We laid our eyes on the first glimpse of the blue green water of Rio Blanco, framed by the orange canyon walls. The water seemed to shine in the soft rays of the morning sun. And we knew immediately why Catarata La Leona is a gem of a place to visit in Costa Rica.
But it is not just the sheer natural beauty of the place, what makes it more exciting is how you access and experience the waterfall. Even after visiting dozens of wonderful waterfalls in Costa Rica, we can say that La Leona is one of the best waterfall hikes in Costa Rica.
Whether you are planning your first visit to Costa Rica or are about to return for the nineteenth time, in this article, you will find everything that you need to know about visiting La Leona.
That includes an exclusive discount code for the readers of Paradise Catchers!
Once a lesser known local getaway for the people of Costa Rica, La Leona hike is now a bucket list activity for international visitors too. Since the waterfall access was opened to public in the year 2020, the hike has gained immense popularity and now attracts dozens of tourists every day. For very good reasons, we say!
So, what is the deal with this waterfall hike adventure? Should you include visiting Catarata La Leona on your Costa Rica itinerary? Can you find similar travel experiences in Costa Rica? Is the hike difficult?
In this article, we are going to cover all the details about La Leona Waterfall Hike and break everything down to a T.
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Why Visit Catarata La Leona?
Sparkling white water plunges down orange canyon walls inside a hidden cave in the river, and splashes into a clear blue natural pool below. The falls cascade with grace and power from a considerable height, creating a mesmerizing mist in the sunlight peeping through the rocks concealing the blue sky above.
Surely, La Leona is a waterfall like no other in Costa Rica.
Visiting Catarata La Leona requires an adventurous hike. In fact, the hike can turn out to be more exhilarating than the sight of the waterfall itself.
Here are the highlights of visiting Catarata La Leona:
- A waterfall inside a cave
- Clear blue big natural pool at the waterfall
- Stunning blue green/ turquoise color of the river
- Access to the waterfall is only by an adventurous hike that includes:
- Walking in the jungle
- Crossing river on foot
- Climbing ladders and rocks
- Swimming in the blue river
- Natural water slide (optional)
- Cliff jumping into river (optional)
If this looks exciting to you, definitely include La Leona waterfall on your Costa Rica travel itinerary.
The river, Rio Blanco of La Leona waterfall acquires it striking color from volcanic minerals coming from the Rincon de la Vieja volcano.
Another waterfall in Costa Rica where you can see such magical sky blue color of the river and the waterfall pool is Rio Celeste.
And this is a common question that people ask while planning their Costa Rica travel itinerary. Which waterfall to visit – La Leona or Rio Celeste?
Do You Need a Guide to Visit La Leona Waterfall?
Yes. You can visit La Leona waterfall only under the able supervision of a certified guide, thus ensuring safety on this hiking adventure. That is why, one cannot visit the waterfall independently.
You need to book a guided tour for Catarata La Leona waterfall hike.
How to Book La Leona Waterfall Hike
In Costa Rica, nobody can privately own a piece of river. However, if any such natural flowing watercourse happens to be part of a private property, the owners can charge access fees to allow visitors. And that is how several tourist attractions in Costa Rica operate.
Some of those attractions even end up having entries through multiple tour companies because different owners have different access routes to the same attraction! Two such classic examples are Nauyaca Waterfalls or Uvita Waterfall.
The story of Catarata La Leona is somewhat similar, but different. A private farm in Curubande holds access to the river and thus the hiking trail to the waterfall. But since a guided tour is required to visit the waterfall, there are multiple companies in the locality that offer La Leona waterfall tours.
La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike
After our research, we chose to do our Catarata La Leona hike tour with the company La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike.
Having experienced their services firsthand, we can now recommend them for booking your La Leona waterfall tour too. We are also happy to partner with this company to bring an exclusive 5% discount to you, the readers of Paradise Catchers.
Apart from the waterfall hike, you can also purchase some combo activities that include white water river tubing and/or zip-lining. There are also options to book private tours and group tours – more on that later.
