Costa Rica is a treasure trove of natural beauty. From cloud forests and rainforests to mountains and volcanoes, from beaches and rivers to waterfalls and hot springs, there are plenty of nature adventures to choose from. But, if the nature seeker in you gets thrilled chasing waterfalls, you could easily while away months in Costa Rica, exploring the scores of waterfalls scattered across the country.
As rich forests cover almost 60% of Costa Rica’s landmass, the waterfalls in Costa Rica remain enveloped in lush greenery and rugged terrains, making a visit to a waterfall an enjoyable and sometimes adventurous excursion.
In this article, we bring to you a compilation of gorgeous Costa Rica waterfalls, some being the poster children of Costa Rica tourism while others, you have probably never heard of. Read the highlights and the destination specific guides for each of the waterfalls, and choose your pick – which ones would you like to add to your Costa Rica itinerary?
Costa Rica Itinerary Ideas: A collection of different Costa Rica itineraries spanning over various lengths of days and covering a variety of different destinations and activities.
Costa Rica Activities: Check out this planning guide to get ideas about other activities in Costa Rica.
Nauyaca Waterfalls
With its grand upper waterfall and charming lower waterfall, Nauyaca Waterfalls are among the best waterfalls in Costa Rica.
- Location: Dominical
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Both
- Hike: Yes (Optional)
- Hike Level: Moderate
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Nauyaca Waterfalls
Rio Celeste Waterfall
Visit Rio Celeste waterfall to see a white waterfall tumble into to a bright sky blue colored pool.
- Location: Tenorio Volcano National Park
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Easy-Moderate (*includes stairs)
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Rio Celeste Waterfall
El Tigre Waterfalls
The 8km hike of El Tigre Waterfalls through rugged jungle trails and rustic hanging bridges will take you to 4 stunning waterfalls.
- Location: Monteverde
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Both
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Moderate-Difficult
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: Yes
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: El Tigre Waterfalls
Catarata del Toro
Del Toro waterfall drops 90 meters to pour into an extinct volcano crater in Costa Rica.
- Location: Bajos del Toro
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Moderate (*includes stairs)
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: Yes (Partial)
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Catarata del Toro
Catarata Rio Agrio
Visit Catarata Rio Agrio for an out of the world jungle setting with a real life Jurassic Park feel.
- Location: Bajos del Toro
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Easy
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: Yes
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Catarata Rio Agrio
Blue Falls
With stunning blue natural pools where the waterfalls drop, the Blue Falls are aptly named.
- Location: Bajos del Toro
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Easy
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: No
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Blue Falls
La Cangreja Waterfall
Part of the national park, La Cangreja waterfall is totally worth the 10 km round trip hike it requires to visit.
- Location: Rincon de la Vieja National Park
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Moderate-Difficult
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: La Cangreja Waterfall
Oropendola Waterfall
A short hiking trail and a swaying hanging bridge lead to the Oropendola waterfall and its emerald green natural pool.
- Location: Rincon de la Vieja
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Easy
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: No
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Oropendola Waterfall
La Fortuna Waterfall
A series of about 500 steps form the trail to La Fortuna waterfall, with views of the waterfall from various vantage points throughout the trail.
- Location: La Fortuna
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Easy (*includes 500 stairs)
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: Yes
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: La Fortuna Waterfall
Llanos de Cortes
An easy and short hike to a wide veil of a waterfall, framed beautifully by rocks and trees. Big natural pool for relaxing swim and plenty of shades for relaxation.
- Location: Bagaces
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Easy
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Llanos de Cortes
Montezuma Waterfalls
An adventurous hike, holding on to ropes and scrambling on rocks, will lead you to the series of Montezuma waterfalls, upper, middle and lower, with lower being the largest.
- Location: Montezuma
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Difficult
- Car Parking: Limited
- Restrooms: No
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Montezuma Waterfalls
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park
A private nature park, La Paz is home to five waterfalls, one of which is visible and accessible from outside the perimeters of the private park.
- Location: Dominical
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Easy (*include stairs)
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: Yes
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Uvita Waterfall
Uvita waterfall makes for a fun little adventure as you can walk to the cliff and slide down the waterfall!
- Location: Uvita
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes (Short Walk)
- Hike Level: Very easy
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: Yes
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Uvita Waterfall
Catarata Caldera
A fairly long hike and a short detour walking down tree-roots covered path, but Catarata Caldera is one of the prettiest waterfalls at Cloudbridge Nature Reserve.
- Location: Cloudbridge Nature Reserve
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Both
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Moderate
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: High car recommended
Travel Guide: Catarata Caldera
Catarata Cloudbridge
You cannot get near this waterfall, but the sight from the distance can be calming, as you sit on the bench and enjoy the views of Catarata Cloudbridge.
- Location: Cloudbridge Nature Reserve
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Both
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Moderate
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: High car recommended
Travel Guide: Catarata Cloudbridge
Cascada el Pavon
Cascada el Pavon falls over a strangely placed rock stuck permanently between two bigger rocks on the side.
- Location: Ojochal
- Entry Fees: No
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: No
- Hike Level: N/A
- Car Parking: Roadside
- Restrooms: No
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Cascada el Pavon
Savegre Waterfall
You can reach Savegre waterfall by hiking along jungle trails and riverside dirt paths, and walking on couple of rusty not-so-trustworthy hanging bridges.
- Location: San Gerardo de Dota
- Entry Fees: No
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Easy
- Car Parking: Roadside
- Restrooms: No
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: High car recommended
Travel Guide: Savegre Waterfall
The Waterfall of Ojochal
The Waterfall of Ojochal is a backyard garden waterfall of a family house in Ojochal, but for a small entrance fee, you can enjoy this part of their home.
- Location: Ojochal
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes (Short walk)
- Hike Level: Very easy
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: The Waterfall of Ojochal
Rio Negro Waterfalls
A series of 4 waterfalls, add a side trip to Rio Negro waterfalls when visiting the Rio Negro hot springs in Rincon de la Vieja.
- Location: Rincon de la Vieja
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Both
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Easy
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Rio Negro Waterfalls
Rincon de la Vieja Waterfall
As the name suggests the Seasonal Waterfall in Rincon de la Vieja National Park is seasonal, but when not dry, it flows in its full glory forming a picture perfect scenery.
- Location: Rincon de la Vieja National Park
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Self-guided
- Hike: Yes
- Hike Level: Easy
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: Available
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Rincon de la Vieja Waterfall
Las Chorreras Waterfalls
Twin falls that drop to a mineral rich pool, Las Chorreras is an easy walk from the Hacienda Guachipelin hotel.
- Location: Rincon de la Vieja
- Entry Fees: Yes
- Guided or self-guided: Both
- Hike: Yes (Short walk)
- Hike Level: Very easy
- Car Parking: Available
- Restrooms: No
- Restaurant: No
- 4X4 Needed to Reach: No
Travel Guide: Los Chorreras Waterfalls
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