WHAT: Hiking a very unknown trail in the very unknown Barbilla National Park. Advanced level hiking. WHERE: Caribbean coast, Siquirres. From the route 32 it's another half an hour to the ranger station. A 4x4 is required, the road can be bad and is steep at times. HOW LONG: For the hike to the river you need some two hours (back and forth), for the waterfall another two hours (back and forth). HOW MUCH: You only have to write down your name, there's no entrance fee.
Two dogs are awaiting us at the ranger station of Barbilla National Park. Proudly one of them presents us his toy; finally some visitors for him to get some attention from. We are just as happy as he is that we’ve made it to the park after a long road in the mountains. A previous attempt failed, when we took the wrong road. Though the map says you can enter the area at two points, at Los Jardin and Pacuarito, only the latter is possible, so we experienced.
As expected, we are the only visitors today, a Sunday in late June, in the park. The researchers at the ranger station are very glad to see some new faces too and show us around the station. Gladly they tell us about all the animals they collected; butterflies, bugs and spiders in exhibition cases, show us pictures about the wildlife in the area they caught on hidden cameras and points to the snakes in the lab that are put in formaldehyde.
The fresh memory of those regionally found snakes in our head causes a bit of cautiousness when we start our hike. There’s only one overgrown path you can walk yourself. The road lasts about an hour and goes all the way to river Barbilla. This means a steep path, since the ranger station is on a high altitude (by the way, since I’m Dutch by descent, the word high altitude may mean something else for you. Holland is totally flat. No hills, highest point at 322.4 metres/ 1,058 ft. Yes seriously), and the mud around isn’t helping out too.
Slipping is part of the deal with this hike. But after being as careful as we can we finally reach the river; a pretty relaxing place to chill out. We are absolutely in the middle of nowhere and totally alone too, except for the birds and the bugs. A lot of kingfishers and small hawks are flying around, just as yellow butterflies and green beetles.
If you’re solemnly swear that you’re up to more hiking than there are two more ways to go, by walking left or right while following the river stream downwards. By going left there’s another waterfall at 45 minutes hiking and by going right there’s one at 60 minutes. The road however is non-existent, so you have to climbs the big stones in the river and cross the water many times in order to find your way. It might be that you just need twice the time because of that. We stopped halfway our hike to the left waterfall – where you can also encounter a nice sort of natural pool – sine some dark clouds were coming our way.
Barbilla is only for those who are really looking forward to an intense and steep hike. If that’s something you’re very much into, then it’s also possible to reserve an even longer hike with an indigenous guide. Contact the ranger station (+506 2200 5225) to ask what the possibilities are for a day out in the wild.
Here’s where to find Barbilla!