Now, there are different ways you can book guided tours from La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike:
Direct Online Booking + Our Discount Code
The first option is to book directly from the company website of La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike. Here are the steps to follow:
- Go to their official website
- Click on “Browse Our Tours” button on the home page
- Choose between “Self Drive Tours” and “Transportation Included”, based on your needs
- Select the tour you wish to book
- Pick the date, time, number of people, and if applicable, write the ages of children
- If choosing “Transportation Included” option, enter all other details as requested
- Click on “Book Now” and proceed to the cart
- Paradise Catchers Exclusive: Enter code paradise in the “Coupon Code” box and click on “Apply Coupon”
- The price in your shopping cart will be updated to reflect 5% discount
- Proceed to checkout, fill out the details and make payment securely online
- Once payment is completed, you will receive an email confirmation of your reservation
Cancellation Policy: Full refund for cancellations up to 24 hours in advance.
If you prefer to use your tour booking online marketplace accounts, you can find the same tours by this same company on Viator and Get Your Guide.
Please note, our Paradise Catchers exclusive 5% discount code only works on the direct booking online. So, if you wish to avail the discount, we recommend you to follow the direct booking method.
La Leona Tours on Viator
Click on the text links or the images below to book the tour of your choice on Viator.
Cancellation Policy: Free cancellation for up to 24 hours in advance.
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Private Tour)
- La Leona Waterfall Hike and White Water River Tubing
La Leona Tours on Get Your Guide
Click on the text links or the images below to book the tour of your choice on Get Your Guide.
Cancellation Policy: Free cancellation for up to 24 hours in advance.
La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike: Private Tour vs. Group Tour
For your Catarata La Leona adventure hike, you can choose between a Private Tour and a Group Tour.
Please note, the choice of private vs. group tour is only for the services of the guide.
So, no, private tour does NOT mean you will have the waterfall and the hiking trail all to yourself only. There will be other groups doing the same hike, on the same trail, going to the same waterfall on the day of your La Leona waterfall visit.
But booking a private tour ensures that you will receive the undivided attention of a dedicated guide assigned to your group only. For group tours, you can be put in a group of up to 20 people from different nationalities and backgrounds.
If you are undecided on which option to pick, here is our recommendation:
- If you are traveling as a big group, book the group tour because you will anyway form the majority of the tour group.
- If you are traveling solo or as a couple or a small family, consider booking the private tour for more personal experience.
Paradise Catchers Exclusive: Use coupon code paradise to get 5% discount on booking value on direct booking online.
Things to Know about La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike
Before going for Catarata La Leona waterfall visit, here are some of the details you would want to know:
Tour Cost
La Leona tour costs vary by the type of activity chosen, private vs. group tour, and adults vs. children. Here are the details:
| La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike | Private Tour | Group Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | 45 USD | 30 USD |
| Children (*4-12 years) | 35 USD | 25 USD |
| La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike + White Water River Tubing | Private Tour | Group Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | 90 USD | 75 USD |
| Children (6-12 years) | 75 USD | 65 USD |
Please note, the prices are what you see for direct booking online on the tour company’s website. Use Paradise Catchers exclusive coupon code paradise to get 5% discount on your total booking amount.
Timings and Duration
The duration of your La Leona waterfall adventure will vary depending on whether you do the hike only or the combine it with the white water river tubing activity.
There are multiple start times to choose from for your tour. If you pick a private tour, you get more time slot options.
Here are the timings and duration for La Leona waterfall hike activities:
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Private Tour)
- Duration: 3 hours
- Group Tours – Start Times: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 2:00 pm
- Private Tours – Start Times: 7:00 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:00 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 2:30 pm
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike + White Water Tubing (Private Tour)
- Duration: ~5 hours (3 hours hike + 1.5 hours tubing)
- Group Tours – Start Times: 9:00 am, 12:00 noon
- Private Tours – Start Times: 8:30 am, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm
Facilities at La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike Reception
La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike reception is currently in the process of expanding their offerings. As of now, these are the facilities you find on their premises:
- Free secure parking on site
- Restrooms, separate for men and women
- Large hand wash area with multiple wash basins and liquid soaps
- Open showers to freshen up after the hike
- Lockers with keys to store your valuables
- Free WiFi
In the coming months, they also plan to have an onsite restaurant.
