Catarata del Toro: A Spectacular Waterfall in Costa Rica

Pouring a whopping 90 meters into an extinct volcano crater, Catarata del Toro is one of the most magnificent waterfalls of Costa Rica. Thick layers of rainforest and towering columnar rock formations conceal this white waterfall from the outside world.

Sounds surreal, but Catarata del Toro is only about two hour’s drive away from San Jose, the most populous area of the country. Here is our detailed guide to help you plan your visit to the waterfall.

How to reach Catarata del Toro

Catarata del Toro is one of the many waterfalls in and around the town of Bajos del Toro. The distance from some of the cities, nearby towns and major airports are as follows:

• San Jose Airport: 55 km / 34 miles
• Liberia Airport: 213 km / 132 miles
• San Jose: 71 km / 44 miles
• Heredia: 64 km / 40 miles
• Alajuela: 56 km / 35 miles
• Sarchi: 25 km / 16 miles

Due to its close proximity to the Central Valley, this waterfall makes for a quick day trip from San Jose. The best way to reach here is by driving.

Driving from San Jose to Catarata del Toro

For driving from San Jose or other areas of the Central Valley, the fastest way is to drive to Sarchi and then take Ruta 708 to reach Bajos del Toro. Catarata del Toro waterfall is about 6 km further up north on the same road.

You do not need a 4X4 in order to reach Catarata del Toro.

Earlier some stretches of Ruta 708 used to be unpaved and bumpy. However, now this route is completely paved and you need not worry about gravels and potholes. But you still need to drive carefully as clouds and mists often decide to reside in the area, thus reducing visibility, sometimes to just a few meters.

We have taken this road several times for going to various destinations, and have always enjoyed the drive up the curvy mountainous road. Just roll down your windows and smell the fresh air as little towns and verdant landscapes accompany you along the way.

You can find Catarata del Toro on Google Maps.

A word of caution: make sure you have enough fuel in the tank for the trip. There are no gas stations between Sarchi and Bajos del Toro.

Important Information

Before going into the details of the waterfall itself, here is a round up of the logistics for planning your visit.

Schedule

Catarata del Toro is open to visitors from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days of the week, except Sunday.

You do not need a prior reservation. However, we recommend you to go early to beat the crowds, especially on holidays. Also, the earlier you arrive, the more time you will get to spend at the waterfall and/or to combine some of the other nearby waterfalls with your Catarata del Toro trip.

Although Catarata del Toro is closed to visitors on Sundays, there is a way you can actually have the waterfall all to yourselves on Sundays. More details on that later in this post.

Entrance Fees

The entrance fees to Del Toro waterfall are as listed below. When we visited, only cash payment was accepted.

• Adults: 14 USD
• Senior citizens (65+ years): 7 USD
• Children (4-7 years): 7 USD

For a visit to Catarata del Toro as well as Blue Falls (Las Gamelas), belonging to the same property owners, you will get a combo price of 25 USD for adults and 12.5 USD for senior citizens and for children between 8 to 11 years of age.

For a 15% discount on the price, take a screenshot of the offer on their website and show it at the time of payment. This offer is valid till December 31, 2021.

Parking

Private secure parking is available on site, near the reception area.

Cafeteria

There is an open air cafeteria just before the starting point of the hiking trail. It is not a full service restaurant but you can buy coffee, fresh juices, soft drinks and cakes.

This is a nice place to hang out at with your group before or after the hike, when you sip on your coffee in a pretty setting and listen to the sounds of birds.

Catarata del Toro: The Waterfall Experience

Catarata del Toro can easily be counted among the best waterfalls of Costa Rica. You need to follow a hiking trail to reach the waterfall.

Entrance to the hiking trail

The hiking trail to Catarata del Toro is exciting right from the start. The trail begins from the garden next to the open air cafeteria. This is where dozens of hummingbirds and other species of birds hang out at, dancing on their wings and feeding on the seeds and fruits. You may be tempted to delay the start of your hike just so you can observe these little creatures for longer.

Hike to the waterfall

We all know the popular saying that the journey is often as interesting as the destination. It could not be more true for the hike to Catarata del Toro.

The trail passes through the primary forest where you get to observe interesting flora and fauna as you walk. But you get the first view of the waterfall from above, even before you enter the forest section.

If you want to see the waterfall from up close, you do need to walk all the way down. This is considered to be the difficult part of the hike. There are about 350 steps, most of which are concrete. At the end of the concrete staircase, you will find more steps, only this time they are uneven, not concrete anymore and during rains, can get slippery. The last stretch of the hike to get close to the waterfall is a walk on big rocks.

We personally did not find the hike to be difficult. But we would suggest to take it slow and get enough rest stops, especially while hiking up.

Although it is a long way down (and up) for the waterfall hike, you will be constantly rewarded with views of interesting vegetation, rock formations and the waterfall itself!

The waterfall

Catarata del Toro plunges to create a little pool below, but swimming is prohibited because of strong currents.

Due to the volcanic soil of the region, giant leaves, locally known as Poor Man’s Umbrella, sprout on the grounds around the waterfall.

