18 Jaw-Dropping Costa Rica Waterfalls to Explore

There are few better places on the planet to experience that magnetic feeling that comes while standing in front of a crashing waterfall than Costa Rica. From wide cliffs of cataracts to scenic blue terraced pools in the jungle, Costa Rica waterfalls are so abundant that you can often have some of the most spectacular spots all to yourself.

 

And all that variety means something just right for every travel style, whether you’re a rough-and-tumble outdoorsy type or prefer something slow-paced and scenic. 

 

Map of Costa Rica Waterfalls 

 

This handy map shows you where to find some of the best waterfalls in Costa Rica so you can strategize your next scenic hike.

 

 

The Best Costa Rican Waterfalls to Visit on Your Vacation   

 

Hike for long enough through the Costa Rican jungle and you’re bound to hear a telltale rush of whitewater that beckons even before the trees part. The sheer number of waterfalls in Costa Rica is dizzying, and no trip through its mountains or cruise along its coastlines is complete without experiencing a few firsthand.

  

Read on for some of the most unforgettable waterfalls to experience while exploring on your own or while on a Costa Rican cruise with operators like National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions.

 

 

Dive in at Las Chorreras Waterfall – 1.6 miles 

 

Round a bend on a forest path and you’ll see terracotta-colored ledges contrasting with bright blue pools—and, generally, not another soul in sight. This is Las Chorreras Waterfall, a small-by-Costa-Rican-standards 16-foot cascade and swimming hole on the edge of Rincón de la Vieja National Park in Guanacaste.

 

 

The land is owned by Hacienda Guachipelin, which guests will visit aboard Guanacaste voyages with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. “It’s a fairly easy walking path to Las Chorreras, and we leave time to swim once we get there,” says Margrit Ulrich, an expedition leader for National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions who was born and raised in Costa Rica. 

  

Tackle the 1.6-mile path during dry season for your best shot at taking a dip—at peak rainy season, the soft cascade and clear blue pool transform into a churning tangle of rapids.

 

Stroll to Oropendola Waterfall – 0.8 miles 

 

In a country where some of the most otherworldly sights require major dedication—and a great pair of hiking boots—to experience, Oropendola Waterfall in Guanacaste is refreshingly easy to visit, Ulrich says.

 

 

 

This 82-foot cascade sits just beyond Rincón de la Vieja National Park, an 0.8-mile hike in from the trailhead that follows a narrow path along the side of a gorge before crossing a hanging bridge. Or you could opt for a horseback ride, if you reserve ahead through Hacienda Guachipelin, which owns the property. There’s a ladder down for swimmers (think less “relaxing dip in the rainforest” and more “cold plunging, but make it scenic”), plus a wide platform for taking in the view.

 

With a white spray of water slicing through the rocky canyon walls, rainbows in the mist, and a bright, clear blue pool beneath it all, Oropendola is one of those places so beautiful it feels almost surreal—and if you travel with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions you’ll get a front-row seat to it all.

 

Trek to Rio Celeste Waterfall – 1.8 miles 

 

Tucked deep in Tenorio Volcano National Park in Alajuela Province, the Rio Celeste waterfall is incredibly striking, a milky blue against a wall of green. “The color makes it stand out. It’s this beautiful turquoise that almost looks fake,” says Ulrich.  

  

 

Minerals from the volcanic soil lend it the vibrant color, though the local legend—that the gods washed their brushes in the river after painting the sky—is almost as convincing and way more picturesque. Getting to the 98-foot falls is a 1.8-mile trek, with 250 stairs along the way, but the payoff is worth the workout.  

 

Rio Celeste isn’t part of a core National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions itinerary, but tack on a Caño Negro Rainforests and Reserves Pre- or Post-Voyage Extension to make the trip.

 

 

Take in the Views at Del Toro Waterfall – 1.4 miles 

 

Plunging a whopping 270 feet past red clay and sheer moss-covered canyon walls into the cone of an extinct volcano, the Catarata del Toro—also known as the Bajos del Toro Waterfall—is one of Costa Rica’s most dramatic jungle sights.  

