There are few simple pleasures more delicious than hiking to a deserted waterfall in the middle of paradise, peeling off your walking shoes, and then jumping into a cool, mountain-fed swimming hole. In fact, we love this simple pleasure so much that we make it practically our job to scope out the best waterfalls in Guanacaste, Costa Rica (and beyond). Hey, it's a tough gig but someone's got to do it!
After long days of arduous hard work, we've whittled this list down to five of our favorites, all within a few hours' drive of Tamarindo. And now, if you'll excuse us, we're off to hike and swim more of the best waterfalls in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. As we said, it's our job.
One of Costa Rica's most incredible (and best-kept) secrets, La Piedra del Indio Waterfall (Indian's Rock) tumbles 260+ feet and is named for the pre-Columbian figures that bedeck a large rock before the falls. This picturesque waterfall is surrounded by tropical dry forest – home to various monkeys, sloths, toucans, coatis, and other wildlife – and races down the rocks to feed a cool and refreshing swimming hole below. Cost: Chorreras: $27 adults / $22 children (4-10) / Oropendola: $45 adults / $35 children (4-10) + $15 national park feet Difficulty: Moderate (walking) or Easy (if you take a 4WD or ATV down to the falls)
Las Chorreras and La Oropéndola Waterfalls
Located within Hacienda Guachipelin, just outside Rincón de la Vieja National Park, sister waterfalls Las Chorreras and Oropendola offer a true nature retreat. Start with Las Chorreras, about a 20-minute (1.25 miles) walk from the hotel; here, twin cascades are surrounded by large rocks and spill into a refreshing swimming pool. If you're up for more of a challenge, take the 45-minute walk from the hotel – the trail loops about 2.5 miles through tropical dry forest – into Rincón de la Vieja National Park and its sky-high Oropendola Waterfall, which flows into a bright turquoise pool and offers scenic photo ops and cool swimming. Cost: Chorreras: $27 adults / $22 children (4-10) / Oropendola: $45 adults / $35 children (4-10) + $15 national park feet Difficulty: ModerateLa Piedra del Indio Waterfall
One of Costa Rica's most incredible (and best-kept) secrets, La Piedra del Indio Waterfall (Indian's Rock) tumbles 260+ feet and is named for the pre-Columbian figures that bedeck a large rock before the falls. This picturesque waterfall is surrounded by tropical dry forest – home to various monkeys, sloths, toucans, coatis, and other wildlife – and races down the rocks to feed a cool and refreshing swimming hole below. Cost: Chorreras: $27 adults / $22 children (4-10) / Oropendola: $45 adults / $35 children (4-10) + $15 national park feet Difficulty: Moderate (walking) or Easy (if you take a 4WD or ATV down to the falls)