14 Costa Rica Waterfall Tours to Book This Year

1.Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 609 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $20Our pick

Visit La Fortuna Waterfall at your own pace with a $20 admission ticket. Walk roughly 500 steps through the Río Fortuna Ecological Reserve to a 70-meter cascade, swim when conditions allow, and use rest areas, viewpoints, changing rooms, parking, and accessible facilities near the entrance. No guide or transportation is included.

“Straightforward pre-purchasing of a mandatory ticket though there was no line when we went. Waterfall was beautiful but understandably closed for swimming due to heavy rain.”

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2.Skip the Line:Day Ticket-La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park & Wildlife Refuge

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 226 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $63

Visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens at your own pace with admission covering five waterfalls, rainforest and cloud forest trails, orchids, birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, monkeys, snakes, and rescued wild cats. Allow at least two hours, though four to five hours suits a slower visit. Transport and meals are not included.

“Do not miss this, if you come to Costa Rica. The most amazing waterfalls, beautiful but lots of steps down and up.”

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3.Hike 10 waterfalls in Jaco lunch included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 136 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $55Top rated

At Finca Los Solís near Jaco, you hike, wade, swim, and use ropes to reach about 10 waterfalls and natural pools. Guides such as Jorge, Dustin, Marwin, and Coco lead the route, explain local plants and wildlife, and help on steep sections. A typical Costa Rican lunch, fruit, water, parking, showers, and a dry bag are included.

“This was not an easy walk in the jungle. The pace was brisk and steeply uphill. You need to be able to swim and be able to pull yourself up slippery rocks with a well worn knotted rope. But the waterfalls, pools and scenery were great and well worth it”

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4.Arenal Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 127 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $94

Ride a calm horse through reforested land and private farms near La Fortuna, then hike to La Fortuna Waterfall for photos or a swim. Guides such as Otto, Kevin, Danny, Pablo, Paz, Carlos, and Crystal have earned praise for friendly support, but the steep stair hike requires good fitness.

“Just beware, the hike is rigorous! You don’t ride the horses to the waterfall, there is a hike down and up. That being said, it was a wonderful experience. Our guide Carlos was pleasant company, had interesting and informative things to say about things alingbthe way. Our group was small. The horses are typical service animals, not flashy or pet like. Carlosntreated them with kindness which made us feel good. The waterfall (Fortuna) and swim refreshed and invigorated us while also amazing us. Worth the price and a good day.”

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5.Poas Volcano waterfalls and coffee tour from from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 108 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $149

Travel from San José to Poás Volcano, Hacienda Alsacia, La Paz Waterfall, and a family coffee farm near San Miguel. Guides such as Carlos, Ricardo, Charlie, and Johnny lead the day, which includes lunch, transport, coffee processing, and two waterfall stops. Expect about 8 to 10 hours, with weather shaping the volcano views.

“The entire day was amazing. Carlos was a phenomenal tour guide. His English was excellent! The only thing that wasn't great was the ride back down the mountain in the winding roads..no fault of the tour or tour guide, just the lay of the land. The tour mentioned it included bottled water, but it didn't so bring your own.”

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6.Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 106 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $79

From Tamarindo, you’ll hike beside the blue Rio Blanco through pools, caves, ropes, and rocky river crossings to La Leona Waterfall. The final approach includes a short swim, with life jackets supplied. Guides such as Jason, Steven, Dylan, and Noel are praised for patience and local insight. Lunch, drinks, park fees, and transport are included.

“This is a must do excursion! This travel group was awesome! We ended up having a private tour with Jason. He is a younger guy that knew a lot about the area. He was a pleasure to hike with, and the area is absolutely beautiful! We went in June which is the beginning of the rainy season so it was not super busy. Jason says sometimes in the hotter months there can be lines to get up to the waterfall. We thankfully didn’t have to wait and got to spend time enjoying the waterfall with just a few others in another group. The hike does involve climbing over large boulders,…”

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7.La Leona Waterfall Hike and River Tubing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $90

Spend 4 to 5 hours near Rincón de la Vieja hiking through forest and river channels to La Leona Waterfall, then tubing through scenic canyons. Guides such as Ronnie, Victor, Diego, Brandy, and Ponchino handle safety, ropes, ladders, and river sections. Expect a moderate workout, wet clothes, and no included food.

“Beauti nature! Alejandro was an excellent guide for our family. Learned a lot. No animals in the afternoon tour. Hike to the fall is not hard. Tubing is very safe. Water refreshing. The guides will help you if you need it.”

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8.5 Hour Off-Road ATV+ Zipline+ Waterfall Rappelling+ Tractor Jungle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $160

At The Park at Ocean Ranch near Jaco, you’ll combine muddy ATV trails, a 180-foot waterfall rappel, and more than 2,000 meters of zip line. Guides such as Jesus, Carlos, Alonso, and Danny are known for clear safety help and good humor. The five-hour outing includes equipment, refreshments, and some hotel transfers.

