MUST See Waterfalls in Guanacaste, Costa Rica 2024
The waterfalls in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, are simply outstanding.
This small yet mighty Central American country offers some of the most unfettered tropical geographies in the world. Its mountains are covered in protected rainforests full of rivers, streams, waterfalls, volcanoes, and wildlife galore.
Guanacaste is a northwestern province of Costa Rica. It is one of the most sought-after destinations for its wealth of rainforests, waterfalls, beaches, and volcanoes.
We spent a few weeks riding our motorcycles through Costa Rica on our way down the Pan-American highway to Panama.
Costa Rica was gorgeous, and the local people are some of the friendliest, most helpful people we have met.
Pura Vida! ✨
Beautiful Waterfalls in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
The following list of waterfalls in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, offers the most beautiful destinations to fill your itinerary.
And make your visit to Costa Rica memorable!
La Paz Waterfall
Located in the middle of Costa Rica, a quick drive from the capital city of San Jose, is the La Paz Waterfall.
A 37-meter-tall waterfall stemming from the La Paz river that runs through lush rainforest.
La Paz Waterfall has numerous easy hiking trails. As well as a path that leads you behind the beautiful waterfall where you’ll catch glimpses of the remnants of a shrine.
Downstream, La Paz river snakes around the famous Volcan Poas.
La Paz Waterfall is a wonderful day trip. You can even get a special opportunity for a day tour of the area.
Try to get a tour like this one that includes 3 unique Costa Rican experiences for the price of one!
This day tour takes you on an adventure to see the natural beauty of the Poás Volcano. Located in the Poás Volcano national park, enjoy setting your sights on one of the largest craters in the world.
You will also get to experience a unique and cultural coffee tour of the largest coffee plantation in Costa Rica! Known as the Hacienda Doka estate. Which is located on the slopes of the volcano!
Finally, you will end the tour with La Paz Waterfall Gardens Natural Park. It has the largest animal sanctuary in Costa Rica and some of the best Costa Rica waterfalls.
See 5 spectacular waterfalls while you enjoy watching some of the most interesting, unique wildlife in the area.
➞ Interested in staying for the weekend?
📍Check out La Paz Waterfall Gardens: The Peace Lodge
This hotel and eco-resort is just upstream from the waterfall, where you can observe all kinds of wildlife. Including countless bird species, spider monkeys, and more.
Volio Waterfall
Volio Waterfall is a local favorite. It’s a hidden gem for tourists located in the province of Limon, right outside of the town of Bribri.
These waterfalls fall over black mossy rocks into various pools of water that offer gentle swimming holes.
The hike is quite treacherous, and there have been reports of robberies. So the safest way to visit this waterfall is with a guided tour.
Knowledgeable tour guides will help you navigate the slippery rocky route. Plus, they won’t rip you off with unnecessary parking and guide fees.
This tour offers a unique opportunity for a cultural experience and to swim in the pools below gorgeous waterfalls.
You also get the added bonus of meeting an Indigenous family and learning about their culture.
Then you’ll have a great time making and trying real cocoa during the included chocolate tour. In which you actually make real, pure chocolate by hand!
La Fortuna Waterfall
Arguably the most stunning waterfall in Costa Rica. La Fortuna Waterfall is a 70-meter waterfall inside a protected biological reserve inside Arenal Volcano National Park.
The reserve encompasses hundreds of acres of wet tropical rainforest. And luxurious hot springs heated by La Fortuna’s biggest claim to fame, Volcan Arenal.
La Fortuna is the province directly east of Guanacaste at over 500 meters above sea level. The easy hike to La Fortuna Waterfall is very accessible.
It is full of lush tropical greenery and plenty of wildlife sightings. Once at the falls, you can swim in the deep, turquoise pool.
This beautiful pool feeds into the crystalline waters of La Fortuna river.
If you are looking for adventure, combine 3 awesome activities into a full day with the La Fortuna Waterfall Tour.
On this full-day Costa Rica adventure tour, you will hike to Arenal Volcano, visit the iconic Hanging Bridges, and explore La Fortuna Waterfall.
