Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
From the ranger station south of Cabuya, take one branch of Sendero Danés, the Danish trail, into the forest, then follow Sendero Sueco, the Swedish trail, south. It climbs and drops repeatedly over forested ridges, reaching about 200 m, before a steep descent to Playa Cabo Blanco, a sandy beach backed by forest with Isla Cabo Blanco offshore. Return the same way along the Swedish trail and finish on the other branch of the Danish loop.
It is 8.8 km there and back with 355 m of ascent; allow about 3 hours, plus time at the beach. The grade is Moderate: a natural forest path, steep in places, rocky and slippery when wet.
It is hot, and there is no water on the trail, so carry plenty and start early. Swim with care, as currents off the beach can be strong. Most of the reserve is closed to visitors, so keep to the two trails.
The reserve is open Wednesday to Sunday from 8am to 4pm and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; an entry fee is charged. Cabuya, the nearest village, is near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Leave nothing of value in the car.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Cabo Blanco, declared in 1963, is Costa Rica's oldest protected area and the seed of its national park system
- It was saved through the campaigning of a Swedish and Danish couple, Nicolás Wessberg and Karen Mogensen, after whom the Sueco and Danés trails are named
- As an absolute reserve, most of it is closed to visitors; only the two trails are open
- Seabirds nest on Isla Cabo Blanco, the small island off the cape, whitened by their droppings
Getting there
Start: Cabo Blanco ranger station car park. 9.58683, -85.09336
Directions to the start
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Pacific coast: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.