The 5 Costa Rica Waterfalls You Need to Visit
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Over half of Costa Rica is considered rainforest, meaning there are hundreds of waterfalls scattered throughout this tropical paradise! It’s no secret that visiting a Costa Rica waterfall is a unique and magical experience. With so much ecological diversity, no two waterfalls are exactly alike and you’ll be sure to stumble across waterfalls with water so blue they don’t even seem real. Below we’re sharing five best Costa Rica waterfalls that you must visit!
The Best Costa Rica Waterfalls
Hiking to a hidden waterfall is a great way to start your adventure in Costa Rica. Whether it’s going down stairs or climbing up rocks, all adventure seekers agree that these Costa Rica waterfalls are a must see!
Rio Celeste Waterfall
Location: Tenorio Volcano National Park, Guanacaste
Difficulty: Moderate
Drop: 295 feet
The Rio Celeste waterfall is arguably the most talked about Costa Rica waterfall due to incredible blue waters. It’s hidden within Tenorio Volcano National Park. In the same area, you’ll find the Tenorio Volcano, natural hot springs, hiking trails, and wildlife. This stunning waterfall can be seen after a short climb down 250 stairs to a viewing platform.
Fun Fact: With waters so blue, locals say that God washed his paintbrush in the water after painting the sky, but really it’s a natural chemical reaction that occurs between minerals due to the local volcano!
La Fortuna Waterfall
Location: Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Drop: 246 feet
La Fortuna (spanish for “the fortune”) is one of the most visited waterfalls in Costa Rica. It is a part of a bio reserve that contains 210 acres of premontane tropical wet forest. Visitors are allowed to swim in the waterfall’s pool.You’ll need to climb down 530 stairs to reach it, so be prepared for a steep hike back up.
Nauyaca Waterfall
Location: Nauyaca Waterfall National Park, San José
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Drop: 200 feet
The Nauyaca waterfall in Costa Rica is actually two impressive waterfalls that belong to the Barucito River. Not only can you enjoy beautiful scenery, but there are many things to do at the Nauyaca waterfall such as swimming, hiking, climbing, and even horseback riding tours.
Llanos de Cortes Waterfall
Location: Bagaces, Guanacaste
Difficulty: Easy
Drop: 65 feet
The Costa Rica waterfall Llanos de Cortes is one of the many multi-tiered waterfalls this country has to offer. Only a five minute walk from the parking lot, you won’t waste any time before enjoying this natural phenomenon. There is a seasonal pool at the bottom of the waterfall that is open for swimming and there is a trail to the left of the waterfall that lets you hike to the top.
Montezuma Waterfall
Location: Montezuma, Puntarenas
Difficulty: Moderate
Drop: 80, 40, and 15 feet
The Montezuma waterfall in Costa Rica is actually made up of three waterfalls (top, middle and lower) that cascade onto each other. There are two ways to access these waterfalls: the Riverbed Trail & the Canopy Tour Trail. The Riverbed Trail is the most popular option to see the lower and middle waterfalls, and consists of a twenty minute hike.
The Canopy Tour Trail will require a car part of the way, but it is the easiest way to access the upper waterfalls. You must drive through the property of Sun Trails, over two hanging bridges, and then you’ll reach the top waterfall. From here you can climb on the rocks, enjoy the view, snap some pictures, or take a swim!
After viewing these Costa Rica waterfalls, you can enjoy a peaceful yoga session with Tara Randolph in our Costa Rica Yoga Retreat adventure! She will design each session to accompany the day's activity, allowing for a rejuvenating and energizing experience. Let us plan your perfect tropical getaway!
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