Combining 3 adventures into one gives you a fantastic experience well worth your money! Plus, it includes a free lunch.
Victoria Waterfall
Victoria Waterfall is a spectacular 35-meter waterfall inside Guanacaste’s Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
To get to Victoria Waterfalls, you must park and pay an entrance fee at the
📍Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin.
From the hacienda, it is a 2.5 km hike through the lush canyon along the Black River, or Rio Negro to get to Victoria Waterfall.
The national park has guided tours and horseback riding tours to get to Victoria Falls. Many guided packages include a visit to another set of falls called Chorreras, which is only a 1.5 km hike.
Both waterfalls have deep, turquoise-blue pools at the bottom for you to take a refreshing swim.
Oropendola Waterfall
Located inside Guanacaste’s Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Oropendola Waterfall is a 30-meter-tall waterfall.
It’s a fun 1 km hike over a hanging bridge with stunning views of the river gorge below.
It has a surrounding rainforest canopy, and you can hear the rushing water of Oropendola Waterfall straight ahead.
After paying the entrance fee at the Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, you can park your vehicle and begin the quick hike over the bridge.
☀️ During the dry season, the natural pool under the waterfall is turquoise and perfect for swimming. This is the best time to explore some of the most popular waterfalls.
🌧️ During the rainy season, the water is darker and may be too turbulent for swimming.
At the end of your hike and swim, you can head back to Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin for a delicious buffet lunch.
La Leona Waterfall
Another key attraction of Guanacaste’s most treasured national park, Rincon de la Vieja, La Leona Waterfall is located close to the la Vieja Volcano.
A popular day activity is to take a guided hike through the dry tropical rainforest, following the Blanco river that stems from the volcano.
The trail is a 4km round trip hike, but it is challenging. It usually takes around 3 hours to complete.
You’ll get to climb ladders, hop over streams, wade through turquoise rushing rivers, and finally scale up a rock wall with the help of a rope to reach a rock cave.
This stunning waterfall is one of the more exciting waterfalls that any adventurous traveler will love.
You’ll need to wear good hiking shoes and bring along a pair of water shoes to wade upstream through rushing water.
Rio Celeste Waterfall
Located inside the gorgeous Tenorio Volcano National Park, Rio Celeste Waterfall is one of Costa Rica’s most famous waterfalls.
It’s the most beautiful waterfall in Guanacaste due to the electric blue waters in the underlying natural pool. The only other time I have seen waters as blue as this in my life was at Gruatas de Tolantongo in Mexico!
Rio Celeste translates to “celestial river”, referring to the stunning blue waters. These waters result from a reaction of chemicals bestowed by volcanic rock and the convergence of two rivers.
Within Tenorio Volcano National Park, there are numerous well-maintained trails for day hikes, including the one to this beautiful waterfall.
Rio Celeste is a moderate 6 km hike that winds its way through lagoons, lookout points, and luxurious hot springs fed by Volcan Arenal.
So you’ll have plenty of opportunities to swim and enjoy a picturesque picnic.
Llanos de Cortes Waterfall
Perhaps one of the best waterfalls in Guanacaste, Llanos de Cortez Waterfall is a 20-meter tall waterfall over a wide stretch of moss-covered rocks.
Llanos de Cortez is a very easy waterfall to access, located in the town of Bagaces, and is a quick 10-minute walk from the parking lot.
Llanos de Cortez is surrounded by tropical dry forests. The wide waterfall has multiple waterfall streams flowing over the rocks into a large pool of cool dark water perfect for swimming.
The entrance fee is minimal, the parking is free, and there are local guides who will give you a guided tour to the top of the waterfall for a stunning view.
La Cangreja Waterfall
Nestled deep into the rainforest of Rincon de la Vieja National Park, La Cangreja Waterfall is a glorious waterfall in a remote location that requires a long 10 km hike both ways.
The long trek is rewarding, taking you through open highlands, shady green forests, and wooden bridges over rushing streams. Plus a few incredible lookout points before descending to the falls themselves.
La Cangreja is a 40-meter high fall surrounded by boulders with a stunning turquoise pool illuminated by sunlight.