La Leona Waterfall Hike Difficulty Level
Here is our assessment of La Leona Waterfall Hike Difficulty Level: If you are fairly fit, used to walking on uneven terrains, not afraid of being in open water, and not restricted by mobility issues or other health conditions, La Leona waterfall hike can be an adventurous yet easy enjoyable hike, particularly in the dry season.
The total distance for La Leona waterfall hiking trail is 4 km (~2.5 miles) roundtrip. Although the distance is short, this hike is often considered difficult because of the things you need to do to reach the waterfall.
La Leona hike involves walking on uneven terrains, crossing rivers, climbing ladders and rocks, swimming in river, and finally pushing against river current holding on to a rope to get to La Leona waterfall.
During the rainy season, it can be more challenging because of slippery and muddy jungle terrain and fiercer currents in the river.
However, we did not find the hike difficult. On the contrary, it was a refreshing hike on a summer morning during the dry season.
How to Get to Catarata La Leona
To do La Leona waterfall hike, you need to check in at the tour company reception. Here is the Google Maps location of La Leona Adventure Hike where you need to report.
At the turn of the road, you will see 3 big boards stacked one over another, saying, “El Rincon Adventure Center”, “La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike” and “El Rincon White Water Tubing”.
If you are coming from Liberia, soon after turning left at this juncture, you will find their employees in green t-shirts. Ask for owner Fabricio Vega, or if you already have the name of your guide, ask for your guide from La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike.
From this point, you will be taken in a 4X4 vehicle to the trailhead of the hike. It is a short 10 minutes ride through rural Costa Rica.
As you can see from the location, La Leona tour reception office is in Curubande town, far away from any other popular tourist circuit. The nearest big town is Liberia and the nearest airport is the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport of Liberia.
So, here is how you can plan to reach Catarata La Leona hike meeting point.
Option 1: By Booking “Transportation Included” Tours
When browsing tours on the tour company official website, you can select a tour from the “Transportation Included” options.
They offer transportation in mini vans, vans, mini buses and big buses, each of different passenger capacity. The pick up can be arranged from Liberia, big resorts near Liberia, or any of the beach towns from Playa del Coco to Tamarindo.
Use code paradise on booking page to get 5% discount, exclusive for the readers of Paradise Catchers.
Option 2: By Public Transport
From Liberia, the public transport options you can get any time of the day to get to La Leona waterfall hike meeting point are red taxi or Uber. If you book Uber, put “La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike” as your destination.
There are buses between Liberia and Curubande, but they run only a few times a day.
Now, to get to Liberia, you can take a public bus from your starting location, depending on where you are coming from. Here are couple of examples:
- From Playa del Coco: Buses run every half an hour from 5:00 am, operated by Pulmitan de Liberia.
- From Tamarindo: Buses run from 3:30 am, operated by Transportes La Pampa.
How we reached: Boarded the 5:30 am bus from Playa del Coco to Liberia. It took one hour to reach, without any traffic that early in the morning. We got down at the last stop, the bus terminal of Pulmitan de Liberia and booked an Uber to the destination. After some waiting period and a few cancellations by drivers, we finally got one Uber. The ride took about 20 minutes. Finally, we were there at the meeting point by 7:30 am.
Option 3: By Self-Drive (Most Convenient)
The most convenient way of reaching La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike meeting point is drive yourself.
You have to drive north from Liberia, take a right towards Curubande and then keep driving until you reach the location here.
Here are the driving distances from Liberia and some big beach towns in Guanacaste:
- Liberia Centro: 15 km (9 miles)
- Liberia Airport: 27 km (17 miles)
- Playa del Coco: 50 km (31 miles)
- Las Catalinas: 66 km (41 miles)
- Tamarindo: 91 km (57 miles)
So, for your self-drive journey to La Leona waterfall meeting point, and also for your broader Costa Rica trip, consider renting a car.
