La Fortuna Waterfall

La Fortuna Waterfall offers one of the most beautiful scenery in Costa Rica.  Located just 6 km outside La Fortuna town, this amazing waterfall is the perfect place for visitors to swim, relax and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding rainforest.

Downstream from the radiant 70 meter waterfall is a great swimming hole, surrounded by lush tropical forest, protected by the local conservation project.  Here you can enjoy a relaxing dip in calmer greenish-blue waters that make for a gratifying view.

The hike down to the waterfall is short, but somewhat demanding.  It takes about 10 minutes to go down on a trail that leads through the forest with amazing sights, and around 20 minutes to get back up. 

Admission is $8 per person, which is reinvested to maintain the surrounding area, by the local non-profit association that administers the waterfall.  There is a visitor's center at the entrance where visitors can purchase souvenirs.

Horseback Ride to La Fortuna Waterfall

Another great way to visit the waterfalls is by a horseback tour.  The first part of the trip includes an exciting hour long horseback ride until reaching the trail that leads to the waterfall.  On the way, you may encounter exotic toucans, sloths and monkeys in their natural habitat. 

After descending on foot to the tide pools at the bottom of La Fortuna waterfall, swimming and enjoying the spectacular views of the waterfall, the ride will continue through the countryside surrounding the Arenal Volcano.

How to get there

La Fortuna Waterfall is located about 6 km from the center of town.  Visitors can take a taxi from La Fortuna downtown for about $10 to get there and the same to get back.  As well, there are organized tours to the waterfall that includes round trip transportation and entrance fee.

If you’re driving, there are several signs within downtown La Fortuna that direct you to the waterfall southwest of town.  The road up to the waterfall is hilly, rocky, and filled with many potholes, however the ride in a car is relatively short and despite the bumps, it's a better option than trying to hike there.