RÍO CALIENTE SPA

The boiling-hot Río Caliente (Hot River) gurgles from its subterranean cliffside source and steams downhill through the Bosque de Primavera (Forest of Spring) preserve, sustaining local hot-spring balnearios along the way. Closest to the source is Río Caliente Spa, on whose land the spring bubbles forth.

Sights and Activities

From the Río Caliente Spa, trails lead out, lacing the Bosque de Primavera. They follow the river from the source downhill, or lead uphill through the lush pine-oak woodlands that coat this still-active volcanic wonderland.

Although frequented by weekend day-trippers, the trails are nearly empty on weekdays, when you’ll probably have the Bosque de Primavera pretty much to yourself. Along the paths, if you’re quiet and patient, you might glimpse any one of a hundred bird species, from hawks (halcones) and vultures (zopilotes) to colorful orioles, dainty vermilion flycatchers, and golden vireos. Mammals that you might see along the trail include deer, armadillos, wildcats, and the piglike wild jabali.