 

 

This towering veil sits in a private reserve on the edge of Juan Castro Blanco National Park, in Alajuela. The entrance fee gets you access to the falls, with an intense 90-minute hike to the bottom or an approachable 45-minute stroll offering views from the top.  

 

You’re not able to swim Catarata del Toro but if you buy the $25 dual entrance pass, you’ll also get access to the swimming holes at the neighboring Blue Falls of Costa Rica.

 

Spot All Seven of the Blue Falls of Costa Rica – 3.7 miles 

 

As soon as the first of the Blue Falls of Costa Rica comes into view, it's clear this Alajuela mainstay lives up to its name: Each of the waterfalls is a creamy, soft shade of turquoise thanks to sunlight reflecting off suspended aluminum sulfate in the water.  

 

 

Your $19 entry pass gives you access to seven blue-tinged falls: the ~60-foot La Tepezquintle, the two ~75-foot falls that make up Las Gemelas, ~40-foot La Celestial I and II, ~20-foot La Turquesa and ~90-foot La Pintada, plus a dozen or so swimming holes along the river.  If you shell out an extra few bucks for the $25 dual entry pass you a visit to all of the Blue Falls of Costa Rica as well as the Del Toro Waterfall.  

 

You’ll have to hike to see the waterfalls, but it’s a choose-your-own-adventure deal: The first of the cascades is just 0.6 miles from the parking lot, or see all seven over 3.7 miles of trail. 

 

Find an Away-From-It-All Oasis at Tesoro Escondido Waterfall – 2 miles 

 

The true-to-its-name Tesoro Escondido Waterfall—which means “hidden treasure” in Spanish—sits slightly off the familiar tourist circuit, so intrepid hikers have a good shot at taking a solo dip in the (frigid, but worth it) waters. 

 

 

Situated near Bajos del Toro, in Alajuela Province, Tesoro Escondido’s waters, which drop 213 feet from the Río Desagüe, are an otherworldly pale blue thanks to minerals in the volcanic soil.  

 

There’s a $15 entrance fee to hike the 2-mile trail, which leads to Tesoro Escondido as well as a couple smaller cascades along the route.

 

Revel in the Drama of La Fortuna Waterfall – 0.5 miles

 

Towering 230 feet above the forest floor, this high-drama waterfall on the outskirts of La Fortuna, near the Arenal Volcano in Alajuela, is a bright white slash against an endless backdrop of lush green jungle.  

 

 

The 530 steps down to La Fortuna Waterfall are well-marked and well-maintained, and a swimsuit is a must for taking a dip in the pool beneath the falls. For travelers with limited mobility there’s a shorter trail with a view from above and a path to the on-site orchid garden, which houses over 180 species of native Costa Rican orchids.

 

 

Saddle Up to See Bijagual Waterfall – 2.5 miles  

 

So much about this cataract in Jaco is hotly contested: it may or may not be the tallest in Costa Rica, plummeting either 600 feet or over 1000, depending on how you measure.  

 

 

What’s indisputable is its unreal beauty, toppling down a rugged cliff amid the jungle of Puntarenas Province, with a lookout point that gives an up-close view of Bijagual Waterfall and a panorama of the valley below.  

 

Get there via a two-and-a-half mile trail, which you can either tackle on foot or on horseback—the owners of the land lead trail rides as far as the horses can manage, then you’ll hop off and hike the final stretch to the falls. Scan the treetops along the way for sightings of the scarlet macaws and other exotic birds that dwell in the forest.

 

Wander the Jungle to La Cangreja Waterfall – 6 miles 

 

Deep within Rincón de la Vieja National Park in Guanacaste Province, La Cangreja Waterfall isn’t a place you stumble upon by chance—getting there requires a 6-mile hike through rainforest and over rivers, across windswept highlands and down a rocky, root-covered descent.  

