El Tigre Waterfalls: The Best Hike in Monteverde [2024 Guide]

I treaded cautiously on the first hanging bridge. The flowing river several feet beneath my floating feet and the dense forest all around made me more content than nervous on that rustic bridge. Halfway along the bridge, I paused and looked to my right to get one last glance of the mighty spectacular waterfall. It was such a soothing sight as if someone painted before me a picture of paradise! This was the first big one among the many waterfalls at El Tigre.

Not too far away from the popular tourist towns of Santa Elena and Monteverde, lies this magical place where you can spend a whole day immersed in nature, hiking on different trails for 5-8 km (3-5 miles) and seeing one pretty waterfall after another. If you like to combine a bit of physical activity with rewarding views presented by nature, add El Tigre waterfalls hike to your Costa Rica activities list and itinerary. In this post, we are going to share all the details so that you can plan this waterfall hike as part of your Monteverde trip.

This El Tigre Waterfalls post was last updated in March, 2024.

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Tour Options

El Tigre offers 2 different tour options, Full Package and The Big Hike. The first option includes hiking to visit all the waterfalls and then returning by horseback riding or 4X4, whereas the second option is only hike. Here is a comparative view of both the tours.

We chose to do “The Big Hike” which entailed hiking for 8 km (5 miles), and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The last part is only steep uphill, so if you want to avoid that, you can choose from the other alternatives.

El Tigre Waterfalls

At El Tigre, there are 4 large waterfalls and several smaller ones.

Waterfall 1

The most striking one of all the waterfalls is the first big waterfall. After hiking downhill for a while, you will arrive at a fork. There are clear signs here. The path on the right will lead you to a viewing platform from where you get to see the waterfall from a distance, whereas the left path will take you closer to the waterfall.

We spent a good amount of time at this viewing platform, taking in the breathtaking scenery, while the flying water droplets brushed our faces. Then we came back and took the stairs to go see the waterfall from up close.

While it is technically possible to enter the natural pool below the first waterfall, it is not recommended because of the force of the water. This waterfall is best admired from a distance. Remember to take one last glance of this waterfall when walking across the first of the many hanging bridges.

From left: (1) Pubali enjoying the view of the first waterfall, (2) the gorgeous first waterfall, (3) Indranil getting closer to the first waterfall.

Waterfall 2 & Waterfall 3

The second and the third waterfalls are not too far away from each other. These two do not have any dedicated viewing platform, neither can you get into their natural pools. You do not need to take any detour to visit these two waterfalls. You can get views of these right from the trail. For the third one, the front view is from a hanging bridge.

In comparison to the first and the fourth one, waterfall number 2 and waterfall number 3 are somewhat muted in grandeur. Yet, with the surrounding nature framing their white veils, the waterfalls are pretty sights to behold.

From left: Waterfall 2 and Waterfall 3

Waterfall 4

The fourth large waterfall is a big detour from the main trail. It is a steep uphill hike to get to the waterfall. But we would still recommend this detour. The waterfall is beautiful, with an adjacent thinner and wider waterfall, that falls like a curtain attempting to guard the rocks behind it.

We were told that you can get in the pool of this waterfall. If you do, beware of the rocks.

Standing near the edge of the pool, you can get an elevated view of the river below and the jungle extending as far as you can see.

El Tigre Hiking Trail

Although the waterfalls are the star attractions of El Tigre, the trail itself is wonderful. On your walk, you will be continuously accompanied by the sights and sounds of nature.

The trail starts with a continuous downhill with some tricky sections where small streams flow over the rocky surfaces. It is a long walk before arriving at the first waterfall, but since it is mostly downhill, you are not likely to get too tired. But it is a lot of pressure on the knees, so remember to take breaks along the way.

The first waterfall onwards, it is a combination of up and down. Occasionally, you will need to walk over flowing streams. So be careful and focus more on the landing than your speed.

On the trail, there are 10 hanging bridges that add to the mystic charm of the place. Unlike the hanging bridges of different adventure parks of Monteverde, these bridges are rustic. On most of the bridges, the maximum capacity is 1 person at a time!

If you want to grab a snack or a picnic lunch, the river bank near the second and third waterfalls can be a great choice. Remember to collect your trash.

If you do ‘The Big Hike’ and not the ‘Full Package’, the last part of your hike will involve walking uphill, and uphill only. For the climb up, as we gained more in elevation, views of farmlands and mountains gradually replaced the jungle views. At the time of our hike in the month of December, the weather was nice, not too warm, nor too cold, and a soft breeze swept the afternoon, making the uphill hike bearable.

From left: (1) Indranil on one of the hanging bridges, (2) A flowing river along the trail.

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Plan your trip: Check out our Monteverde travel guide for details about other activities, how to reach, best time to visit, where to stay and where to eat. Check out different Costa Rica itineraries here.

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El Tigre Safety Protocols

El Tigre Waterfalls are hidden in thick layers of forests, deep down in the mountain valleys, away from the main town. No wonder phone networks do not function here. In such a remote place, the tour is a self-guided hike! It sounds quite the adventure but also requires special attention to the safety measures.

