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Voykit pocket guide · Costa Rica
Bijagua de Upala
Bijagua
Spend 1–2 nights in Bijagua de Upala for volcano hikes, hot springs and wildlife tours between La Fortuna and Guanacaste.
Bijagua de Upala is a quiet valley town between the Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes in North Costa Rica. It works as a one-night stop on the La Fortuna–Guanacaste route or a two-night base for Tenorio National Park, Las Hornillas hot springs and guided wildlife walks. The town itself has few sights; the draw is the surrounding nature.
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Local name
- Bijagua
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Avoid
- May–Nov (rainy season, trails can be muddy)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CRC
- Money
- Currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, with change often given in colones.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₡25,000–40,000 excl. bed · Mid ₡40,000–70,000 excl. bed · High ₡70,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Kölbi, Claro and Liberty sell SIMs at SJO and in towns; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% service is in the bill; extra optional.; Guides: US$5–10 per person per tour.; Shuttle drivers: US$2–5.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most of the country, including San José; drink bottled on parts of the Caribbean coast and in remote areas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; put paper in the bin in many places.
Get in
By air
- LIR · Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (Liberia)
- About 1.5 h drive via Route 1 and Route 6
- SJO · Juan Santamaría International Airport (San José)
- About 3.5 h drive via Route 1 and Route 6
Typical fares
- Bus Bijagua → La Fortuna
- check
- Bus Bijagua → Liberia
- check
- Taxi from town to Tenorio park entrance
- check
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking covers the town. For Tenorio National Park, Las Hornillas and other attractions you need a car or a tour shuttle. Waze works for driving.
See and do
Known for
- Tenorio Volcano National Park (Río Celeste)
- Las Hornillas Volcano Hot Springs
- Wildlife and birdwatching tours
- Quiet valley setting
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tenorio Volcano National Park (Río Celeste) | Drive or tour from Bijagua, about 20 min to the park entrance | About 30 min |
| Las Hornillas Volcano Hot Springs | Drive west on Route 6 then local roads, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| La Fortuna | Drive via Route 6 and Route 4, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
| Liberia | Drive via Route 6 and Route 1, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Bijagua town centre
- Basic lodgings and restaurants; closest to bus stop and shops.
- Countryside lodges
- Casitas Tenorio B&B, Naciente Cristalina Lodge and similar; quieter, often include tours.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the bus stop? | ¿Dónde está la parada de autobús?DOHN-deh es-TAH lah pah-RAH-dah deh ow-toh-BOOS |
| I need a doctor | Necesito un médiconeh-seh-SEE-toh oon MEH-dee-koh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Buenas' and a handshake; cheek kiss among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting
- Conflict: Stay polite and indirect; avoid: Raised voices
- Time: Be on time for tours; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Nature: Stay on trails, keep quiet; avoid: Feeding animals
Scams and watch-outs
- Route 6 is winding and can be slippery in rain; drive with care.
- Tenorio National Park entry is by timed ticket: book online ahead.
- Las Hornillas is a 45-min drive west; confirm opening hours and road conditions.
- ATMs are scarce; bring enough colones or dollars from Liberia or La Fortuna.
Bijagua is a safe rural town. Standard precautions: lock your car, don't leave valuables visible. The main risk is road conditions on Route 6.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bijagua de Upala yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tenorio Volcano National Park (Río Celeste)
- Las Hornillas Volcano Hot Springs
- Wildlife and birdwatching tours
- Quiet valley setting
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Bijagua de Upala, revision 5109911 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5109911
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Bijagua de UpalaBijagua
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
The US embassy is in San José; most other embassies are also in San José.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/bijagua-de-upala). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.