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Dark slope of Rincón de la Vieja with clouds around the summit.

Costa Rica · Rincón de la Vieja

Waterfalls where you can swim

Swimming is banned at La Cangreja and Escondida; these nearby waterfalls allow it.

3 places

  1. 1

    WaterOpen

    Oropéndola waterfall

    Road to the Pailas sector, past Hacienda Guachipelín7.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $25
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Waterfall with a turquoise pool on Hacienda Guachipelín’s private land, next to the Pailas sector, a 15-minute walk with a hanging bridge; swimming is allowed here.

    Source: Hacienda Guachipelín – Oropendola Waterfall (oficial) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Official site: $25 adults (13+), $20 children 4 to 12, under 4 free; a 2025 blog lists $20 and $15.
    Hours
    Entries at 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00.
    Booking
    Buy beforehand online or at the hotel front desk: the guard at the falls does not sell tickets.
    Time needed
    About 1.5 h (15 minutes each way and 1 h at the falls).

    Nearby: Las Pailas trail (0.3 km) · Escondida waterfall (2.6 km) · La Cangreja waterfall (2.9 km)

    Sources: Hacienda Guachipelín – Oropendola Waterfall (oficial) · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Oropendola Waterfall

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  2. 2

    WaterOpen

    La Leona waterfall

    Curubandé, about 20 minutes from Liberia15.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    8:00 to 15:00
    Booking
    Required

    Guided hike up the river and a narrow canyon, with ropes and pools, to a waterfall where you swim in turquoise water.

    Source: La Leona Waterfall (oficial) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    Daily 8:00 to 15:00.
    Booking
    Reservation and guide only; life jacket required. You do not need to know how to swim.
    Time needed
    2.5 to 3 h; about 2.4 km each way.

    Tip: Wear closed shoes with good grip; not advised with knee or ankle problems.

    Nearby: Rincon Thermals & Adventures (formerly Vandará) (0.3 km) · Hacienda Guachipelín: one-day adventure pass (4.4 km) · Waterfall canyoning and rappelling (4.4 km)

    Sources: La Leona Waterfall (oficial)

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  3. Llanos de Cortés Waterfall3

    Photo: Yricordel, CC BY-SA 3.0

    NatureOpen

    Llanos de Cortés Waterfall

    Bagaces, about 30 min south of Liberia on Route 134.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $7
    Hours
    8:00–16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A wide waterfall dropping into a sandy-bottomed pool you can swim in, just a 5-minute walk from the car park.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Llanos de Cortez Waterfall · 2025

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Foreigners: $7 adults, $4 children; free under 7 (October 2025).
    Hours
    Daily 8:00–16:00; last entry 15:30.

    Tip: Use the official entrance (toilets and showers at the car park). A rope limits the swimming area and there are lifeguards.

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Llanos de Cortez Waterfall

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