Río Negro Hot Springs (Hacienda Guachipelín)

What to expect

The Río Negro Hot Springs are the soaking part of Hacienda Guachipelín, a hotel and adventure centre on the southwest side of Rincón de la Vieja volcano in Guanacaste. They are a different experience from the polished resorts around Arenal. The setting is dry tropical forest, the river is right beside you, and the whole thing feels rustic.

Ten stone pools sit on the banks of the Río Negro, some on each side, joined by two suspension bridges. Thermal water from the volcano feeds them. The river itself runs cold and clear past the pools, so you can move between hot pool and cold river as often as you like.

The other draw is the mud. Guachipelín provides warm volcanic mud that you spread over your skin and leave to dry, then rinse off in the river before getting back into the hot water.

Guachipelín does not publish water temperatures, and we could not find a reliable figure, so test each pool by hand. They vary.

At the entrance there are changing rooms, toilets and lockers. From there a 350 m (0.2 mile) path through the forest leads down to the river.

Getting there

Hacienda Guachipelín is about 35 minutes from Liberia, roughly 10 minutes before the Las Pailas entrance of Rincón de la Vieja National Park. The springs are on the hacienda’s land, a short drive from the hotel.

• From Liberia: drive north on the Inter-American Highway (Route 1) past the main Liberia intersection, about 5 km (3 miles). Turn right at the signed entrance for Curubandé and Rincón de la Vieja National Park (Las Pailas sector). It is 14 km (8.6 miles) to the village of Curubandé and 1.7 km (1 mile) more to the Guachipelín gate.
• From Liberia International Airport (LIR): drive about 32 km (20 miles) west to the main Liberia intersection on the Inter-American Highway, turn north and follow the directions above.
• From San José: about 210 km (130 miles) to Liberia, roughly 4 hours on the Inter-American Highway.

Guachipelín says the whole road is paved and any car can make it. At the gate, register with the guard as a hotel guest or day visitor. Day visitors check in at the Adventure Center, the first entrance on the left. The springs themselves are further along the road toward Las Pailas, and Guachipelín notes that you need your own transport between its activity sites if you are not on a guided combo.

There is no public transport to the hacienda. A daily bus runs from Liberia to Curubandé, but there are no buses or taxis from Curubandé to the hotel, 5 km (3 miles) away. The hotel runs paid transfers from Liberia and the airport.

When to go

The springs are open every day, with entry slots on the hour from 9am to 4pm. Each visit is about 1.5 hours.

• Dry season (December to April): sunny, hot and windy in the lowlands. The hot pools feel best late in the afternoon.
• Rainy season (May to November): heavier rain in the afternoons and evenings, with a short dry spell in July or August (the veranillo). The river can rise after heavy rain.

A common plan is to hike the Las Pailas loop in the national park in the morning, eat lunch, then soak in the afternoon. Guachipelín sells this as the One-Day Nature Pass.

Volcano activity: Rincón de la Vieja erupted frequently in 2026, with 48 eruptions recorded in July and the strongest of the year on August 31, which sent hot lahars down the Pénjamo River. OVSICORI kept the volcano at activity level 3 (caution), and the national emergency commission (CNE) issued a preventive green alert for communities including Curubandé. The summit crater is closed, and SINAC can restrict park access at short notice. Check SINAC, OVSICORI and Guachipelín the day before you go.

Prices and booking

Guachipelín’s 2026 prices for the springs:

• Río Negro Hot Springs & Mud Baths: US$35 per adult (13 and over), US$30 per child (4 to 12). 1.5 hours, slots at 9, 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3 and 4.
• Lunch & Río Negro Hot Springs: US$53 per adult, US$39 per child, infants (0 to 3) free. 3 hours, starting at 9am, 10am, 12pm or 2pm.
• Combo passes: the One-Day Nature Pass adds the Las Pailas trail in the national park and a buffet lunch. The One-Day Adventure Pass adds canopy and river tubing. National park entry is not included in third-party tours, so check what is.

Book online through the Guachipelín website. Hotel guests get free access to the hot springs and the hotel’s waterfalls as part of their stay.

There is also a separate, more spa-like option, the Simbiosis Spa & Hot Springs, sold by Guachipelín as its own activity.

Where to stay nearby

• Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín is the obvious base. Rooms range from Superior rooms to suites with volcano views and a tented glamping camp with plunge pools. Breakfast and access to the springs are included. Free shuttles run from the hotel to the national park, Simbiosis and Río Negro roughly every 90 minutes from 8am, and back from Río Negro until about 7pm.
• Curubandé, 5 km (3 miles) from the hacienda, is a small village with a few local lodges.
• Liberia, about 35 minutes away, has the most hotels and the international airport.

Safety notes

• River levels: the Río Negro rises fast in heavy rain. Stay out of the river current, and follow staff instructions.
• Volcanic hazards: follow CNE and SINAC alerts, keep away from rivers carrying volcanic material, and if ash falls, wear a mask and limit time outdoors.
• Mud: keep it away from your eyes and rinse off fully before getting back into the pools.
• Heat: test each pool, as temperatures vary. Drink water, especially in the dry-season heat.
• Footing: the path, bridges and pool edges are uneven and wet. Wear sandals or water shoes.

Nearby stops worth adding

Rincón de la Vieja National Park’s Las Pailas sector, about 10 minutes from the hotel, has a loop trail past bubbling mud pots, fumaroles and a seasonal waterfall. The hacienda’s own waterfalls are open to hotel guests. If you are also visiting Arenal, the La Fortuna hot springs, including Tabacón, are about three hours’ drive southeast.