The management has implemented various measures to ensure the safety of their guests. At the reception, the person registering your entry will show you the map and explain the entire trail. Remember to take a photo of the map. At select locations along the trail, there are yellow boxes containing emergency first-aid boxes and also walkie-talkies, in case you need to communicate with someone from the El Tigre property. We did not need to use any of these, but the how-to-use instructions were clearly explained to us at the beginning of the tour and are also written outside the yellow boxes.

How to Reach El Tigre Monteverde

The property of El Tigre Waterfalls is located about 10 km (6.2 miles) away from Santa Elena town. Google Maps may show you two different ways to reach there, via the route “Los Olivos” or via “Las Nubes”.

If you are in the planning phase of finalizing your Monteverde trip, read our guide on where to stay in Monteverde.

Self-Drive

It is recommended to take “Los Olivos” route. This road is mostly gravel or dirt, and winding through mountain villages. You do not need a 4X4 for this drive but we would recommend a high ground clearance car.

Although the road is not so good, the views are great. The drive takes about 30 minutes from town.

Here is the Google Maps location of El Tigre Waterfalls Monteverde.

Pickup offered by El Tigre

If you do not have your own vehicle or rental car, you can request a pickup/drop service from El Tigre for an added cost of 12 USD per person for a round trip. They offer 3 slots for pickup at 7.30 am, 9.30 am, and 11 am with corresponding drops at 12.30 pm, 2.30 pm, and 4 pm. The 11 am pick-up service is not offered during wet season months. Check in advance, the availability and plan accordingly.

Private Shuttle

You can also ask for a private shuttle in advance, for 60 USD for up to 4 people. Any additional person will cost 15 USD per person.

El Tigre: Important Information

• Parking: Free vehicle parking is available near the reception office.

• Restrooms: Restrooms are present at the main office, and along the trail, only at one place, that is after the fourth waterfall, near the horses stable.

• Restaurant: There is an onsite restaurant that serves delicious typical meals, coffee, and juice. The restaurant windows and balcony have beautiful views of the green mountains.

Tips for El Tigre Waterfalls Hike

It is always a good idea to prepare well for a hike. Here are some tips that will make your El Tigre Waterfalls hike a more enjoyable experience.

What to Wear

• Clothes: Wear breathable comfortable quick-dry clothes. Carry a light jacket for colder weather and a rain poncho for when it rains. We did El Tigre Waterfalls hike in December. When we started in the morning, it was so cold and windy that I could not think of taking the jacket off. As we hiked to a lower altitude, the jacket was no longer required. The quick-dry t-shirts (option for men & women) and pants sufficed. But at one point, it started raining so we had to bring out our rain poncho/ raincoat.

Click here to browse and buy unisex rain ponchos and quick-dry hiking shorts for men and women.

• Shoes: Wear hiking boots. Yes, you are going to the waterfalls but the trails are rough and steep, so you will need proper hiking shoes with good grip. Explore options here for hiking boots.

• Rain Boots: If you are doing this hike during the reason season, rent a pair of rain boots to tackle the muddy trails.

• Other essentials: Remember to apply two important things for any hike in Costa Rica – sunscreen and insect repellent.

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Check out this comprehensive Costa Rica packing list. It also includes a FREE checklist to assist you with the packing.

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What to Carry

• Walking Stick: You can rent a walking stick for free. I took one and it did aid me in providing support, particularly during the steep downhill walks.

• Dry Bag: This is the best for protecting all your belongings and photo equipment when chasing waterfalls and pursuing other activities. Check out the options for dry bags of different size/capacity, here and here.

• Water and Snacks: It is a long hike, so remember to carry water to keep yourself hydrated and some snacks in case you feel the need of energy intake during the hike.

• Breakfast/Lunch: If you purchased the “full package”, lunch will be included in your tour price. In case you are starting the hike in the morning, we highly recommend to buy breakfast from El Tigre’s restaurant. They do not have a set menu for breakfast, but when we asked, they said they could surely prepare for us. We were given two options, typical Costa Rican breakfast or a smaller breakfast of tortilla with an accompaniment. We chose the first option – it consisted of Gallo Pinto, Eggs, Cheese and Sausages. Everything was freshly prepared, tasted delicious and fueled us up well for the hike.

Final Thoughts

The combination of multiple gorgeous waterfalls, soothing greenery, rough rocky terrains and rustic hanging bridges at El Tigre create a magical atmosphere that you would never want to leave. After numerous trips to Monteverde, this waterfall hike is now among our top favorite activities in the area.

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Plan your Monteverde trip:

• Santa Elena Cloudforest Reserve
• Bajo del Tigre, Children’s Eternal Rainforest
• Birding at Curi-Cancha Reserve
• Hanging bridges of Monteverde
• Zip-lining in Monteverde
• Monteverde Night Walk
• Best Restaurants in Monteverde
• Monteverde Complete Guide

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Check out our travel guides to other wonderful waterfalls in Costa Rica:

• Rio Celeste Waterfall
• Oropendola Waterfall
• La Cangreja Waterfall
• La Fortuna Waterfall
• Rio Negro Waterfalls and Hot Springs
• Catarata Del Toro
• Nauyaca Waterfalls, Dominical
• Uvita Waterfall
• Montezuma Waterfalls, Nicoya
• La Paz Waterfall Gardens
• Cascada el Pavon, Ojochal

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