We have a Costa Rica Car Rental Deal for you: 10% discount on base rate (varies by dates and demand) + other freebies.
Click here to make your reservation, with the discount automatically applied. For details, read this.
Our Car Rental Partner: Adobe Rent A Car, 100% Costa Rican company with transparent pricing.
La Leona Waterfall Hike: Our Firsthand Experience
We went to Catarata La Leona on an April morning, when the weather was bright and sunny. With our guide Francisco, we had an amazing time and also felt safe during every tricky bit of the hike.
La Leona involves a multi-terrain hike, with a lot of little adventures packed in during the course of within three hours.
We are going to break down each section of our experience of the hike, so that you know what to expect from your La Leona waterfall adventure.
Here are two of our other favorite waterfall hikes in Costa Rica:
- El Tigre Waterfalls Hike in Monteverde
- La Cangreja Waterfall Hike in Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Part 1: 4X4 Ride to the Trailhead
After arriving at the meeting point of La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike, we were greeted by our guide Francisco.
We were taken to the locker area where we could keep the things that we did not need for the hike. So we left in the locker one of our bags that contained our towels and change of clothes, and some other things like sunscreen.
We were also offered a dry bag for carrying our stuff on the hike, but since we already had ours, we did not need that.
Francisco asked us if we needed to use the restroom before starting the hike. We did, after the long bus + taxi ride from Playa del Coco. Then we were all set for the start of our Catarata La Leona tour.
The first part was a 4X4 ride of about 10 minutes from the office area to the trailhead. When given an option, we chose to stand at the back of the truck, and enjoyed the morning views of the dirt road running through between tropical vegetation on either side.
Part 2: Walk in the Jungle
As mentioned earlier, the access to Catarata La Leona hiking trail is through a private farm. So, this is where our guide Francisco completed the entry formalities, while we waited and watched the roosters and the dogs around us.
Then began our walk in the jungle. As we walked on dirt paths along the Blanco river, Francisco explained us that the land on one side of the river was privately owned, while the other side was part of Rincon de la Vieja National Park – Las Pailas Sector.
We were walking in the jungle in Costa Rica. So, of course, there were plenty of interesting flora and fauna to keep us company.
Sounds of the jungle filled the air. We spotted Basilisk Lizards on the river, thousands of ants hiding in the bark of a guarumo tree, a long-tailed manakin hanging out on a tree branch, to name a few.Franc isco also showed us and explained about parasitic giant trees, interesting rock formations and even a bat cave!
Related Reading: Wildlife in Costa Rica
Part 3: Crossing Rivers and Climbing Ladders
But the jungle part of La Leona waterfall hike was no walk in the park.
The hike required us to make couple of river crossings on foot. To help us balance ourselves while walking on slippery rocks of the forceful river water current, there were some ropes set up that we could hold on to.
For crossing over big boulders and rocks, there are some small ladders set up. Climbing the ladders looked adventurous, but were actually easy. Because here also, there were ropes to hold on to, and proper landing areas after the little climbs.
However, we needed to remain careful all the time so that we did not hit any protruding tree branch or rock while climbing or landing.
There were 5 ladders set up along the course of the way until the next part, where we needed to swim.
Part 4: Swimming in Rio Blanco
For me, this was the most anticipated part of Catarata La Leona hike. Swimming in the clear blue waters of the river inside a canyon.
But first, a moment of gasp to take in the spectacular sight. The river wore a brilliant turquoise color shining in the morning sun, framed by the canyon wells.
Me being a beginner level swimmer, Francisco offered to carry my phone in his dry bag, because we would need to go all in swimming here. The distance is short but the depth is quite a bit.
It was actually quite okay. I guess, having the life jacket on helped too, in terms of confidence.
Indranil, on the other hand, navigated the river using one arm, and holding the phone for shoot with the other hand.
Then, there was another stretch that we had to swim through, again short. But we had to be careful to navigate on the correct side of the river.
