Silencio Trail La Fortuna Arenal Volcano Hike

Written by Nikki Solano

Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️

Looking for volcano tour discounts? WE OFFER TRAVELLERS FREE ACCESS TO DISCOUNTS FOR VOLCANO TOURS when booking the day tour through Pura Vida! eh? Incorporated. Click here for more information and/or to obtain the volcano tour discount. Con mucho gusto (you’re welcome) and pura vida! 🙂

PLANNING TO VISIT THE SILENCIO TRAIL LA FORTUNA

If you are interested in getting up close and personal with the Arenal Volcano, the Silencio Trail La Fortuna is one of a number of means of doing so. Located an approximate fifteen-minute drive outside of downtown La Fortuna (situated along the main road that runs around the volcano toward Lake Arenal), the Silencio Trail La Fortuna offers a heavily forested area, hiking trails, and a volcano viewpoint. An entrance fee is required to be paid upon entry (approximately $10.00 per person) and parking is available onsite (if required). If taking a taxi to the Silencio Trail La Fortuna, be sure to prearrange a pick-up service at a predetermined time with the same driver, as taxis are not regularly available at the trail’s exit. Over the few times that Ricky and I have made quick trips to the Silencio Trail La Fortuna on mornings off from work to go birdwatching, our cell phone signal was inconsistent. For this reason, we do not recommend that travellers rely on being able to call a taxi upon conclusion of the visit. Depending on our mood, interest, and the amount of time we have available, it typically takes us one and a half to two hours to complete the trail (when prearranging a pick-up time, give yourselves two hours–it is better to finish early and need to wait for the taxi, than to have the taxi arrive before you have finished the hike). In addition, plan to meet the driver at the Silencio Trail La Fortuna entrance; this location is the same as the trail’s exit, as the Silencio Trail La Fortuna offers circular paths with start and end points at the same location.

OUR RECOMMENDED SILENCIO TRAIL PATH

The Silencio Trail La Fortuna hike is a moderate one. Some inclined sections (as shown in the image above) balance out stretches of flat land, making the walk both challenging and fun. Although the site offers a few different trails that can be tackled in a variety of ways, we recommend the following.

Once you have passed through the Silencio Trail La Fortuna entrance, stay to the right. Follow the trail (the majority of which takes place within the forest) until you arrive at the Arenal Volcano viewpoint at the back of the property (you will know when you have reached the viewpoint as the land has been cleared and the Arenal Volcano can be seen in front). Once you have spent some time resting at the viewpoint, admiring the volcano, and snapping photos, continue the walk down to the main road that runs from the entrance of the Silencio Trail La Fortuna to the back of the property and stops in front of the volcano (this portion of the hike is conducted in the open). Once at the road, select one of the following two options:

Silencio Trail continuation option #1

Choose to end your Silencio Trail La Fortuna visit by following the main road (walking out in the open) straight back to the entrance/exit

Silencio Trail continuation option #2:

Choose to continue enjoying your Silencio Trail La Fortuna visit by opting to hike the property’s second trail. If you choose this option, set out on the main road that leads toward the entrance/exit (as described above) until you see an opening to another forested trail on your right. Take that trail; it is windy and hilly, and both starts and ends at the main road (taking the route will not lead you to a different location altogether, it will simply provide you with an additional hiking challenge and a longer trail route should you be interested in it).

To confirm, once you depart from the Arenal Volcano viewpoint situated at the back of the property, both hike options described above will lead you back to the Silencio Trail La Fortuna entrance/exit. Whether you opt to walk straight back to the entrance/exit via the main road (the fastest and easiest route), or else walk on that road only a part of the way before entering the forest once again to tackle a second trail, is entirely up to you.

OTHER SILENCIO TRAIL PATHS

Alternatively, the reverse route to what we describe above may be taken; for example, upon entering the site, travellers may wish to turn left and complete our instructions backwards. With this preference, the hiking experience offers far more uphill sections than downhill sections (i.e., a significant hike up to the volcano viewpoint would be required, as opposed to a downhill walk toward it). Regardless of which trail is taken first (the left trail or the right trail), the Silencio Trail La Fortuna’s main attraction–the stunning Arenal Volcano viewpoint–awaits at the back of the site.

CAN I SKIP THE SILENCIO TRAIL LA FORTUNA HIKE AND VISIT THE SILENCIO TRAIL ARENAL VOLCANO VIEWPOINT ONLY?

Yes, although it is questionable whether the Silencio Trail La Fortuna site should be visited at all in this case, as other areas of town and nearby attractions offer Arenal Volcano viewpoints that can be experienced without paying the entrance fee to the Silencio Trail. If desired, visitors can enter the site, walk directly to the back of the property via the main road (skipping the forested areas and hiking trails on either side), view the volcano, and then retrace their steps back to the trails entrance/exit.

WHY WE LIKE TO VISIT THE SILENCIO TRAIL LA FORTUNA

As a nature enthusiast and bird lover, Ricky loves the Silencio Trail La Fortuna for its tranquil setting; it is a good place to spot birds or animals you may not have seen elsewhere along your travels. On each and every one of our visits to the site, Ricky and I have been met by monkeys (mainly howler monkeys), pecaris, and a variety of reptiles. We recommend experiencing the Silencio Trail La Fortuna with a guide if your interest is to learn about nature, understand the history of the Arenal Volcano, and/or spot wildlife (if you are unsure whether you wish to tour the Silencio Trail La Fortuna with a guide, you may be interested in reading out related blog post Guided Tours In Costa Rica: Are They Necessary, Valuable, And/Or Worthwhile?). In our opinion, too often travellers sacrifice quality when opting to explore areas on their own (although it is usually nine times out of ten less expensive to do so), and since naturalist guides are trained to point out gems that travellers otherwise miss, guided tours can enhance travel experiences. This being said, travellers who are drawn to the Silencio Trail La Fortuna for its moderate hiking challenge (more so than its teachable moments) will be glad to know that visits with a guide are not necessary; all of the trails are clearly marked and a map is available at the site’s entrance.

MAP OF THE SILENCIO TRAIL

QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Have you hiked the Silencio Trail La Fortuna? Did you do so with the leadership of a guide or on your own?

Pura vida!

Don’t miss our Silencio Trail Tour discounts:

Arenal Volcano Tour (Silencio Trail) (La Fortuna/Arenal)

Arenal Volcano Tour (Silencio Trail) with Baldi Hot Springs (La Fortuna/Arenal)

Arenal Volcano Tour (Silencio Trail) with Ecotermales Hot Springs (La Fortuna/Arenal)

Arenal Volcano Tour (Silencio Trail) with Springs Resort Hot Springs (La Fortuna/Arenal

Silencio Trail La Fortuna Arenal Volcano Hike

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