Costa Rica: Top 5 Waterfalls
La Fortuna Waterfall
La Fortuna Waterfall is one of my favorite waterfalls in Costa Rica.
I've stayed about 3 months in La Fortuna, and from all the activities and attractions that you can do there, the waterfall is the one I'd recommend. The views you get are just so incredible. Once you've entered the park, the first view you get is the waterfall viewed from above, and some mountains further away in the landscape. Then, once you go down the stairs, you get the main view from the platform, which is a straightforward view of the waterfall. Afterward, once you go down to the swimming area, you get a view from below. It is really impressive, so beautiful.
You can swim in the waterfall and in the river a bit further. Obviously, the water is very cold, but it's a perfect time just to chill and take time to relax.
One thing I want to say is that when you cross the river, you can actually continue on a path that will lead you to two areas. Not a lot of people know about this because most people just stay where the waterfall is, and then they just walk back up. The first one is going to be a bridge where you get to see the jungle and the nature, which is pretty nice. For the second one, if you continue a bit higher up, you get a fourth view of the waterfall, and this time from high above. It's not a long walk, maybe something like 10 minutes or 15 minutes, so definitely worth it.
This place is one of my go-to locations in Costa Rica, and I will not forget how spectacular it was.
Rio Celeste Waterfall
My experience from the Rio Celeste Waterfall was just so incredible.
Basically, a few days before going, I was checking messages from a Facebook traveling group, and there was this girl who was looking for people to rent a car and to go to the Rio Celeste. We exchanged a few messages, and we found three more people that would want to go with us. She rented a car, and then picked us up, and we headed to the waterfall.
I just want to say, if you're solo traveling, and you want to go to the waterfall, you should replicate this method for two reasons.
Number one, it may seem obvious, but the vibes were just immaculate and so unique. You're in a car with strangers/travelers, and you just get to know each other, exchange about your trips and your experiences.
Then the not-so-obvious second reason is that it is probably one of the cheapest ways to go to Rio Celeste. I don't think you'll have cheaper than $20 or $25, which is what each one of us paid to rent the car for the entire day.
So, we arrived at the waterfall, and then we entered the natural reserve. We saw a few monkeys, birds and other animals. I have to say, it is really impressive. You probably saw some images on the internet, and you're probably like, "Wait, this is not real, right?". I don't want to spoil you, but it is. It's as real as you see it on the internet. There's also information about why we see the water blue, but I'll let you discover that for yourself.
Now, there are a couple downsides.
The first one is that it's 1 hour 30 minutes away from La Fortuna, and if you don't a car, you're just going to spend a lot of money going over there. So again, another reminder, find people in your hotel/hostel to rent a car for the day and go to the waterfall.
The second thing is that you cannot swim in the area of the waterfall because it's a natural reserve, and it's prohibited. But, I've got a solution for you! Before arriving at the waterfall, you should have crossed a bridge, under which lies the same river from the Rio Celeste. That part of the river is not part of the natural reserve, which means you can stop around there and just swim in the river. We personally did not do it because we had other plans for the day and didn't really have time. But on our way back, we saw people swimming, and it looks like the perfect place to be.
That's about it for the Rio Celeste. I definitely enjoyed this once in a lifetime experience with other strangers.
Montezuma Waterfall
A day trip to Montezuma from Santa Teresa.
So, basically, when I visited Montezuma waterfall, I went with two other people, that I had met from the hostel in Santa Teresa. Now, there are 3 methods to go to the waterfall and to Montezuma town itself. You can either take a taxi, a bus or hitchhike. Taking a taxi is going to be pretty expensive. Going by bus is going to take around 1 hour and a half, and you'll have to take two buses, one from Santa Teresa, and another from Cobano. It's a bit tedious and long. And the third option, which I actually recommend you doing, is just doing hitchhiking. We only waited, about 5 minutes. It's such a nice way to talk with the local people, and you can get to know even more the area you're visiting. So it's just a great vibes and experience.
If you're staying in Santa Teresa, you'll see that Montezuma town is fairly small, and it's easy to get around places. Arriving at Montezuma, we walked for about 15 minutes before reaching the entrance of the waterfall trail. There's no entrance fee.
After a few minutes of walking, we arrived at a jumping zone. Continuing on the path, and climbing over a few rocks (be careful because the rocks are extremely slippery), we arrived at the first waterfall. Further down the path, after a couple of minutes, you will arrive at the second and then the third waterfall.
What I really like about this place is that it's neither too long of a hike nor too touristy. Also, just the fact that there's an area to chill, have a picnic and swim, makes this a very enjoyable location.
After the waterfalls, we just chilled at the beach. If you're staying in Santa Teresa and you want to discover something new for the day, I would definitely recommend you going to Montezuma for the day. Wake up early in the morning, arrive there, probably around 7AM. Spend the day there and then come back for sunset in Santa Teresa.
Cloudbridge Nature Reserve
This is way more than just a waterfall.
Unlike the previous mentioned locations, this is much more than just a waterfall. It's a huge natural reserve that includes a lot of impressive waterfalls. Also, there are 5 different trails, made to suit everyone, whether you just like going for a small walks or hike during 6 hours. There's also so many beautiful views and plenty of wildlife animals, all of this in one same location. There is a flower garden, areas to have a picnic and different spots to have a little swim.
These waterfalls, are definitely part of my top 3 waterfalls from Costa Rica. If you have the chance, I would definitely recommend you going to see them.
Although I do have to point out that it is a bit more remote compared to the other waterfalls. But believe me, it is completely worth it. Now, in my opinion, if you plan on going to the CloudBridge Nature Reserve, you should stay about 2 or 3 nights in Rivas or in San Gerardo de Rivas. There's just so much to see in the same area that I feel it's worth more than just the day trip.
If you enjoy remote and less touristy locations, then this is by far the place to go.
Uvita Waterfall
The perfect spot to chill for the day.
If you're staying a few days in Uvita and you don't want to drive far away to go somewhere, then I feel that this is the right place. It's only about 10 minutes or 15 minutes by foot from Uvita Center. You can also go there by car, which takes about 5 minutes. It's a little bit tricky to find the right entrance: once you've taken the road to go up the hill (after Indómitos Café), you'll have to continue until you find on your right-hand side a cafeteria with a small parking spot. That's where the entrance is. It's $4, so it's pretty cheap.
For the waterfall itself, it's just a very nice, sweet and calm spot. It's not very touristy. There are different areas depending on your want. You can stay in the lower end of the waterfall, where you can swim very peacefully. It's a pretty large spot. Then you can go to the waterfall, where you can actually climb up with a ladder. From there, you can either continue a bit further, which is something a lot of people miss out. You'll have just a very nice spot for yourself. Or you can as well go down the waterfall. Just make sure to be careful so you don't injure yourself.
I do want to mention that I haven't had the time to take any photos or videos yet, but since I'm still in Uvita at the moment, I will definitely go there pretty soon and take some content. So, make sure you save this guide, to be able to get the updated content from this place!
That’s it for this guide, hope you enjoyed reading, that it was/will be helpful for your trip, and also remember that it will be updated constantly, so make sure you save it !
The home for unique & authentic travel
