The roots protruding out of the soil have created natural stairs. We knew that the destination was near, as we could hear the river flowing below somewhere, hidden by the trees along the path. Few minutes and some difficult descent later, we reached the river guarded by huge boulders. Peeking from behind the rock was the La Cangreja Waterfall, another stunning waterfall in/near the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Guanacaste. Below the La Cangreja waterfall, was a deep turquoise pool gleaming in the morning sun.
The hike was moderate-difficult with several uphill and downhill climbs. However, the constantly changing terrains of the path, the wildlife and expectations of the rewarding view at the end, kept us going.
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Plan Your Rincon de la Vieja Trip:
- Best hotel to stay near Rincon de la Vieja National Park: Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin
- Most convenient way of getting around in Costa Rica: Rent a car
- Must-have things on your Costa Rica packing list: Reef Safe Sunscreen, Insect Repellent and Rain Poncho
Insider Tip: Please bring sunscreen and insect repellent from your home country. The options for these products in Costa Rica are limited, and the prices can be shocking. We have seen far too many people, including ourselves, raise brows at sunscreen prices here.
Rincon de la Vieja is a recommended destination on our Costa Rica 10-Day Itinerary from Liberia.
How to Reach La Cangreja Waterfall
The La Cangreja waterfall is located inside the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. It takes a 10 km hike both way to reach the waterfall through the forests with changing terrain and vegetation.
The Rincon de la Vieja National Park is around 25 km /15.5 miles drive from Liberia. As you drive on the Ruta 1 towards north, after around 4 km you will find signboards of Rincon de la Vieja on the right. Take the right and stay on the road until you reach the parking lot of the national park. There are ample signs on the way.
You will find a closed gate on the way to the national park. This entry and the access road is owned by the Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. You will need to pay 800 CRC for going farther on the road unless you are staying in the hotel. In that case, this entrance fee is waived off.
You will pass through farms, forests and industrial sections used by ICE before the road ends at the Rincon de la Vieja National Park entrance.
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Related Reading: Best Waterfalls in Costa Rica
Entrance Information and Booking
Where to Buy Tickets
You need to purchase your Rincon de la Vieja National Park entrance tickets online in advance. Register a new account on the SINAC portal so that you can use the same for booking tickets of other national parks in Costa Rica.
There are maps provided at the entrance. A guide will help you understand the map and provide information about the trails.
Entry Fees
The entry fees to Rincon de la Vieja National Park vary by international tourists and Costa Rican nationals.
For Foreign Nationals:
- Adults: $16.95
- Children (2-12 years): $ 5.65
For Costa Rican Citizens and Residents:
- Adults: 1130 CRC
- Children and Students: 565 CRC
The entry fees include taxes.
Visit Timings
The park is open between Tuesdays and Sundays, 8am to 3 pm. It is closed on Mondays.
For hiking the trail to the La Cangreja Waterfall, you will only be allowed if you start by 12:00 noon. Otherwise the path is blocked for entrance post that time.
Parking
There is ample parking available near the entrance. Parking is included in the entrance fee.
Related Reading: Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
La Cangreja Waterfall Trail
The trail to the La Cangreja waterfall begins near the entrance area. You will see the sign to the waterfall on your left on a field which looks like a farmland, but the forest starts soon after.
Based on type of forests, elevation gains and losses and views, we can divide the hike into 3 parts.
The Rainforest, Dead Trees and Rivers
The first 2 km / 1.2 miles of the hike is through rainforests. There are ample shades and the typical rainforest vegetation keeps this area cool. The Rio Blanco flows through this part and there are couple of scenic river bridges to be crossed.
There are several uphills and downhills around the river bridges. However, it is mostly easy or moderate except couple of places when the hike can be bit steep.
This area is also home to tropical trees and wildlife. We came across a gang of capuchins on the way. You will find the thick-rooted trees and the odd aerial roots creating some natural arts.
The Open Highlands
As you reach half away through the trail, the vegetation changes and the trees are shorter, probably due to the effect of the volcanic activity in the area.
The path turns relatively flat in this stretch. So the hike is easier and faster. There are multiple open areas with tall grasslands and distant views of the ocean.
There are cactus plants at the beginning of this stretch, which looks as if someone has created a garden. We found couple of motmots perched on the low branches and several birds hopping around nervously as we walked passed them.
The flat tracks and the scenic views is a breather in this long hike.
Mirador La Bajura
Towards the end of the open area, there is a mirador or view point. The Mirador La Bajura is a place to take a short break and appreciate the canopy of the forest and the rolling hills disappearing in the ocean.
The Descent
The last part of the journey is a steep descent. The roots of the trees entangle to create good grip for the shoes.
You will hear the sounds of the mighty river as you start descending. A careful hike through the narrow trail takes you to the river.
La Cangreja Waterfall
The final access to the waterfall is through couple of huge rocks. The upper portion of the waterfall gets visible as you reach the river.
The Waterfall
As you climb the rock and the La Cangreja Waterfall reveals itself in its full glory, it seems that the nature has assembled the right pieces of trees, rocks, pool and the river to create this view.
There is a lone tree created an amazing foreground for the waterfall, lying in between the view point and the waterfall.
The Blue Pool
The 40 m / 130 feet highLa Cangreja plunges into a wide turquoise pool. The day we hiked, it was bright sunny when we reached the waterfall. The pool glowed in the sunlight and the clear water was inviting for a swim. However, the rules do not allow it and hence, you cannot go across the pool to the other banks of the river.
The River
The small lookout area has some flat rocks to sit, relax and watch the water flow tirelessly into the pool and mix with the river, flowing through the forest and creating cascades on the way.
What to Carry for La Cangreja Hike?
Here are few things to keep in mind while hiking the La Cangreja waterfall trail:
- Swimming is not allowed.
- There is no restroom on the trail or near the waterfall. There is one at the entrance.
- Carry raincoat or rain poncho as it can rain anytime in Costa Rica.
- Bring water to keep yourself hydrated during the long hike, particularly in dry season.
- Carry snacks or packed lunch. Remember, it is a 10 km hike!
- Wear hiking shoes with good grip.
- Apply insect repellent and sunscreen.
Read our Costa Rica packing guide. You will find a FREE checklist at the end.
Final Thoughts on La Cangreja Waterfall
The Las Pailas sector of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park is a place to immerse yourself in its diverse nature. While the most popular trail, Las Pailas, is great for exploring the secondary volcanic activities, the La Cangreja trail is rewarding for its amazing views along the trail, the shining white waterfall and the shimmering blue natural pool. Plan in advance to make the most of this moderate level hike to the waterfall.
Chasing Waterfalls in Central America? Check these out.
In Costa Rica
- Rio Celeste Waterfall
- Oropendola Warerfall
- 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
- Catarata La Fortuna
- Llanos del Cortes Waterfall
- El Tigre Waterfalls in Monteverde
In El Salvador
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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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