Catarata del Toro Waterfall and the Blue Falls of Costa Rica are two incredible waterfall hikes that can be combined together for the ultimate adventure!
The waterfalls are both unique in their own way. Catarata del Toro is a waterfall that plunges deep inside a volcanic crater in the middle of a rainforest. And the Blue Falls of Costa Rica are some of the only blue waterfalls in Costa Rica that you can swim in.
These remote waterfalls are hidden gems off the beaten path and away from crowds of tourists. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know before visiting these two stunning waterfalls.
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Catarata del Toro Waterfall and Blue Falls of Costa Rica Hiking Guide
Table of Contents
- How do you get to Catarata del Toro and Blue Falls of Costa Rica?
- What to Expect When Hiking the Catarata del Toro Waterfall Trail
- What to Expect When Hiking the Blue Falls of Costa Rica Trail
- Where to stay near Catarata del Toro
How do you get to Catarata del Toro and Blue Falls of Costa Rica?
Catarata del Toro Waterfall and Blue Falls of Costa Rica are located northwest of San Jose in the small farming town of Bajos del Toro in the Alajuela Province. You’ll find it tucked in about halfway between San Jose and La Fortuna.
The drive is about 34 miles from the San Jose Airport and can take anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 hours, depending on traffic.
Public transportation is not available in Bajos del Toro, so renting a car or taking a guided tour are your best options.
If you are interested in a tour, consider booking the Costa Rica Natural Wonders Trek to see multiple waterfalls in the Bajos del Toro area, or the Full-day Bajos del Toro Hiking Experience to discover more hidden gems in the region.
Here are the reviews for the first tour, and the second tour.
If you do decide to rent a car, check here for the best deals from various rental car companies.
The driving directions from San Jose are pretty straightforward. Just put “Catarata del Toro Adventures” into the Google Maps app or the Waze app (the navigation app used by the locals).
Just note that Apple Maps does not work in Costa Rica.
The road to Catarata del Toro is paved the entire way so 4wd or a high clearance vehicle is not necessary.
However, the last few miles of the road are filled with potholes the size of small craters. You’ll just need to take it slow as you dodge your way around the potholes on the narrow road.
The mountain road is also steep and winding in some portions so use caution.
While we made the drive just fine in a sedan, a high-clearance vehicle would make the drive more comfortable, especially during the rainy season.
What to Expect When Hiking the Catarata del Toro Waterfall Trail
Catarata del Toro waterfall trail information:
- Distance: 2.2 miles out and back
- Time: Plan for about 1 – 1 1/2 hours
- Fee: $14 or $25 combo pass when combined with the Blue Falls
- Difficulty: rated moderate to strenuous due to the number of stairs
- Hours: Monday thru Saturday from 7 am-5 pm, closed Sundays
- Guide: The hike is self-guided
- Reservations: No advanced reservations are required
- Facilities: Bathroom, restaurant, and parking lot are available
The Catarata del Toro waterfall is located on private property that is part of a 250-acre rainforest reserve owned and maintained by a local family.
They have opened up their property to allow visitors to experience the beauty of their slice of heaven.
After paying the admission fee at the Catarata del Toro Adventure center, visitors will walk through the open-air restaurant to reach the garden and waterfall trail.
If you have the time, venture out on the short garden trails to see the hummingbirds and native plants before hiking to the waterfall. You may even spot a toucan or armadillo!
The beginning of the Catarata del Toro waterfall trail is fairly flat and easy. After a short distance, you’ll come to a lookout where you can see the waterfall plummeting below.
I know that sometimes it seems like if you’ve seen one waterfall you’ve seen them all, but that is not the case with Catarata del Toro.
This staggering 270-foot waterfall is hidden deep inside an ancient volcanic crater in the middle of the cloud rainforest, which makes it one of the most unique and beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica!
Continue on the trail for about 10 minutes and you’ll reach the top of the never-ending maze of stairs leading down the side of the crater to the base of the waterfall.
You’ll be able to catch a few glimpses of the waterfall through the trees as you make your way down.
There are over 350 concrete stairs and for the most part, the stairs are in great condition.
When you reach the bottom, the stairs are more primitive and uneven. As you make your way closer to the waterfall, it can also be slippery and muddy so just use caution.
But it is more than worth the effort to reach the base of the waterfall. You’ll feel as if you just entered Jurassic Park.
It is such a surreal moment to be standing there encircled by the monstrous cliffs and the deafening sound of the thundering falls.
You’ll get a sense of just how small and insignificant you are in this great big world.
And what makes this trail such a hidden gem is that you will be able to take in the awe-inspiring beauty without the crowds that you’ll find at other more popular waterfall hikes.
You are not allowed to swim in the Catarata del Toro waterfall. As you can imagine, it would be quite dangerous to swim under the force of a waterfall that plunges almost 300 feet!
You’ll also notice that the extinct volcanic crater is streaked with vivid colors, this is a result of the ancient lava flow and chemicals in the water.
After taking in the splendor, it’s time to head back up the grueling staircase. This is definitely the most challenging part of the hike and you’ll begin feeling the burn about halfway up, but it’s worth it!
Once you get back to the top, reward yourself with lunch and a cold drink from the restaurant!
A few things to note, I wouldn’t recommend this hike if you have health or physical limitations, or are traveling with young children.
However, the views from the lookout point at the top are still breathtaking even if you aren’t able to make it down to the bottom.
Bajos del Toro is also in one of Costa Rica’s more rainy regions so chances are that the trail will be muddy.
Don’t attempt this hike in flip-flops and be sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes with good traction. Keen shoes are always our favorite, especially on muddy hikes.