La Cangreja’s many boulders offer the perfect spot to rest your legs and enjoy the most picturesque picnic of your life!
Belen Waterfall
Considered a hidden gem in Guanacaste, Belen Waterfall is a 20-minute drive from the small beach town of Salamara.
You can trade white sandy beaches for waterfalls in less than an hour with this set of waterfalls surrounded by natural pools.
Belen Waterfall is one of the best-kept secrets in Guanacaste, so you’re likely to have the place to yourself during the weeks.
The pools are cool and refreshing. However, during the rainy season, currents are strong. You should proceed with caution as there are no lifeguards.
These waterfalls are wide and multi-leveled. From the parking area, it’s only a five-minute walk to the falls.
Viento Fresco Waterfall
Located halfway between La Fortuna and Monteverde rainforest, Viento Fresco Waterfalls are an 11 km drive from the small town of Tilaran.
Viento Fresco Waterfalls comprise four different waterfalls along a navigable yet rustic hiking trail. There’s a 17-dollar entrance fee that you pay at the entrance to the hiking trail.
The hike leads you down steps to the first waterfall, known as Serena River Waterfall, with a 31-meter drop into a cold swimming pool.
After another descent through clearings offering spectacular lookout points, you’ll come to the next waterfall called Hidden Waterfall. These falls slip into two small caves at the base.
The third waterfall is a 75-meter-long, picturesque waterfall called Rainbow waterfall with changing rooms for shedding your hiking clothes and getting into a bathing suit.
After yet another walk down the trail, the hike ends at Slide Waterfall, a 95-meter-long waterfall that flows down a mountain face into wading pools.
While the hike on the way down is easy, the hike back up to your car is challenging, especially after you’ve spent the past two or three hours swimming and hopping around the four waterfalls.
Nauyaca Waterfalls
The best waterfall for swimming, Nauyaca Waterfalls is a stunning two-level waterfall along scraggly rocks covered in moss and surrounded by lush rainforest.
The first fall is a 45-meter drop into small natural pools that feed the longer, wider drop of 65 meters. The multi-level waterfall culminates in a massive, 6-meter-deep natural pool.
If you’re tired of wading in waist-deep water, you’ll love this swimmable waterfall.
This spectacular waterfall and swimming hole are in the southern province of Limon. It’s quite the hike, located on private property. There are some fantastic tours and guides to see these waterfalls.
If you want to trek on foot, it’ll take you about 3 hours one way. Luckily, there are horseback riding tours available.
Whether on foot or horseback, you’ll experience a tropical oasis at every turn, with lush rainforest full of colorful wildflowers and wildlife.
Frequently Asked Questions
After reading about all the best waterfalls in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, you might have some lingering questions.
I will cover the answers to some of the most common questions below.
What is the most beautiful waterfall in Costa Rica?
While all the waterfalls are beautiful, the most beautiful waterfall in Costa Rica is Llanos de Cortes due to its unique, wide shape and curtained water flow.
Rio Celeste comes in a close second due to the immaculate color of the underlying river.
Luckily, you can book a tour with a local guide to see both Llanos de Cortes and Rio Celeste waterfalls, as well as a Sloth Sanctuary, all in one day!
Is La Fortuna Waterfall worth it?
La Fortuna Waterfall is completely worth it.
Not only is it one of the tallest and most impressive waterfalls, but it’s inside one of the most stunning tropical oases in the world.
Plus, you can also hike to Volcan Arenal and soak in the surrounding hot springs.
Which waterfalls can you swim in in Costa Rica?
You can swim in all the natural pools underlying the waterfalls in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
However, the safety of swimming depends on the season you visit. During the rainy season, swimming is more treacherous due to higher water levels and currents.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking for a challenging hike, a family-friendly stroll, or an unforgettable waterfall tour, you’ll find the perfect way to make the most of your time.
And have the best adventures exploring natural hot springs and the most beautiful of Costa Rica’s waterfalls.
Climbing over large rocks to experience the blue water at some best places in Centeral America is an experience you will never forget.
Bookmark this guide to come back to it when planning your visit to the most beautiful waterfalls in Guanacaste, Costa Rica!
Happy Travels, my friends.