 

 

At the end of your trek, scramble over boulders and find yourself at the falls, which tumble 130 feet into a pool the same rich hue as a robin’s egg, ensconced in foliage.  

  

This is undoubtedly the most beautiful of the Rincón de la Vieja waterfalls, and while you can’t swim in the pool, there are rocks on the banks—grab a perch, swig some water, and let the meditative moment wash over you.

 

Hit the Stairs to See Viento Fresco Waterfalls – 0.9 miles 

 

It’s only a short trek to reach the Viento Fresco Waterfalls near Tilarán in Guanacaste Province—but short doesn’t always mean easy. The trail is just shy of a mile, the majority of which is stairs, and in the rainy season getting there means putting up with quite a mudbath along the way.  

 

 

But fortune and waterfalls favor the bold: The reward, a series of four waterfalls ranging from 66 feet to 312 feet, is well worth the effort.  

  

The most impressive of the bunch is the 247-foot Rainbow Waterfall, which rushes down in a feathery mist straight into the pool below, making for an ethereal, atmospheric swimming hole amid the lush rainforest. 

 

Find an Underrated Gem at Los Chorros Waterfalls – 1.2 miles 

 

Anywhere else in the world, a natural wonder as scenic as Los Chorros Waterfalls would be flocked with tourists every second of the day. In Costa Rica, where there are hundreds of postcard-perfect falls, these twin falls which are 15 minutes outside of Grecia, in the Alajuela province, are overlooked by most visitors.  

  

 

Take a short but steep 30-minute hike down and find a veil of mist dropping 130 feet into a cool, clear pool with a sandy bottom. Along the bottom of the cliff face, mini-falls shoot out from the rocks—the namesake “chorros,” or jets.  

  

Climb a few rocks and follow the river to spot the second waterfall, a small but mighty stream tucked deep in the forest. 

 

 

Take a Jungle Safari to Nauyaca Waterfalls – 3.5 miles 

 

Glimpse a photo of the Nauyaca Waterfalls in San José Province and you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s some AI-generated image of an idyllic jungle scene. This is perhaps the platonic ideal of a waterfall, with multiple streams plummeting between 65 and 148 feet down a terraced riverbed into a deep, blue-green pool.  

 

 

The surrounding land is privately owned, and you have two options for getting there. The more popular Nauyaca Waterfalls side, near Dominical, has options for a horseback ride, 4x4 dropoff, or a 3.5-mile hike to the falls through a jungle trail frequented by toucans, sloths and howler monkeys.  

 

Drive a bit further and you can access the eastern side of the river at the newly opened Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park near San Salvador de Baru, where you can reach the falls via a 1.7-mile hiking trail or hitch a ride via 4x4, or split the difference with a downhill trek and an escort back up. Both options are best tackled early in the day—afternoon downpours can make access tricky.

 

Make a Splash at Montezuma Waterfalls – 0.9 miles 

 

Spilling through the forest on the edge of the Nicoya Peninsula, this trio of cascades are a distillation of everything great about Costa Rica: adventure, wild beauty and the chance to unwind in the heart of it all.  

 

 

The Montezuma Waterfalls are a series of three cascades—13 feet, 39 feet and 89 feet high—in Puntarenas Province. It’s a favorite spot for cliff jumping from the upper and middle falls (Tom Brady famously took the plunge), but just as appealing for a low-key swim.  

 

There are three routes to get there, all of which involve a hike, but the most popular starts on the fringes of Montezuma, with a 0.9-mile trail that traverses slippery rocks and a couple streams before spitting you out at the lower falls.

 

Nab a Postcard-Worthy View at Diamante Waterfall – 1.8 miles 

 

As with many of Costa Rica’s most impressive waterfalls, the route to Diamante Waterfall in San José Province is rugged—it can only be reached on foot, and to get there you’ll gain about half a mile in elevation over just under two miles of trail.  

