil. It would be a nice place to bring a picnic to enjoy at the top.

There is clean bathroom at the entrance, which is nice. (Take advantage of it because it is the only one.) Cost was $15 per person, which we thought was very reasonable considering the trail maintenance.
Written 22 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chad W
Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic314 contributions
Preserved Rain Forest
Jun 2022 • Friends
This is a great and very economical option for getting into Natura and viewing Arenal. Trails are well maintained and well marked. Several options for the more adventurous. I would return. Great view of the volcano.
Written 29 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emmhyrrhmints
Massachusetts11 contributions
Beautiful Land
Feb 2022 • Solo
Great varied hiking terrain. There was jungle, open pasture, lava flows, steepish stairways in both the forested areas and on the rocks. Multiple lookout points with gorgeous views of the volcano. Lovely flora and fauna. Moderate level hiking, kid friendly- I passed a family with two young children doing the hike with ease.
5,000 C when I went and I thought that was fair for the paths and upkeep. I really, really like that it’s not paved.
Written 14 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annamarie B
17 contributions
Amazing - beautiful views & no crowds
Jan 2022
Absolutely amazing, a highlight of our trip - highly recommend. Hiked with my boyfriend and we saw 3 other couples on the entire hike. A great way to see incredible views of the volcano & surrounding jungle plus tons of wildlife without the crowds of the national park and "official" 1968 trail.
We did the hike in 4 hours because we were taking our time at each lookout point and taking lots of photos. It can definitely be done in 2-3 hours though.
It's $10 per person for entry, they do NOT accept credit cards.
The lady at the front will explain the trails but generally - do the big loop and if you encounter a turn, always turn right!
Written 12 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly O
New York City, NY51 contributions
Truly beautiful and diverse hike, and affordable
Dec 2021
During our trip to Costa Rica we hiked 7 different trails and the Mirador el Silencio hike may have been my favorite. It was very affordable, the terrain varied, and we saw a lot of wildlife. We hiked trails 3,5,6, and 2 and only passed one other hiker until we got to the lava flow section which was more crowded. But the view from the top of trail 6 was absolutely incredible with an amazing view of the volcano and the surrounding region.

At one point, we found ourselves surrounded by a large family of monkeys who were climbing and jumping tree to tree right above our heads. We stayed there with them for a while until we moved on. We also saw remarkable birds, lizards, a snake, and cows.

The hike was a moderate level until the lava flow section which was a pretty steep climb.

At the end of our hike, as night began to fall, we were back at the ranger station and the man at the desk was so kind and helpful. He called us a cab, he gave us free pineapple, and he took us back into the park with a flashlight to look at the beautiful nocturnal frogs.

We waited for our cab for a 1/2 hour but we sat, sheltered, as rain poured down, eating pineapple, watching a horse, and chatting with the nice man. It was a truly magical hike and I hope I can return again in my lifetime.
Written 9 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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MIRADOR EL SILENCIO: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Mirador El Silencio