Related Reading: Floating in Rio Claro, Drake Bay
Part 5: A Little Ritual
After completing the first couple of swimming stints, Francisco stopped for a little local ritual, and involved us in the same. Standing in the blue water, he used his wet hands to scrape off some clay from the surface of the volcanic stones in the river.
Then he put that natural volcanic clay paint on our faces, smiled at us and said, “you belong here today”.
Such gestures and warmth from the people make us feel truly connected to the places, particularly when it is happening in the wilderness of Costa Rica.
This volcanic clay ritual and the local connection also reminded me of the cacao paste pack on our faces at the waterfall during our Bribri indigenous community tour in Caribbean Costa Rica, and also the volcanic mud paste application at Rio Negro Hot Springs.
Part 6: The Final Push
After the face paint, it was time for the next and final swim stint, supposedly more challenging.
This is the last stretch of La Leona waterfall hike, where we had swim against the flow of the strong river current. There was a rope installed to guide us. But to overcome the force of the current, we had to use both hands on the rope and move forward quickly.
The path may be challenging but the scenery seemed to be straight out of a movie set!
We treaded our way through the water until we got a secure landing on a big rock. We had finally arrived!
The first photo above shows the last passage we had to swim in, and the second one on the right, shows the current we had just crossed before landing on this big rock visible in the foreground.
Part 7: At La Leona Waterfall
Since we started our hike early in the morning and continued at a good pace, we were the first to arrive at the waterfall.
Catarata La Leona looked gorgeous but the setting made it more mystical.
Hidden inside the cave, a blue natural pool welcomed the waterfall drop, while textured canyon walls spiraled to reach for the blue sky, deciding whether to let the sunlight in.
A tree branch forms an interesting foreground to Catarata La Leona. Francisco instructed me to position myself there for a unique Birdman like posture while he took a few pictures. Something I would have never done on my own! But I think the photos came out nice, isn’t it?
We swam in the natural pool for a while, felt the fresh spray of La Leona waterfall on our faces, and floated on our backs to admire different perspectives of the magical place.
Paradise Catchers Exclusive: Use coupon code paradise to get 5% discount on booking value on direct booking online.
Part 8: The Adventurous Way Back
After spending about 20 minutes at the waterfall, it was time to head back. But the adventures of the day were far from over!
On the way back, we again swam through the turquoise river, in three short stretches.
And then, for the walk back, we had to come down the same ladders that we had used before, make the same river crossings, and also, walking on a slanting slop of hilly area for a bit.
But, more fun was in store for us. These included a couple of little detours, and are optional activities. So, if you are not comfortable, you may feel free to skip those. But seriously, why would you!
Part 9: Natural Water Slide & Cliff Jumping
The first detour was for a natural river slide.
We left the dry bag on the side of the river, walked a bit upstream and then took turns to slide down the river.
I sat myself down on a rock and let the force of the river push me down the rocks as the river flowed over them. It was refreshing to get immersed in the fresh river water.
Related Reading: Uvita Waterfall – A Natural Water Slide
Left to Right: Indranil and Pubali, at the natural water slide.
Then we walked back to where we had left the dry bag, picked it up, waded through water, and emerged from under a swaying tree branch, to continue on the jungle path.
And then, one last adventure. Because of the depth of the water, I passed on this one, but Indranil did not. He jumped off the edge of a cliff, fell in to the depth of the river, and then swam up until the nearest river bank where Francisco and I met him.
We continued the hike back until the trailhead, that is the private farm entrance.
Related Reading: Salto de Malacatiupan Hot Spring Waterfalls in El Salvador
Part 10: Concluding La Leona Waterfall Hike
After all the amusement and adventure of La Leona waterfall hike, we were now back at the farm. While waiting for our ride back to the tour company office, we sat ourselves at a wooden table and shared some cookies with Francisco.
Within a few minutes, a car arrived to pick us up and took us back to the office.
Upon getting back to the office, Francisco shared a QR code with us with the company’s site links and requested us to leave a Google Maps review. Indranil later did.
