"Volcán Barú guide"

Always carry between US$150 and US$200 in cash per person when hiking Volcán Barú.

Consider this money your emergency and safety fund. You may start the hike completely confident that you will walk both up and down, but once you reach the summit, exhaustion, weather conditions, an injury, or any other unexpected situation may make you need a vehicle to take you back down.

At the summit of Volcán Barú, there are NO ATMs, banks, or places where you can withdraw cash. There are also no terminals for card payments.

If you need a vehicle to take you down from the summit, the transportation must be paid for and confirmed before the vehicle is dispatched.

Payment can be made by:

• Cash.
• Bank transfer or another electronic payment method, provided that the money is received and confirmed immediately.

A screenshot or proof of a transfer that has not yet been received and confirmed is not considered a confirmed payment.

Additionally, access for a vehicle to the park area is subject to the corresponding permits and authorizations from MiAMBIENTE, the institution responsible for managing the protected area. Therefore, requesting transportation from the summit involves coordinating the vehicle and, when applicable, obtaining the necessary authorization in advance for the vehicle to access the area.

Please keep in mind that transportation from the summit requires mobilizing vehicles, drivers, and personnel specifically for your situation. No driver is obligated to transport you for free or based on a promise that you will pay later.

For this reason, we strongly recommend carrying US$150–200 in cash per person, even if you are completely confident that you will be able to walk back down.

You will probably never need to use this money. But if you do, having it with you can make the difference between being able to get transportation when you need it and having no choice but to continue walking down the mountain.