Poas Volcano.

Costa rica.

More than 6 months of planning where required to make this first descent of an unnamed river, after the descent we decided to call it “Quebrada Misterio” or Mystery Creek.

Mystery Creek Falls into Anonos River that is also a world class canyon. (First Descent by Toros Canyoning Group) All of the watershed of the anonos river are deep blue colored. Our project, Mystery Creek was also blue-green but our way-in made it brown. Still a beautiful and wonderful place to experience.

Location

The Poás Volcano:

There is no permit.

The poas volcano, mother of all canyons.

Close view of the west canyons

Mystery Creek seen from above

Mystery Creek Route. Gps Can be found on Wikiloc

The approach.

So we started walking around 4:20 from the starting point at “Caida del cielo” Trail-head, at Omar and Dadiana land. There we left the car and started walking. ( see wikiloc)

https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-descenso-de-barrancos/quebrada-misterio-canyoning-45630572

GPS ROUTE WIKILOC

There you walk pass caida del cielo waterfall and then take a left to the mountain. Here is where the fun begins, you walk some grass marsh until there is no more trail, you have to bushwack for 1 hour through thorns of blackberries and big tropical plants. Keep on going following this trail and carry a machete, then you will see the mountain top and at the ridge find your way through an old trail.

This part is exhausting and there is no water.

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Normally this part is almost all year cloudy but we had an excellent forecast and we could see an awesome landscape.

After the thin ridge there was a lot of wind so we had to be careful. We kept walking and with luck we found to the right a large white volcanic rock, here is where the canyoning route begins.

A dirty line approach, still very fun.

After the first rappel R1 70MTS we got inside the creek, here we were not sure of what to encounter and after 40meters of walking R2 15 MTS. we found good quality rock.

In R2 we decided to set only one bolt to save equipment, very good placement, this anchor was made to make our first descent more efficient, could be improved.

At this point there is plenty of rocks to make natural anchors.

Our emotions grew so we set-up and ultra efficient team and divided the builders with recovery.

Right after R2 is R3 25 mts a beautiful rappel down a colored wall.

Just Five stars of beauty. if you are the first one the water is turquoise clear.

Muti Color wall in Mystery Creek ( quebrada Misterio)

After the color wall you walk a little more an then R5 35 mts. Another easy rappel but beautiful, colors and vibrant green everywhere. A green that is unique to this place, thick neon green.

Due to the amount of excitement i got a little confused so there is a R6 18-20 mts someway on the way.

Next we enter a small oasis full of trees of aprox. 1.5km with some potential leg-breaking slides. Be extra-careful with this Mystery slides, they are painful. Try to avoid them

After 6 rappels we arrived to the windows section. A breathtaking view of the blue river canyon ( anonos river), Bajos del Toro and Juan Castro Blanco National Park.

R7 small 30 mts rappel.

Fernando was the canyon leader in Quebrada misterio. we had the perfect weather.

Anchor system petzl inox bolt and inox everything.

R7 50mts

Rock at the edges was soft so we used a big boulder of good quality rock to make this dream rappel of the tallest window at +500 meters from the river. We enjoyed the views at the start of this gigantic cliff of water.

Then another rappel. R8 15 mts

We used a natural anchor for rappel 8 ant then we did R9 25 mts

colored pool of R9 getting dirty after David’s rappel.

R10 70 meters This marks the middle of the route and was my second favorite rappel. A very tall waterfall with a small cave that makes you go into the water. I advice taking care of the rope in this one. Made with 3 natural anchors in an equalized system.

All of our anchors where bomb proof. Except the first one R1 that could be better.

adrenaline double rap. Do not jump! very shallow water.

From this point on. The mosquitoes attack. There where clouds of blood-craving tropical volcanic bugs that would bite every single exposed part. They even got inside our cloths. Just horrific itching.

We had lunch and had to kept moving.

Also I forgot to inform that this canyon is very cold. Bring a wetsuit 3.5 or my advice a 4-5mm.

R11 50-70 mts a very complex double rappel that you go through water. Technical and fun.

At this point the canyon is on you.

I believe that canyoning is the sport that makes you feel the river and become intimate with these small vertical worlds.

Landscapes inside canyons are small planets, small independent unique ecosystems that form in these gigantic walls, the energy here is pure, healthy and positive.

Its a deeper connection with the canyon, after hours inside; it you start to feel at home, its a strange feeling, unique and beautiful.

This green is unique, of all my trips around Costa Rica, this green is just glowing.

Looks fake but is real, this place reminds me of Rividell of Lord of the rings.