8 Stunning Costa Rica Waterfalls That You Can Swim In (2024)
Are you looking for breathtaking Costa Rica waterfalls you can swim in? You’ve come to the right article.
I spent over a week in Costa Rica, chasing waterfalls in every region I visited. But, certain waterfalls, like the famous Rio Celeste, aren’t open to the public for swimming. This is in effort to preserve its natural beauty, while others are closed for safety.
I’ve compiled a list of the 8 best waterfalls in Costa Rica that you can swim in safely. For your convenience, I’ve included a map pinning all of the waterfalls at the end of the article.
Ready to discover some of Costa Rica’s most spectacular waterfalls? Let’s dive in!
1. La Fortuna Waterfall
The La Fortuna waterfall is a spectacular 246 foot waterfall that flows into a teal blue natural pool. It’s the most popular Costa Rica waterfall, and it’s open to the public for swimming.
There’s a wheelchair accessible viewpoint of the waterfall at the top, and over 400 stairs leading down to the natural pool. The pool’s small and it has cold water, but I saw many people getting into the water.
Entrance to the waterfall is $20 USD/person. Just remember to wear water shoes if you plan on swimming, as there’s large rocks surrounding the pool. I recommend visiting this waterfall as early as possible in the morning, to enjoy it away from crowds.
2. Nauyaca Waterfalls
The Nauyaca Waterfalls are a beautiful tiered waterfall with a large natural pool in Dominical, around an hour south of Manuel Antonio. These waterfalls are accessible by a 5 mile round trip hike (8km) from the main entrance.
The hike is long but relatively easy, and takes around 2-3 hours in total. The waterfall has a large natural pool that you can swim in, and restrooms in case you need to change into your swimsuit.
I visited during the rainy season so the water was murkier than usual, but it was still incredibly beautiful.
Entrance for the hike is $10 USD/person, and $5 USD for parking. If you’d rather skip the hike, they offer 4×4, horseback riding, and trolley tours to the waterfall as well.
3. Blue Falls of Costa Rica
The Blue Falls of Costa Rica are seven turquoise blue waterfalls and pools that you can swim in, located in Bajos Del Toro. They have the same bright blue water as Rio Celeste, but you can actually swim in them!
While driving to La Fortuna, I made a detour to see the Catarata del Toro waterfall, which is located at the same entrance to the Blue Falls.
All of these waterfalls are nestled in the rainforest so they require a hike to get to. It will take around 2-3 hours to visit all seven of the waterfalls and swimming pools.
When I visited, the staff was super friendly and let me borrow an umbrella for the hike, so I highly recommend hiking to one of the waterfalls. Entrance to the Blue Falls is $17 USD/person, or $25 USD/person to see Catarata del Toro and the Blue Falls.
4. Llanos de Cortez Waterfall
The Llanos de Cortez is a stunning 90 foot waterfall with a natural pool located in Guanacaste, around a half hour south of Liberia. This waterfall has a large parking lot, and is accessible by a short hike down a set of stairs.
Entrance to the waterfall is $7/USD per person, which includes parking at their lot. It’s best to visit this waterfall early in the morning if you want to enjoy it away from crowds.
5. La Leona Waterfall
The La Leona waterfall is a gorgeous bright blue waterfall in Guanacaste, 20 minutes north of Liberia. This waterfall is tucked inside of a canyon, and only accessible by guided hiking tour. The hike is 3 miles roundtrip, and requires you to climb ladders, and swim using a rope to get to the waterfall.
The turquoise blue waters contrasted with the canyon walls make this one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica. Guided group tours to the waterfall cost $35 USD/person, or $45 USD/person for private tours.
6. Montezuma Falls
The Montezuma waterfalls are a set of 3 cascading waterfalls located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. These are one of the only free waterfalls in Costa Rica, and you just have to pay $4 USD for parking to visit.
To get to the lower waterfall, you can hike the Riverbed Trail (1.2 miles roundtrip). This is a short hike that requires you to cross over the river, so make sure to wear water shoes for the hike.
From the lower fall, you can also hike to the middle and upper fall, but it’s not as straightforward. There are guides here that can help you hike to the two other waterfalls for around $4 USD.
7. Oropendola Waterfall
The Oropendola Waterfall is a beautiful 82 foot teal blue waterfall located near Rincon de la Vieja national park. The waterfall is owned by Hotel Guachipelin, and the entrance is right in front of the national park.
They charge an entrance fee of $20 USD/person for the hike, and then you’re allotted an hour to swim and relax at the waterfall. It’s a short 15 minute hike each way, and there’s a hanging bridge right as you approach the waterfall.
8. Catarata Los Murciélagos (Monteverde Waterfall)
Catarata Los Murciélagos is a beautiful, lesser known cascading waterfall in Monteverde. Entrance is $7 USD/person, and there’s over 100 steps to get down to the waterfall.
Once you get down to the waterfall, you can take a dip in the cool waters. This waterfall was closed when I visited during the rainy season, so make sure to check their website beforehand to ensure they’re open.
Other Natural Swimming Holes In Costa Rica
El Salto (Rope Swing)
El Salto is a free natural swimming hole in La Fortuna located underneath a bridge. It doesn’t have a waterfall, but it has cascading streams that pool into a large natural basin that you can swim in.
It has a rope swing you can use to get into the water, and when it hasn’t been raining, it has nice turquoise blue water.
To get here, you’ll park on the street in front of the bridge, and it’s a short hike down to the pool. Parking is around $2-$4 USD depending on how busy it is.
El Choyin (Free Natural Hot Spring)
El Choyin is a free natural hot spring in La Fortuna, located adjacent to the Tabacon resort. It’s located underneath a bridge, and it has warm waters heated by the Arenal Volcano.
This is a nice place to visit when it’s not crowded, but it doesn’t have the best parking situation. There’s parking attendants that will charge you anywhere from 2,000-4,000 colones ($4-$8 USD) to park by the bridge.
Additionally, people have experienced car break-ins in this area. If you plan on visiting, I highly recommend taking an Uber/Taxi to get there.
Rio Negro Hot Springs
The Rio Negro Hot Springs are 10 natural hot springs and a volcanic mud bath, located near Rincon de la Vieja national park.
They’re owned by Hotel Guachipelin, who charges an entrance fee of $30 USD/person to access the hot springs for 1.5 hours. They also offer combination access to the Oropendola waterfall and Rio Negro hot springs, with lunch included for $55 USD/person.
Swimmable Costa Rica Waterfalls Map
Costa Rica Waterfalls FAQs
What should you wear on a waterfall hike?
For a waterfall hike in Costa Rica, it’s best to wear sunscreen, bug spray, and water shoes.
When’s the best time to swim in the waterfalls?
If you want to swim in any of the waterfalls, I recommend visiting them as soon as they open in the morning. This is when the weather’s nicest, and it will allow you to enjoy them away from crowds.
Are there any free Costa Rica waterfalls that you can swim in?
Montezuma Waterfall is one of the only free waterfalls you can swim in, besides the $4 parking fee.
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