As we approached near the waterfall, we felt sprays from the waterfall on our faces. The more we got closer, the more in awe we were. The view of Catarata del Toro in the mystical natural setting is breathtaking.

Standing next to the waterfall, looking up at the white velvety water sliding tirelessly down the huge rock with a ferocious sound, I felt how tiny we are in the whole scheme of the universe.

According to us, no photos or videos can do justice to the grandeur of this waterfall. It is best experienced in person.

Best time to visit Catarata del Toro

You can visit this waterfall any time of the year. But if you go in the rainy season, between May and mid December, try to reach early in the morning as the chances of rain and cloud cover are higher in the afternoon.

But which ever time of the year you visit, always remember to carry a raincoat. In Costa Rica, it can rain any day.

We personally like to visit waterfalls during the rainy season as they fill to their fullest volume when it rains. We went to Catarata del Toro in the month of August in the middle of the rainy season and loved seeing the gushing white water catarata.

Overnight Stay or Day Trip?

Catarata del Toro or the other waterfalls in the region of Bajos del Toro make for a quick day trip from San Jose due to the proximity and ease of travel. But if you want to explore the various waterfalls in the region all at once, you may consider staying in the town of Bajos del Toro. You can also plan a stopover stay at this town on your way to or from the rainforests of Sarapiqui or the hot springs of La Fortuna.

Bajos del Toro is a quaint little town where not much happens, neither is it heavily prominent on the popular tourist circuits of Costa Rica. But according to us, this town is a lovely place to experience solitude, sprinkled with several waterfall adventures.

There are not many places to stay in Bajos del Toro. If you want to stay overnight but sleep in a luxury setting, El Silencio Lodge and Spa is the only option. But if you are fine with basic accommodation, with not much amenities, consider staying at the room on the property of Catarata del Toro itself.

Catarata del Toro Room

Catarata del Toro property owners offer a room onsite for stay. They offer only one room, so book in advance if you plan to stay.

The room is rustic, big in size, has a comfortable bed and an attached bathroom with hot shower. It is priced at 65 USD per night per room, for a maximum of two persons. A nice breakfast is also included in the rate.

The advantage of staying here is that the waterfall entrance fees are also included in the accommodation price. If you choose to stay at Catarata del Toro room for one night, you get free entrance to Catarata del Toro and if you stay for a second night, you get free entrance to Blue Falls as well.

Now, here is a secret to having Catarata del Toro all to yourselves. If you stay at the property over a Saturday night, you get to hike down to the waterfall on Sunday morning. But remember, the waterfall is closed to visitors on Sundays. So, as the only resident guests of the property, you will be the only two people hiking the waterfall trail and spending time near the waterfall on a Sunday. Ain’t this your very own private waterfall tour?

Our stay experience

We had stayed couple of nights in the Catarata del Toro Room, checking in on Friday and checking out on Sunday.

When we say the stay is basic, we mean no internet, no TV, no room service, no onsite restaurant, dim lights and termites for company on occasions. With not much activity in the town as well, what did we do in the evenings? Well, we slid under the blanket, talked to each other without a single trace of distraction, listened to the rain drops and fell asleep to the sound of Catarata del Toro waterfall. I would consider that as luxury in today’s times. Wouldn’t you?

A few words about the owners

The owners Wil and Donais are a Dutch couple who are living in Costa Rica for well over a decade. During our stay at Catarata del Toro for a couple of nights, we got the opportunity to interact with Wil on multiple occasions. We enjoyed our interactions with Wil and laughed at his little jokes.

I remember, I had asked Wil, coming from Netherlands, of all the places on earth, what made him choose this place for setting up shop and home. His answer was simple, short but convincing: “Adventure!”.

Tips for visiting Catarata del Toro

Here are a few tips to help you make the best of your trip to Catarata del Toro.

• Fill car fuel tank before the trip
• Carry water to keep yourself hydrated during the hike
• Carry raincoat for chances of rain
• Wear hiking shoes or hiking sandals for the hike
• Combine Blue Falls waterfall with your trip to avail combo pricing

Note: According to the waterfall property’s safety guidelines, the hike is not recommended for pregnant women, children below 3 years of age, senior citizens of over 75 years age and people with heart or other medical conditions.

Closing thoughts

Costa Rica is blessed with scores of waterfalls due to its lush mountainous landscape and generous flow of natural water. But Catarata del Toro still stands out among them due to its unique topographical setting.

Whether you are in San Jose for a business trip with weekends to spare or on a 10 day vacation in Costa Rica, you can easily include a visit to this waterfall in your travel plan. Not a common inclusion in popular Costa Rica itineraries, but Catarata del Toro is totally worth the attention of nature enthusiasts.

Here are some more impressive waterfalls of Costa Rica:

• Nauyaca Waterfalls, Dominical
• La Paz Waterfall Gardens
• Uvita Waterfall
• Cascada el Pavon, Ojochal
• Montezuma Waterfalls
• La Cangreja Waterfall
• Oropendola Waterfall
• Rio Negro Hot Springs and Waterfalls

Like the post? Pin it!