A rain poncho might be a good idea as well, or a rain jacket as the higher elevation means cooler temps.
If you are visiting during the rainy season (September to November), inquire about the trail conditions when purchasing your ticket as it may be too muddy and slippery to even walk all the way to the bottom.
*Related post: For even more incredible waterfalls, check out the nearby La Paz Waterfall Gardens!
What to Expect When Hiking the Blue Falls of Costa Rica Trail
Blue Falls of Costa Rica trail information:
- Distance: 2.5 miles out and back
- Time: Plan for about 2-3 hours if you want to visit all the falls on the trail and swim in the pools.
- Fee: $15 or $25 combo pass when combined with Catarata del Toro.
- Difficulty: Rated moderate. The trail to the falls is fairly easy, but there is a ladder you’ll need to climb down, some rocks to scramble over, and a shallow river to cross once you reach the waterfalls.
- Hours: Monday thru Saturday from 7 am-5 pm, closed Sundays.
- Guide: A guide is required. The cost of the guide is included in the entrance fee, but please bring cash to tip your guide.
- Reservations: No advanced reservations are required.
- Facilities: Bathroom, restaurant, and parking lot are available.
If you’re planning to visit Catarata del Toro, you’ll definitely want to make time to visit the Blue Falls of Costa Rica too!
This hike will take you to a series of 5 blue waterfalls and pools to swim in!
The Blue Falls of Costa Rica trail is accessed from the same parking lot as the Catarata del Toro waterfall trail.
Visitors can choose to purchase admission to Catarata del Toro for $14 or the Blue Falls for $15, or a combo ticket to visit both waterfalls for $25.
You can also print or take a screenshot of this coupon for 15% off your total purchase.
The trail to Catarata del Toro begins just steps from the restaurant, but you’ll need to walk a little way down the road to reach the beginning of the trail for the Blue Falls of Costa Rica.
After paying the admission fee, the attendant will instruct you to walk about 0.25 miles down the road where you’ll see a blue gate on your right and a guide waiting for you.
The guide at the gate will direct you to go down the path and cross over a bridge where you’ll meet another guide that will take you to the waterfalls.
Our guide was great and even picked wild berries for us along the trail. Don’t forget to bring cash to tip your guide. They work so hard to make sure you have a wonderful experience at the falls!
The trail is easy to follow along a well-worn path through the open farmland. The trail can get muddy so be sure to wear appropriate footwear.
There is also a collection of hiking sticks at the beginning of the trail if you would like to grab one.
It will take about 30 minutes to reach the waterfalls from the gate. Once you get to the main falls, there will be a metal platform with steep steps that you’ll need to climb down to reach the river.
Your guide will then lead you across the river. There will be some stones to step on, but chances are your feet will get wet, so Keen shoes or something similar would be helpful.
You’ll soon reach a pair of twin falls, Tepezquintle and Las Gemelas. The water is usually a brilliant blue at both of these falls.
Unfortunately, we visited soon after it had been raining and the water was muddy.
The attendant at the ticket booth let us know before we hiked down that the water wasn’t quite as blue but we still decided to do the hike.
Even though we didn’t get to experience the piercing blue falls, they were still beautiful and worth the hike. Just know that there is a chance they won’t be as bright blue if it has been raining.
Las Gemelas Waterfall is tucked a little further back just to the left of Tepezquintle Waterfall and tends to be a little brighter blue.
It’s interesting to note that the water itself isn’t actually blue, it is an optical illusion caused by aluminosilicate particles that disperse only the blue tones of white light when the sunlight reflects off the water.
The same phenomenon occurs at Rio Celeste, but you are more likely to find blue water at that waterfall even if it has been a little rainy.
But unlike at Rio Celeste, visitors can actually swim in these blue waterfalls! The water is frigid, but is such a unique experience and would make a great photo when the water is clear blue!
Just be sure to bring a towel and wear your swimsuit under your clothes since there is no place to change at the waterfall.
After spending time at these falls, your guide will give you the option to hike to three more nearby waterfalls, La Celestial, La Turquesa, and La Pintada.
There are also several blue pools with calm shallow water along the river that you can swim in.
Our guide took us to Poza Azul, which under normal conditions is like something out of a fairytale.
Unfortunately for us, the water was still muddy.
We didn’t end up hiking to the other waterfalls since the water was muddy, but I would love to go back because the photos are just breathtaking!
Hopefully, you’ll get a chance to experience the unaltered beauty of the blue pools on your trip!
If you have time, the Catarata Rio Agrio trail is another short and easy hike that is nearby. The trail leads to a beautiful waterfall hidden in the rainforest and more blue pools that you can swim in.
These waterfalls are one of our favorite stops on our 5-day Costa Rica Itinerary!
Where to stay near Catarata del Toro
The nearby town of Bajos del Toro is a small rural community so you won’t find many lodging options, but there are a few other choices in the area.
Listed below are the ones we would recommend that are located closest to the waterfall hikes, but click this link to find a few more options that are a little further away.
El Silencio Lodge & Spa
This upscale retreat is nestled in a 500-acre private rainforest preserve in Costa Rica’s volcanic valley. You’ll find stunning accommodations and breathtaking views that are worth the splurge.
Find the best price: Booking.com | Hotels.com | Kayak | Expedia
Read the reviews: Tripadvisor
Bosque de Paz Reserva Biologica
These budget-friendly accommodations are surrounded by a beautiful rain and cloud forest.
Find the best price: Booking.com | Hotels.com | Expedia
Read the reviews: Tripadvisor
*Related post: 6 Unbelievable Things to Do in La Fortuna Costa Rica
I hope this guide has helped you discover two of the best waterfalls and hidden gems in Costa Rica!
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