 

  

The journey culminates at the top of the 600-foot cataract, purportedly the tallest in Costa Rica. At the summit, you’ll get a panoramic view of the hills blanked in lush rainforest and the Pacific Ocean beyond as the falls thunder at your feet.  

  

Diamante is on private land, but guided treks are available: Tackle it either as an out-and-back four-mile day hike or an overnight camping trip, where you’ll bunk in cozy cave accommodations behind a twin pair of 85-foot falls.

 

Slip and Slide at Uvita Waterfall – 0.5 miles 

   

This corner of the rainforest is the place to go for an unforgettably idyllic afternoon. The Uvita Waterfall, just a 20-minute stroll from the beach town of Uvita in Puntarenas, is a brushstroke of spray pouring 25 feet down into a deep blue-green pool—with a little extra jolt of adrenaline for the adventure chasers.  

  

 

Leap from a small platform into the pool or brave the waterfall itself: The rocks form a natural waterslide that spits you out about 10 feet above the surface of the pool.  

  

Getting there is a quick-and-easy half-mile walk on well-marked trails—you won’t need hiking boots, but wear water shoes if you plan to try the slide or clamber along the rocks. 

 

Splash in the Shallows at Llanos de Cortés Waterfall – 0.3 miles 

 

Just 30 minutes from Liberia, this 40-foot wall in the forest draped with a silken stream of water feels especially inviting in the heat of a Guanacaste dry season.  

 

 

This is the Llanos de Cortés waterfall, and though it was long alluded to as a hidden waterfall, it's one of the more easy-to-reach corners on this list.  

 

With its wide, sandy beach, gently sloped pool, and easy 5-minute stairway path down from the parking lot, Llanos de Cortés feels approachable even for young children or those with limited mobility. But easy accessibility comes with higher demand, so arrive early in the day if you want to beat the crowds.

 

See Flora, Fauna and Falls at La Paz Waterfall Gardens – 1.3 miles 

  

If the mere thought of going off the beaten path makes your eyes go wide, La Paz Waterfall Gardens on the edge of Alajuela Province is the destination for you. The falls themselves are part of the La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park, a park complex with paved trails, an animal sanctuary, aviary, and butterfly observatory, just a 20-minute drive from Poas Volcano National Park.  

  

 

With coatis trotting beside you on the walkway, rescued jungle cats snoozing in their enclosures, and monkeys chattering overhead, the waterfalls here are almost incidental—though no less impressive.  

  

The 1.3-mile trail weaves past a series of five falls, ranging from the tumbling 15-foot Escondida Waterfall to the 120-foot Magia Blanca, a gauzy veil amid the jungle that feels a world away, despite the paving beneath your feet and the restaurant awaiting at the end of the path. 

 

Pack a Picnic and Visit El Pavon Waterfall – 0.5 miles 

 

Some waterfalls are made for awe and adventure, some offer simpler pleasures—the charming El Pavon Waterfall is decidedly the latter.  

 

 

This quaint little fall (no official measurement exists, but it’s no more than a few meters high) just 20 minutes from Uvita, in Puntarenas, is a popular local swimming hole, and on weekends it’s abuzz with Tico families picnicking on the shores and splashing in the shallows. It’s an easy (and kid-friendly) half-mile jaunt to the water, with shallow pools and natural waterslides along the stream.  

 

At the falls themselves, a large, mossy boulder sits wedged between the two rocky banks, likely washed there by some long-ago flood but appears like it was plunked down by an enormous hand.

 

 

Whether you’re taking in the roar of a mile-high torrent or the gentle rush of a terraced cascade through a cloud forest, these Costa Rica waterfalls are sure to be a highlight of your trip to this fascinating, adventure-packed country.  

 

“Even if it’s just a spigot of water dropping down from a rock, people are amazed by waterfalls,” says Ulrich—it’s hard-wired into us. Plan your own adventure or let a company like National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions do all the heavy lifting for you—either way, exploring some of the best waterfalls in Costa Rica is a must for your next nature-centric voyage.  

 

Grab your passport and your hiking boots—the falls are calling.