“Amazing crew, very safe and professional, we had amazing time…. Much recomended, the place is beautiful”

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9.ATV + Zipline + Waterfall + Rainforest Lunch COMBO

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $179

Spend about six hours near Jaco combining 10 zip lines, a four-hour ATV ride, a rainforest waterfall, and lunch at a mountain tilapia farm. Guides such as Marco, Emmanuel, Diego, and Alonzo lead the ATV portion, while the canopy team handles the zipline course. Expect mud, mountain views, swimming, and a required $1,000 credit-card hold for ATV rentals.

“The only complaint I have is the 1000$ deposit for the ATVs were never mentioned until we arrived on site, and at that moment we had already budgeted our money for the trip, so it was disappointing that we couldn’t drive our own ATVs one of the workers had to drive us, other than that the lunch was amazing and the zip lining of course was great. In the future when booking the Adventure Tours company should put in writing that there is a 1000$ deposit for the ATVs that way people who are traveling from afar is aware.”

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10.Coffee & Chocolate Tour+Sloths Park & Llanos de Cortez Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $210

Leave Tamarindo at 6:30 am for a private day with your driver-guide. Walk the rainforest at Spring Paradise, spot sloths and frogs, make coffee and chocolate in Bijagua, swim at Llanos de Cortez Waterfall, and enjoy a Costa Rican lunch with a butterfly garden at El Sabor de Doña Carmen.

“This was an absolutely incredible tour! Exotic animals, coffee, chocolate making, authentic Costa Rican food, butterflies, an a beautiful waterfall! Francisco was the best tour guide we’ve ever had. He was respectful, made us feel comfortable, was very accommodating, cheerful, friendly, and had a positive, bright presence. He was so knowledgeable to all of our hundreds of questions we asked about costs rica and made sure we were doing good at all times. He helped us with practicing Spanish, we had some laughs, and we shared music. For the animal tour we saw so much in just two hours! Toucans, sloths, exotic frogs, and even a blue monarch butterfly that…”

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11.Ebano Waterfalls and Rainforest Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $85

Join César or Juan Carlos at Hacienda Ébano near Quepos for a four-hour rainforest outing. The 1.6-kilometer trail crosses streams and bridges before reaching twin waterfalls, with pools for swimming and a possible 8-meter jump. Small groups, wildlife spotting, and local insight make this a good choice for active families and nature lovers.

“Caesar and his family did a wonderful job showing us the various things of interest in the forest. The waterfalls were wonderful and swimming in them was great.”

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12.3-in-1 Monteverde Cloud Forest Waterfalls, Wild Trekking and Horseback Riding

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 56 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $116

Spend about five hours hiking from a mountain ridge through Monteverde forest, crossing rustic bridges and visiting four large waterfalls. If weather allows, swim in the river before riding horseback for about 35 minutes uphill. A typical Costa Rican lunch, snacks, hotel transfers, and a driver are included. Miguel is one of the guides associated with the horseback ride.

“Our favorite tour in Costa Rica!!! Since my friend and I decided to not go to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, we found this tour. We were picked up from our lodging in Monteverde in a shared a shuttle. The hike was amazing! So many waterfalls and also the hanging bridges were very scenic. It was not too crowded. We were able to explore on our own pace (the hike is not done with a guide). The trails are well maintained. Riding horses at the end of the hike was really fun! The horses are well trained and seem to be well taken care of. The lunch was delightful and was…”

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13.Poas Volcano + Coffee tour + Waterfall tour day from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 10 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $149

Travel from San Jose to Poas Volcano, then visit a Costa Rican coffee farm’s nursery, wet mill, drying patio, and roaster. You’ll see coffee production from plant to cup, enjoy lunch, and may visit a waterfall, though the waterfall stop needs confirming. Hotel transport, park fees, lunch, and bottled water are included.

“You get just enough time at the volcano and waterfall! The coffee tour was pretty cool, and the guide there was very informative.”

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14.Poas Volcano + Coffee Plantations & La Paz Waterfall Gardens Trip from San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 50 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $199

Travel from San Jose to Doka Coffee Estate, Poas Volcano, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens in about 11 hours. Expect breakfast, buffet lunch, hotel transfers, and a bilingual guide such as Edgar, Daniel, or Oscar. The waterfall trails involve many stairs, and Poas views depend on weather.

“This was a phenomenal tour!!! The sights are worth the lifetime of memories. It involves walking, climbing, hiking so it isn’t for the faint of heart, someone with weak knees or wheelchair bound persons. The meals included were tasty, plentiful and hardy for the day’s activities. Our guide Francini (Fran) was very knowledgeable, a sweetheart willing to make your experience as easy and wonderful as possible and our bus driver Daniel was kind, helpful and most serviceable. Originally our party was supposed to have 4 people but one wasn’t able to make the trip. This tour was so worth it, we know we’re coming back with our friend and will…”

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