El Camino de Costa Rica #1 of 2

[@TheSeroooooo]

Hi Brian, Awesome video, I'm actully planing on taking the trail on my own in a few days so very useful ! You mention that indigenous guide are required for stage 3 and 4, why is that ? how did you hire one ? do you have one to recommend ? Thanks !!

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

Hi, sorry for the late reply (for some reason I didn't get a notification). Yes, the indigenous guides are required because it's their private land and they make the rules. Without a guide, you would be trespassing. Luckily, they aren't super expensive. I think it was about $50. The El Camino de Costa Rica association has guide contacts on their website. The caretaker of the school to the east of section 3 can also give you the number of a guide. The caretaker is the guy who meets you at the school to collect the nominal $10 camping fee. There's also the book on the trail by Evan Brashier (available on Amazon) that has contacts for every section of the trail. I highly recommend the book for the contact list alone.

[@camino9152]

Loved this 2 part series! When did you go? I'm considering early Jan, no guide (except where required).

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

@@camino9152 thanks! Glad you liked the videos. I started hiking it in January 2022 also and the weather was great. No guide needed except for in the indigenous area.

[@douglashogan8282]

How secure did you feel walking alone? Any problems with dogs? I’d really like to see this take off and have accommodations like the Camino de Santiago

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

I've heard that in some places there are problem dogs but I never saw them. About thirty kilometers from the West Coast I encountered a bull 🐂 on the roadway but that was it. Other than that I felt totally safe. I haven't hiked El Camino de Santiago yet so I can't comment on how closely they relate but I was totally happy with the available accommodations for the most part in Costa Rica.

[@janelawrence7651]

Hello! I will be hiking this in June. When did you hike it? We will be guided Urri Trek, so I hope they have water for us. I’m nervous about drinking from streams and rivers! I’m sure you had some kind of filter!

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

Hello, yes, I used a Sawyer water filter & also had purification tablets as a back up. There was no problem and I never got sick from the water. I hiked in January/February of 2022.

[@likeahike]

I hiked with Urrí as well. There's tap water every morning and night. We never drank from rivers or streams. Four of us still got a bit ill though, not sure which place had bad water. Or maybe something in the food! Don't let it deter you though, it's a magical experience.

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

@@likeahike I believe I even filtered the tap water just to be safe.

[@yeettii]

Good video! Never heard of that trail before

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

I hadn't heard of it either until about a month ago. The trail is still relatively new. I'm currently on the second half and will post that video once I finish.

[@badgerattoadhall]

@@BrianWithoutBorders what kind of kit do you need to do this?

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

@@badgerattoadhall the kit of this trail is similar to most trails except you don't need to bring a full sleeping system, food, or cook system since they are available along the trail. However, if you want to be uber safe then bringing a shelter, light sleeping bag, and some trail snacks is a good idea. I brought the shelter/sleep system but never used them. Ok, I used my sleeping bag once night in the indiginous lands because I knew my bag was clean and I wasn't sure when the one the guide offered me was cleaned.

[@tomfreese7392]

Hi, enjoyed your video. I am looking to do this hike. I see that you did it without a guide. If I was to use a guide, do you have any recommendations on who to use?

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

Glad you enjoyed the videos. While I didn't use a guide, the trail association recommends a few on their website. www.caminodecostarica.org/tours

[@likeahike]

Hi, I'm going in January, but with a tour guide and group the whole way. Love seeing what I can expect. Looking forward to it already. Looks like you can get away with trail runners instead of hiking boots?

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

Sorry for the late reply. I think you may have already hiked it but yes, trail runners are totally fine.

[@0815vincent]

Hi Brian it’s me again by Sleeping in the schoolhouse before day 3 did u need a sleeping mattress or Sleeping bag? We don’t want to carry them but sleeping on the floor without anything is quiet inconvenient. Thank u for charging your great expierences you are an inspiration

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

At the schoolhouse, the caretaker didn't show up until shortly after sunset. But I had already set up my ultralight hammock between two building posts and used my 10°C sleeping bag. The caretaker then offered to let me sleep inside a building on a mat but I was already comfortable. I would still recommend a lightweight sleeping bag because the sleeping bag the indigenous guide let's you use in the next stage when sleeping at the school house for the indigenous kids looked like it hasn't been washed in years. Hope that helps...

[@poweruponplants3677]

Thanks for the info, do you know if it is possible to camp with our own tent, on campgrounds while walking the camino?

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

I didn't actually see (or hear of) any campgrounds other than the school houses that allowed us to camp there for a minimal fee. Most of the land near El Camino is privately owned so you'd be camping on someone's private property. While I never had to ask, i had the feeling that if i want near a lodge/cabina/homestay that if I had asked a local home/farm if I could camp on their property that they would have said yes. The locals are very friendly. Of course I would have offered them some money for allowing me to camp on their property. My tent was actually a hammock with a tarp but i only used it once at Las Brisas school (just before entering the Indigenous territories at stage 3.

[@poweruponplants3677]

@@BrianWithoutBorders Thanks. Can you tell me if stage 3 is dangerous? I will walk with a little child on my back, and how long did stage 3 took you?

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

@@poweruponplants3677 for stage 3 (and 4 you'll need a mandatory Indigenous Guide). Stage 3 took me 5.5 hours and didn't seem dangerous to me. You'll want to strictly stay on trail since there are a few step drop offs into the judge depths. They most dangerous creatures that i saw were bullet ants. Try to get an early start since it will get hotter as the day advances. There are a few water crossings where you can drink water (purify it to be safe). There are rocks to cross the water but if you slip with a child on your back then the fall could be dangerous. I would recommend simply walking in the water and getting your feet wet.

[@poweruponplants3677]

@@BrianWithoutBorders Good to know !!

[@badgerattoadhall]

10:17 i worked on a dairy farm in high school. a bull will kill you. edit: i just watched your video it is just a matter of time before there is a tragedy.

[@BrianWithoutBorders]

Oh yes, bulls can be very aggressive. Heck, evens momma cows can be aggressive. I had one bluff charge me on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2020.