If you’re headed to Costa Rica and you’re flying into the Liberia International Airport on the Pacific Coast, you’ll want to add a visit to La Leona Waterfall to your list of things to do in the region.
Due to the proximity to the volcano, volcanic minerals transform the color of the water to a deep turquoise blue, making it an amazing destination for both hiking and swimming. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about visiting La Leona Waterfall on your vacation to Costa Rica!
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La Leona Waterfall Quick Facts
| Location: | 15m este de Soda Curubanda, Provincia de Guanacaste, Curubandé, 50105). |
| Price: | Starts at $30 pp |
| The Hike: | 3 miles round trip |
Do I need a tour guide to visit?
La Leona Waterfall sits on private property, so you do need to pay for the tour in order to access it. Not to mention the hike involves river crossings, rock scrambling, and navigating through the jungle, so having a local guide ensures your safety.
While you can find a lot of tour operators on websites like GetYourGuide or Viator, I highly recommend you go with the official La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike. It costs $30 per person to go on their group tour.
Getting to La Leona Waterfall
The tour office is in the small town of Curubandé so if you have a car you can meet there using either Google Maps or Waze as your navigation software (Address: 15m este de Soda Curubanda, Provincia de Guanacaste, Curubandé, 50105).
Or, message the office and they can help arrange transportation from Liberia. There are also several different tours on GetYourGuide that offer transportation from you Guanacaste hotel.
When my husband and I visited, we took an Uber from Liberia to Curubandé but we found it very difficult to find an Uber that could take us back from Curubandé to Liberia. Eventually, we did find one, but I wouldn’t recommend going this route.
I also don’t recommend taking public transportation from Liberia because it will likely involve a lot of waiting around depending on the timing of your tour. It’s just a better choice to arrange transport in advance.
When is the best time to hike to La Leona Waterfall?
Weather permitting, you can visit La Leona Waterfall year-round (check with the tour guide company first!).
That said, during the Costa Rican rainy season between May and November, increased amounts of water and mud could change the deep turquoise color of the water.
So if you’re wanting the photo of perfect, crystal clear water, try to come during the Costa Rican dry season between December and April. Be mindful that the dry season is typically more busier with tourists so you might be going with a larger group.
What to Expect: The Hike
- Hiking Distance: 1.5 miles each way (3 miles round-trip), which takes approximately 3 hours in total.
- Difficulty: The hike is moderate-level in difficulty and is not suitable for guests with knee, ankle, or mobility issues due to crossing rock formations and streams of water. The website also states the tour is not suitable for individuals who are pregnant. The minimum age to do the hike is 6 years old.
- Elevation Gain: 115 metres (377 feet)
The adventure begins at the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike office where there is free parking available on site and monitored lockers to leave your belongings and luggage. From there, you’ll head to the reception area to check in and fill out a waiver and get a safety briefing. They’ll hand you your mandatory life jacket and a dry bag to keep your phone or other belongings if you’d like.
From there, they pack you into a truck or jeep where you’re transported to the start of the trail. I want to warn you that you’ll literally be standing up in the back of a jeep, packed in like sardines. Don’t expect this part to be a ride in a luxury vehicle! That said, the ride is short.
The hike itself trails through the jungle next to the Blanco River that stems from the Rincon de la Viejo volcano. The trail will lead you past amazing rock formations, across streams of water, up small ladders and finally at the end, you’ll follow a rope into the canyon where you’ll be able to see and swim in La Leona Waterfall.
As you can see in the pictures, a lot of the hike is through the water…so be prepared to get wet.
Swimming at La Leona Waterfall
Since the cave is small, the guides allow visitors in with timed access. Don’t worry though, they give everyone plenty of time to swim in the waterfall and take as many photos as you’d like.
There are also opportunities along the hike for swimming in the river and at one point, I remember jumping off a large rock into the water (my husband was too chicken to try that!).
The most amazing part about swimming at La Leona is the ethereal blue color of the water. You’ll truly feel like you somehow made your way to a different planet!
What to pack
You must wear closed-toe shoes (Keens/Chacos are fine, per their website), I highly recommend waterproof hiking shoes.
Also bring sunscreen, insect repellant, an extra change of clothes, change of shoes, and towels for after the hike.
Other things to do near La Leona Waterfall
Since you’re in the area, you may want to check out some of the other really cool activities in the area close by. Here are some other activities close to Liberia that you should check out!
- Poza Los Coyotes – Also close to the Blanco River near the town of Curubandé is this swimming hole that is more off-the-beaten path and less well marked. Similar to La Leona, volcanic minerals make the water a stunning blue and the natural pools are much calmer for a swim than the adventure of La Leona Waterfall Hike.
- Rincon de la Vieja National Park – Rincon de la Vieja is an active volcano in Costa Rica where you’ll find craters, bubbling mud pots, wildlife, and awesome hiking trails about 30 minutes from La Leona Waterfall
- Hacienda Guachipelín – If visiting a hot springs is on your Costa Rica bucket list, think about visiting Hacienda Guachipelín where you’ll find natural pools and other fun activities like zip lining, horseback riding, and river tubing.
- Beaches of Guanacaste – Liberia is only about 1 hour away from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world where you can sunbathe, swim, or snorkel. Close by are Play Hermosa, Playa del Coco and Playa Conchal.
Where to Stay near La Leona Waterfall
There are a few different options of where to stay near the La Leona Waterfall.
- Hacienda Guachipelín – as mentioned before, this eco-lodge is close to Rincon de la Vieja National Park, offers a natural hot springs and diverse adventure activities.
- Hotel La Arena – A budget hotel in Liberia that offers very simple, basic accommodations
- Buena Vista del Rincon Eco Adventure Lodge – this lodge is in the mountains, offering a peaceful setting and stunning views.
- Hotel Boyeros – if you’re wanting to stay in a more urban location with better access to the airport, check out this central location that has a pool, garden, and restaurant on site.
- Borinquen Mountain Resort & Spa – This luxury resort offers upscale accommodations with a focus on relaxation and wellness
Personally, we stayed at an Airbnb in the Liberia area and while we enjoyed our hosts, it was difficult finding transportation to the activities we wanted to do. Uber isn’t always very reliable in Liberia. It can be helpful to book your stay at a hotel where they can help with some of those details.
Is a Visit to La Leona Waterfall Worth it?!
I recommend everyone visits La Leona Waterfall especially if they are flying into the Liberia International Airport. That’s because it’s a day full of adventure, fun, and it’s an experience you can’t get anywhere else in the world. I hope you have an amazing time visiting La Leona Waterfall, and pura vida!
Love all the waterfalls? Check out more of my favorite falls in Costa Rica!
Lindsay Gantz lives in Monteverde, Costa Rica with her husband who is Costa Rican. She helps visitors plan trips to Costa Rica and also organizes small group trips for solo female travelers. You can reach her on Instagram or by email at [email protected]