Also, if you are on vacation in Costa Rica, here is a suggestion: if you are happy with the services of your guide, remember to tip well. Nobody will ask you directly for a tip, but it goes a long way, supporting local businesses and local guides.
Coming back to concluding the hike, there are changing rooms and open showers. So, it was convenient to clean up and change out of our wet clothes and put on fresh ones that we had earlier left in the locker.
So, it was a fantastic morning, experiencing the marvels of nature in fascinating settings, and burning some good calories at the same time. We had now earned ourselves a lunch treat of burgers and fries.
Catarata La Leona Video
For visuals of how the waterfall hike experience is really like, watch our video of Catarata La Leona.
To get notified whenever a new video is available for watching, subscribe to Paradise Catchers YouTube Channel and press the bell icon.
Best Time to Visit Catarata La Leona
The best time to visit La Leona waterfall is during the dry season months of December to April – in the early morning slot for less crowds, or in the afternoon slot, for optimal lighting conditions.
Let us explore why.
Time of the Year
You can visit Catarata La Leona any time of the year. However, the waterfall hike tours are sometimes suspended at the peak of rainy season in October if too much rain causes the hiking conditions to become unsafe.
During the rainy season months, the trails can also be wet and slippery and the water current will be much higher. So, La Leona waterfall hike can be done in ideal weather conditions during the dry season months of December through April.
We personally do enjoy visiting waterfalls in Costa Rica during rainy season, despite the muddy trails and the chances of rain. Because that is when most of the waterfalls flow to their fullest volume capacities.
Related Reading: Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
Morning or Afternoon?
Now, for picking the time of the day to visit La Leona, you have to choose a trade-off.
The blue water pool at the waterfall inside the cave looks the most striking when the sun shines the brightest on it. So, if you want to see that marvelous water color and get well-lit photographs inside the cave, you need to visit La Leona around midday or early afternoon. But this is also when several tour groups visit the waterfall.
If you wish to have the waterfall all to yourself, or share with limited number of people, visit early in the morning. The natural pool water color is still blue. Just that, the sun rays are not falling directly on it and hence it is a different shade of darker blue.
During our Catarata La Leona visit, we were the first group to arrive at the waterfall in the morning. Needless to say, we were delighted to find ourselves alone at what could now be the most popular waterfall in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
La Leona Waterfall Hike: What to Wear
For La Leona waterfall hike, you will be walking on uneven terrains in the jungle, and also swimming in rivers, without really getting the chance to change anywhere along the trail. So you need to pick your attire and footwear carefully.
We have shared below what both of us wore for the hike, for clothing, footwear and accessories.
The links take you to similar products that are highly rated and you can shop online directly on Amazon.
- Her:
- Clothing: Swimsuit, Quick-dry Skort and Racerback Top
- Footwear: Water Resistant Hiking Sandals
- Accessories: Garmin Watch, Sunglasses.
- Him:
- Clothing: Swimming brief, Quick-dry Shorts, Quick-dry T-shirt
- Footwear: Water Resistant Hiking Sandals
- Accessories: Garmin Watch, Sunglasses.
For swimming, we were also given life jackets that we wore throughout the hike. Our guide tightened the life vests only during the swims.
Related Reading: Packing List for Costa Rica + FREE Checklist
La Leona Waterfall Hike: What to Carry
You need not carry much for your La Leona waterfall hike. In fact, the lesser things you carry, the better it is.
You will be given a dry bag where you can keep the things that you need to carry on the hike. For the rest of your belongings, you can just leave them in the locker at the office. We brought our own dry bag.
If you buy this roll-top dry bag, it comes with a waterproof phone case. Very handy for water adventures in Costa Rica.
Here are the things you must bring on Catarata La Leona hike:
- Drinking water in your reusable insulated water bottle
- Device of your choice for taking photos and videos
We recommend nothing more than your phone (preferably in a waterproof pouch if the phone itself is not water resistant) and a mobile tripod, and/or a waterproof action camera.
For action camera, GoPro is always a great choice. Based on your needs and preferences, you can get the GoPro HERO12 Black Waterproof Action Camera as it is, or the camera along with some essential accessories, or the HERO12 Black Creator Edition.
Related Reading: What’s in our Camera Bag?
Where to Stay for La Leona Waterfall Hike
Liberia
For visiting Catarata La Leona, a central base location is Liberia. If you are staying further in one of the beach towns in Guancaste, and if you wish to visit the waterfall first thing in the morning, consider spending the previous night in Liberia.
You can also plan your Costa Rica itinerary from Liberia in such a way that you visit La Leona waterfall the first day upon arrival, or the last day before departure. In that case, a hotel near Liberia International Airport will be a good option.
Here are some hotel recommendations for Liberia:
- In Liberia downtown: Hotel Villa Hermosa
- Near Airport: Hampton by Hilton Guanacaste Airport
Rincon de la Vieja
Alternatively, you can visit La Leona waterfall while staying at any of the nature resorts in Rincon de la Vieja region.
Here are some resort recommendations for Rincon de la Vieja, and the corresponding driving distances from those to La Leona waterfall hike meeting point:
- Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin – 5 km (3 miles)
- Borinquen Thermal Resort – 21 km (13 miles)
- Buena Vista del Rincon – 20 km (12 miles)
Papagayo Peninsula
A few luxury resorts are located in the Peninsula of Papagayo. So, while you enjoy a splurge beach vacation in Guancaste, Costa Rica, you can drive down and do a half-day tour of La Leona waterfall hike.
Here are some of the top resorts in the area, and the corresponding driving distances to La Leona hike checkin point.
- Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo – A concept by Hyatt – 56 km (35 miles)
- Planet Hollywood Costa Rica – An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort – 55 km (34 miles)
- Secrets Papagayo All-Inclusive – Adults Only – 45 km (30 miles)
Playa del Coco
The nearest big beach town from La Leona waterfall is Playa del Coco. The distance is around 50 km (31 miles). We did the waterfall hike while staying in Coco.
Here are some hotel recommendations for Playa del Coco:
Tamarindo
Another bigger beach town is Guanacaste from where you can visit La Leona is Tamarindo. However, with a distance of 91 km (57 miles), it is a much longer drive.
So, even if you stay in Tamarindo for the beach days, we do recommend the first option for visiting La Leona. Spend a night in Liberia.
For ideas of where to stay in Tamarindo, read our Tamarindo Best Hotels guide.
Final Thoughts on La Leona Waterfall Hike
According to us, La Leona Waterfall Hike is a wholesome package of experiencing nature and adventure in Costa Rica. In fact, it is going into our round up of the best waterfalls in Costa Rica.
If you are planning to vacation in Guanacaste province of Costa Rica, enjoy chasing waterfalls, love combining nature and adventure, and are physically fit to take on a multi-terrain challenge, you must add Catarata La Leona hike to your list of things to do in Costa Rica.
Plan Your North Guanacaste Travel
- 5 Beautiful Beaches near Playa del Coco
- Llanos del Cortes Waterfall
- La Cangreja Waterfall
- Oropendola Waterfall
- Rio Negro Hot Springs and Waterfalls
As part of our partnership with La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike, we were hosted by them on this tour. However, all opinions, observations and recommendations about the activity, in this article as well as in the video, are our own.
Travel Planning Logistics
- Accommodation: For several years now, Booking.com has been our platform of choice for booking accommodation while traveling. You can apply all the desired filters and shortlist the ones that meet your criteria. On continued use, you will keep unlocking their Genius benefits. For long term stays, we use Airbnb. Of late, we have also started browsing Hostelworld for finding hostels.
- Tours: When traveling to new destinations, you can plan ahead and book your activities. Check for highly rated tours on Viator and Get Your Guide.
- Packing: From swimwear to sunscreen, hiking pants to insect repellents, buy your vacation packing essentials on Amazon.
- Flights: We always start our flight searches with Skyscanner and Momondo. They are aggregators that display flight options, compiling information across airlines and combinations. What we like the best about these flight aggregators is that you can put “Anywhere” as your destination, so that you find the best flight deals from your city of departure.
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